Scientific name: Momordica charantia L.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Chromosome number :2n=22

Origin: Tropical Asia (Eastern India and Southern China)

Common names: Balsam pear, Bitter cucumber

  • The fruits are rich in iron, vit A, B, C and are an great source of proteins and minerals.
  • Three classes of organic compounds encountered in foods are particularly associated with bitterness i.e. the alkaloids, glycosides and peptides.
  • It is considered good for curing blood diseases, rheumatism, diabetes and asthma.
  • Bitter gourd leaves is good for treating ulcers.
  • It has been reported that protein of bitter gourd inhibited growth of immune deficiency virus in human cell cultures.

Area and production

  • It is widely grown in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore and extensively grown in China, Japan, South-East Asia, tropical Africa and South America.
  • Some of the leading states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Varieties

  • CO 1
  • MDU 1
  • Arka Harit
  • VK1
  • Priya
  • Preethi
  • Pusa Do Mausmi
  • Pusa Vishesh
  • Priyanka (Sel.1010)
  • Phule Green

Hybrids

  • COBgoH1

Climate

  • It can be grown under both tropical and sub-tropical climates but warm climate is best for production.
  • At temperature between 25°- 30°C, the yield is high.
  • When temperature is above 36°C there is poor production of female flowers resulting in poor yield.

Soil

  • This crop can be grown in all types of soils but sandy loam and silt loam soils are most suitable.
  • The pH of soil would be 6.5-7.0.
  • For higher production, the soil should be rich in organic manure.
  • The land should have proper drainage facility.

Preparation of field

  • Plough the field for 3-4 times
  • Apply 20-25 tonnes of FYM at the last ploughing.

Season of sowing 

Hills - April to July.

Plains - January-March and June - July.

Seed rate - 4 -5 kg/ ha

Sowing

  • Four seeds are sown per pit and later two to three seedlings per pit are retained.
  • Instead of sowing in the main field, the seeds can be sown in polythene bags and can be shifted to pits in the main field after 15-20 days.
  • The Seeds have to be treated with Thiram @ 2g/kg of seeds.

Spacing - 2 x 1.5 m

Manures and fertilizers

  • Apply 10 kg of FYM per pit (20 t/ha) 100 g of NPK 6:12:12/pit as basal and 10 g of N/pit 30 days after sowing.
  • Apply Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria 2 kg/ha and Pseudomonas @ 2.5 kg/ha along with FYM 50 kg and neem cake @ 100 kg before last ploughing

Irrigation

  • Since bitter gourd is sown both in rainy and summer seasons,rainy season crop normally does not require much watering except during dry season.
  • The crop should be irrigated immediatly after planting in summer and subsequently at 2-3 days interval until flowering.

Weed control

  • The field should be free from weeds.
  • If weed emerge apply Glycophosphate at 4.5kg/ha.

Growth regulators

  • Ethrel at 25ppm increases female flowers.
  • GA at 60ppm reduces the ratio of male: female flowers.
  • Seed treatment with B9 at 3-4 ppm for 20 hours gave the highest number of female flowers per plant.

Pest

Mites

  • Spray dicofol 18.5 % SC @ 2.5 ml per litre of water.

Aphid

  • Spray Imidachloprid @ 0.5 ml/lit along with Teepol for better adhesion and coverage.

Beetles, fruit flies and caterpillars

  • Spraying Malathion 50 EC 1ml/lit or Dimethoate 30 EC 1ml/lit or Methyl demeton 25 EC 1ml/lit

Disease 

Powdery mildew

  • Spraying Dinocap 1ml/lit or Carbendazim 0.5 g/lit.

Downy mildew

  • Spraying Mancozeb or Chlorothalonil 2 g/lit twice at 10 days interval

Harvesting

  • Immature tender fruits are harvested. The colour of tender fruit is light-green or darkgreen whitish- green depending upon variety.

Yield

Varieties: 14 t/ha in 140 - 150 days.

Hybrids : 40 t/ha in 180 days   

Storage

  • After harvesting remove all fruits affected with insect pests or diseases and deformed ones.
  • The harvested fruits cannot be kept for long time and to be sent to market as soon as possible.
  • By sprinkling water over the fruits, freshness can be maintained for sometime in the initial stage.
  • Fruits can be packed in polypropylene bag for extended shelflife.
  • Fruits in the basket can be kept for 2-3 days.


Reference

Textbook of vegetable crops by Prem nath k.R.M.swamy

Vegetable science by D.singh