Interspecific Hybridization in Trichosanthes Anguinal L

Two species of Trkhosanthes, the cultivated T. anguina and wild T. cucumerina, were hybridized. The two parents and their F1 hybrids were investigated for leaf, flower, fruit and seed characters. Chiasma frequency,leaf phenolics, oil content and fatty acid composition were also studied. The two species were significantly different in 13 out of 21 characters investigated, while the hybrids were mostly intermediate. Fatty acid composition of Trkhosanthes oil was similar to that of tung oil having quick drying properties. Long fruit character of T. anguina was partially dominant over short fruit length of T. cucumerina. in f2, the fruit length segregated into 1 long: 2 intermediate: I short ratio.