Fruit morphological variability in Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad: a neglected and underutilized vegetable crop of wet temperate zone of Himachal Pradesh, India

Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad also known as Pahadi karela reported to be naturalized in hilly states of India. This species of Cucurbitaceae family have medicinal properties like anticholesterolemic, anti- inflammatory and hypoglycemic properties. Despite these characteristics, it is underexploited vegetable grown in the wet temperate zones of Himachal Pradesh. In this study, we aimed to investigate the morphological variability of C. pedata fruits and their locations variability grown in Seeraj Valley of the state. The study included seven locations and a total of 31 genotypes, on which eight fruit morphological traits were analysed. The highest fruit length (11.80 cm), fruit width (3.84 cm), average fruit weight (360 gm) and fruit yield per plant (4.30 kg) was recorded in L2 location. Among seed traits, L7 (16.18mm), L4 (8.54 mm, 3.77 mm) and L2 (13.60 gm) observed the highest values for seed length, seed width, seed thickness and 100 seeds weight, respectively. Highest values for fruits size and yield traits of C. pedata were found at the high altitudinal gradient. Collection of cultivars/landraces by surveying, and their maintenance could aid to the genetic improvement, breeding for sustainable and commercial production and popularization of the underutilized yet very important cucurbitaceous vegetable crop, C. pedata.