Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Lagenaria siceraria; bottle gourd

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

y

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

y

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

y

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

n

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

y

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

y

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

y

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

1

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

y

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

y

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

n

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

0

Source

Notes

1.01

Heiser, C. B., Jr. (1989) Domestication of Cucurbitaceae: Cucurbita and Lagenaria. Foraging and farming: the evolution of plant exploitation., 1989, pp.471-480,X 2) The earliest presumed domesticate discovered in eastern North America is the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), dating to 7,000 years ago at a wet site in east-central Florida.

AB: It is argued from the archaeological evidence that in the territory of the USA domesticated C. pepo was derived from the previously widespread C. texana and did not necessarily arrive as a cultigen from Mexico. In the case of L. siceraria, however, a Mexican origin is proposed, although it could have been introduced as a weed and subsequently domesticated. The archaeological record indicates that C. pepo may have been domesticated long before L. siceraria.

1.02

no evidence

1.03

no evidence

2.01

Cite as: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?21385 (13 March 2002)

Distributional range: pantropical, origin paleotropics

2.02

2.03

Cite as: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?21385 (13 March 2002) 2)http://plantsdatabase.com/go/682.html 3)http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=1315

Distributional range: pantropical, origin paleotropics 2)Hardy from USDA Zone 5 to USDA Zone 11 3)It grows from sea level up to 2700 m altitude

2.04

Cite as: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?21385 (13 March 2002)

Distributional range: pantropical, origin paleotropics

2.05

Pickersgill, B. (1977) Taxonomy and the origin and evolution of cultivated plants in the New World. Nature, UK, 1977, Vol.268, No.5621, pp.591-595, 46 ref.

AB: Current taxonomic problems in cultivated plants include delimitation of species, whether speciation has occurred under domestication, and the role of weedy relatives in the evolution of domesticates. Many cultivated plants in the New World seem to have been domesticated not once but several times, and agriculture itself may well have originated independently in four different parts of the Americas. Horticultural crops mentioned in this review include Capsicum, Cucurbita, coconut, Lagenaria siceraria and Phaseolus vulgaris.

3.01

Stanley and Ross Flora of South eastern Queensland. Queensland Dept of primary industries

Widely cultivated. The book indicates that is has been reported as "apparently naturalized in Moreton district" (a small area of Queensland) Does not meet criteria for this question to be answered "yes"

3.02

no evidence

3.03

no evidence

3.04

no evidence

3.05

no evidence

4.01

smooth vine

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

no evidence

4.05

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MV069

The carefully selected varieties of India are choice vegetables, as good and as nutritious as the popular summer squashes.

4.06

(1) Bhopal Singh; Goel, S. C.; Kumar, S. (1993) Relative toxicity of new insecticides against Aphis gossypii (Glov.) on bottle gourd in western Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, 1993, Vol.13, No.2, pp.111-114, 12 ref.
(2)Tewatia, A. S. (1997) Melon fruit fly resistance in cucurbits - a review. Vegetable Science, 1997, Vol.24, No.2, pp.79-82, 30 ref.
(3)Roy, D. C.; Pande, Y. D. (1991) Seasonal incidence, host preference and feeding rate of red-pumpkin beetle (Raphidopalpa foveicollis ) in Tripura. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1991, Vol.61, No.8, pp.603-607, 14 ref.  

(1) Cotton aphid (Aphis gosypii) This highly polyphagous species shows a prediliction for Cucurbitaceae and Malvaceae (cotton, mallow, hibiscus). It also attacks Citrus.
Among cultivated vegetables, damage is particularly marked in courgette, melon, cucumber, aubergine and strawberry.In temperate countries such as Italy, this aphid always reproduces parthenogenetically.
In the United States, this species may be holocyclic, its primary host being Catalpa, Rhamnus or Hibiscus.
(2) Melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett)) Pest status
This is a very serious pest of cucurbit crops, recorded on over 125 plants, some in plant families other than Cucurbitaceae. Attacks flowers and fruits, sometimes stem and root tissue. Heavy infestations can occur before fruit has even set. Recorded from several wild species of Curcurbitaceae.
(3) AB: A survey of Cucurbita maxima in Tripura, India, in 1987-88 established that Raphidopalpa foveicollis [Aulacophora foveicollis ] was active throughout the year, being

4.07

no evidence

4.08

no evidence, annual herb

4.09

Plants for a Future, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK.
www.pfaf.org<http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lagenaria+siceraria>

"It cannot grow in the shade. "

4.1

Plants for a Future, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK.
www.pfaf.org<http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lagenaria+siceraria>

"The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. "

4.11

Plants for a Future, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK.
www.pfaf.org<http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lagenaria+siceraria>

"Annual Climber growing to 9m at a fast rate. "

