<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) belong to the family Cucurbitaceae and is an exotic crop grown in both open field and protected conditions. It is recently been popularized in India due to yield and health benefits and grown in various climatic and soil conditions.&nbsp; 
Methods: This crop is raised initially in polybags in Jorhat and Darrang of Assam and then transplanted in polythene mulched field conditions. It is grown from March-April in mild summers of North India and grows from September to December in lower hills or plains according to package of practice. 
Result: Various location specific spacing and fertilizers are incorporated in this crop and growth regulators like Ethrel are incorporated to promote the number of female flowers. This crop can provide huge income revenue if exported in near future.</div>

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) Cultivation in India: A Review

Background: Climate change has become a crucial factor affecting the timing and success of vegetable cultivation, especially in regions like the eastern Mediterranean where temperature and precipitation patterns are shifting. Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), typically grown in warm seasons, is an important export crop in the Mersin province of Turkey. However, few studies have examined its performance under different seasonal conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Methods: This study aimed to compare the yield and fruit quality traits of five hybrid (Alba F1, Amelthee F1, Hadra F1, H&uuml;rrem F1, Vildan F1) and five standard (Pelin, Nazlı (S), Black Squash Elite, Eskenderany, White Bush) summer squash cultivars grown in spring and autumn. The experiment was conducted under open-field conditions in Tarsus, Mersin in 2022 using a randomized plot design. Key yield parameters (fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, total yield) and quality traits (fruit flesh hardness, water-soluble dry matter, fresh and dry fruit weights) were evaluated using two-way ANOVA.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Result: Spring cultivation produced significantly higher yields (2595.12 g/plant) than autumn (635.51 g/plant), due to more favorable environmental conditions. &lsquo;Vildan F1&rsquo; had the highest yield in both seasons, while &lsquo;Hadra F1&rsquo; and &lsquo;Pelin&rsquo; were notable for fruit firmness and size. Although spring cultivation remains advantageous, autumn conditions increased dry matter content, suggesting potential benefits under future warming. These findings underline the importance of cultivar selection and seasonal planning for sustainable squash production and export continuity amid climate change.

Effect of Genotype &times; Season Interaction on Yield and Quality Traits in Hybrid and Standard Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Cultivars

The study was aimed at to investigate the anthelmintic efficacy of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cucurbita pepo against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep by scientifically validated in vitro and in vivo tests. In vitro anthelmintic activity was determined by egg hatch assay, larval migration inhibition assay and larval development assay against eggs and larvae of mixed gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. The extracts which were found to be effective in in vitro assays were further evaluated by in vivo faecal egg count reduction test against mixed species of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes with 3 different doses (125, 250 and 500 mg kg-1). Haematological and serum parameters were estimated before and after treatment to determine the impact of plant extracts on health of the animal. Aqueous extract of C. pepo demonstrated significant inhibition of egg hatch at 40 and 80 mg/ml. The ED50 value of egg hatch inhibition was 3.51mg/ml. In larval migration inhibition assay, both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of C. pepo demonstrated inhibition of larval migration and the LM50 was 1.75 and 0.32 mg/ml respectively. However, in larval development assay, both aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed only marginal inhibition of larval development at all concentrations tested. In faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), aqueous extracts of C. pepo at 500 mg/kg caused significant reduction in eggs per gram (96.61 per cent) the reduction being higher than the result obtained with albendazole, the positive control (93.25 per cent). There was a significant difference in EPG reduction between sheep treated with albendazole and C. pepo. Haematological and serum parameters were not affected in both the treated and untreated sheep indicating that the extracts did not cause toxic effects. Based on the results obtained in this study, the aqueous extract of C. pepo possesses anthelmintic activity and could offer an alternative source for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep.

Anthelmintic evaluation of Cucurbita pepo against&nbsp;gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep

<div>Background: During present investigation burfi was prepared from different combinations of cow milk khoa and pumpkin pulp [viz., 100:00 (T1), 75:25 (T2), 70:30 (T3), 65:35 (T4) and 60:40 (T5)] and the samples were subjected to sensory evaluation, chemical analysis and cost was computed considering the ingredients and processing costs. The pumpkin pulp (as per treatments) and sugar (30% by weight of khoa) were mixed with khoa at different stage of khoa preparation. Then, the mixture was heated till burfi was obtained. 
 
