Genomic and pangenomic analyses provide insights into the population history and genomic diversification of bottle gourd.

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Strandl.) is an economically important vegetable crop and one of the earliest domesticated crops. However, the population history and genomic diversification of bottle gourd have not been extensively studied. We generated a comprehensive bottle gourd genome variation map from genome sequences of 197 world-wide representative accessions, which enables a genome-wide association study for identifying genomic loci associated with resistance to zucchini yellow mosaic virus, and constructed a bottle gourd pangenome that harbors 1534 protein-coding genes absent in the reference genome. Demographic analyses uncover that domesticated bottle gourd originated in Southern Africa c. 12 000 yr ago, and subsequently radiated to the New World via the Atlantic drift and to Eurasia through the efforts of early farmers in the initial Holocene. The identified highly differentiated genomic regions among different bottle gourd populations harbor many genes contributing to their local adaptations such as those related to disease resistance and stress tolerance. Presence/absence variation analysis of genes in the pangenome reveals numerous genes including those involved in abiotic/biotic stress responses that have been under selection during the world-wide expansion of bottle gourds. The bottle gourd variation map and pangenome provide valuable resources for future functional studies and genomics-assisted breeding.

A Transcriptomic Analysis of Bottle Gourd-Type Rootstock Roots Identifies Novel Transcription Factors Responsive to Low Root Zone Temperature Stress.

The bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] is often utilized as a rootstock for watermelon grafting. This practice effectively mitigates the challenges associated with continuous cropping obstacles in watermelon cultivation. The lower ground temperature has a direct impact on the rootstocks' root development and nutrient absorption, ultimately leading to slower growth and even the onset of yellowing. However, the mechanisms underlying the bottle gourd's regulation of root growth in response to low root zone temperature (LRT) remain elusive. Understanding the dynamic response of bottle gourd roots to LRT stress is crucial for advancing research regarding its tolerance to low temperatures. In this study, we compared the physiological traits of bottle gourd roots under control and LRT treatments; root sample transcriptomic profiles were monitored after 0 h, 48 h and 72 h of LRT treatment. LRT stress increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative electrolyte permeability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, especially H2O2 and O2-. Concurrently, LRT treatment enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). RNA-Seq analysis revealed the presence of 2507 and 1326 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after 48 h and 72 h of LRT treatment, respectively. Notably, 174 and 271 transcription factors (TFs) were identified as DEGs compared to the 0 h control. We utilized quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to confirm the expression patterns of DEGs belonging to the WRKY, NAC, bHLH, AP2/ERF and MYB families. Collectively, our study provides a robust foundation for the functional characterization of LRT-responsive TFs in bottle gourd roots. Furthermore, these insights may contribute to the enhancement in cold tolerance in bottle gourd-type rootstocks, thereby advancing molecular breeding efforts.

Development and Optimization of Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics under Different Crossing Periods of Bottle Gourd.

Bottle gourd, a common vegetable in the human diet, has been valued for its medicinal and energetic properties. In this experiment, the time-resolved analysis of the changes in the proteins' electrophoretic patterning of the seed development at different crossing periods was studied in bottle gourd using label-free quantitative proteomics. Hybrid HBGH-35 had the highest observed protein levels at the 4th week of the crossing period (F4) compared to the parental lines, viz. G-2 (M) and Pusa Naveen (F). The crossing period is significantly correlated with grain filling and reserve accumulation. The observed protein expression profile after storage was related to seed maturation and grain filling in bottle gourds. A total of 2517 proteins were identified in differentially treated bottle gourd fruits, and 372 proteins were differentially expressed between different crossing periods. Proteins related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism, anthocyanin biosynthesis, cell stress response, and fruit firmness were characterized and quantified. Some proteins were involved in the development, while others were engaged in desiccation and the early grain-filling stage. F4 was distinguished by an increase in the accumulation of low molecular weight proteins and enzymes such as amylase, a serine protease, and trypsin inhibitors. The seed vigor also followed similar patterns of differential expression of seed storage proteins. Our findings defined a new window during seed production, which showed that at F4, maximum photosynthetic assimilates accumulated, resulting in an enhanced source-sink relationship and improved seed production. Our study attempts to observe the protein expression profiling pattern under different crossing periods using label-free quantitative proteomics in bottle gourd. It will facilitate future detailed investigation of the protein associated with quality traits and the agronomic importance of bottle gourd through selective breeding programs.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal That Jasmonic Acids May Facilitate the Infection of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus in Bottle Gourd.

