ABSTRACT
Pointed gourd is commonly known as parwal, kovakkai, thondekayi, potol, and paror. Pointed gourd is known as the king of gourds because of having higher nutrients content than other cucurbits. Its protein content is 10 times higher than that of bottle gourd and four times higher than that of snake gourd, ridge gourd and wax gourd. Fruits are easily digestible, diuretic and laxative. It invigorates the heart and brain and is significantly effective in several circulatory disorders. Pointed gourd is a warm season crop, thus, thrives well under hot or moderately warm and humid conditions, and the optimum temperature for proper growth ranges from 25°C to 35°C. The pointed gourd crop can be grown in a wide range of light textured soils having good drainage facility. Pointed gourd is mainly cultivated as an irrigated crop in summer and a rain-fed crop in rainy season. Fruit fly is the most serious and destructive insect of pointed gourd.
