Handbook of Cucurbits: Growth, Cultural Practices, and Physiology PDF

Preface

Cucurbits are part of the daily diet of people around the world. Therefore, cucurbit products are important and need special attention in their cultural practices, physiology, and production. There are numerous books and articles available on cucurbits, but these all exist relatively in isolation of each other, covering only one or a few specific topics on cucurbits. Therefore, the information on these important plants is scattered. I felt the need for a single unique comprehensive source of information that includes as many factors as possible on cucurbits, and this resulted in the Handbook of Cucurbits. It is a complete collection of the factors on cucurbits.

This comprehensive source is an up-to-date reference book effectively addressing issues and concerns related to cucurbit growth, physiology, cultural practices, diseases, and production. These aspects of cucurbits have efficiently and effectively been addressed in this unique handbook.

While previous authors have indeed competently covered relevant areas separately in various publications, the areas are, nonetheless, interrelated and should be covered comprehensively in a single text, which is the purpose of this book.

The Handbook of Cucurbits has been prepared by many competent and knowledgeable scientists, specialists, and researchers in agriculture and horticulture from several countries. It is intended to serve as a resource for both lectures and independent purposes. Scientists, agriculture researchers, agriculture practitioners, and students will benefit from this unique comprehensive guide, which covers issues related to cucurbits from planting to production.

As with other fields, accessibility of knowledge is among the most critical of factors involved with cucurbit production. Without due consideration of all the elements contributing to cucurbit crop production, it is unlikely that a successful production system will be achieved. For this reason, as many factors as possible are included in this handbook. To further facilitate the accessibility of the desired information in various areas covered in this collection, the book is divided into 11 sections: Introductory Chapters; Cucurbit Physiological Stages of Growth and Development I; Cultural Practices of Cucurbits; Cucurbit Physiological Stages of Growth and Development II; Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding of Cucurbits; Cucurbit Grafting; Cucurbit Pathology and Diseases; Weed Control, Pest Control, and Insects of Cucurbits; Therapeutic and Medicinal Values of Cucurbits; Growth Responses of Cucurbits under Stressful Conditions (Abiotic and Biotic Stresses); and Examples of Cucurbit Crop Plants Growth and Development and Cultural Practices. Each of these sections consists of one or more chapters to discuss, independently, as many aspects of cucurbits as possible in that specific topic.

Section I consists of two chapters, including one that provides basic and general introductory information on cucurbit plants/crops. Section II contains one chapter, which provides details on cucurbit carbohydrate metabolism.

Section III includes five chapters, each of which presents in-depth information on their topic.

Section IV contains four chapters that provide detailed information on various physiological stages of cucurbit growth and development.

Section V consists of two chapters that provide information on muskmelon and ash gourd, respectively.

Section VI includes three chapters that discuss improvements in cucurbit productions and stress tolerance responses of cucurbit plants/crops

Section VII contains one chapter that presents important diseases of cucurbits and their proper management strategies. Section

VIII consists of three chapters that present up-to-date, detailed information on the control and management practices of weeds, pests, and insects of cucurbit plants/crops.

Section IX contains one chapter devoted to the health benefits of cucurbit plants/crops.

Section X consists of three chapters that discuss in detail the responses of cucurbit plants/crops under stressful conditions. Finally,

Section XI, consisting of six chapters, presents detailed information on various cucurbit plants/crops.

Numerous figures and tables are included in the handbook to facilitate comprehension of the presented material. Hundreds of index words are also included to further increase accessibility to desired information.