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is a typical seed-borne tobamovirus that mainly infects cucurbit crops. Due to the rapid growth of international trade, CGMMV has spread worldwide and become a significant threat to cucurbit industry. Despite various studies focusing on the interaction between CGMMV and host plants, the molecular mechanism of CGMMV infection is still unclear. In this study, we utilized transcriptome and metabolome analyses to investigate the antiviral response of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) under CGMMV stress. The transcriptome analysis revealed that in comparison to mock-inoculated bottle gourd, 1929 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in CGMMV-inoculated bottle gourd. Among them, 1397 genes were upregulated while 532 genes were downregulated. KEGG pathway enrichment indicated that the DEGs were mainly involved in pathways including the metabolic pathway, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, plant hormone signal transduction, plant-pathogen interaction, and starch and sucrose metabolism. The metabolome result showed that there were 76 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), of which 69 metabolites were up-accumulated, and 7 metabolites were down-accumulated. These DAMs were clustered into several pathways, including biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, tyrosine metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. Combining the transcriptome and metabolome results, the genes and metabolites involved in the jasmonic acid and its derivatives (JAs) synthesis pathway were significantly induced upon CGMMV infection. The silencing of the allene oxide synthase (AOS) gene, which is the key gene involved in JAs synthesis, reduced CGMMV accumulation. These findings suggest that JAs may facilitate CGMMV infection in bottle gourd.

Enhancement of Bottle Gourd Oil Activity via Optimized Self-Dispersing Lipid Formulations (SDLFs) to Mitigate Isoproterenol-Evoked Cardiac Toxicity in Rats via Modulating BMP, MMP2, and miRNA-21 and miRNA-23a Genes' Expression.

Bottle gourd (BG) oil (family Cucurbitaceae) has several pharmacological activities including a reduction of the hazard of cardiovascular and atherosclerosis conditions. This work aimed to develop and optimize self-dispersing lipid formulations (SDLFs) of BG oil by applying a full 32 factorial design. The formulation variables (oil concentration and surfactant mixture ratio) showed an obvious impact on the characters of the prepared BG-SDLFs including droplet size (DS), polydispersity index (PDI), emulsification time (ET), and transmission percentage (Tr%). The optimum BG-SDLF composed of 30% oil and Tween 80/Cremophor® RH40 (1:1) showed good emulsification characteristics and a better drug release profile compared with BG oil. In vivo study in isoproterenol-injected rats showed that BG oil and the optimized BG-SDLF improved cardiac function, by elevating the miRNA-23a gene expression level and decreasing miRNA-21 gene expression. They also caused the inhibition of the plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), cystatin c, galectin-3, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT). Our study demonstrated that BG oil and the optimized BG-SDLF provided a cardioprotection against isoproterenol-induced cardiac toxicity with better results in groups treated with the optimized BG-SDLF.

Long-read genome assembly and genetic architecture of fruit shape in the bottle gourd.

The bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria, Cucurbitaceae) is an important horticultural crop exhibiting tremendous diversity in fruit shape. The genetic architecture of fruit shape variation in this species remains unknown. We assembled a long-read-based, high-quality reference genome (ZAAS_Lsic_2.0) with a contig N50 value over 390-fold greater than the existing reference genomes. We then focused on dissection of fruit shape using a one-step geometric morphometrics-based functional mapping approach. We identified 11 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for fruit shape (fsQTLs), reconstructed their visible effects and revealed syntenic relationships of bottle gourd fsQTLs with 12 fsQTLs previously reported in cucumber, melon or watermelon. Homologs of several well-known and newly identified fruit shape genes, including SUN, OFP, AP2 and auxin transporters, were comapped with bottle gourd QTLs.

