F1 Platinum 1008

Crop Name	Wax Gourd
Hybrid Name	F1 Platinum 1008
Segment	Cylindrical
Plant Habit	Vine
Maturity Period	60–65 DAS
Characteristics	• Strong vigorous vines with attractive green leaves • Attractive green colored oblong fruits • Fruits 28–32 cm long • Waxless hybrid • High yielding potential with prolific bearing
Average Fruit Weight	2–3 Kgs
Climate	Wax Gourd is a warm season crop; a temperature of 18–30 °C is optimum.
Sowing Window	Rainy and Winter
Focused Market	East India, TN, KA, KL

Parameter

Description

Scientific name

Benincasa hispida

Hybrid

F1 Platinum 1008

Soil

Wax Gourd can be grown in various kinds of soil but sandy loam to loam soil is ideal. A well- drained field should be incorporated with organic fertilizer before planting. It does best at a pH of 6.0-7.0

Land Preparation

The land should be thoroughly prepared by ploughing 4-5 times. FYM @ 25-30 t/ha should be mixed thoroughly in the field.

Spacing

150*60 cm

Climate

Wax Gourd is a warm season crop but can withstand cool weather. The plant is also tolerant to partial shade. A temperature of 18-30 °C is found optimum for its cultivation.

Season

Rainy and Winter

Seed Rate

1-1.5 kg/Ha

Fertilizers & Manures

Type	Quantity	Notes
FYM	25-30 t/ha
Nitrogen (N)	200 Kg/Ha
Phosphorus (P₂O₅)	25 Kg/Ha	75 % basal dose
Potassium (K₂O)	100 Kg/Ha
Any special cases: No

Irrigation

Weekly once irrigation needed in rainy season based on soil moisture, 2 times in winter

Weed Control

Manual Weeding 2-3 times required

Any special crop practices

Diseases

Name of the diseases	Symptoms & management
Powdery Mildew	This disease is favored by high humidity, white powdery residue primarily on the upper leaf surface. On the lower surface of the leaves circular patches or spots appear. Severely attacked leaves become brown and defoliation Control : Carbendazim (1ml/litre of water) or Karathane (0.5 ml/litre of water) , tebuconazole 50 % + Trifloxystrobin 25 % @ 0.5 gm / ltr or Meptyl dinocap @ 0.5 gm /ltr
Downy Mildew	Downy mildew is caused by the fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis. It is prevalent in areas of high humidity and disease is first seen as yellow angular spots on the upper surface of the leaves. Under conditions of high humidity, whitish powdery growth appears on the lower surface of the leaves. The disease spreads rapidly killing the plant quickly through rapid defoliation Control : Metalaxyl 4% + Mancozeb 64 % (2 gm/L), Carbendazim 12 % + Mancozeb 64 % WP @ 2 gm / ltr,
Alternaria leaf blight	Causes dark, circular lesions with concentric rings on leaves. Control : Carbendizim 12% + Mancozeb 3% WP (2g.L)
Gummy Stem Blight	It is fungal disease with soil borne nature produce water-soaked lesions on leaves and stems, which can turn brown or tan and eventually become cankers that exude a gummy substance Control : Use disease free seeds, crop rotation , paste stem with COC 50% WP 3g/L, Chlorthalonil 75 % @ 2 gm /lt

Pests

Name of the pests	Symptoms & management
Aphids	Colonies of nymphs and adults attack leaves and tender shoots and suck the sap; Leaves curl and dry up. Control : Acepahte 75 % SP (1.5 g/L), Dimethioate 1.5ml/L, Imidacloprid 30.5 % SC @ 0.25 ml / ltr, Diafenthiuron 50 % WP @ 1 gm /ltr, 30-35 blue sticky traps / Ha
Fruit fly	Attack fruits. Reddish dark brown flies with hyaline wings, lay eggs under the skin of the fruits; Maggots feed on the pulp of fruits. Infested fruits start rotting and rendered them unfit for human consumption; Fruits show dark-brown, rotten, circular patches and fall off prematurely Control : Clean cultivation, i.e. removal and destruction of fallen & infested fruits daily. Deep ploughing to expose hibernating stages Application of spray baits. 30-35 pheromone traps /Ha
Pumpkin beetle	Adult beetle lacerates the leaves and flower buds causing reduction and photosynthetic area and ultimately resulting in yield loss. Control : Quinalphos 25 % EC @ 2ml/ltr
Army worm	The caterpillar feeds on the leaves and flower buds causing reduction and photosynthetic area and ultimately resulting in yield loss. Control : Spinetoram 11.7 % SC @ 2 gm/ltr

Harvesting

Wax Gourd mature at 60-65 days, fully grown fruit was harvested

Yield

35-40 t/ha

No description