(Telfairia Occidentalis Yield Components of Fluted Pumpkin
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International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Research Volume 4, Issue 3, ISSN (Online) 2319 -1473 Manuscript Processing Details (dd/mm/yyyy) : Received : 16/10/2015 | Accepted on : 24/10/2015 | Published : 07/11/2015 Yield and Yield Components of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook ) Landrace Ann Nwonuala, Julius Obiefuna Abstract – A field experiment was conducted on five (5) dry seed kernel constitutes high quality non -drying oil. Telfaria occidentalis landraces in Southeastern agro ecological The increasing relevance of Telfairia seeds and oil as zone of Nigeri a. The Rivers (RV) landrace out -yielded the industrial raw material is creat ing International Trade other landraces of Enugu (EN ); Anambra (AN), Abia (AB) opportunities for countries where they are grown. The high and Imo (IM) in almost all the characters studied. They oil content makes it a potential source of raw materials for produced the longest vine at flowering ( ̍̊̑. ̊¹Ã for male plants and ̍̐̌. ̌ ¹Ã for the female plants), the highest the vegetable oil industries in Nigeria, for making number of branches, (8.0) the highest number of n odes margarine and these justify the apparent increase in its ʚ̑̒. ̉ʛ at 6 weeks after planting (WAP), the highest number pro duction in Nigeria (Odiaka et al., 2008). The seeds are of leaves ( ̒̌. ̎) at 6 WAP and at flowering ( ̋̌̑ for the male also in high demand for consumption by nursing mothers plants and 196 for the female plants), which culminate d into because of their lactation promoting properties, owing to the highest leaf yield of ̊̒̌. ̎Á½/¾· at 6 WAP and the high concentration of essential fatty acids and poly ̍̑̋. ̎Á½/¾· at flowering. The RV landrace also produced unsaturated fatty acids and io dine. The oil is also used for the highest number of female flowers per plant ʚ̑̌ ʛ; and hair treatment as it enhances luster and hair growth (Bird, consequently an agronomic potential for highest fruit yield. 2003). The Telfairia occidentalis plants according to In order of appropriate performance, RV landrace was reports can be used in bioremediation of heavy polluted followed by EN, AN, IM and AB landraces. soils (Obute, et al., 2001). Keywords – Agronomy, Fluted Pumpkin , Landrace, Recently, based on its importance in the economy of Performance, Tropics. Nigeria, the Ministry of Agriculture approved the procurement of Telfairia occidentalis seeds for I. INTRODUCTION distribution to 200 vegetable farmers in five (5) selected States of Abia, Ogun, Delta, Cross Rivers and I mo (Acha, Telfairia occidentalis belongs to the genus Telfairia 2013). This is an indication of the recent high trend in the Hooker, Tribe Joliffeae , sub-family Cucurbitoideae and demand of Telfairia occidentalis leaves and seeds. family Cucurbitaceae. It is an important vegetable of the The agronomy of fluted pumpkin according to Olamiyi Tropical West African. In Nige ria, it is indigenous to and Akanbi (2007) has been neglected because it does not Southe astern Nigeria, where it is cultivated as an fall into the export cate gory like most other tropical important nutritional and commercial vegetable. In the vegetable crops. North Central Nigeria, it has gained acceptability and there Morphotypic variations also exist in Telfairia is increase in its cultivation by small farm holders as a occidentalis in many quantitative and qualitative source of income (Ndor et al ., 2013). Its cultivation has characters and these pose many agronomic problems also spread into the Northern Guinea Savannah and into encountered when growing the crop , and to increase yield, other cultures where the leaves apart from its use as the farmers are always constantly searching for more vegetables are extensively used in African traditional efficient procedures to increase the production of the herbal me dicine for the treatment of anaemia in view of its vegetable grown, and the correct choice of cultivars are of high ferrous content which is about 700 ppm (Aiyalaagbe, very exceptional importance. Concomitantly with this, 2011) and in the treatment of cough, diarrhea, tuberculosis there is an urgent need to screen avai lable genotypes in and other bacterial infections (Egbomeji et al ., 2006). order to identify genotypes that can be used directly to Recently, fluted pumpkin is associated with protection develop varieties with higher proportion of plants that from devastating blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes increase leaf yield, produce more seeds per fruits , and (Ugwu et al., 2000). The young shoot and leaves of the more fruits per plant. This will and form basis for breeding plants are used to make soup because of the pleasant taste and als o unmask hidden traits for the basis o f selection. but more importantly, is the nutrition al benefits of This work evaluated the yield and yield