IGKV CET BATCH 2025

General Agriculture

Cultivation practices of Cucurbitaceous Vegetables

(Cucumber, Gourds, Melons, Pumpkin)

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General Agriculture
Common name Botanical Name Chromosome no. Origin Progenitor
Cucumber Cucumis sativus 2n =2x =14 India Cucumis hardwickii
Bottle gourd Langenaria siceraria 2n = 2x = 22 South Africa & India L. sphaerica
Bitter gourd Momordica charantia 2n = 2x = 22 Indo-Burma Momordica charantia var.
abbreviata
Pumpkin Cucurbita moschata 2n = 4x = 40 North America Cucurbita lundelliana
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus 2n = 22 Tropical Africa Citrullus colocynthis
Muskmelon Cucumis melo 2n =2x =14 Tropical Africa Cucumis metuliferous
Ridge gourd Luffa acutangula 2n = 2x = 26 India Luffa graveolens
Sponge gourd Luffa cylindrica 2n = 2x = 26 India Luffa graveolens
Ash gourd Benincasa hispida 2n = 2x = 24 Japan
Pointed gourd Trochosanthus dioca 2n = 2x = 22 India -
Ivy gourd Coccinia grandis 2n = 2x = 24 India -
Spine gourd Momoridica 2n = 2x = 28
cochinchinensis
Sweet gourd Momoridica dioca 2n = 2x = 28
Chow-chow Sechium edule 2n = 2x = 28 Southern Mexico Sechium edule var. nigrum

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Cucurbitaceous Vegetables General Agriculture

 The family of Cucurbitaceae comprises about 117 genera and 825 species
and in India 35 genera and 100 species have been found.
 All cucurbits are highly cross pollinated (entomophilous)
 Extent of cross pollination in cucurbits is up to 60-80%
 Cucurbits are Day neutral, C3 plants
 Vegetatively propagated cucurbits are Parwal, Chow-Chow, Kundru (Ivy
gourd)
 Dioecious cucurbits- Pointed gourd, Ivy gourd, Spine gourd, Scarlet
gourd
 Botanically Fruit type of cucurbits are: 'Pepo’
 Edible portion of different cucurbits:
 Cucumber and watermelon - Placenta
 Muskmelon and pumpkin - Mostly pericarp with little mesocarp
 Ridge gourd, sponge gourd, and ash gourd – Endocarp
 Chow-Chow is a single seeded and viviparous cucurbit
 Cucurbits have long tap root system hence more suitable for ‘Diara
cultivation (River bed cultivation)

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General Agriculture

 Pointed gourd is main crop for upland diara

 Mostly suitable cucurbit for diara cultivation is Muskmelon
 1st commercial hybrids in vegetables was developed by IARI, in bottle gourd
are:
 Pusa Meghdoot in 1971 by Choudhary and Singh
 Pusa Manjari in 1971 by Choudhary and Singh
 Cucurbitacins are highly oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenes are present in
roots of cucurbits
 Pointed gourd is rich source of copper (Cu)
 Cucumber is rich source of chlorine (Cl)
 Ash gourd having longest storage life among cucurbits
 Ash gourd is having highest water percentage among all cucurbits i.e. 97%
 Genetic male sterility is found in Muskmelon, Watermelon
 Cytoplasmic male sterility is found in Cucumber
 Branched tendrils are observed in - sponge gourd
 Sulphur based fungicides are not recommended in Cucumber and Rock
melon, because plants are severely scorched by this fungicide

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General Agriculture

Sex Forms of various Cucurbits

Sex Forms Cucurbits
Monoecious Cucumber, Musk melon, Pumpkin, Summer squash, Winter
squash, water melon, Sponge gourd, Round melon, Bottle gourd,
Bitter gourd
Gynoecious Cucumber, Bitter gourd
Androecious Cucumber, Musk melon
Dioecious Pointed gourd, Ivy gourd, Scarlet gourd, Spine gourd
Andromonoecious Musk melon
Gynomonoecious Cucumber, Musk melon, Ridge gourd
Trimonoecious Cucumber, Musk melon, Ridge gourd
Hermaphrodite Ridge gourd (Satputia), Cucumber (original form)