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial vive

5.02

annual vine

5.03

no evidence

5.04

annual vine

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Plants for a Future, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK.
www.pfaf.org<http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lagenaria+siceraria>

"Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse in a rich soil, putting 2 - 3 seeds in a pot and thinning to the strongest plant. Grow on fast and plant out as soon as possible after the last expected frosts, giving some protection until the plants are established and growing well. The seed germinates best at 25°c[86]. Soaking the seeds for 12 hours in warm water prior to sowing can hasten germination[86]. Discard any seeds that have not germinated after 10 days, the plants they produce will not be vigorous enough to succeed outdoors in Britain[86]. "

6.03

Tabei, Y.; Oosawa, K.; Nishimura, S.; Hanada, K.; Yoshioka, K.; Fujisawa, I.; Nakajima, K. (1994) Environmental risk evaluation of the transgenic melon with coat protein gene of cucumber mosaic virus in closed and semi-closed greenhouses. Breeding Science, 1994, Vol.44, No.1, pp.101-105, 10 ref.

AB: A comparison of transgenic and non-transgenic melon plants in closed and semi-closed greenhouses showed that there were no differences in their morphological characteristics, fruit maturation period, pollen viability and fertility, and seed germination rates. Artificial wind pollination tests confirmed that the pollen of melon, an entomophylous plant, cannot be dispersed by wind. To examine the possibility of gene flow via cross pollination, the plants were crossed with other cucurbit species (Cucumis anguria, C. metuliferus, C. africanus , watermelon, pumpkin, bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria ) and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia )). Pollen from either transgenic or non-transgenic plants was unable to fertilize any of the related species. This indicates that gene flow in melons carrying the cucumber mosaic cucumovirus coat protein transgene is similar to that of non-transgenic melons.

6.04

Alam, M. Z.; Quadir, M. A. (1986) Role of honeybee in fruit and seed setting of bottle-gourd, Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. Punjab Vegetable Grower, 1986, Vol.21, pp.32-34, 7 ref. 2)http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/B1180.htm 3)http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0503.htm

AB: Fruit set in the following variants (1) pollination by honeybees, (2) pollination by hand, (3) isolation by net, (4) isolation by paper bag and (5) isolation by polyethylene bag, was 15, 8.3, 5.0, 3.3 and 3.3%, respectively. The percentages of filled seeds in (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) were 60.35, 49.55, 57.8, 15.62 and 4.16, respectively. 2)monoecious, producing separate male and female flowers on the same plant. As a result they must have some pollinating agent present. 3)pollen from male flowers is viable on female flowers of the same plant

6.05

Alam, M. Z.; Quadir, M. A. (1986) Role of honeybee in fruit and seed setting of bottle-gourd, Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. Punjab Vegetable Grower, 1986, Vol.21, pp.32-34, 7 ref. 2)http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/B1180.htm 3)http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0503.htm

AB: Fruit set in the following variants (1) pollination by honeybees, (2) pollination by hand, (3) isolation by net, (4) isolation by paper bag and (5) isolation by polyethylene bag, was 15, 8.3, 5.0, 3.3 and 3.3%, respectively. The percentages of filled seeds in (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) were 60.35, 49.55, 57.8, 15.62 and 4.16, respectively. 2)bloom only at night and are pollinated by moths 3)C.B. Heiser (1979) found that beetles feeding inside the male and female blossoms were the most important pollinators in his garden. Then in 1997, C.B. Heiser (The Cucubit Network News Vol. 4 reported nocturnal pollination by the large hawk moths Hyles lineata and Manduca quinquemaculata. The larva of the latter species is better known to gardeners by its name of "tomato hornworm."

6.06

no evidence

6.07

Delesalle, V. A.; Mooreside, P. D. (1995) Estimating the costs of allocation to male and female functions in a monoecious cucurbit, Lagenaria siceraria . Oecologia, 1995, Vol.102, No.1, pp.9-16, 51 ref.

"monoecious, annual vine L. siceraria"

7.01

no evidence

7.02

www.pfaf.org<http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lagenaria+siceraria>

"The bottle gourd is widely cultivated in the tropics and sub-tropics for its edible fruit and for the hard wooden shell of the fruit that can be used as containers, musical instruments etc[206], there are many named varieties with different shaped and sized fruits[86, 183, 206]. The variety 'Cougourda' is said to be the best for eating[132]. Forms with wooden shells tend not to have an edible flesh[206]. "

7.03

Fruits are the products, mostly harvested before mature (as vegetable), and seeds are not considered as contaminants. For fruits used as containers or musical instruments, seeds may be transported (later discarded) as a product contaminant

