Pusa Santushti: a new bottle gourd

摘要

Pusa Santushti is a new high-yielding cultivar of bottle gourd recommended by All India Coordinated Research Projects on Vegetable Crops in February 2008 for release in agro-ecological zone IV and VII of India comprising Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,Jharkhand, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra. its fruits are attractive green, smooth with normal pubescence, pear-shaped, ~20cm of fruit length and ~12cm fruit diameter at edible stage. The fruit sets under low night temperature (10-12°C) as well ashigh temperature (35-40°C) under open field condition of Delhi. Individual fruit weight varies from 0.8 to 1.0 kg and first fruit matures ~60 days after sowing. The fruits are superior in nutritional qualities (vitamin C-7.12, phosphorus - 18.15, calcium-19.45 and iron-1.10 mg/IOOg edible portion) to Pusa Sandesh (round-fruited cultivar).