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General Agriculture

 In cucurbits high temperature and long day conditions influences- Maleness

 In cucurbits low temperature and short-day condition influences Femaleness
 Ideal conditions for accumulation of sugars in muskmelon cool nights, warm days
 In cucurbits growth regulators are applied at 2-4 leaf stage
 Seedless watermelon was developed by- Dr. H. Kihara (1951)
 Cucurbits are the largest group of summer vegetable crops
 Majority of the cucurbits are monoecious in nature and their sex ratio (male to female) varies
from 25-30:1 to 15:1
 Primitive sex form in cucurbits is Hermaphrodite
 Term cucurbits coined by Dr. Bailey
 First 4-6 flowering nodes bear male flowers and later female flowers
 Pinching of male flower followed in- Pumpkin
 Parthenocarpic term was given by- F. Null
 'Metaxenia' is found in- Cucumber, Bottle Gourd
 Metaxenia: The effect of a pollen parent on the developing maternal tissues of a seed or fruit
outside the embryo and endosperm due to hormones produced by the embryo and endosperm
after double fertilization

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General Agriculture
 Xenia: The effect of genes introduced by pollen especially on endosperm
and embryo development.
 Male flowers in cucurbits can be induced by using- Silver nitrate (AgNO₂)
and Silver thiosulfate (Ag₂S203)
 'Ethrel' is used for the production of - Female flowers
 Seed colour of Sponge gourd – White
 Seed colour of ridge gourd - Black
 Flower colour of Bottle gourd White
 Multiple disease resistant varieties in Cucumber - Poinsettia
 Multiple disease resistant varieties in Watermelon - Arka Manik
 In Muskmelon, Watermelon and Pumpkin seed maturity coincides with
edible maturity
 Earlier set of fruits is called crown-set
 Isolation distance followed in cucurbits for hybrid seed production is:
 For foundation seed : 1000 m
 For certified seed: 500 m
 Frost sensitive cucurbit Melons
 Frost tolerant cucurbit Pumpkin
 Round melon has higher nutrient content than other cucurbits
 Trichosanthus is the largest genus among cucurbits

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General Agriculture

Crop Seed Rate Average Yield Harvesting Flower color Time of

(kg/ha) (t/ha) (DAS) anthesis
Bottle gourd 3.0-6.0 35-40 55-60 White Evening 5-8
pm
Bitter gourd 5.0-6.0 30-35 55 Yellow
Cucumber 2.5-3.0 25-27.5 60-70 Yellow 5:30 – 6:30 am
Watermelon 3.5-5.0 30-40 30-40 days Yellow
after anthesis
Muskmelon 5.0-6.0 20-25 60-70 Yellow 5:30 – 6:30 am
Pumpkin 3.0-5.0 27.5-35 70-75 Yellow 3:30 – 6:00 am
Sponge gourd 4.0-5.0 17.5-22.5 80-90 Deep Yellow Morning
Ridge gourd 3.5-5.0 17.5-20 60-90 Pale Yellow 5 – 8 pm
Snake gourd 3.0-4.0 13-17.5 50-56 White 6 – 9 pm

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General Agriculture
Cucumber
 Cucumber fruit contains 96% of water
 Fruits are good source for people suffering from constipation, jaundice and
indigestion
 Area and production: Haryana is state with highest in area and production
of cucumber followed by M.P.
 Area- 82.04 ('000 Ha)/ production 1259.94 ('000MT)
 Soil and climate:
 Cucumber is 'thermophilic' and 'frost susceptible' crop
 Most favorable temperature for cucumber 18 - 24 °С
 Temperature required for seed germination is 15 - 35 °C
 Above 30°C female flower production is reduced
 Under high humid conditions incidence of diseases like powdery mildew,
downy mildew, anthracnose and pests like fruit fly will be severe
 Ideal pH is 6-7
 Light intensity and day length influence anthesis more than temperature

