Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Commodity GroupCucurbit vegetable (gourds)
Scientific NameLagenaria siceraria
Growing Conditions- Widely cultivated throughout tropical regions.
- Tolerates a wide range of rainfall conditions but prefers moderate rainfall with plenty of sunshine.
Consumption Forms- Fresh fruit cooked as a vegetable
- Shoots and leaves cooked as greens
- Seeds used for cooking and/or oil extraction (where practiced)
- Mature dried shell used as containers; in some cases fishing floats
Planting to HarvestFruits are reported ready for harvest about 100–120 days after sowing in FAO reference context.
Market
Fresh bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is a cucurbit vegetable widely cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions, with particular importance as a commercial vegetable crop in parts of Asia (notably India and China) and widespread cultivation across Africa. FAO references bottle gourd production across a set of mainly tropical producers including India, China, Southeast Asian countries, and parts of Latin America. Production is typically aligned with warm-season planting windows, with FAO noting harvesting around 100–120 days after sowing in at least some production contexts. Global market visibility is constrained by limited standardized, commodity-specific public reporting on production, varieties, and postharvest handling for bottle gourd in some references, making trade intelligence more reliant on horticultural and phytosanitary sources than on unified global trade series.
Major Producing Countries- 인도Listed by FAO as a major producing country; noted planting at monthly intervals February–August in India in FAO reference.
- 중국Listed by FAO as a major producing country; described as an important commercial vegetable crop in China in academic literature.
- 인도네시아Listed by FAO as a major producing country.
- 말레이시아Listed by FAO as a major producing country.
- 필리핀Listed by FAO as a major producing country.
- 스리랑카Listed by FAO as a major producing country.
- 홍콩Listed by FAO as a major producing area; FAO reference notes planting typically March–April in Hong Kong.
- 콜롬비아Listed by FAO as a major producing country.
- 브라질Listed by FAO as a major producing country.
Supply Calendar- India:May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, DecApproximate harvest window inferred from FAO reference noting monthly planting February–August and harvesting about 100–120 days after sowing.
- Hong Kong:Jul, AugApproximate harvest window inferred from FAO reference noting planting typically March–April and harvesting about 100–120 days after sowing.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Cucurbit with fleshy fruit; fruits are commonly consumed as a vegetable when harvested for eating, while mature fruits can be scooped out and the hardened skin used as containers in some regions.
Supply Chain
Demand Drivers- Everyday culinary vegetable use in Africa and Asia (fresh fruit cooked as a vegetable).
- Secondary utilization of shoots and leaves as cooked greens in some producing regions.
- Non-food use of mature dried shells as containers (and, in some cases, fishing floats), supporting localized demand beyond fresh culinary use.
Temperature- Cold-chain design must avoid chilling-injury risk associated with low, non-freezing temperatures; cucurbits are commonly cited as chilling sensitive, with sub-10°C exposure potentially injurious for tropical/subtropical Cucurbitaceae.
Risks
Phytosanitary HighFresh bottle gourd trade can be disrupted by quarantine pest risk because Lagenaria siceraria is recorded as a host for multiple regulated or economically significant pests (including several tephritid fruit flies and multiple viruses) in phytosanitary databases. This creates a high likelihood of shipment delays, rejections, or additional treatment requirements in importing markets with strict pest-free or inspection regimes.Use integrated pest management in-field, apply pre-export inspection and sorting, maintain traceability, and align export protocols with importing-country phytosanitary requirements (including pest monitoring and certification where applicable).
Plant Disease MediumBacterial fruit blotch (Acidovorax citrulli) is a seedborne bacterial disease recognized as a serious threat to cucurbit seed and fruit production, and Lagenaria siceraria is documented as a host in phytosanitary references. Outbreaks can reduce marketable yield and trigger heightened seed/planting-material scrutiny in supply chains that rely on consistent plant health status.Source tested seed from controlled production systems, apply validated seed health testing and hygiene protocols, and implement field sanitation and exclusion measures during high-risk warm/humid periods.
Cold Chain MediumTemperature mismanagement can cause chilling injury in cucurbit supply chains; low, non-freezing temperatures are a known stress range for tropical/subtropical cucurbits and can lead to quality loss and decay risk, complicating long-distance refrigerated logistics for a fresh, high-moisture vegetable.Set transport/storage targets to avoid chilling-sensitive ranges, monitor product pulp temperatures, and validate packaging/ventilation to reduce condensation-driven decay.
FAQ
What is the scientific name of bottle gourd traded as a fresh vegetable?Bottle gourd is commonly referenced as Lagenaria siceraria in FAO and phytosanitary sources.
Which countries are commonly cited as major bottle gourd producers?FAO references major production in countries including India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Colombia, and Brazil.
What is a key trade-disrupting risk for fresh bottle gourd in international shipments?Phytosanitary barriers can be a key risk because bottle gourd is documented as a host for multiple pests and diseases in EPPO’s database, which can trigger stricter inspection, treatment requirements, or shipment rejection depending on the importing market’s quarantine rules.