INDIRA GANDHI KRISHI VISHWAVIDYALAYA

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, RAIPUR

AN ASSIGNMENT ON

CROP IMPROVEMENT IN GOURDS ( BITTER GOURD, RIDGE GOURD, SMOOTH GOURD,

AND BOTTLE GOURD)

COURSE TITLE – BREEDING OF VEGETABLE CROPS

COURSE CODE – VSC- 502
CREDIT HOURS – 3 (2+1)
YEAR/SEMESTER- PREVIOUS YEAR 1ST SEMESTER_____

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
DR. RAJSHREE GAYEN KRITIKA PAINKRA
MSC. PREVIOUS YEAR__
BITTER GOURD
Scientific name : Momordicacharantia L.
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Origin : Indo-Burma region
Chromosome No : 2n=22
Importance
1.The vegetable Momordica charantia L. belongs to cucurbitaceae, is
known variously
As bitter gourd , balsam pear, bitter melon, bitter cucumber and African
cucumber.
2.It occupies first rank among the cucurbits in respect of iron (1.8mg/100g),
vitamin C (88mg/100g).
3. Alkaloid momordica soides gives the bitter taste of the fruit.
4. Fruit is rich in P (55mg/100g), Ca (20mg/100g) and vitamin A (210IU/100g).
5. Fruit is wormicidal and cure stomach disorders and has beneficial effect on
the

Floral Biology
Bitter gourd is highly cross pollinated. Flowers are auxiliary with long pedicel
and are yellow in colour. Stamens are 5 in number with free filaments and
united anthers. Stigma is divided

Male flower Female flower

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BREEDING OBJECTIVES
1. Early fruiting.
2. High female to male sex ratio.
3. Whitish green to glossy green fruit colour depending upon consumer‘s
Preference.
4. Less ridged fruit surface.
5. Immature seeds for longer period during edible stage.
6. Higher yield (number of fruit weight). Fruit size variation as per consumer‘s
Preference (small 7.5-10cm long, medium long 10-15cm long 15-20cm and
Extra long 20-40cm).
7. Resistance to red pumpkin beetle, fruit fly, downy mildew and mosaic virus

BREEDING METHOD
Bitter gourd is highly cross pollinated in nature due to pre dominantly
monoecious sex form and entomophilous nature.
Selection
Single plant selection and mass selection methods were followed to develop
high Yielding lines of bitter gourd in India.
PusaMousami, Priyanka, Konkan Tara, ArkaHarit and PusaVishesh.
Heterosis Breeding
Heterosis in bitter gourd was investigated at the Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, New Delhi,
Pusa hybrid-1
RHR BGH-1
Mutation Breeding
One such bitter gourd cultivar, MDU 1, developed as a result of gamma
radiation (seed treatment) of the landrace cultivar MC 103, was found to
posses improved Yield.

Hybridization: Major varieties developed through hybridization are

Pusa hybrid-1 :Pusa Do Mausami × Pusa Vishesh

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Pusa hybrid-2 :S-63 × Pusa Do Mausami.
Urvasi:IC-85650B × IC-4435
Phule Green Gold:Green long × Delhi Local
BTH-7:VRBT-3A × VBRT-82-1
BTH-165:KB-1 × VRBT-36
Polyploidy Breeding:
Tetraploidy was induced by colchicines treatment. Soaked seeds(24hr) and
sprouted seeds were treated separately with 0.1 and 0.3 % colchicines for
6,12 and 24 hr.Soaked seed treatment for 24 hrcolchicines were effective.

Resistance varieties for Biotic and abiotic stress

Varieties Features
Kalayanpur Barahmasi Tolerant to fruit fly and mosaicvirus
Phule BG4. Resistance to fruit fly
Kalyanpur Sona Tolerant to mosaic virus and fruit fly
Phule Green Gold. Tolerant to downy mildew
BG 98 and BG 102. Resistant to red pumpkin beetle
Pant karela-1. Highly resistant to red pumpkin beetle
BTH-7. Field tolerant to powdery mildew
BTH-165 Tolerant to powdery and downy mildew

VARIETIES AND HYBRIDS

Consumer preferences in bitter gourd vary from region to region depending
on size, Colour, presence or absence of tubercles / ridges and bitterness of
fruits. Accordingly a Number of varieties are developed in India and details
are furnished below:

Variety Organization Breeding Method Characteristics

Pusa Do Mousmi IARI New Delhi Selection The fruit are dark
green and

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 long ,medium
thick club
shaped.Fruit
weight 100 to
120g. Yield 12 to
15 t/ha.
Pusa Hybrid 1 IARI New Delhi Hybridization Fruits medium
thick, long and
gloss green, yield
20 t/ha in 120
days
Pusa Vishesh IARI, New Delhi Selection from a Suitable for
local collection growing during
summer. Fruits
glossy green
medium long and
thick.
Arka Harit IIHR, Bangalore Selection The fruit are
short, spindle
shaped, attractive,
glossy green with
smooth regular
ribs and thick
flesh with
moderate
bitterness. Yield 9-
12 t/ha.
Pant Karela 1 GBPUAT, Selection This is a selection
Pantnagar from inbreds of
indigenous
germplasm at
Pantnagar
released in 59
1999 by UP State
variety release
committee. Fruits
are thick 15cm
long, Yield is
about 150q/ha