Assessment of genetic diversity of ninety-one bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] genotypes from fourteen different agro-climatic zones of India using agro-morphological traits and SSR markers.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the magnitude of genetic diversity present in the germplasm collection is prerequisite for bottle gourd improvement programme. The characterization of the diversity pattern of Indian bottle gourd accessions will facilitate the optimal use of genetic resources for breeding improved cultivars. METHODS: In the present study, the magnitude of genetic diversity was evaluated in ninety-one genotypes of bottle gourd collected across fourteen different agro-climatic zones of India. RESULTS: Significant variations were observed for all the studied ten quantitative and nine qualitative traits. The ninety-one genotypes were grouped into nine clusters based on cluster analysis of morphological characteristics. Eigen value from principal component analysis depicted first seven quantitative traits accounted for more than 97.5 cumulative percent of the total variations. The first two components accounted for 50 cumulative percent of the total variation, which signifies a high degree of correlation between the analyzed traits. Molecular diversity with the 40 SSR markers screened revealed 11 polymorphic markers in the genotypes studied. Population structure analysis divulged five populations, conforming to the Principal Coordinate Analysis. Molecular analysis revealed genetically diverse genotypes along with the morphologically divergent genotypes from the quantitative traits and highest inter-cluster distance would be the most appropriate parents for exploiting heterosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will facilitate the optimal use of genetic resources for breeding improved cultivars of bottle gourd and the adoption of the identified superior genotypes directly by the breeders.

Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) Toxicity Diagnosed in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is sometimes used in complementary medicine practice for the treatment of chronic ailments. However, there have been reports of toxicity due to consumption of bottle gourd juice, leading to severe abdominal upset and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 41-year-old gentleman who presented to the Emergency Department with multiple episodes of vomiting, hematemesis, and diarrhea after consuming bottle gourd juice. The patient was resuscitated and stabilized with fluids, proton pump inhibitors, and antiemetics. He was subsequently admitted to the General Medicine ward for further management. He continued to receive symptomatic treatment in the ward and underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy during his hospitalization stay. His symptoms improved and he was discharged stable 5 days later. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Early recognition of this rare presentation of bottle gourd toxicity is important in our local context, especially where traditional medicine is widely prevalent nowadays. Treatment is supportive. Public awareness of dangerous effects from the consumption of bitter bottle gourd juice and complementary medicine without proper consultation with a practitioner plays a crucial role to prevent further cases. Physicians need to advise patients on the use of traditional medicine and their potential side effects.

Sensory evaluation of microwave-ultrasound treated bottle gourd juice using hybrid features of fuzzy logic and proportional odd modelling approach.

In the present investigation, sensory evaluation of bottle gourd juice (BGJ) samples, obtained from microwave-ultrasound based combined treatment was performed. The raw (sample-1) and conventionally treated (sample-2) alongside microwave-ultrasound treated (sample-3) were considered for the assessment of sensory evaluation. An innovative approach of hybrid fuzzy logic and proportional odd modelling (FL-POM) was implemented for the analysis of the sensory scores. The similarity values for the juice samples and their quality attributes were resolved from the results obtained by fuzzy logic. These values were considered as input for hybridization with the POM approach. The assessed coefficients obtained from the results of POM were considered for the ranking of the samples and quality traits. The ranking of the BGJ samples was observed in the order of sample-1 > sample-3 > sample-2, and their related quality attributes ranked in the order color > taste > aroma > mouth feel. The microwave-ultrasound treated BGJ evinced as the best sample in comparison to the raw one.

Plant Grafting Shapes Complexity and Co-occurrence of Rhizobacterial Assemblages.

Grafting is a basic technique which is widely used to increase yield and enhance biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in plant production. The diversity and interactions of rhizobacterial assemblages shaped by grafting are important for the growth of their hosts but remain poorly understood. To test the hypothesis that plant grafting shapes complexity and co-occurrence of rhizobacterial assemblage, four types of plants, including ungrafted bottle gourd (B), ungrafted watermelon (W), grafted watermelon with bottle gourd rootstock (W/B), and grafted bottle gourd with watermelon rootstock (B/W), were cultivated in two soil types in a greenhouse, and the rhizosphere bacterial communities were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Both the soil type and grafting significantly influenced the bacterial community composition. Grafting increased bacterial within-sample diversity in both soils. Core enriched operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the W/B rhizosphere compared with the other three treatments (B, W, and B/W) were mainly affiliated with Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, which are likely related to methanol oxidation, methylotrophy, fermentation, and ureolysis. Co-occurrence network analysis proved that grafting increased network complexity, including the number of nodes, edges, and modules. Moreover, grafting strengthened the structural robustness of the network in the rhizosphere, while ungrafted watermelon had the lowest network robustness. Homogeneous selection played a predominant role in bacterial community assembly, and the contribution of dispersal limitation was increased in grafted watermelon with bottle gourd rootstock. Grafting increased the diversity and transformed the network topology of the bacterial community, which indicated that grafting could improve species coexistence in the watermelon rhizosphere.