components of blending fluted pumpkin seeds in to wheat flour for bread Telfairia occidentalis genot ype in some locations in making (Giami, 2003). The seeds can also be eaten whole, southeastern Nigeria. ground or fermented into ‘ogiri’ which serve as condiments for making soup and source (Asiegbu, 1987). II. MATE RIALS A ND METHOD The fruit pulp which constitutes 64 % of whole fresh fruit weight can be used as feedstuff for livestock (Essien et al., A. Site characteristics (1992); Egbekan et al., (1998) and the pectin content of The experimental site was a secondary forest which has the pulp ʚ1.0%ʛ has been used in the production of been previously cultivated to maize before it was left marmalade (Egbekan et al., 1998). The seeds of Telfairi a fallow for one year. The domina nt plant species included are large and weighs 80 times more than those of broad-leafed weeds and grasses like Panicum maximum; melon ʚ0.15͛ Ǝ 12.50͛), and 55% of the weight of the Ageratum conyzoides, Pennisetum purpureum, Commelina Copyright © 201 5 IJAIR, All right reserved 421 International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Research Volume 4, Issue 3, ISSN (Online) 2319 -1473 benghalensis. Mimosa pudica, Tridax procumbens, vegetative characteristics from each plot were duly tagged Centrosema pubescens, Cyperus rotunda, Digitaria as potential parents (male or female). horizontalis, and Amaranthus spinosus. The land C. Data collection and Analysis measuring 34 ͬ 54ͦ͡ ʚ0.18͕͜ʛ was cleared manually and Data were collected on d ays to 50 % emergence, leaf, then ridged. The ridges were 30 meters long and 1 meter and b ranch counts, leaf Area, vine length, flower bud apart. There were a total of 20 ridges. initiation, frui t maturation, fruit weight and n umber of Experimental Design and Treatments seeds per fruit. Soil sample s from study sites were air- The experiment consisted of five (5) treatment plots which dried and sieved using a 2 -mm sieve. Particle size were laid out in a Randomized C omplete B lock Design distribution (Sand, Silt, Clay) was determined by the (RCBD) replicated 4 times. There were a total of 20 plots hydrometer method (Gee and Or,2002). Soil pH was measuring 30 ͬ 1͡ and an inter-block spacing of 4 determined in both distilled water and ͕̽̽͠ ͦ solution at meters. The treatments were twenty Telfairia occidentalis 1:2.5 soil to solution ratio using a Beckman Zeromatic pH fruits of traditional landraces obtained locally fro m meter (Hendershot et al .,1993 ).Organic carbon content of selected home gardens and mark ets within five states in the soil was determined by the dichromatic oxi dation the Southe astern agroecological zones of Nigeria. Four method as outlined by Nelson and Sommers (1982 ). Total fruits were obtained from each of the states and named Nitrogen was by modified micro -Kjeldahl digestion- after the states thus:- Imo (IM), Abia (AB), Anambra distillation procedure (Bremner, 1965). Available (AN), Enugu (EN) and Rivers (RV). The four fruits from phosphorus (P) was by the met hod of Bray and Kurtz No.1 each of the states were characterized for length, width, (Olsen and Sommers,1982 ). Calcium, magnesium, circumference, then split open, and seeds scooped , potassium and sodium (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were determined processed, counted and bulked. by I N NH 4OAC buffered at pH 7.0, extraction method B. Preparation of planting materials and planting (Soil Survey Staff,2010). Each of the seeds from the four fruits were weighed D. Data Analysis individually and 15 se eds each of uniform sizes of The data collected were subjected to analysis of 12 Ə 0.5 grams were selected from each fruit. variance (ANOVA). Least significant difference (LSD) These were used for the various replicates. There were 15 according to Gomez and Gomez (1984) was used to seeds per plot in four replicates. These gave a total of 60 compare treatments means. seeds per treatment. The seeds were planted on the ridges and spaced 2x2 m between and within the rows. These III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION translated to 2, 500 seeds per ha. One seed was planted per hole of 5 cm depth. The climatic data for the study area during the growing Weeding was done manually using a hoe at 3 and 6 weeks , season are presented on Table 1. The mean maximum respectively after planting. The experiment was fertilized temperature for 2013 ranged from 30.4 ͨͣ 36.5°∁. with the with NPK (20:10: 10) at 3 weeks after planting using ring lowest temperature of 20.0°∁ recorded on January. The application method at a rate of 24g/stand which translated rainfall pattern al so showed the rains became regular from to 60kg/ha. No pest control method was adopted as the March/April and peaked in May and June and terminated experimental site witnessed minimal pest attack. As the in February in 2012 while in 2013 the peaked period seeds germinated, and develop, plants with superior started in June and July.