Methods: For preparation of burfi fresh cow milk was obtained from Livestock Instructional Farm, Akola. The milk was standardized to 4.0 per cent fat and 9.0 per cent SNF for the preparation of burfi. The khoa blended with pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) pulp at different ratios, the product without using pumpkin pulp served as control. The burfi was analyzed for chemical composition (viz., fat protein, total sugars, ash and total solids). The organoleptic attributes of burfi were analyzed in terms of its flavor, body and texture and color and appearance, wherein the total score was out of 100; the judging panel comprised on 5 members. 
 
Result: The total sensory scores of burfi obtained were 87.81, 90.46, 95.46, 92.99 and 84.30 for the treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The burfi prepared from various combinations involving use of up to 70 per cent cow milk khoa in blend with pumpkin pulp was found acceptable. The fat content of burfi&rsquo;s was 19.61, 15.40, 14.38, 13.40 and 12.37 per cent, protein content was 14.89, 12.64, 12.11, 11.61 and 11.04 per cent, total sugar content was 32.78, 36.73, 37.59, 38.45 and 39.31 per cent, ash content was 2.69, 2.55, 2.53, 2.49 and 2.45 per cent, total solids content was 69.94, 67.30, 66.60, 65.94 and 65.17 per cent for the treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The fat, protein, ash and total solids of burfi tended to decrease while total sugar and moisture content tended to increase with an increase in the level of pumpkin pulp used as additive. The per kg cost of production of pumpkin based burfi decreased with increasing level of incorporation of pumpkin pulp in burfi formulation i.e. ₹ 240 (100:00 khoa), ₹ 204.51 (75:25, khoa: pulp), ₹ 199.11 (70:30 khoa: pulp), ₹ 194.33 (65:35 khoa: pulp), ₹ 189.25 (60:40, khoa : pulp) for the treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The most acceptable burfi i.e. T3 was computed to be priced at ₹ 199.11 per kg.</div>

​Effects of Addition of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Pulp on the Physico-chemical and Sensory Properties of Burfi and its Cost Structure

<div>Background: Chitin and chitosan are natural products extracted from shrimp shells. They are non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable which favors many applications in agricultural domain. Moreover, chitin and chitosan are known as stimulators of photosynthetic rates and enhance pants growth through minerals contains (C, O, N &hellip;.). 
In the present study, these co-products are evaluated for their ability to stimulate the germination and growth of Lycopersicon esculentum L., Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum melongena L.&nbsp; 
Methods: The experiments were conducted at Ibn Tofail University-Kenitra, between July 2016 to January 2018. The experiments are carried out by using a germination test for the three seeds. On the other hand, the in vivo test is used to determine the effect of the biopolymers on plant growth (length, fresh and dry weights of aerial and root parts, number and weight of the obtained fruits). 
Result: In vitro studies reveal a promoter action of chitosan and the mixture chitin-chitosan on increasing seed germination percentage by 16%, 34% and 22%. Thus, at both 25, 50 and 100 mg/l of chitin or chitosan, increase vigor index, shoot length and root is obtained. In vivo, the effect of chitin and chitosan is limited to stimulation of the lengths, fresh and dry weights of plants. However, a highly significant increase in the number and weight of the fruits is marked by the weekly soil amendment by the chitin-chitosan mixture at 25 mg/l and 100 mg/l.</div>

