Origin, distribution, taxonomy, genetic diversity, breeding, uses and production technology of ivy gourd {coccinia grandis (l.) voigt.}

Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) is a tropical dioecious perennial plant/vine with a tuberous root stock producing annual stems that grows several metres long. It belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. This vine has aggressive climbing properties and spreads easily over fences, trees, shrubs, and other supports. The fruits are being used in Indian dishes and their leaves/stem/roots are used in ayurvedic medicines. Various parts of Coccinia grandis have specific medicinal values. A monoecious species is cultivated and the species, C. abyssinica is grown in Ethiopia for its edible tuberous roots. Coccinia grandis is known as ivy gourd, baby watermelon, little gourd, gentleman’s toes , scarlet fruited gourd, scarlet gourd, small gourd. Ivy gourd is well known as kundru or tondekai in India. It is cultivated throughout India. It is grown for its immature fruits cooked as vegetables especially in Southern, Eastern, and Western India. It is native to Northern and Eastern Africa, Arabia to tropical South and Southeast Asia. The Ivy gourd is widely grown in all tropical regions as that kind of climate enhances it growth. India and Pakistan have massive plantations of this vegetable apart from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. It covers vast tracts of plains in Africa, continuing up to Asia. They are distributed in Hawaii, Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Guam, Tonga, Samoa and Marshall Islands as well. In this review article the Origin and Distribution, Taxonomy, Botanical description, Genetic diversity, Breeding, Uses, and Production technology of Ivy gourd are discussed.