Lufa o calabaza esponja

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Grower’s Guide to Identifying and Correcting Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Deficiencies in Luffa Production

Md Jahidul Islam Shohag, Qiansheng Li, Yuncong Li, Qingren Wang, and Guodong Liu

Luffa, referring to the smooth (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.) and angled (Luffa acutangular (L.) Roxb.) types, is a climbing vegetable from the family Cucurbitaceae that has grown for centuries across Asia. Luffa are consumed as vegetables when immature and used as natural sponges when mature. Luffa is gaining popularity as an alternative vegetable crop in regions like Florida and California, thanks to favorable growing conditions and rising demand for Asian specialty produce. Successful cultivation of luffa relies heavily on proper nutrient management, particularly for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) because mismanagement can lead to deficiencies that cause stunted growth, leaf discoloration, and reduced yields. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for ensuring healthy growth and maximizing profitability. This Extension publication provides practical guidance for growers, Extension agents, and students on identifying and correcting N, P, and K deficiencies in luffa.

Symptoms of Nitrogen and Iron Deficiency in Luffa

Qiansheng Li, Marina Gluck, Yanlin Wang, Wendy Mussoline, Qingren Wang, Yuncong Li, and Guodong Liu

Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca, synonym Luffa cylindrica) is a tropical and subtropical climbing plant belonging to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae), natively cultivated in South and Southeast Asia. There are two main species of luffa grown in Florida: smooth luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.), primarily grown in small gardens and angled luffa (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.), basically grown for commercial production (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1285). It is commonly called sponge gourd, Egyptian cucumber, or Vietnamese luffa. Young fruits are edible and rich with nutritional and medicinal value (Partap et al. 2012; Azeez, Bello, and Adedeji et al. 2013). The mature fruit has strong fibrous insides, which can be used as natural porous fiber (Siqueira, Bras, and Dufresne 2010; Sivakandhan et al. 2020) for dishwashing or shower scrubbing. This publication is written for growers, state and county Extension faculty, and students interested in crop production.

Luffa—an Asian Vegetable Emerging in Florida

Yucong Xie, Guodong Liu, Yuncong Li, and Kati Migliaccio

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Plant Systems