Exploit Kartoli for diversification of vegetables

Abstract

India is blessed with many major and minor cucurbitaceous vegetable crops. Among them kartoli (Momordica dioica Roxb.) is very popular and also known for its nutritional, medicinal and curative properties. It can be spotted abundantly in the kitchen garden, boundary/fence, field bund, road side, dense forest etc. of several states and naturally protected by the thorny shrubs and bushes such as Accasia, palm, wild Zuzube, denudated land etc. Kartoli survive well under natural fertility condition of the soil with the support of organics. It is devoid of hazardous agro-chemicals like fertilizer, insecticides, fungicide, weedicide, plant growth regulator etc. due to no or poor domestication. Tribals and local folk harvest the tender green fruits from the naturally growing plant for their own use and also supply sufficient amount in the nearby market. Today no vegetable is costlier than kartoli in cucurbits, which is generally sold @ Rs. 40.00 to 60.00 per kg during the fruiting season (July to October). Kartoli support the livehood of poor people by providing better price. This prized vegetables can be greatly exploited not only for domestic need but also for fetching high return by exporting potentialities like high yield, better keeping quality, suitability for processing etc. As processed products, its roots/tubers are powdered and used in the preparation of high quality of “Tikhur”. Tender fruits can be canned easily in the 8% brine solution. Day by day biodiversity degradation is exceeding by human intervention as well as by wild and domestic animals. Damage cause to this crop greatly by several enemies to foliage, fruit and underground tubers. Tubers are eaten by wild animals like Porcipine (Sehi), wild boar, rabbits, mice etc. due to its good taste; immature tender and mature fruits are eaten by monkeys, squirrel and tender leaves and shoots are eaten by goat, sheep, cow etc. Unavailability of planting material (Tuber) is the major bottleneck associated with the kartoli cultivation. With the above facts this crop required adequate attention for finding place in cultivation for diversification of vegetables.