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A new subspecies of Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) from Andaman Islands, India

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Abstract

The middle Andaman Island populations of Momordica cochinchinensis are quite distinct from true M. cochinchinensis in some floral characters. Such deviating specimens are described here as a new subspecies. A full technical description, a morphological comparison between the two subspecies, ecology, phenology, confirmation of genomic distinctiveness through DNA barcoding of matK and rbcL chloroplast loci and viability under cultivation are discussed. An epitype is also designated for Momordica cochinchinensis subsp. cochinchinensis.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to curators of CAL, PBL and BSISH for allowing us to consult their herbarium. Timely permission granted by the Department of Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is gratefully acknowledged, facilitating germplasm collection from protected areas. Thanks are also due to Dr. T.V.R.S. Sharma, former Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for logistic support in field collections and the Head, Germplasm Evaluation Division, and Director, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi for encouragement and support. Herbarium study at CAL was facilitated through funding from the National Agricultural Innovation Project funded sub-project on Biosystematics of the genera Vigna, Cucumis and Abelmoschus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Thrissur, Kerala, 680656, India

    K. Joseph John, Y. C. Roy, R. Asokan Nair & M. Latha

  2. Department of Botany, Baselius College, Kottayam, Kerala, 686001, India

    M. V. Krishnaraj

  3. Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, 680656, India

    M. Deepu

  4. ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India

    K. V. Bhat

  5. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghata lake post, Bengaluru, 560089, India

    L. K. Bharathi

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  1. K. Joseph John
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  2. Y. C. Roy
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  3. M. V. Krishnaraj
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  4. R. Asokan Nair
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  5. M. Deepu
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  6. M. Latha
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  7. K. V. Bhat
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  8. L. K. Bharathi
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Correspondence to K. Joseph John.

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Joseph John, K., Roy, Y.C., Krishnaraj, M.V. et al. A new subspecies of Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) from Andaman Islands, India. Genet Resour Crop Evol 65, 103–112 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0512-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0512-6

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