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General Agriculture

 Role of PGR’s:
 Application of Ethrel (150-200 ppm) increases the number of female flowers, fruit set and in turn
increases the fruit yield.
 'NAA' and 'Ethephon' promote pistillate flowers
 GA (1500-2000 ppm), AgNO3 (200-300 ppm) and AVG (aminoethoxyvinylgycine) induces male
flowers on gynoecious cucumber.
 MH (100 ppm), NAA (100 ppm), Ethrel (150-200 ppm) and Boron (3 ppm) increase number of
female flowers, fruit set and in turn increases the fruit yield
 Maturity indices, harvesting and yield:
 Cucumber is harvested at immature condition 5-7 days after pollination for commercial purpose
Maturity index Slicing cucumber Pickling cucumber
Fruit length 15-20 cm 6-10 cm
Spine colour White Black
Fruit length/diameter ratio >4 2.8-3.8
Harvesting 45-70 DAS 30-35 DAS

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Varieties and its description: General Agriculture
Variety Special features
Japanese Long Green Introduced from Japan
Straight Eight Introduced from USA
Poinsette Multiple disease resistant variety
Himangi Developed by selection from cross between Poinsette x Kalyanpur Ageti. Resistant to
Bronzing.
Phule Shubhangi Tolerant to powdery mildew. Developed by selection from cross between Poinsette x
Kalyanpur Ageti
Phule Priyanka Tolerant to downy mildew
Sheetal Early variety
Swarna Poorna Light green without placental hallowness
Swarna Sheethal Whitish green without placental hallowness
Swarna Agethi Slicing type, developed by mutation breeding.
Pant Parthenocarpic Khira 2 Parthenocarpic varieties
Pant Parthenocarpic Khira 3
Pusa Uday Suitable for throughout the year production

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General Agriculture
Bottle gourd
 It is also known as white flowered gourd, ghia or lauki
 Bihar is state with highest in area and production (2018-19)
 Nutritive value and uses  Harvesting and yield:
 The fruits of bottle gourd are used for making sweets, halva  Tenderness and edible maturity are judged by
 Kofta is a most popular preparation of bottle gourd pressing the skin and little pubescence
 Decoction made from the leaves are used for curing jaundice persisting on skins
 Seed are used in dropsy  Nail test done for judging the maturity
 Dry hard shells of fruits are used in making musical instruments  Yield: Open pollinated varieties - 20-30 t/ha
 'Tutti frutti' is processed product of bottle gourd F₁ hybrids 40-50 t/ha
 Soil and climate  Seed production:
 It is photo sensitive  For hybrid seed production male flowers need
 It can withstand cool climate better than muskmelon and to be pinched on female plant
watermelon  Rows of female: male ratio should be 2:1 or
 Optimum temperature for seed germination: 25-30° C 3:1
 Temperature requirement for growth- Day temperature:30-35° C;  Summer season is suitable for seed
Night temperature:18-22° C production
 Seeds with brownish colour will germinate well

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Varieties and its description: General Agriculture

Variety Special features

Arka Bahar Non crook neck variety. Suitable for export
Pusa Naveen Non crook neck variety. Suitable for long distance transportation
Pusa Summer Prolific Long (PSPL) Suitable for both summer and kharif seasons
Pusa Summer Prolific Round (PSPR) Suitable for both summer and kharif seasons
Pusa Sandesh Suitable for spring, summer and rainy season
Pusa Meghdoot Cross b/w PSPL x Sel.2
Pusa Manjari Cross b/w PSPR x Sel. 11
Punjab Komal Early variety
Punjab Round -
Samrat Fruits are non-crook neck
Pant Sanakr Lauki 1