The bottle gourd genome provides insights into Cucurbitaceae evolution and facilitates mapping of a Papaya ring-spot virus resistance locus.

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is an important vegetable crop as well as a rootstock for other cucurbit crops. In this study, we report a high-quality 313.4-Mb genome sequence of a bottle gourd inbred line, USVL1VR-Ls, with a scaffold N50 of 8.7 Mb and the longest of 19.0 Mb. About 98.3% of the assembled scaffolds are anchored to the 11 pseudomolecules. Our comparative genomic analysis identifies chromosome-level syntenic relationships between bottle gourd and other cucurbits, as well as lineage-specific gene family expansions in bottle gourd. We reconstructed the genome of the most recent common ancestor of Cucurbitaceae, which revealed that the ancestral Cucurbitaceae karyotypes consisted of 12 protochromosomes with 18 534 protogenes. The 12 protochromosomes are largely retained in the modern melon genome, while have undergone different degrees of shuffling events in other investigated cucurbit genomes. The 11 bottle gourd chromosomes derive from the ancestral Cucurbitaceae karyotypes followed by 19 chromosomal fissions and 20 fusions. The bottle gourd genome sequence has facilitated the mapping of a dominant monogenic locus, Prs, conferring Papaya ring-spot virus (PRSV) resistance in bottle gourd, to a 317.8-kb region on chromosome 1. We have developed a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker tightly linked to the Prs locus and demonstrated its potential application in marker-assisted selection of PRSV resistance in bottle gourd. This study provides insights into the paleohistory of Cucurbitaceae genome evolution, and the high-quality genome sequence of bottle gourd provides a useful resource for plant comparative genomics studies and cucurbit improvement.

Genome-wide identification of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus-responsive microRNAs in watermelon.

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is a damaging pathogen that attacks crop plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Little is known about the regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in response to CGMMV infection. To identify CGMMV-responsive miRNAs, two sRNA libraries from mock-inoculated and CGMMV-infected watermelon leaves were constructed and sequenced using Solexa sequencing technology. In total, 471 previously known and 1,809 novel miRNAs were obtained, of which 377 known and 246 novel miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed during CGMMV infection. The target genes for the CGMMV-responsive known miRNAs are active in diverse biological processes, including cell wall modulation, plant hormone signaling, defense-related protein induction, primary and secondary metabolism, regulation of virus replication, and intracellular transport. The expression patterns of some CGMMV-responsive miRNAs and their corresponding targets were confirmed by RT-qPCR. One target gene for miR156a-5p was verified by 5'-RNA-ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'-RLM-RACE) analysis. The results of this study provide further insights into the miRNA-mediated regulatory network involved in the response to viral infection in watermelon and other cucurbit crops.

Use of a vegetable model as a training tool for PCNL puncture.

INTRODUCTION: Training residents to perform a PCNL puncture is hampered by the non-availability of a good inanimate model that can be used for demonstration and practice. The ethics of surgical training during actual surgeries is being questioned and the role of simulation is increasingly important. Virtual reality trainers, however, are prohibitively expensive and the use of animal models is fraught with regulatory and ethical concerns. We have devised a model that can be used to teach the concept of depth perception during a PCNL puncture. METHODS: A bottle gourd was used to mimic the posterior abdominal wall. Cotton pledgets dipped in intravenous contrast were fitted into 4 mm holes made at staggered levels in the bottle gourd which was strapped onto the operating table with the cotton pledgets facing away from the surgeon. Surgeons with varying degrees of experience made fluoroscopy-guided punctures onto the cotton pledgets. We recorded the time taken for puncture in seconds and the distance of the needle exit site from the center of the cotton ball. Speed was measured by recording the fluoroscopy time in seconds on the C-arm. Accuracy was documented by using a Vernier caliper to measure the distance from the edge of the target to the actual puncture. One second of fluoroscopy time and 0.1 mm distance were each given one point. The total points accumulated over a set of 10 punctures was added to give a total score. Longer fluoroscopy times and inaccurate punctures resulted in higher scores. RESULTS: A surgeon with more than 1000 PCNLs to his credit had a score of 99. The average score of five residents was 555. CONCLUSION: The bottle gourd model provides an ethically acceptable, inexpensive, easy to replicate model that can be used to train residents in the PCNL puncture.

