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.