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General Agriculture
Bitter gourd
 Bitter principle: Momordicin
 Bitter gourd fruits are rich source of iron (2mg/100g)
 Antidiabetic property of fruits is due to the presence of 'Cheratin- cucurbitacin like alkaloids’
 Small fruited types: Momordica charantia var. muricata
 Soil and Climate
 Optimum temperature for bitter gourd cultivation is 24-27°C
 The best pH would be 6.5-7.0
 At temperature between 25-30°C, the growth is normal and yields are high
 When the temperature is less than 18°C, the growth is slow leading to poor yield
 When temperature is above 36°C, there is poor production of female flowers resulting in poor yield
 If temperature goes above 40°C, induces maleness
 Harvesting and yield:
 Edible part - Immature fruit
 The flowering starts in bitter gourd by 45-55 days and the first picking could be taken in 60-70 days after planting
 From a good crop, 15-20 harvests are possible and harvesting is done twice a week
 If the fruits are allowed to ripen on vines, further bearing is adversely affected
 Yield : 11-25 t/ha

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General Agriculture

Variety Special features

Pusa Do Mausami Grows well in spring, summer and rainy season
Pusa Vishesh Pickling and dehydrated variety
Pusa Hybrid 1 Cross b/w Pusa Do Mausami x Pusa Vishesh
Pusa Hybrid 2 Cross b/w S-63 x Pusa Do Mausami
Pusa Rasdar Suitable for protected structures
Pusa Aushadi Cros b/w DBGy201 and Pus Do Mausami
Arka Harit Fruits with moderate bitterness
Coimbatore Long Green Fruits are extra-long with white colour
Priya (VK 1) Fruits green spiny with white tinge at stylar end
Preethi (MC 84) Fruits are white in colour
Priyanka (Sel. 1010) A local selection from Thiruvalla
Phule Green Gold (RHRBG- Cross b/w Green Long x Delhi Local. Tolerant to downy mildew
5)
Phule Priyanka (RHR BGH 1) F₁ hybrid suitable for Kharif and summer growing. Tolerant to downy mildew

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General Agriculture
Pumpkin
 Flowers of pumpkin are more nutritive than fruits
 It has high carotene and good keeping quality. It is considered as vegetable of immense value
 Vitamin A content in pumpkin fruits is 1600 IU
 'Yerusseri' is prepared from immature fruits, it is popular in Kerala
 Soil and climate:
 Low night temperature, high relative humidity and short days is best for pumpkin production
 Optimum temperature for pumpkin cultivation is 18-24° C
 PGR’s
 Ethrel 250ppm can be applied to increase the female flower production
 Harvesting and yield
 Matures in 75-180 days after seed sowing
 Yield: 20-30 t/ha
 Storage: Full mature fruits have long storage life
 Storage 2-3 weeks at 15-20° С
 Well mature fruits can be stored for 4-6 months in well ventilate chambers

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Varieties and its description: General Agriculture

Variety Specific features

Pusa Vikas Suitable for spring summer in North India, Rich source of beta carotene
Pusa Hybrid-1 It is a first hybrid of pumpkin available for commercial cultivation
Pusa Vishwas -
Arka Chandan Rich in beta carotene (3331 IU/100 g) and having pleasant aroma
Kashi Harit -
Ambili Pure line selection
Sooraj -
Saras -
Suvarna -
Co-1 Late maturing variety
Co-2 -
Solan Badami -

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General Agriculture
Watermelon
 Economic importance, nutritive value and uses
 The fruit has cooling effect and is used as an expectorant, diuretic and allaying thirst
 Fruit contains 95% water, 0.2% protein, 0.3% minerals and 7% carbohydrates per 100g fresh
weight
 Watermelon is rich source of iron
 The seed is also eaten as a snack after shelling and roasting
 It has cooling, purgative, anthelmintic, antipyretic and carminative properties
 The red colour of watermelon is due to the presence of anthocyanin and lycopene pigments
 Soil and climate
 It can't withstand frost or very low temperature
 Temperature for seed germination 25-30° C
 Temperature for fruiting 24-27° C
 Plant growth is optimum under 28-30° C
 Alluvial river beds are also good for watermelon cultivation
 Excess humidity causes powdery mildew, downy mildew, anthracnose and virus diseases and pest
such as fruit fly

