Studies on seed production and post harvest techniques in ridge gourd luffa acutangula l roxb

Abstract

An investigation was carried out in Water and Land Management Institute and College of newlineAgriculture, Dharwad during summer 2002-03 and kharif 2003-04 to study the effect of trailing newlinemethods, NPK fertilizer levels, growth regulators, stages of harvest, drying methods and storability on newlineridge gourd cv. Jaipur Long. newlineDuring both summer and kharif season, telephone method of trailing gave higher seed yield newline(475.55 and 382.82 kg/ha) seed germination (96.39 and 90.10%) and seedling vigour index (3887 newlineand 3453) compared to Farmers method and it was on par with Pendal method. newlineSoil application of 100:100:100 kg NPK per ha recorded higher seed yield (439.25 and 347.56 newlinekg/ha), germination (96.04 and 90.43%) and vigour index (3940 and 3492) during both summer and newlinekharif season, respectively compared to 75:75:75 and 50:50:50 kg NPK per ha. newlineFoliar spray of NAA at 50 ppm at four leaf, flower and fruit initiation stage resulted in higher newlineseed yield (464.32 and 310.62 kg/ha), germination (96.82 and 89.96%) and vigour index (3534 and newline3376) during summer and kharif seasons, respectively compared to ethrel 500 ppm and GA3 50 ppm. newlineFruits harvested after vine drying recorded higher seed germination (93.05 and 89.08%) and newlinevigour index (4075 and 3533) and was on par with colour break stage during both summer and kharif newlineseason, respectively. newlineThe seeds dried under shade maintained higher germination (83.67 and 79.37%) and vigour newlineindex (3546 and 3032) compared to the seeds dried under sun and hot air oven (450C) method of newlinedrying. newlineThe seeds treated with thiram (2 g/kg) or chlorax (5 g/kg) stored either in aluminium pouch or newlinepoly bags maintained higher seed quality parameters for 12 months of storage period. newlineRidge gourd seed crop raised in summer recorded higher seed yield and quality parameters newlinethan kharif season.