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Coimbatore long TNAU, Selection It is a local type
Green Coimbatore selected at TNAU,
Coimbatore. Fruit
are extra long, up
to 60cm, dark
green weighing
300-400g yield
potential is
180q/ha
Phule Ujwala MPKV, Rahuri Selection Fruits 18-20cm
long, dark green
in colour with a
few white
tubercles, average
yield 30-35t/ha.
CO.1 TNAU, Fruits dark green
Coimbatore with medium
length (20-25 cm)
and weight (100-
120 g). Yield 14
t/ha.
Phule Priyanka MPKV, Rahuri Hybridization Hybrid variety
with dark
coloured fruits.
Fruits are 20-
25cm long with
tubercles
Punjab 14 Punjab Plants bushy and
Agricultural bear light green
University, fruits with
Ludhiana average weight of
35 g. Yield 14 t/ha

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RIDGE GOURD & SPONGE GOURD

Ridge Gourd (Luffa acutangula )

Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica )
Family - Cucurbitaceae
CHROMOSOME NO : 2n=26
Ridge and sponge gourd can be grown throughout the year and are used as
vegetables. It is morepopular vegetable in the south and east India.
Origin – India
Wild species
Luffa graveolens, Luffa echinata
Importance of the crop
 Ridge or ribbed gourd or four-angled gourd or silky gourd is also known as
kali toria.
 Both Luffa ssp. Contain, a gelatinous compound called luffein. It has lots
of medicinal uses.
 Sponge gourd contains higher protein and carotene than ridge gourd.
 The sponge gourd contains 18 mg vitamin C per 100 g edible protein.
 Ridge & sponge both are popular vegetable as spring-summer & rainy
season crops.
 Sponge gourd is strictly monoecious in nature.
 Ridge gourd requires long warm climate.
 Fruits are harvested at tender stage.
 Used in bathing sponge.
 Commercially trained on kniffin system.
 Sponge gourd is propagated by seed.

MORPHOLOGY:

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  The fruit is oblong or cylindrical.
 L. cylindrical a vigorous vine with slender, five angled stem, deltoid to
nearly orbicular leaves In outline, but acutely pointed at the apex usually
three to seven lobed, scerabrous and dentate Margins. (Whitaker and
Davis, 1962).
 Fruit are nearly cylindrical, one to two fit long, straight or curved,
normally with light furrows Or stripes but not ribbed.
 Seed are black, flat, smooth without margins, 10-15mm long.

BOTANICAL

 Chromosome number 2n=26.

 The genus Luffa ssp. Is monoecious with annual vines.
 Male inflorescence is raceme of several flowers and peduncle 15-35cm
long.
 Female flowers are solitary, borne axillary & male flowers are 4-5cm in
diameter, fragrant, calyx 5 Partite, glandular, petals yellow, obovate, 2-
2.5cm long, stamen 3, ovary inferior, filiform, with 10 Longitudinal ribs on
which are swollen glands.
 Anthesis opening in the evening and remain open through the night and
ready for selling and Pollination in the early morning. (Pathak and
Singh,1949).

BREEDING OBECTIVES
a. Earliness fruiting.
b. High female:male sex ratio.
c. Uniform thick cylindrical fruits free from bitterness.
d. Tender, fibrous fruit for longer time.
e.High fruit yield (high fruit number and weight).
f. Resistance to powdery mildew and downy mildew.

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 g.Resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.

BREEDING METHOD

S.N. METHODS VARIETY DEVELOPED CHARACTERS

BY-
1. Selection CO1 (from a Tamil Nadu The vines are
local type) moderately
vigorous.
2. CO2 Tamil Nadu Super long
fruit even 90-
100 cm but
with less seed
content than
Co.1.
3. Pusa Nasadar IARI, New Early variety
Delhi wit light green
and medium-
sized fruit
4 Panjab Improved
sadabahar variety.
Satputia (local Hermaphrodite
variety of Bihar) Flower, Fruit
are Borne in
cluster.
B. pure line Selection IIHR-8 IIHR, Good cooking
Banglore quality and it is
moderately
resistant to
downy mildew.

RESISTANCE FOR BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS

DEVELOPED BY VARIETY SPEIAL FEATURE

IIHR Banglore Arka Sumeet Fruits lush green,
cylindrical, 55 cm long

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 2.5 cm girth and 380 g
weight with prominent
ridges, delicate aroma.
Days to first harvest 50-
55.
Arka Sujata Fruits lush green,
cylindrical, medium
long (35-45 cm) and
average weight (350g).
Yield 63 t/ha in 100
days.
IARI, New Delhi Pusa Nasdar Fruits club shaped, light
green in colour, 15-20
fruits / plant, yield 15-
16 t/ha
Pantnagar. Pusa Toria- 1 Fruits 5 cm long and
club shaped, yield 10
t/ha. More suitable for
rainy season
GBPU&T, Tamil Nadu CO 1 Fruits long (60-75 cm),
Ag. University first harvest in 55 days,
10-12 fruits / plant
weighing 3-4 fruits / kg.
PKM-1 Fruits dark green,
average weight 300g,
Ridge gourd