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General Agriculture

 Maturity indices:
 Heavy dull sound when fruit is tapped denotes maturity
 Tendril dryness and the ground spot has turns from white to yellow
 Average TSS of watermelon 8-12%
 Metallic sound when fruit is tapped denotes immaturity
 Uniform development of pink color from Centre to rind is necessary
 Watermelon reach maturity approximately 90-120 days after sowing
 Immature watermelon have turgid tendrils, a completely wilted tendril can be indicative of over maturity
 Seed maturity and edible maturity coincides with each other
 Fruit is rich in sugar, a sugar content of 17% is considered excellent quality
 Yield - 200-250 q/ ha in varieties
 300-400q/ha in hybrids
 Physiological disorders
 Blossom end rot - due to calcium deficiency
 More often in Indian cultivars white heart seen at the central portion indicating poor quality
 Hollow heart and fibrous flesh signifies over maturity

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General Agriculture
Varieties and its description:
Variety Specific features
Asahi Yamato Introduced from Japan, TSS 11-13%, Fruit weight 6-8kg
Sugar Baby Introduced from USA, TSS 11-13%, Suitable for North India
Pusa Rasal Developed by selection, old cultivar
Pusa Bedana Cross b/w Tetra 2 x Pusa Rasal. Seedless watermelon variety. Developed by
Dr. Kihara
Durgapur Meetha TSS 11%, dark red color, Matures 125 days after sowing
Durgapur Kesar Late cultivar. Flesh is yellow in colour
Durgapur Lal Cross b/w Sugar Baby x K-3 566. Unlobed leaf marker
Arka Manik Cross b/w IIHR 21 x Crimson Sweet, Resistance to powdery mildew and
anthracnose
Arka Jyothi Cross b/w IIHR 20 x Crimson sweet
Arka Madhura Triploid seedless. Suitable for year round production under protected condition

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General Agriculture
Muskmelon
 Economic importance, nutritive value and uses
 Immature melons are used fresh in salads, cooked or pickled
 Muskmelon provides a wholesome food
 Edible portion of melons contains water 90% and CHO 10%
 Vit-C content per 100 g of edible portion in Honey Dew is 32 mg and Cantaloupe is 45 mg
 Yellow and orange fleshed melons contain more than 350 mg of beta carotene
 Pickling melon is used in making pickles
 Candy can be prepared from muskmelon
 Flesh of muskmelon is used in ice cream in western countries
 Soil and climate:
 Muskmelon is susceptible to frost
 Cool night and warm days are ideal for accumulation of sugar in the fruits
 Maturity hasten if nights are warm
 Optimum temperature for seed germination 24 - 29°C
 Seedlings become ready for transplanting at 2-4 true leaf stage
 High temperature at the time of fruit maturity and ripening increases the sweetness

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General Agriculture

 Harvesting and yield

 Muskmelon is climacteric fruit
 Fruits are harvested at full slip stage except Hara Madhu
 For long distance transport fruits are harvested at half slip stage
 Honey Dew and Cassaba picked on the basis of external color because netting do not
separate at maturity
 Fruits are ready to picked at full maturity stage ready to be consumed as desert fruit
becomes ready in 30-35 days
 Phoot melon takes about 27-28 days from anthesis to harvesting
 More juicer the flesh, the less will be the keeping quality of the whole fruit
 TSS range of most of the cultivars at harvesting stage is 11-17%
 Yield –
 Pusa Rasraj: 25 t/ha
 Pusa Madhuras: 12-16 t/ha
 Pusa Sharbati: 10-13 t/ha

