Faizabad Parwal-4

Faizabad Parwal-4 (FP-4) is a pointed gourd variety released by Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (NDUAT), Faizabad, distinguished by its light-green, spindle-shaped fruit with tapering ends — a different shape from the round fruit of the earlier FP-1 release. It is specifically recommended for bower (pole) cultivation rather than ground-trailing, and is noted in the agronomic literature for tolerating reclaimed sodic (alkaline) soils better than most other named parwal varieties, making it a useful option for growers working land that has been reclaimed from sodicity but is not yet fully productive for less-tolerant crops. Like all pointed gourd, it is a perennial vine propagated from vine or root cuttings, and requires male cuttings interplanted with the fruiting stock for pollination.

Plant typeVine/root cutting
MaturityFirst harvest ~3–4 months after planting
Yield potentialComparable to other Faizabad releases; specific figure not consistently documented
Disease resistanceNo special resistance widely documented; better tolerance of sodic soil reported
SoilTolerates reclaimed sodic soil better than most varieties
SeasonAll seasons

• Seed rateVegetatively propagated — about 2,000–2,500 cuttings/ha, roughly 10% male cuttings interplanted for pollination
• SpacingPits 2–3 m apart on an overhead bower (specifically recommended for bower/pole cultivation)

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

• Uttar Pradesh

• Swarna Alaukik

  Released by ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Ranchi. Light greenish, unstriped, elongated fruit with soft flesh and soft seeds, suited to both table use and sweet preparations, on a heavy-bearing vine.

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• Swarna Rekha

  Also from ICAR RCER, Ranchi. Elongated green fruit with distinct light stripes, soft seeds and good shelf life, widely grown across the eastern belt from Bihar and Jharkhand to West Bengal and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

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• Swarna Suruchi

  A third ICAR RCER, Ranchi release alongside Swarna Alaukik and Swarna Rekha — light greenish, unstriped fruit with soft flesh and seeds, bred for heavy yield and good eating and processing quality.

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• Rajendra Parwal-1

  A clonal selection from Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, developed for the state's eastern Gangetic plain conditions with light-green fruit and a heavy-bearing vine.

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• Rajendra Parwal-2

  A later, high-yielding clonal release from the same Bihar university, distributed to farmers as part of state high-value horticulture programmes. Small, light-green fruit (about 25–30 g each) borne heavily — 150–175 fruit per vine.

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• Faizabad Parwal-1

  Released by Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (NDUAT), Faizabad, for Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Bihar. Attractive, round, green fruit on a well-established commercial variety across the region.

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