Anusha, N. M. ， Ramesha, M. N. ， Rao, B. Krishna ， Ravi, K. N.
2025-06-10 CURRENT SCIENCE 2025 128(卷), 11(期), (1108-1111页)
Hot arid and semi-arid regions are often characterised by scarcity of food resources, and the need for characterising climate-resilient crops is paramount. In such environments, the cultivation of underutilised crops can offer a sustainable solution to enhance food security and build resilience against climate variability. The Momordica cymbalaria Hook f. is one such least concerned, minor and underexploited tuber-forming cucurbit member of the family Cucurbitaceae, native to the Western and Eastern Ghats of India. The fruits have good medicinal and nutritional values. The fruits and tubers are used in traditional medicine and as a vegetable food by the tribal farmers. Plants are propagated by round, oval seeds with hypogeal germination, and tubers are also used for the multiplication of plants. This crop is well suited to the semi-arid soil types prevalent in many regions of India and has natural adaptations to survive and thrive in such challenging conditions, making it an ideal candidate for cultivation in these areas under a climate change scenario. Hence, this underutilised vegetable needs to be conserved and popularised among farmers for sustainability and nutritional security.