Momordica genus in Asia - an overview. 2013. 28 (17 col.) figs. XVI, 147 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

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 Momordicalike 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. -Contents: 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.