High yielding hybrid with more momordicine content

By Our Agriculture Correspondent

HIGH yielding bitter gourd hybrid with high momordicine content has been developed by the scientists at the department of Vegetable crops, Horticultural college and research institute, Coimbatore. It has recently been released for commercial cultivation by the farmers by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore under the name `` CO (Bgo)H 1''.

The new F1 hybrid bitter gourd yields creamy white, light green tinged stout fruits, which are ideal for making fried curries and 'poriyal', according to the scientists. Each fruit can weigh on an average 300 g. A derivative of the cross between MC 84 and MDU 1, the new hybrid has recorded an average yield of 44.4 tonnes from a hectare in 115 to 120 days. It has a potential to yield up to 51.29 tonnes per hectare.

This hybrid is recommended for cultivation under irrigated conditions in Coimbatore, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Vellore, Theni, Madurai and Virudhunagar districts.

The ideal seasons for planting are June-September and December- March. The hybrid is moderately susceptible to Cercospora leaf spot disease, and vulnerable to the attacks of leaf caterpillar and epilachna beetle, according to the scientists.

It has been compared with two open pollinated varieties CO1 and MDU 1, and it proved its superiority in yield in all the trials. It recorded 339.16 per cent higher yield than CO 1, and 122.44 per cent more yield than MDU 1, according to the scientists.

The researchers have developed an easy to follow seed production technology so that some progressive farmers could take up seed production profitably.

The hybrid can be grown can be grown in sandy loamy with plenty of organic amendments. Good drainage is absolutely essential for raising it successfully. The field should thoroughly worked to get fine tilth, and pits of 30 cm by 30 cm by 30 cm should be dug at an espacement of 1.5 m by 1.5 m.

Two seeds should be sown in a pit.

About 2 kg seeds will be required to cover a hectare. Small basins should be formed around the pits to retain sufficient water. The pits should be regularly irrigated.

Liberal quantities of farmyard manure should be added to the pits, and as basal dressing 10 g of NPK 6:12:12 should be added to each pit. After 30 days of sowing, about 10 g nitrogen should applied to each pit as top dressing.

The pits should hoed and weeded three times, and stakes should be provided for the young plants to reach the pandals.

By adopting proper plant protection measures, the major pests and diseases can be managed well. The fruits can be harvested when they are fully-grown, and still tender to get premium price in the market.

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Section  : Science & Tech
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