Momordica Genus in Asia - An Overview

Asiatic Momordica comprises 10 species of which 3 are monoecious and rest dioecious. They are unique in the sense that all are wild or cultivated vegetables with medicinal uses. Barring bitter gourd, all are under utilized vegetables with little research and conservation efforts. In this book, the authors have presented the available information on various aspects of Asiatic Momordica like taxonomy, cytogenetics, crop improvement, origin, ethnobotany and crop production at one place. The book is well illustrated with color maps and photographs depicting habit, morphology and distribution of individual taxa. Species distribution map for all Indian taxa, descriptor for characterization and preliminary evaluation of dioecious and monoecious group available varieties, keys for botanical identification are some of the unique features of the book. The book will be useful to botanists, horticulturists, foresters, environment educators, conservation biologists, plant science students in general and all interested in agrobiodiversity.

Illustrated with color maps and photographs depicting habitat, morphology and distribution of individual taxa, this book collects information on Asiatic Momordica, including taxonomy, cytogenetics, crop improvement, origin, ethnobotany and crop production.

Dr. L.K. Bharathi, Scientist, Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Bhubaneswar He was born on 20/03/1974 and is presently working as a Scientist at Central Horticultural Experiment Station, a regional research station of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. He did his B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degrees from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and Ph.D. from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He joined in Agricultural Research Service as a Scientist at Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, in 1999 and has more than 13 years of experience in vegetable crop improvement especially in Momordica species. He has published more than 20 research papers in Indian and international journals of repute. Presently, he is engaged in the improvement of Momordica species through interspecific hybridization. Dr. Joseph John K, Senior Scientist, NBPGR RS, Thrissur He was born on 20/03/1960 and is presently working as a Senior Scientist at the Thrissur Regional Station of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, the nodal agency for PGR management in India. He did his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Kerala and Ph.D. from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He joined ICAR service as ARS Scientist at VPKAS, Almora in 1986 and has over 26 years of experience in plant genetic resources management of tropical vegetables and tree fruits. He did his Ph.D. on "Ecogeography and genetic diversity of the genus Momordica L in India". Under this work, the genus Momordica was revised for India; a new species endemic to Western Ghats was described and validly published; status of Assam kakrol was elucidated and ethnobotany of the genus in Western Ghats was documented, besides devising of descriptors and taxonomic key for dioecious and monoecius taxa and preparing ecogeographic conspectus for Momordica. He has carried out over 25 plant exploration and collection missions in Western Ghats, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and North Eastern states of India for cucurbits and other vegetables. He has published over 30 research papers in national/international journals. Presently, he is engaged in the Biosystematics of Indian entities of Cucumis and Abelmoschus.

1.Introduction.- 2.Description and Crop production.- a.Botanical description.- b.Pollen morphology.- c.Crop Production.- 3.Origin, Domestication and Distribution.- a.Origin and domestication.- b.Distribution.- 4.Taxonomy and Biosystematics.- a.Taxonomy.- b.Biosystematics.- 5.Ethnobotany and Nutritive value.- a.Ethnobotany.- b.Nutritive value.- 6.Cytogenetics and Genetics.- a.Cytogenetics.- b.Genetics.- 7.Genetic Resources, Germplasm Characterization / Evaluation and Maintenance.- a.Genetic Resources.- b.Gene pool classification.- c.Genetic erosion and threat status.- d.Present status of germplasm holdings.- e.Plant descriptors.- f.Descriptors and descriptor states.- g.Collection, regeneration and maintenance.- h.Characterization and evaluation.- i.Conservation strategies.- 8.Crop Improvement.- a.Floral biology.- b.Sex form.- c.Alteration of sex expression.- d.Sex modification.- e.Parthenocarpy.- f.Current breeding goals.- g.Breeding methods and techniques.