7.04

very large fruiy

7.05

AB: Morphological analyses and archaeological evidence suggest the oceanic dispersal of wild bottle gourd fruits from Africa to Asia and the Americas by 10000-15000 B.P., followed by independent domestication on all three continents. Although African and New World landraces (L. siceraria subsp. siceraria ) are morphologically distinct from Asian landraces (L. siceraria subsp. asiatica ), siceraria-type morphological characters in Papua New Guinea germplasm have raised questions concerning the origin of Asian landraces, including whether or not there was early germplasm exchange between Asia and the New World. Another area of confusion in bottle gourd systematics and evolution concerns the origins and circumscriptions of commercial cultivars, many of which have been subject to undocumented hybridization and selection practices over the past 100-200 years. To clarify the evolutionary history of bottle gourd landraces and cultivars, 64 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers representing 30 primers wer

7.06

no evidence

7.07

Girish Chopra; Kapoor, T. R.; Sabharwal, A. K. (1999) Rodent damage to bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Mol.). Haryana Agricultural University Journal of Research, 1999, Vol.29, No.1/2, pp.1-2, 5 ref.

NO EVIDENCE OR EXTERNAL DISPERSAL: AB: Damage was caused by 2 species, the Indian mole rat (Bandicota bengalensis ) and the soft-furred field rat (Rattus meltada ). Rodent damage was recorded in 4 fields in 2 villages near Panipat. Rodents were active in the crop at an early crop growth stage but caused damage only in mature crops. Crop losses averaged 4-6%. It was suggested that the rodents migrate from neighbouring fields after the rabi crops are harvested in order to find food and shelter. Trapping is the most effective control measure.

7.08

no evidence

8.01

(1) Chung HeeDon; Choi YoungJun; Shin SangHun (1999) Morphological characteristics and germination of the Korean native bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) seeds.Journal of the Korean Society for Horticultural Science, 1999, Vol.40, No.3, pp.317-321, 18 ref.
 (2) Sharma, B. R.; Dhillon, T. S.; Arora, S. K.(1993) New bottlegourd 'Punjab Komal'. Indian Horticulture, 1993, Vol.38, No.2, pp.8-9  

(1) AB:"The number of seeds/fruit was in the range 115-705."
(2) AB: The Lagenaria siceraria Punjab Komal, produced from a cross between LC11 (round) and LC5 (oblong), was consistently superior to Punjab Round and Pusa Summer Prolific Round over a 5-year period (51 vs. 39.3 and 38.5 t/ha). When compared with the other 2 varieties it produces more and larger fruits per plant (on average 12.66 fruits per plant, average weight 623.21 g) and has the shortest maturing time. [38.5-51 t/ha = 2.85-5.1 kg/m2=4.57-8.18fruit/m2=1874-3354 seeds/m2 (assume 410 seeds/fruit, average of 115 and 705 from (1)]

8.02

Chung HeeDon; Choi YoungJun; Shin SangHun (1999) Morphological characteristics and germination of the Korean native bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) seeds.Journal of the Korean Society for Horticultural Science, 1999, Vol.40, No.3, pp.317-321, 18 ref.

AB:(1) The best temperature for germination was 27 plus or minus 2 deg C; most seeds rarely germinated at temperatures of <15 deg C or >35 deg C. (2) Seeds lost viability following storage in paper bags at room temperature, but the degree of viability loss was related to cultivar.(3) The removal of the seed coat markedly increased percentage germination.(4) Light exposure and quality did influence germination in some cultivars. Blue light inhibited germination in all cultivars tested.

8.03

Saimbhi, M. S.; Randhawa, K. S. (1977) A note on the response of four cucurbits to pre- and post-emergence applications of different herbicides. Haryana Journal of Horticultural Sciences, 1977, Vol.6, No.1/2, pp.91-93  

AB: In a trial with squash, watermelon, muskmelon and Lagenaria siceraria the effects were compared of linuron, alachlor, simazine, diuron, nitrofen and dichlormate applied pre-emergence (one day after sowing) and alachlor, nitrofen and propanil applied post-emergence (2 weeks after seed emergence). Data are presented on the incidence and degree of injury caused, plant height one month after sowing and weed control 2 weeks after herbicide application. Seed emergence was not affected by any of the treatments, but seedling injury varied widely. No injury was caused by nitrofen at 1.25 kg/ha applied pre-emergence, or by alachlor at 2.5 kg/ha applied post-emergence. Muskmelon was the most sensitive to the other herbicides. All pre-emergence treatments except nitrofen caused some reduction in plant growth, muskmelon and watermelon being the worst affected. Pre-emergence applications of all herbicides except dichlormate gave good weed control and were much more effective than post-emergence applications.

8.04

no evidence, annual plant w/ limited regrowth potential (1 season) if mutiliated

8.05