Between 20 and 26 February 2006 a group of fourteen people travelled to India to learn from the OKN projects underway in the country. The main thematic ...

OKN hub Arid Lands Information Network – East Africa (ALIN-EA), based in Nairobi, Kenya, continues to expand its activities. It currently has seven Access Points (four in Kenya ...

Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis)

Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) is a tropical plant in the pumpkin family grown for its small edible fruits. They may be eaten immature and green, or mature and deep red. The young shoots and leaves may also be eaten as greens. Ivy gourd is an aggressive climbing vine that can spread quickly over trees, shrubs, fences and other supports. It is an outdoor plant but prefers a sunny sheltered position and a sandy soil. Being a perennial plant, it can spread vegetatively or by seed.

The stem is a herbaceous climber or perennial slender climber with occasional adventitious roots forming where the stem runs along the ground. The tendrils are long, elastic with coil-like springy character that can wrap around the host to the entire length. The leaves are classified as palmately simple with five lobes while the shape varies from the heart to pentagon form. The size of the leaves is approximately 5 10 cm in width and length. The flower is large and white about 4 cm in diameter and contains five long tubular petals. The ivy gourd fruit belongs to the berry type: oval and hairless with thick and sticky skin. The raw fruit is green in colour and turns bright red when it is ripe. The mature fruit is usually from 25 to 60 mm long by 15-35 mm in diameter and contains several pale, flattened seeds.

Older botanical sources may call this plant C. cordifolia. The fruit is eaten in Indian cuisine. In Andhra Pradesh (South India), this vegetable is known as “Dondakaya”. It is eaten as a curry either by deep frying it, stuffing it with masala and frying or boiling it first in a cooker and then frying it. It is also used in “Sambaar“

Taxonomy:

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Cucurbitaceae (koo-ker-bih-TAY-see-ay) - The Cucurbita (gourd) family.
• Coccinia (kok-SIN-ee-uh) - Red; often spelled coccinea. grandis (GRAN-dees) - Large, spectacular.

Common Names:

• Ivy Gourd, Gentleman’s Toes, Scarlet gourd, Scarlet-fruited gourd, Kowai fruit (English)
• Bimbi, Bimbika, Jivaka, Patuparni, Vimba, Vira (Sanskrit)
• Bimb, Bimba, Kanduri, Kanturi, Kundree, Kundru (Hindi)
• Kotturukanni, Kovai, Kovaikkay, Naripputu, Rattakkovai, Tirattikkovai, Vattakkovai, Velikkovai, Vimpa, Vimpakam, Vimpi, Vimpikai (Tamil)
• Kova, Koval (Malayalam)
• Kaagethonde , Konde ball , Theekkuduru, Thonde balli, Thundike (Kannada)
• Tondli (Marathi)
• Donda kaya, Kaki donda (Telugu)
• Telakucha (Bengali) Ban-kundri (Oriya)
  

Technology that triples total tomato tonnage

M.J. Prabu

About 135 tonnes of fruits were harvested in nine months
Scientists at the Tamil Nadu agricultural University (TNAU),  Coimbatore, have developed a technology said to be a first of its kind in India. 

The technology is being presently implemented in several major areas of Tamil Nadu.

At  present precision technology is implemented in about 200 hectares in Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu. More than 100 farmers have been benefited by this project.

Hybrid chilli in about 30 hectares, hybrid tomato in about 20 hectares and Cavendish (green) banana variety in about 10 hectares were raised successfully under precision farming system.

Technical guidelines

Under this farming concept, the University gives technical advice to farmers on soil and water conditions, weather mapping, forewarning of pest attacks and also supplies water soluble fertilizers to be applied along with drip irrigation.

Mr. P.M. Chinnasamy, is one such beneficiary farmer in Dharmapuri, who has harvested about 135 tonnes of tomato from his one hectare field in nine months using this technology.

Higher yield

The yield is almost triple that of the farmers growing tomato under the conventional system of  Planting. Under the conventional system the crop is grown under channel irrigation and only about 25 –30 tonnes of fruits can be expected, according to Mr. Chinnasamy.

The life of the tomato crops grown under normal cultivation (Channel or furrow irrigatiion) is only 3-4 months, whereas the life span of the same crop grown under precision  technology can be extended to 8-9 months, according to Dr. I. Muthuvel, Assistant Project Officer, Tamil Nadu Precision Farming Project in Dharmapuri.

The seeds were first sown in small plastic pots, and kept under a shade net in a nursery. Cocopeat was used as a growing medium.  “The cocopeat was completely sterilized with Chemical or under steam treatment before being used. The seeding growth was uniform and without any pest and disease infestations,” said Dr. Muthuvel. The main field was installed with an inline drip irrigation system at a spacing of  1.5 m  lateral intervals. Drippers at 60 cm Spacing were used. About one hour of irrigation; is sufficient to cover one hectare of land, according to. Dr. Muthuvel.