<div>The Amendment with Chitin and/or Chitosan Improves the Germination and Growth of Lycopersicon esculentum L., Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum melongena L.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Pulses productivity in Jammu &nbsp;Kashmir, India, in North-Western (NW) Himalayas is far less than the national averages because of poor crop management &nbsp;cultivation of low yielding varieties. Frontline demonstration (FLD) program is an effective technology transfer tool for better technology adoption that bridges the yield gaps. The technological &nbsp;extension yield gaps in pulses crops were studied for 3 years during 2009-10 to 2013&ndash;2014 under an FLD programme in the Poonch District of Jammu &nbsp;Kashmir, India, revealing that there was a wide yield gap between potential &nbsp;demonstration yields due to technology &nbsp;extension yield gaps. In case of chickpea on the basis of three year mean data demonstrations gave 40.60 % higher yield than local check or farmers practices. Technological yield gaps affecting yield in pulses were highest in chickpea var. BG-1103(13.00 q ha-1) during rabi 2010-11 followed by moong var. SML 668 (12.40 q ha-1) during 2010-11 while lowest gap was observed in rajmash var. local (0.36 q ha-1) during 2011. In general, the technological gaps were highest in chickpea cultivar (BG-1103) &nbsp;lowest in rajmash cultivars in the present study. Extension yield gap varied to the extent of 0.78 to 6.00 q ha-1 in chickpea. In case of lentil, demonstrations gave 12.77 % higher yield over the local check. Extension yield gap varied from 0.25-12.52 q ha-1 in lentil. In case of moong, FLDs gave 71% higher yield than the local check &nbsp;extension yield gap varied from 1.27 to 1.46 qha-1. In case of mash, demonstration gave 35.5% higher yield than farmers average plot yield whereas in case of rajmash on the basis of five year mean data, demonstration gave 28.73% higher yield. Overall, it is inferred that improved farm technology has great potential in enhancing the pulse productivity and profitability through frontline demonstration programme in Poonch district of Jammu &nbsp;Kashmir &nbsp;collateral farming situations in NW -Himalayas as well.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Impact of front line demonstrations on the production and productivity of moong (Vigna radiata L), mash (Vigna mungo L), &nbsp;rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L), lentil (Lens culinaris L) &nbsp;and chickpea (Cicer aeritinum L) under rainfed ecology in mid hills of J &amp; K, India &nbsp;</div>

<div>Fifty eight germplasm of Mucuna was analysed for L-Dopa using ultra high performance liquid Chromatography. L-Dopa ranges from 2.94% in IC 332432 to 6.91% in IIHR MP62-1. Low L-Dopa accessions identified IC 332432 (2.94%) and IIHR MP95 (2.98%) was highly beneficial to consume as food with proper processing or boiling. The accessions having high L-Dopa is highly beneficial to the industries for preparation of drugs. High L-Dopa accessions IIHR MP62-1(6.91%), IIHR MP21 (6.77%), IIHR MP63-1(6.76%) and IIHR MP102 (6.57%) were itchy types and important for drug industry. Hence these high L-Dopa accessions can be utilised in future breeding programme of Mucuna to develop high yielding cultivars coupled with high L-Dopa. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that L-Dopa has significant negative association with pod length indicates selection of &nbsp;smaller pods was a measure of selection index &nbsp;to obtain high L-Dopa accession could be used in breeding programme of velvet bean.</div>

<div>Variability of L-Dopa and its association with morphological growth and yield traits of Mucuna pruriens (L.) germplasm</div>

Background: In the climate change scenario, the increasing frequency of drought is the major constraint for crop yields. Under rainfed conditions, the most vulnerable stage of the crop cycle is seed germination and seedling establishment. One of the approaches to enhance the seedling establishment is hydropriming or seed hardening. Hydropriming is a recommended practice for rainfed crops to improve the appropriate crop stand and productivity. For effective hydropriming, the priming duration is crucial because a lesser duration of priming will be ineffective, a longer duration will damage the seed coat, embryonic axis and the seed will fail to germinate. The detailed investigation on optimal priming duration in major pulse (pigeon pea), oilseed (sunflower) and cereal (rice) is scanty.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Hence, the effect of priming duration on the imbibition rate and seedling establishment in major pulse (pigeon pea, cv. BRG-5), oilseed (sunflower hybrid, KBSH-78) and food crop (rice, cv. MTU-1001) was conducted in the laboratory, Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India during the year 2020. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with 14 soaking period treatments and five replications for imbibition studies and three replications for seedling establishment in the field.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The imbibition rate was rapid in the beginning hours and reached zero by 10 to 12 hours. The cumulative imbibition of 30-40% was attained in the first 2-3 hours of priming in pigeon pea and sunflower and 11 hours in rice. Similarly, 2-3 hours of hydropriming resulted in higher SVI-II (field establishment), but a 7-8 hour period of priming showed the highest seedling growth and seedling vigor index in all three crops. Therefore, 3-hour hydropriming is critical and can be extended to 7-8 hours for better seedling establishment in pigeon pea, sunflower and rice.

