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A less-known vegetable melon landrace “Arya” (Cucumis melo L.) from Rajasthan and Haryana, India: morphological, biochemical and taxonomic study

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Abstract

A less-known landrace of vegetable melon locally called “Arya” (Cucumis melo L.) known for drought tolerant trait was collected from two districts of Rajasthan and Haryana, India. Study was undertaken for preliminary morphological evaluation, biochemical and organoleptic test. A comparative study with snake melon was presented with field identification traits along with cultural practices and economic uses. The work aims at facilitating germplasm collection, detailed evaluation and systematic study on this valuable material with the prospects of crop diversification and value addition.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the Director, ICAR-National Bureau Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi for allowing to undertake exploration and preliminary study. Authors also thank the Heads of the Division, Conservation, ICAR-NBPGR for successful conservation and farmers for sharing material and knowledge on crop cultivation practices. Dr. Amish K. Sureja, Division of Vegetable Sciences, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for sparing time in discussing about this valuable material. The help provided by the curators of various herbaria for sharing the facility and Ms Rita Gupta for all needed help are also put on records.

Funding

Study was conducted by using the institutional funding resources from ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plant Exploration and Germplasm Collection, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    S. P. Ahlawat, Anjula Pandey, Pavan Kumar Malav, Rakesh Bhardwaj & O. P. Dhariwal

  2. Division of Germplasm Evaluation, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    Rakesh Bhardwaj

Authors
  1. S. P. Ahlawat
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  2. Anjula Pandey
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  3. Pavan Kumar Malav
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  4. Rakesh Bhardwaj
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  5. O. P. Dhariwal
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Correspondence to Anjula Pandey.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest on the content of manuscript and study undertaken.

Research involving human participants and informed consent

Aclear expression of consent was obtained from the farmers/informants who participated in discussion and provided feedback on elaborating the purpose of research study; they provided information on undertaking data on knowledge resource.

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Ahlawat, S.P., Pandey, A., Malav, P.K. et al. A less-known vegetable melon landrace “Arya” (Cucumis melo L.) from Rajasthan and Haryana, India: morphological, biochemical and taxonomic study. Genet Resour Crop Evol 65, 2037–2047 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-018-0668-8

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