Brief Introduction of Vegetable Crops Praecitrullus fistulosus（Stocks）Pangalo and Discussion on Its Taxonomic Classification
WANG Ji-ming1，MA Shuang-wu1，XIE Han-zhong1，SHANG Jian-li1，CHENG Shan-han2
1Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute，Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences，Zhengzhou 450009，Henan，China；2College of Horticulture and Gardening，Hainan University，Haikou 570228，Hainan，China
Abstract：Praecitrullus fistulosus（Stocks）Pangalo is annual cucurbitaceae plant and it is probably originated from north-western India．It is cultivated as a vegetable crop in India，Pakistan，Afghanistan，and East Africa，etc．It has not been cultivated and extended in China．The taxonomic classification of Praecitrullus fistulosus（Stocks）Pangalo is unclear for a long time，though its gross morphological features are seemly similar to watermelon．It has the same chromosome numbers（2n＝24）as Cucumis melon．Many years’research results showed that Praecitrullus fistulosus（Stocks）Pangalo did not belong to Citrullus ssp．or Cucumis ssp．The latest research results showed that Praecitrullus fistulosus（Stocks）Pangalo had closer relationship with Benincasa hispida and it may belong to Benincasa ssp．With many years analysis and botany observation on Praecitrullus fistulosus（Stocks）Pangalo，we suggest that it be classified with Benincasa ssp．