Archaeobotanical evidence supports indigenous cucurbit long-term use in the Mesoamerican Neotropics.

The squash family (Cucurbitaceae) contains some of the most important crops cultivated worldwide and has played an important ecological, economic, and cultural role for millennia. In the American tropics, squashes were among the first cultivated crop species, but little is known about how their domestication unfolded. Here, we employ direct radiocarbon dating and morphological analyses of desiccated cucurbit seeds, rinds, and stems from El Gigante Rockshelter in Honduras to reconstruct human practices of selection and cultivation of Lagenaria siceraria, Cucurbita pepo, and Cucurbita moschata. Direct radiocarbon dating indicates that humans started using Lagenaria and wild Cucurbita starting ~ 10,950 calendar years before present (cal B.P.), primarily as watertight vessels and possibly as cooking and drinking containers. A rind directly dated to 11,150-10,765 cal B.P. represents the oldest known bottle gourd in the Americas. Domesticated C. moschata subsequently appeared ~ 4035 cal B.P., followed by domesticated C. pepo ~ 2190 cal B.P. associated with increasing evidence for their use as food crops. Multivariate statistical analysis of seed size and shape show that the archaeological C. pepo assemblage exhibits significant variability, representing at least three varieties: one similar to present-day zucchini, another like present-day vegetable marrow, and a native cultivar without modern analogs. Our archaeobotanical data supports the hypothesis that Indigenous cucurbit use started in the Early Holocene, and that agricultural complexity during the Late Holocene involved selective breeding that encouraged crop diversification.

Combined BSA-Seq and RNA-Seq to Identify Potential Genes Regulating Fruit Size in Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.).

Fruit size is a crucial agronomic trait in bottle gourd, impacting both yield and utility. Despite its significance, the regulatory mechanism governing fruit size in bottle gourd remains largely unknown. In this study, we used bottle gourd (small-fruited H28 and large-fruited H17) parent plants to measure the width and length of fruits at various developmental stages, revealing a single 'S' growth curve for fruit expansion. Paraffin section observations indicated that both cell number and size significantly influence bottle gourd fruit size. Through bulked segregant analysis and combined genotype-phenotype analysis, the candidate interval regulating fruit size was pinpointed to 17,747,353 bp-18,185,825 bp on chromosome 9, encompassing 0.44 Mb and including 44 genes. Parental fruits in the rapid expansion stage were subjected to RNA-seq, highlighting that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to cell wall biosynthesis, sugar metabolism, and hormone signaling. Transcriptome and resequencing analysis, combined with gene function annotation, identified six genes within the localized region as potential regulators of fruit size. This study not only maps the candidate interval of genes influencing fruit size in bottle gourd through forward genetics, but also offers new insights into the potential molecular mechanisms underlying this trait through transcriptome analysis.

Pathogenicity analysis and seed transmission of watermelon virus A in bottle gourd.

Seed transmission is among the primary strategies utilized by plant viruses for long-distance dissemination, leading to the widespread occurrence of viral diseases globally. Watermelon virus A (WVA) is a novel wamavirus first found in watermelon. However, the pathogenicity and transmission mode of WVA are still unclear. Our previous work found that the incidence of WVA in bottle gourd is very high. Based on that, the pathogenicity and seed transmission mode of WVA in bottle gourd were studied. Compared with healthy plant, bottle gourd infected by WVA showed no visible disease symptom. Moreover, in the seeds of 20 bottle gourd cultivars, the occurrence of WVA varies from 0 to 90%, and one cultivar even reaches 100%. We also found that the transmission rate from seeds to the resulting seedlings was 100%. Furthermore, WVA was present in both the seed coat and embryo, and seed disinfection cannot eliminate WVA. Besides the seed and leaf, WVA can also be detected in stem, flower, and fruit, but not in the root. To our surprise, the level of transmission from WVA-infected plants to seeds was more than 85%. In addition, the viral accumulations of both WVA and CGMMV were increased in plants with co-infection of WVA and CGMMV. Taken together, these findings reveal that WVA is a seed-transmitted virus which causes no disease symptom in bottle gourd, and there may be synergism between WVA and CGMMV.

Bottle gourd IC-0262269, a super-susceptible genotype to tomato leaf curl Palampur virus.