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General Agriculture

Variety Specific features

Pusa Madhuras TSS 12-14%, yield 180-200 q/ha
Pusa Sharbati Cross b/w Kutana x PMR-6, TSS 11-12%, early cultivar
Pusa Madhurima Unique shaped muskmelon variety with high yield (22.5 t/ha)
Pusa Sarda First variety of sarda melon, suitable for net house under north Indian plains
Pusa Rasraj Cross b/w Monoecious-3 x Durgapur Madhu. First monoecious hybrid
Arka Jeet TSS 14-17%, with high vitamin C
Arka Rajhans Tolerant to powdery mildew
Kashi Madhu Tolerant to powdery mildew, downy mildew. Having long storage capacity
Punjab Rasila Cross b/w Phoot x Indian cultivar
Hara Madhu Don't slip at maturity stage, never reaches at full maturity stage. Netting is
not followed for harvesting
Hisar Madhu Cross b/w Pusa Sharbathi x 75
Durgapur Madhu Early cultivar

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General Agriculture

Ridge gourd & Sponge gourd

 Economic importance, Nutritive value and uses:
 Use of plant growth regulators
 The genus derives its name from the product 'loofah',
 The sex ratio can be regulated by exogenous
which is used in bathing sponges, scrubber pads,
application of NAA @ 200ppm increases the
doormats, pillows, mattresses and also for cleaning
female flower production in ridge gourd and in
utensils
turn increases the yield
 Gelatinous compound present in Luffa is called as
 In sponge gourd, exogenous application of Ethrel
"Luffein“
250ppm has to be found beneficial
 Sponge gourd fruits contain higher protein and carotene
 Harvesting and Yield:
than ridge gourd
 The crop is ready for harvest in about 60-90 days
 Matured fruits of ridge gourd is used as bathing
after sowing
sponge
 The fruit should be harvested when they are
 Soil and climate
immature
 Well drained soil having pH 6.0-7.5 is ideal for
 If there is delay in harvesting, the fruits become
cultivation.
more fibrous and unfit for human consumption
 Luffa requires a long warm season for best production
 Yield: Average yield of sponge gourd and ridge
 Optimum temperature requirement for these crops is
gourd are 8-12 t/ha
25-27°C

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General Agriculture

Variety Special features

Ridge gourd
IIHR 8 It is moderately resistant to downy mildew

Pusa Nasdar Fruits club shaped

Pusa Nutan Suitable for spring summer and kharif season
Pant Torai-1 Fruits club shaped & more suitable for rainy season
Deepthi It is resistant to mosaic and downy mildew under field conditions
Satputia (Swarna Sawani) This is a cultivar of Bihar which is hermaphrodite. It is tolerant to powdery
mildew & downy mildew
Sponge gourd
Pusa Chikni Suitable for spring-summer & rainy seasons
Pusa Supriya Suitable for summer & kharif seasons. It is an improvement over Pusa Chikni
Pusa Sneha Suitable for long distance transport
Phule Prajakta Suitable for summer & kharif seasons

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IGKV CET BATCH 2025
General Agriculture
Ash gourd
 It is used in the preparation of Petha sweet and sugar candies
 Agra Petha is very popular in India
 The Ayurvedic 'Kooshmanda Rasayan' is prepared from Ash gourd
 Ash gourd is considered good for people suffering from nervousness
 Optimum temperature for Ash gourd cultivation is 24 - 30°C
 Fruit at maturity have white waxy surface
 Among all cucurbits, ash gourd having highest storage life
Variety Specific feature
Pusa Ujjwal First improved variety, Suitable for preparation of Petha sweet
Pusa Urmi Resistant to fruit fly
Pusa Shreyali -
Pusa Subzipetha Suitable for culinary purpose
Kashi Dhawal Suitable for preparation of Petha sweet
Kashi Ujwal Suitable for preparation of Candy/Petha sweet
Kashi Surbhi It is a distant hybrid

