Commercial Production of Micropropagated Coccinia indica (Tondli) - A Success Story

Abstract

Coccinia indica, known in Northern states as tondli (Kundru), in Gujarat as Tindora, is a common vegetable from the cucurbit family. It is a perennial vine producing parthenocarpic fruits and is propagated asexually by vegetable cuttings during the rainy season. Apart from its use as food, different parts of the plant exhibit excellent medicinal properties.

Considering the poor survival of vegetatively propagated cuttings in the field, followed by low yields with misshapen fruits due to diseased plants, an alternative was sought to micropropagate selected mother plants of a locally cultivated variety. Here we describe the successful commercialization of Coccinia indica micropropagation which is reported for the first time in the world.

A protocol was standardized for micropropagation using modified MS medium fortified with different concentrations of kinetin and Indole-3- acetic acid. After hardening, field planting was done. The first trials were taken in our own field in year 2009 when 100 plants were planted to see the flowering, uniformity of fruit size and yield. In subsequent year 50,000 plants were planted in farmers’ fields. On an average, the farmer harvested every third day between 1000 to 1500 kg vegetable per acre as compared to 150 to 250 kg. Moreover, the uniformity of fruit shape and size is 70% as compared to 30% in conventional plantation. A typical plantation of one acre gives a total yield of 48 to 50 tons per year. The plants produced by micropropagation outperformed the conventionally propagated plants by a factor of ten. This method of production of micropropagated plants has now become a common practice for tindora crop. Tissue culture plants have been in great demand in the past eight years in Gujarat, and now spreading to other states. On an average, we produce and sell about 1 lac tissue culture tindora plants per annum. The details of data on micropropagation and yield compared to vegetatively propagated plants is discussed.

Keywords: micropropagation, Coccinia indica, ivy gourd, vegetable tissue culture, commercialization, medicinal properties