Molecular systematics and phylogenetic relationships among Cucumis Species from India

Abstract

newline Since time immemorial, cucurbits have been used by humans as food, containers newlineand musical instruments, and as medicines. Cucurbitacins, the most important newlinesecondary metabolite of these plants are bitter triterpenes, and have been reported newlineto possess antihelmintic, anticancerous and purgative properties. Within newlinecucurbitaceae, the genus Cucumis L. is extensively distributed in the world and newlineincludes two important vegetables of commerce (cucumbers and melons). India newlineharbors a rich biodiversity of this genus. The occurrence of C. sativus var. newlinehardwickii, a wild progenitor of cucumber in the foothills of the Himalaya in India newlineshows the Indo- gangetic origin of cucumber. Species and varietal richness of newlinemelon shows that they are domesticated in India.