Systematics of Rigde Gourd(Luffa acutangula)

systematics in detail

1. Ridge gourd Presented by, R. NIRMAL RAJ

2. INTRO..... Ridge gourd is a very important Indian vegetable crop and it can be grown throughout the year. Ridge gourd in green stage and leaves with stem are used as vegetable. Both ridge or ribbed gourd and smooth or sponge gourd belong to genus Luffa . Genus name was derived from the product “ Loofah ” used as bathing sponges, scrubber pads etc... Species contain a gelatinous compound called luffein .

3. Taxonomic position.... Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Dilleniidae Order: Violales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Luffa Species:   acutangula Ridge Gourd ( Luffa acutangula Roxb .) (2n = 26)

4. Origin.... The Luffa has essentially old world origin in subtropical Asian region including particularly India (Kalloo, 1993).

5. Distribution...... Wild forms of L.acutangula are still found in North West India. L.. cylindrica originated from L.acutangula , but the two species differ so much in morphology and in time of flowering that such an origin does not seem likely. Furthermore, L.cylindrica is more widespread than L.actutangula and tends to go wild in many parts of the tropics. It has evolved into many forms, and the best varieties for fiber (Sponges) are now found in japan . Both species are introduced to all parts of the tropics.

6. Other related species...... L.cylindrica L.echinata L.graveolens L.tuberosa L.umbellata L.aegyptica L.amara L.operculata L.saccata

7. L.cylindrica L.echinata

8. L.graveolens L.tuberosa

9. L.aegyptica L.amara

10. L.operculata L.saccata L.cylindrica, echinata , graveolens , tuberosa , umbellata species are found in India .

11. Botany... An annual, climbing herb . Stem 5- angled, scabrous along ribs . Tendrils robust, often 3- fid, puberulous.  Leaves sub circular, membranous , often 5-7 lobed , both surfaces puberulous, petioles 8-12 cm long, scabrous . Plants monoecious .

12.  Lateral Shoots Tendrils Young Plant

13. Male flowers.... 17-20 flowered in racemes at the apex of peduncle, peduncles 10-15 cm long, pedicels 1-4 cm long, white-puberulous. Probracts 3-7 x 2-4 mm, fleshy, green, ovate with 3-10 glistening glands on the upper surface, calyx tube campanulate , lobes lanceolate, 4-6 x 2-3 mm, apex acuminate, slightly reflexed , densely white-pubescent, 1-nerved.   Corolla pale yellow, lobes obcordate , both surfaces sub glabrous , stamens 3, free, 1 unilocular , 2 bilocular , filaments 3-4 mm long,bearded at the base, anthers puberulous.

14. Male flower and bud...

15. Female flowers..... Peduncles 5-10 cm long, ovary elongate, 10-angular, apex constricted, style short, stigmas 3, expanded, 2-lipped.

16. Hand pollination....

17. Fruits.... Fruits clavate -oblong, acutely 10-angled, apex obtuse or slightly acute.

18. Seeds... Seeds ovate, verrucose, 10-12 x 7-8 mm, 2 mm thick, black.   Seeds are protected by the sponge-like network of fibers .  Seeds stored in cow dung.  Commercial seeds