VARIETIES OF SPONGE GOURD-

SN DEVELOPED BY VARIETY CHARACTERS YIELD q/ha

1 IARI, New Delhi Pusa Chikni ruits become 350-400
ready for
picking in
about 45 to 60
days
2 Pusa Sneha Fruits are
suitable for
long distance

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 transportation.
Crop is ready
for 40 to 65
days.
3 Pusa Supriya Racemose and 10-12 fruit
unisexual. 15- weighing a
20cm long. kg/vine.
4 VRC, Kalyanpur Kalyanpur Average yield 350-400
Chikni is 35 to 40
t/ha.

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 BOTTLE GOURD

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria, 2n= 22)

is one of the important cucurbits in India,
both as a rainy season and summer season
vegetable. It is also known as white-flowered
gourd. It is one of the most important
vegetables of ancient China.

BOTANY
 Bottle gourd is monoecious, annual vine with soft pubescence. The
leaves are cordate-ovate to reniform ovate, 15-30 cm across, not
lobed.
 The pistillate flowers are single with short peduncle and hairy ovary.
Ovary has three placentae with numerous ovules. The fruits are
variable in size and shape. In shape, they are cylindrical, oval, egg
shaped, club shaped, round etc.
 There are three stamens, two as compound and one as single. Since
flowers open at night, selfing/crossing must be done earliest in the
morning. If possible, during night also, it could be done.

BREEDING GOALS

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  High yield
 Greater fruit number
 Greater fruit weight
 Earliness (appearance of pistillate flowers at early node number)
 High female: male flower ratio
 Round, long, club shaped fruit
 Sparse hairs persisting on skin
 No fibrous flesh at edible stage
 No bitter fruit
 Resistance to powdery mildew, downy mildew and cucumber mosaic
virus and red pumpkin beetle

BREEDING METHODS

 Inbreeding in land races followed by individual plant selection has

been Found effective method of breeding to develop pureline
cultivars of cucurbits Including bottle gourd.
 Similarly two parental cultivars can be crossed and the typical
pedigree/bulk/back cross method of breeding can be used.
 However, in view of reported heterosis by some authors and the fact
that cylindrical fruit shape could be easily obtained by crossing long
and round fruited varieties, heterosis breeding has also been
followed.
 Some hybrid bottle gourd varieties were released as long back as
1971 by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (Choudhury
and Singh, 1971). PusaMeghdoot (long) gave an increase in total yield
of 75 % while in PusaManjari (round) increase in total yield was 106%.

Insect Resistance Breeding

 Nath (1971) has reviewed insect resistance breeding in cucurbits. The

three major insects of cucurbits including bottle gourd are red
pumpkin beetle (Aulacophorasp), fruit fly (Dacussp) and aphid (Aphis
sp). Red pumpkin beetle

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  The degree of fruit damage by fruit fly is recorded in terms of
damaged showing punctures on cach vine twice a week and after
record such fruits harvested. The fruits with no damage are left on
vine till maturity to confirm their resistance against the fly at every
stage of fruit development. The percentage total fruit damaged
throughout the season is calculated for each line. The rating system is
as follows:

Highly resistant – 1-10% damage

Resistant – 11-25% damage

Medium resistant – 26-50% damage

Susceptible – 51-75% damage

Highly susceptible – 76-100% damage

For screening against aphids, artificial infestation in the seedling stage is

required.

Disease Resistance:

 PI 271353 – resistant to cucumber mosaic virus, squash mosaic virus,

tobacco ring spot virus, tomato ring spot virus, watermelon mosaic
virus.

 Doodhi Long Green and Three Feet Long Green – moderately

resistant to five isolates of Sphaerotheca

 Taiwan variety Renshi – highly resistant to Fusarium wilt.

IMPROVED CULTIVAR OF BOTTEL GOURD

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 Source Cultivar Parentage Features
IARI New Delhi Pusa Meghdoot Pusa Summer Suitable for both
Profile Long x spring and
Sel.2 summer season.
Pusa Summer Selection from a Suitable for
Profile Long local type summer kharif
season
Pusa Summer Selection from a Suitable for
Profile Round local cultivar summer summer
and kharif crop
Pusa Manjari Pusa Summer 106 percent high
Profile Long x yielder then
Sel.11 PSPRP
Pusa Hybrid 3 Pusa Naveen x For long distance
Sel P 8 transeportaion,
TNAU CO 1 Selecton from a
Coimbatore local variety
MPKV Rahuri Samrat Selectin from a Good for box
local Germplasm packing.
of Maharastra
GBPUAT Pant Sankar PBOG 22 x PBOG Resistance to
Pantnagar Lauki 1 40 Powdery mildew
Pant Sankar PBOG 22 x PBOG Suitable for hill
Lauki 2 61 and plain reason
Pant Lauki 4 Pureline Suitable for hill
Selection from and plain reason
PBOG 61

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