18 - Snake gourd: Trichosanthes anguina L.

Abstract

Publisher Summary Snake Gourd, Trichosanthes anguina L., is one of the cucurbit vegetables, grown particularly in India, where it is grown throughout the year. The center of origin of snake gourd is not precisely known, but India or the Indo-Malayan region is its original home. It is widely distributed in south-east Asia, extending through Malaya to north Australia in one direction and through China and Japan in another. Snake gourd is considered a good source of minerals, fiber, and other nutrients and is a wholesome and healthy addition to the diet. The medicinal value of snake gourd has been recognized more recently. Trichosanthes is one of the largest genera of Cucurbitaceae; it includes about 44 species of which 22 occur in India. The chapter discusses the taxonomy, cytogenetics, germplasm resources, and reproductive biology of snake gourd. As snake gourd is a highly cross-pollinated crop, mass selection, pedigree, and bulk population methods are appropriate for the breeding of this vegetable. Considerable variability of snake gourd crops exists in many parts of the world. There is a need to assemble the germplasm. The types that are under cultivation at present are nondescript ones. This necessitates a need-based crop improvement program for developing high-yielding varieties with superior quality fruits. As snake gourd is a monoecious crop, exploitation of heterosis is possible by regulating flowering by growth regulator application and by identification of specific combinations with heterotic effects for economic characters. Pythium fruit rot, mosaic disease, and high incidence of fruit fly are the major problems in this crop.