Effect of vine pruning on yield and quality of sweet gourd (cucurbita muschata)

Abstract

Abstract : A study was conducted to evaluate the pruning response on yield performance and fruit quality of sweet gourd at four different treatments viz.Tj (Maintaining three secondary vines after pruning), T2 (Maintaining four secondary vines after pruning), T3 (Maintaining five secondary vines after pruning) and T4 (control).Ti treatment (3-vine), T2 treatment (4-vine) and T3 treatment (5-vine) showed statistically similar performance (0.43, 0.49 and 0.45 respectively) in respect of number of fruits per vine.T3 treatment (5-vine) produced the highest number of fruits per plant (2.23). The fruit yield significantly varied ranging from 2.24 to 3.57 kg/plant among the treatments. The treatment T3 (5-vine) produced the highest yield per plant (3.57 kg) resulting commercial yield 11.90 ton/ha. The highest percentage (57%) of large fruits (>2000g) was obtained from Tj treatment. The highest percentage of flat round (78%), ball round (28%) and oval (44%) shape of fruit was found in T3 treatment (5-vine) and T2 treatment (4-vine) respectively. Carotene content varied significantly among the treatments ranging from 0.158 mg to 0.223 mg/lOOg of best sweet gourd. T3 treatment (5-vine) produced the fruit which was the highest in carotene content and T2 (4-vine) produced the lowest carotene content fruit. Total soluble solids ranged from 7.67% to 10.50%. Reducing Sugar also varied significantly among the different treatments and the highest reducing sugar (0.84%) was found in the treatment T3. Significant variation was observed in the total sugar ranging from 1.00 to 1.24%. The highest amount of non reducing sugar was showed by the T3 treatment (5-vine).