Fruit yield and quality of ridge gourd (Luffa Acutangula (l) Roxb) as influenced by plant density and varietal differences as ascertained by Isozyme analysis
Abstract
Luffa acutangula is a' potentially important export crop for
Kenya. Little is known of its optimal production practices,
genetics or fruit quality. Three studies were conducted at the
Institutes for Applied Research of Ben Gurion University of the
Negev in Israel between the months of October 1991 and
September 1992.
The first study was conducted in a greenhouse during winter
and summer seasons with the objective of determining
differences in flowering, fruiting and fruit quality
characteristics of six cultivars of Luffa acutangula.. The·
experimental design was Randomized complete block with 4
replicates. Results showed that both flowering and fruiting
were enhanced during long days experienced in the summer
season. Significant differences between cultivars were found in
flowering, fruiting and fruit quality characteristics. Yields
ranged between 0.338 to 0.917 kg/plant in winter and 2.488 to
2.912 kg/plant in summer. Fruits grown in winter were found to
have significant differences in electrical conductivity, total
soluble solids and reducing sugars while those grown in summer
showed significant differences in pH and reducing sugars.
A field study was conducted during the summer season with
the objective of understanding the influence of plant density on
the yield and fruit quality of. L.acutangula.. The experimental
design was Randomized complete block. Three planting densities
( 5,000 , 10,000 and 15,000 plants/ha) and three cultivars
("Kenya", "DDR" and "67871 ") were studied.
Citation
Lung'aho.C(1993).Fruit yield and quality of ridge gourd (Luffa Acutangula (l) Roxb) as influenced by plant density and varietal differences as ascertained by Isozyme analysisSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of soil science, University of Nairobi
Description
Msc-Thesis