Identification of major diseases in arid horticultural crops

Cucurbits belong to family Cucurbitaceae, includes 118 genera and 825 species. In India, many types of cucurbits are grown which include minor and major cucurbits, they contribute about 5.6% to the total vegetable production. In arid regions of India cucurbits are of most important vegetables grown across the year. Important cucurbits grown in arid region are snap melon (Cucumis melo var. momordica) muskmelon (Cucumis melo), ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula), mateera (Citrullus lanatus), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), kachri (Cucumis melo), ivy guord (Coccinia indiac) round melon (Praecitrullus fistulosus), sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica),bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), and kakdi (Cucumis melo var. utilissimus). In spite of harsh climatic conditions in arid region there are certain diseases which are prevalent and cause economic loss in the cucurbitaceous vegetables. Following are the cucurbitaceous diseases that are prevalent in arid regions of India.