Species

Tribulus terrestris L.

Family
Zygophyllaceae
English Name
Puncture vine
Malayalam Name
Njerinjil, Mullurinji
Tamil Name
Nerinji mull
Kannada Name
Govina mullu, Kirineglu mullu
Telugu Name
Cinnapalleru
Hindi Name
Gokharu
Sanskrit Name
Gokshura
Trade Name
Gokshru, Puncture vine
Part Used
Whole plant
In Wild
NA
Under Cultivation
NA
Temperature
NA
Rainfall
NA
Farmers
NA
Traders
NA
Institution
NA
Individually
NA
State/Region
NA
District
NA
Nursery Information
NA
Yield
Total yield of plant in fresh weight is 2.88 tonnes/ha and dry weight is 0.738 tonnes/ha.
Economic of cultivation
1. Cost of cultivation: ? 40,000 per hectare. 2. Market price: Dried fruit -?120 per kg (as on July 2019).
Quantitative quality standards
Root: 1. Foreign matter: Nil 2. Ash: Not more than 10.0 % 3. Acid-insoluble ash: Not more than 1.0 % 4. Ethanol-soluble extractive: Not less than 13.0 % 5. Water-soluble extractive: Not less than 20.0 % Fruit: 1. Foreign matter: Nil 2. Ash: Not more than 10.0 % 3. Acid-insoluble ash: Not more than 1.0 % 4. Ethanol-soluble extractives: Not less than 13.0 % 5. Water-soluble extractive: Not less than 40.0 %
Description
Prostrate silky pubescent herbs. Leaves opposite, imparipinnate; leaflets opposite, 4-5 pairs, 1.5 x 0.7 cm, oblong; petiole to 7 mm. Flowers axillary, 1 or 2, golden yellow, 2 cm across; pedicels to 3 cm. Ovary 5-lobed, hairsy. Fruit c. 1 cm across, globose, 5-angled, cocci 5, woody, each with a pair of divaricate spines.
Agro technology/Cultivation practices
This plant requires tropical, subtropical or semiarid climate and thrives well in open land with soil ranging from clay- loam to light sandy-loam, under low rainfall. Cultivation 1. Planting stock production: Seeds are collected for propagation during OctoberNovember. 2. Field planting: Tribulus is raised through direct sowing of seeds on well-prepared land. Two kg seeds at 90 120 cm spacing can be sown in one hectare. Seeds pre-treated with 20ppm Gibberellic Acid for 48 hours before sowing gives better germination. Seeds stratified in moist sand also give better germination. Seeds germinate in about 30 days. When swelling and sprouting is observed, seeds are removed from sand and sown in plug trays. February March is the best time for sowing the seeds in the field. Initially 1-2 weeding is necessary to make the plant free and also for better growth. 3. Manuring/Fertilizer: At the time of field preparation, required quantity of farmyard manure is applied based on plant/soil analysis and mix well with soil. 4. Irrigation: Irrigation is needed only during long dry periods. 5. Pest and diseases: Usually this plant is free from pest. Occasionally, weevils such as Microlarinus lareynii and M. lypriformis affect the stems and seeds.
Harversting
Plants are ready to harvest after 240-250 days of planting, during October seeds will ripe.
Processing
Plants are uprooted and washed in water. Harvested material is separated part wise viz, root, stem and leaves. Fruits are air dried and stored in cool airy places.
References
NA