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IGKV CET BATCH 2025
General Agriculture
Pointed gourd
 It is dioecious crop and perennial in nature
Variety Special features
 Bengal-Assam area is the primary centre of
origin of Parwal Rajendra Parwal-1 Suitable for long distance
 Parwal is good crop for river bed cultivation transportation and tolerant to fruit fly
 Salicylic acid enhance post-harvest life of Rajendra Parwal-2 It is tolerant to vine and fruit rot as
fruits well as fruit fly
 Seed rate, Spacing, Harvesting and yield:
Swarna Rekha -
 'Parwal' is commercially propagated by vine
cuttings @ 2000-2500 cuttings/ha Swarna Alaukik Suitable for sweet preparation
 Spacing: Cutting may be transplanted at a Kashi Alankar Fruits are spindle shape
distance of 2x2 m
Narendra Parwal-260 It is tolerant to wilt disease complex
 Pointed gourd is ready to harvest in 80-90 days
after planting Narendra Parwal-307 It has very good shelf life
 Yield: It may vary from 6-8 tonnes/ha in the Narendra Parwal-604 Fruit light green in colour and strip less
first year, while it may increase to 14-15
tonnes/ha during the second year

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IGKV CET BATCH 2025
General Agriculture
Ivy gourd
 A semi- perennial and dioecious plant with small fruits
 It is sensitive to water logging conditions
 Training: Bower system is followed
 Propagation: Stem cuttings and seeds
 It is highly cross-pollinated crop
 5-10% of the vines of the male type should be planted in the field, to get high yields
 Immature fruits and tender shoots are used as a vegetable
 Yield: 10-20 t/ha
 Ready for harvesting in 3 months
 Ivy gourd contains laxative properties and can normalize blood sugar levels and is a good source of vitamin-C

Variety Remarks
Sulabha High yielding variety
Indira Kundru-05, Indira Kundru-35 -
Arka Neelanchal Sabuja High biomass, yield 20-25 t/ha. Gives 70-
80 harvest per season
Arka Neelachal Kunkhi Extra long fruit - 8.3 cm

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Chow-chow
 Chayote is a good source of 'vitamin - C’
 It is having high Calcium (Ca) content
 Most nutritious among all cucurbits. Its calorific value and
carbohydrates (6.3%) content is high  Propagation:
 The tuberous part of the root is starchy and eaten like a yam (can  By viviparous single seeded fruits
be fried)  Fruits are planted with broad end
 The fruit is roughly pear shaped downwards, 2/3rd portion below soil
 Single seeded fruit in cucurbits  Flowering starts 3-4 months after planting of
 Herbaceous, perennial and monoecious climbing vine with large fruits
tuberous roots  Yield and Storage:
 Optimum pH is 5.5-6.5  Storage life: 2-4 weeks under normal
 It is having Viviparous germination habit conditions
 Fruit is a single seeded pepo  Yield: 20-25 t/ha
 Fruit used for seed should not be stored at <10°C  Varieties: Round White, Long White,
 It is highly sensitive to frost Pointed Green, Broad Green and Creamy
 Major fruit bearing season is October November Green
 Chow Chow is a semi-perennial and last for 3-4 years
 Both male and female flowers are produced in same leaf axil

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Diseases Caused by Remarks

Downy mildew Pseudoperonospora cubensis During wet season, equivalent
lower surface is covered with
faint purplish fungal growth
Powdery mildew Erysiphe cichoracearum Especially prevalent in hot dry
conditions
Mosaic CMV Rarely affecting watermelon.
Severely affected cucumber
fruit may be almost entirely
white. Virus is readily
transferred by 'aphids'

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Insect pest Scientific name Remarks

Red pumpkin beetle Aulacophora foveicollis (Red Attack most of the cucurbits at
clour beetle) cotyledonary leaf stage. Bitter
gourd is not affected by these
beetles
Fruit fly Bactrocera cucurbitae or Serious pest of cucurbits. Lays
Bactrocera dorsalis eggs below the skin of young
fruits
Leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii Leaves with serpentine mines
Aphids Aphis gossypii (melon aphid), Suck sap from leaves at
Myzus persicae (peach aphid) cotyledonary stage
Pumpkin caterpillar Diaphania indica

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