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Cucurbitaceous crops are prevalent vegetables among the farmers for their wide adaptation from arid climates to the humid tropics and well known for fetching good economic return and nutrition in our food supplements. Various biotic constraints such as insect-pests and other invertebrate and vertebrate pests are the significant constraints in the sustainable production of cucurbits. Many pests have expanded their host horizon, developed resistance to pesticides, and emerged as major pests due to the changes in cropping pattern, injudicious use of pesticides, climate change, introduction of high yielding varieties, and various cultivation changes practices. In this context, the study related to proper identification and taxonomic position, distribution, seasonal abundance, biology, economic importance, nature, and symptoms of damage caused by the pest complex of cucurbits is worth to be learned along with their possible managements.

Among the vegetables, cucurbits form one of the largest groups with their wide adaptation from arid climates to the humid tropics. The family Cucurbitaceae consists of about 825 species in around 118 genera. In Asia, nearly 23 edible major and minor cucurbits are grown and consumed. They are grown mainly in summer and rainy seasons in India and even in winter in some parts of southern and western India as both annual and perennial crops. Important genera of this family are Lagenaria, Momordica, Luffa, Cucurbita, Cucumis and Citrullus. Cucurbits are actively used as traditional herbal remedies for various diseases such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular and immunoregulatory activities. Due to their low carbohydrate content and the ability to supply of certain amount of minerals and vitamins, it is highly recommended for diabetics. As the cucurbit species are mostly unisexual and male and female flowers are borne separately, the pollination and fruit setting are governed by insect pollinators. Spray of plant growth regulators helps a lot in modifying sex expression and inducing femaleness. Being viny crop, cucurbits require special attention regarding crop management. This chapter unfurls basic know-how about cucurbits including its cultivation protocols.

Weed is any wild plant that grows in an unwanted place, especially in a garden or field where it prevents the cultivated plants from growing freely. It competes with the desired crop for moisture, nutrients, light and space and thus can reduce yield of vegetable crops up to 37%. The agricultural crops in general are infested with a variety of weeds depending upon soil type, agro-climatic zone, season and particular crop species. Out of over 800 weeds documented in India, 200 are considered as major weeds, out of which only 80 are considered as serious. Cucurbits are vine crops, which are sometimes grown over bower or trellis, thus they are less prone to weed growth. They also surpass weed growth by the spreading vines at later stages of plant growth. But, severe weed infestation in early 20 days can pose serious threat to crop stand. So, to have a better crop stand, the crop field has to be kept weed free during the early growth period. Similarly, management of weeds of cucurbits at later part of crop growth is also important for better air circulation for the crop and easy harvesting. Weeds belong to many families varying in physiology, morphology and habits of growth. For easy interpretation and management, weeds are categorized into three major groups, i.e. Broad leaf, Sedges and Grasses. Due to diversity of weed species, a single method of weed control is not enough to make a crop field weed free. Judicious management of weed needs long-term strategy and integration of different sustainable methods. This chapter deals with detailed weed control methods applicable for cucurbitaceous vegetable cultivation.

The technology of plant breeding for pest and disease resistance is the secondary objective of a total breeding programme in addition to yield and quality. Host plant resistance to insect pests and diseases is an underutilized pest management strategy in vegetable production. Increased pressures to reduce pesticides and changes in technology now increase the economic viability and possible role of host plant resistance in vegetable pest management, which reflected in the relatively recent release of several insect-resistant varieties and breeding lines. Like other vegetables there is ample opportunity to exploit this technology in managing several biotic stresses in cucurbits. But, care should be to monitor the status of pests for minimizing the threats of resistance breaking biotypes. For development of new resistant varieties and to make it available to the growers dynamic breeding programme is of utmost necessity.

Abiotic stress or abiotic disease is differently known as non-parasitic, non-infectious or inanimate disease. Abiotic stresses are one of the primary roots of crop failure. It may be due to uncongenial climatological and edaphological conditions. It includes nutritional and physiological disorders, environmental pollution and radiation from nuclear weapons. Different industrial and chemical pollutants can also be responsible for the disease. Defective agricultural practices like the excess application of fertilizers and pesticides cause symptoms of chemical injury on hosts. Abiotic stresses lowered the production in terms of both quality and quantity of cucurbits as well as it may aggravate the severity of some biotic diseases. In this chapter, an effort has made to accumulate such abiotic stresses and their possible management options in a comprehensive manner.

One of the key impediments for the cultivation of cucurbit vegetables is the pathogenic infestation. Besides, some abiotic causes are also involved in lowering crop yields in terms of both quality and quantity. Cucurbits are suffering from different kinds of pre- and post-harvest biotic stresses like fungi, bacteria, virus, phytoplasma, nematodes, etc. The abiotic factors are related to excess or deficient supply of nutrients, adverse edaphological and climatological conditions, etc. Some of the economically important and destructive diseases are downy mildew, powdery mildew, damping-off, fruit and vine rot, cottony leak, gummosis, Phytophthora blight, anthracnose, Cercospora leaf spot, phoma blight, collar rot, charcoal rot, Fusarium wilt, white rot, root knot, bacterial wilt, watermelon bud necrosis and leaf distortion virus, mosaic, phyllody, etc. Most of the diseases are of national importance and cause significant losses of the crops. A comprehensive catalogue on biotic diseases of cucurbits and their eco-friendly management strategies are presented in this chapter.