The field was ploughed well by mixing about 25 tonnes  of  farmyard manure, 2 kg of azospyrillum and phospobacteria each, about 2.5 kg of pseudomonas and 1,172 kg of super phosphate.

Raised beds of about one foot height were formed and the laterals were placed at the center of the beds. Planting was done on either side of the laterals at a spacing of 90X60X60cm. About 20,000 plants were planted in one hectare-Drip fertigation (application of water soluble fertilizer along  with water) was done through a 60-litre capacity ferlilizer tank and once in three days starting from the day of planting. 

Flower drop

Weeding was done once after 30 days and again one month later. The plants were tied to poles for support on the 30^th day after planting. About 1.25 ml planofix hormone diluted in one litre of water were  sprayed on the 30th, 60 th  and 75 th day to control flower dropping.

The crop was found susceptible to infestations such as sucking  pest, leaf minor and cutworm. 

Infestations control 

Spraying 2ml of triozophos diluted in one litre of water was found effective in managing sucking pest, leaf minor and cutworms infestations, while fruit borer infestation was controlled by spraying 2 ml of endosulfan or chloripyriphos diluted in one litre of water. 

The first harvest was done on the 65 th day after after planting. The fruits were uniform in size and the skin colour was deep red.

The fruits were sold at the rate of Rs.10-20 per kg. Mr. Chinnasamy, has earned a net income of about Rs.5 lakhs from tomato cultivation in nine months.

Dental Care 

- Dr.Jayanthy Satish,  Dental Surgeon, Chennai

“Face is the index of the Mind”, likewise mouth is indicator of health of the body. Let us be aware of the diseases that most commonly affecting mouth

• caries of Tooth
• infection of the Gums

CARIES OF TOOTH

Mouth contains many bacteria. These bacteria feed on sugars found in liquid we drink and food we eat. They produce acid as a by-product. This acid attacks the tooth and causes cavities normally called as caries of tooth

.

The caries initially starts affecting the outer layer of tooth (Enamel), and is normally seen as stains on the tooth. (fig.1) to rectify this, the affected portion of the tooth can be cleaned and filled with composites (tooth colored filling material).

If caries is not treated properly initially, caries progresses to next stage affecting second layer of the tooth (Dentin). (fig.2) on taking cold / sweet foods, person feels sensitivity of the tooth, cavity of tooth may also be felt. Again to rectify this, affected portion of the tooth is removed and the defect is filled with suitable materials such as composites, silver amalgam etc.         

If the tooth is not treated at this stage, infection progresses to vital part of the tooth (pulp) where blood & nerves are present, and the patient feels the pain. Further infection spreads to root portion of the tooth and the bone supporting the tooth, resulting in the death of cells present in the tooth. (fig. 3)  This may lead to swelling of the cheeks / lips depending on the position in the mouth.  This can be treated by Root Canal Treatment where the affected portion of the tooth is removed along with dead tissue in the central part of the tooth.   

Dental Care 

- Dr.Jayanthy Satish,  Dental Surgeon, Chennai

“Face is the index of the Mind”, likewise mouth is indicator of health of the body. Let us be aware of the diseases that most commonly affecting mouth

• caries of Tooth
• infection of the Gums

CARIES OF TOOTH

Mouth contains many bacteria. These bacteria feed on sugars found in liquid we drink and food we eat. They produce acid as a by-product. This acid attacks the tooth and causes cavities normally called as caries of tooth

The caries initially starts affecting the outer layer of tooth (Enamel), and is normally seen as stains on the tooth. (fig.1) to rectify this, the affected portion of the tooth can be cleaned and filled with composites (tooth colored filling material).

If caries is not treated properly initially, caries progresses to next stage affecting second layer of the tooth (Dentin). (fig.2) on taking cold / sweet foods, person feels sensitivity of the tooth, cavity of tooth may also be felt. Again to rectify this, affected portion of the tooth is removed and the defect is filled with suitable materials such as composites, silver amalgam etc.         

If the tooth is not treated at this stage, infection progresses to vital part of the tooth (pulp) where blood & nerves are present, and the patient feels the pain. Further infection spreads to root portion of the tooth and the bone supporting the tooth, resulting in the death of cells present in the tooth. (fig. 3)  This may lead to swelling of the cheeks / lips depending on the position in the mouth.  This can be treated by Root Canal Treatment where the affected portion of the tooth is removed along with dead tissue in the central part of the tooth.