Seed Hydropriming Duration for Potential Seedling Vigour in Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

<div>Background: Phaseolus vulgaris L. is widely studied for its bioactive compounds and nutritional properties while minimal attention has been given to P. lunatus L. or P. coccineus L. Here, a comparison of the phenolic compounds, minerals and antioxidant activity between landraces of P. lunatus and P. coccineus was made based on samples from populations cultivated by indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico and with reference to improved varieties of P. vulgaris. 
 
Methods: The phenolic compound contents and antioxidant activity in four samples of P. lunatus, four of P. coccineus and four improved varieties of P. vulgaris (control) were evaluated by spectrophotometry using reference standards. Through inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, the mineral macro- and microelements contents were determined. 
 
Result: Except for Fe, Zn and Na, significant differences and high levels of variability were observed in the phenolic compound and mineral contents and antioxidant activity of P. lunatus, P. coccineus and P. vulgaris across the populations evaluated. The highest concentration of phenolic compounds was recorded in the seed coat, followed by whole grains and cotyledons.</div>

Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Mineral Contents in Grains of Phaseolus lunatus L. and P. coccineus L. Landraces

<div>A field experiment was carried out during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2012, 2013 and 2014 at the Main Oilseeds Research Satiation, Junagadh Agriculture University, Junagadh to ascertain the optimum nutrient requirement for groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) - Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) intercropping system to obtain higher productivity and profitability per unit area per unit time by efficient utilization of natural resources on medium clay soil under irrigated conditions. Groundnut was raised as main crop and Bt cotton was planted as intercrop with 3:1 ratio. The experiment was conducted with fourteen treatments involving sole groundnut and sole cotton with different combinations of fertilizer doses and were tested in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. All the above fertilizer treatments were imposed based on the area. The results revealed that &nbsp;100% RDF to groundnut (main crop) + 150% RDF to cotton (intercrop) in 3:1 row ratio proportion increased growth, yield attributes and yields of groundnut and Bt cotton as well groundnut equivalent yield. So, 100% recommended dose of NP fertilizer (12.5:25.0 kg NP/ha) to groundnut + 150% recommended dose of N fertilizer(240 kgN/ha) &nbsp;to Bt cotton with 3:1 row ratio proportion was optimum to realize maximum yield under groundnut- Bt cotton intercropping system in irrigated conditions.</div>

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) Cultivation in India: A Review

Effect of Genotype × Season Interaction on Yield and Quality Traits in Hybrid and Standard Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Cultivars

Anthelmintic evaluation of Cucurbita pepo against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep

Effects of Addition of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Pulp on the Physico-chemical and Sensory Properties of Burfi and its Cost Structure

The Amendment with Chitin and/or Chitosan Improves the Germination and Growth of Lycopersicon esculentum L., Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum melongena L.

Impact of front line demonstrations on the production and productivity of moong (Vigna radiata L), mash (Vigna mungo L), rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L), lentil (Lens culinaris L) and chickpea (Cicer aeritinum L) under rainfed ecology in mid hills of J & K, India

Variability of L-Dopa and its association with morphological growth and yield traits of Mucuna pruriens (L.) germplasm

Seed Hydropriming Duration for Potential Seedling Vigour in Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Mineral Contents in Grains of Phaseolus lunatus L. and P. coccineus L. Landraces

Nutrient Management in Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) - Bt Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) Intercropping System