While conducting field trial of 82 genotypes of bottle gourd at Delhi during 2020-2021, a particular genotype, IC-0262269 was found to be affected by chlorotic curly stunt disease (CCSD). The affected plants were severely stunted and bearing very small chlorotic and crinkle leaves. The disease incidence in the said genotype was as high as 80% among different replicated trial blocks. The application of PCR using a generic primers specific to begomoviruses, as well as species-specific PCR diagnostics to six tomato-infecting begomoviruses: tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV), tomato leaf curl Joydebpur virus (ToLCJoV), tomato leaf curl Gujrat virus (ToLCGuV), tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV), and chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) showed that, only ToLCPalV could be detected in the genotype IC-0262269. Following, rolling circle amplification, cloning and sequencing of full-length DNA-A and DNA-B genome of an isolate BoG1-ND from the genotype IC-0262269 revealed association of ToLCPalV with the disease. The successful agro-infection of the cloned genome of BoG1-ND (DNA-A and DNA-B) in the plants of Nicotiana benthamiana and bottle gourd demonstrated that ToLCPalV is the causal begomovirus of CCSD. The study provides the first evidence of the natural occurrence of ToLCPalV in bottle gourd crop and also showed that the bottle gourd genotype IC-0262269 is super-susceptible to ToLCPalV. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03838-y.

Comprehensive smart smartphone image dataset for plant leaf disease detection and freshness assessment from Bangladesh vegetable fields.

Bangladesh's agricultural landscape is significantly influenced by vegetable cultivation, which substantially enhances nutrition, the economy, and food security in the nation. Millions of people rely on vegetable production for their daily sustenance, generating considerable income for numerous farmers. However, leaf diseases frequently compromise the yield and quality of vegetable crops. Plant diseases are a common impediment to global agricultural productivity, adversely affecting crop quality and yield, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers. Early detection of plant leaf diseases is crucial for improving cultivation and vegetable production. Common diseases such as Bacterial Spot, Mosaic Virus, and Downy Mildew often reduce vegetable plant cultivation and severely impact vegetable production and the food economy. Consequently, many farmers in Bangladesh struggle to identify the specific diseases, incurring significant losses. This dataset contains 12,643 images of widely grown crops in Bangladesh, facilitating the identification of unhealthy leaves compared to healthy ones. The dataset includes images of vegetable leaves such as Bitter Gourd (2223 images), Bottle Gourd (1803 images), Eggplants (2944 images), Cauliflowers (1598 images), Cucumbers (1626 images), and Tomatoes (2449 images). Each vegetable class encompasses several common diseases that affect cultivation. By identifying early leaf diseases, this dataset will be invaluable for farmers and agricultural researchers alike.

Investigating Mineral Accumulation and Seed Vigor Potential in Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) through Crossbreeding Timing.

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is a well-known cucurbit with an active functional ingredient. A two-year field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of Seed Science and Technology, CCS HAU, Hisar, in a randomized block design during the Kharif season (Kharif is one of the two major cropping seasons in India and other South Asian countries, heavily reliant on monsoon rains with the other being Rabi) and the summer season. Five different crossing periods (CP), viz. CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4, and CP5, were considered to illustrate the effects of agro-climatic conditions on the quality and biochemical components of two bottle gourd parental lines and one hybrid, HBGH-35. The average mean temperature for the Kharif season in 2017 was 31.7 °C, and for the summer season, it was 40.1 °C. Flowers were tagged weekly from the start of the crossing period until the end and harvested separately at different times. The fruits harvested from different crossing periods under different environmental conditions influenced the bottle gourd's qualitative and biochemical traits and showed significant variations among the five crossing period environments. A positive significance and correlation were observed between weather variables and different biochemical characteristics. Henceforth, the CP4 crossing period at a temperature of 31.7 °C retained high-quality seed development, which may be essential in enhancing agricultural productivity and the national economy.

Bottle Gourd Juice: Poison or Panacea.

Ingestion of toxic bottle gourd juice, particularly the bitter one, may pose a significant risk to life if not treated in time. Notwithstanding its usefulness, people drink it routinely without concern for fruit quality, extraction hygiene, and mixture with other fruits. We report two cases of bottle gourd juice poisoning with severe abdominal pain and hematemesis. On evaluation, patients were hypotensive with associated esophagitis, pangastritis, and duodenitis. After conservative management, both were discharged after five days of hospitalisation. We conclude that the chances of bottle gourd juice poisoning are higher in water-stressed arid regions; hence, care should be taken on quality and quantity while consuming it.