<i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized Cucurbit
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Luffa cylindrica</em></span> (L.) M. Roem (Sponge gourd, Niyan wetakolu) is an emerging high potential crop in Asia. In Sri Lanka, it is considered as an underutilized vegetable. Although the crop has been culti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
2012-09-01
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| Series: | Tropical Agricultural Research |
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| Online Access: | https://tar.sljol.info/articles/4650 |
| _version_ | 1811277261574242304 |
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| author | MWKP Silva RHG Ranil RM Fonseka |
| author_facet | MWKP Silva RHG Ranil RM Fonseka |
| author_sort | MWKP Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Luffa cylindrica</em></span> (L.) M. Roem (Sponge gourd, Niyan wetakolu) is an emerging high potential crop in Asia. In Sri Lanka, it is considered as an underutilized vegetable. Although the crop has been cultivated in both dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka for a long time, little information is available on the morphology, floral biology, growth and yield performance of the crop under these conditions. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the growth and yield performances under different trellising methods, floral biology, sponge yield, and pest and disease occurrence of sponge gourd using scientifically accepted methods. Three types of trellising were tested to optimize the final yield. The results revealed that horizontal type trellising is ideal for cultivation of sponge gourd and the average yield was 8.4 t/ha under existing environmental conditions. There were no significant differences in fruit length and diameter among different trellising methods. However, the fruit number differed significantly among those trellising methods. Floral biology, pest and diseases occurrence and ethnobotanical uses of sponge gourds were also documented. These data may provide baseline information for future studies on yield improvement, variety development and subsequent development of agronomic package for cultivation of sponge gourd. It is recommended to repeat this study for another 2-3 seasons, while initiating concurrent studies on fiber quality to exploit industrial and export potential.</p><p><em>Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 23 (2): 186-191 (2012)</em></p>DOI: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i2.4650">http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i2.4650</a></span> |
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| issn | 1016-1422 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:12:32Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Agricultural Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c11df3d272c413e8459fc2185bc7c162022-12-22T03:11:02ZengPostgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of PeradeniyaTropical Agricultural Research1016-14222012-09-0123218619110.4038/tar.v23i2.46503778<i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized CucurbitMWKP Silva0RHG Ranil1RM Fonseka2Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of PeradeniyaDepartment of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, PeradeniyaDepartment of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Luffa cylindrica</em></span> (L.) M. Roem (Sponge gourd, Niyan wetakolu) is an emerging high potential crop in Asia. In Sri Lanka, it is considered as an underutilized vegetable. Although the crop has been cultivated in both dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka for a long time, little information is available on the morphology, floral biology, growth and yield performance of the crop under these conditions. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the growth and yield performances under different trellising methods, floral biology, sponge yield, and pest and disease occurrence of sponge gourd using scientifically accepted methods. Three types of trellising were tested to optimize the final yield. The results revealed that horizontal type trellising is ideal for cultivation of sponge gourd and the average yield was 8.4 t/ha under existing environmental conditions. There were no significant differences in fruit length and diameter among different trellising methods. However, the fruit number differed significantly among those trellising methods. Floral biology, pest and diseases occurrence and ethnobotanical uses of sponge gourds were also documented. These data may provide baseline information for future studies on yield improvement, variety development and subsequent development of agronomic package for cultivation of sponge gourd. It is recommended to repeat this study for another 2-3 seasons, while initiating concurrent studies on fiber quality to exploit industrial and export potential.</p><p><em>Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 23 (2): 186-191 (2012)</em></p>DOI: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i2.4650">http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v23i2.4650</a></span>https://tar.sljol.info/articles/4650floral biologyluffa cylindricatrellising methodyield performance |
| spellingShingle | MWKP Silva RHG Ranil RM Fonseka <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized Cucurbit Tropical Agricultural Research floral biology luffa cylindrica trellising method yield performance |
| title | <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized Cucurbit |
| title_full | <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized Cucurbit |
| title_fullStr | <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized Cucurbit |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized Cucurbit |
| title_short | <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) M. Roemer (Sponge Gourd-<i>Niyan wetakolu</i>): An Emerging High Potential Underutilized Cucurbit |
| title_sort | i luffa cylindrica i l m roemer sponge gourd i niyan wetakolu i an emerging high potential underutilized cucurbit |
| topic | floral biology luffa cylindrica trellising method yield performance |
| url | https://tar.sljol.info/articles/4650 |
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