Responses of Fruit Yield and Quality ofTrichosanthes cucumerinaLandraces to Phosphorus Rate

Abstract

Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina L.), a member of the Cucurbitaceae, also locally known as Snake Tomato, has qualities that could make it a potential substitute for the solanaceous tomato [Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill.], especially when the latter is not available during the year. However, there is little known about the mineral nutrition requirements of Snake Gourd, and how nutrition affects fruit yield and quality. Studies were conducted from University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of phosphorus (P) on fruit yield and chemical composition of two landrace morphotypes of Snake Tomato. Five P treatment applications (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kgиha -1 of P 2 O 5 ) were evaluated using single super phosphate fertilizer (9% P). Morphotype had little effect on results. Yield increased as P level increased. Except for crude protein content, moisture content, and oxalate levels, which were not significantly affected by P treatment rates, nutrients, and essential amino acids compositions increased with increasing P treatment level. The high nutrient level and low oxalate composition indicate, that this vegetable can be used in the human diet. These results may help preserve biodiversity and increase the gene bank of neglected wild species of high-quality nutrient sources.

Phyto-Constituents And Anti-Oxidant Activity Of The Pulp Of Snake Tomato (<I>Trichosanthes cucumerina</I> L.)

“…The dry matter contents of the pulp of Morphotype I (V1) and Morphotype II (V2) were 10.9 and 9.6 g/100g FW, while the ascorbic acid contents were 25.7 and 24.8 mg/100 g FW, respectively (Table 1). These values are consistent with those reported by Adebooye et al (2005) and Adebooye and Oloyede (2006) for the same morphotypes of T. cucumerina. The dry matter values are higher when compared with the dry matter contents of 8.3 g/100 g FW and 5.3 g/100 g FW reported for Aranca tomatoes and Excell tomatoes, respectively by Sahlin et al (2004).…”

“…These differences could be attributed to genotype. Previous studies by Adebooye et al (2005), Adebooye and Oloyede (2005) and Oloyede and Adebooye (2006) have shown clear genotypic differences between the two morphotypes of T. cucumerina. The higher FRAP obtained for V2 in this study could be attributed to its higher contents of phenolics and flavonoids compared to V1.…”

“…All over Africa, these traditional food plants have been major sources of nutrients for rural dwellers that cannot pay for milk, egg and milk (Adebooye, 1996). One of such high premium indigenous food plant is Trichosanthes cucumerina L. Adebooye et al (2006) reported that Trichosanthes cucumerina L., a member of the Cucurbitaceae, also locally known as Snake Tomato, is utilized as a substitute to the Solanaceous tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill.) due to its sweet tasting, aromatic, and deep red endocarp pulp when fully ripe and that the fruit pulp does not go sour as quickly as paste of L. esculentum.…”

“…Despite the good qualities of the fruit of T. cucumerina and its wide consumption by the poor rural population in Nigeria, research has not attempted studying the activity and components of antioxidant of this plant. This study was therefore designed to study the activity and components of antioxidant in two Nigerian indigenous morphotypes of T. cucumerina that had earlier been reported in literature (Adebooye et al, 2005;Oloyede and Adebooye, 2005;Adebooye and Oloyede, 2006).…”

Comparative Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition of &lt;i&gt;Trichosanthes cucumerina&lt;/i&gt; (L.) and Some&lt;i&gt; Solanum lycopersicum &lt;/i&gt;(L.) Cultivars in Nigeria

“…It is commonly called snake gourd, viper gourd, snake tomato or long tomato [2]. The endocarp pulp when fully mature is sweet tasting, aromatic and deep red which does not go sour as quickly as the paste of S. lycopersicum, this account for the reason why it is employed as an alternative to the Solanaceous tomato [3].…”