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World Vegetables pp 577–639Cite as

Cucumber, Melons, Watermelons, Squash, and Other Cucurbits

Family: Cucurbitaceae

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Abstract

Various species of Cucurbitaceae have served humans as important foods and as many useful products for more than 10,000 years. In particular, species of Cucurbita were a significant source of nutrition for pre-Columbian populations in the Americas. The Cucurbitaceae are largely tropical in origin with different genera originating in Africa, tropical America, and Southeast Asia. Besides the tropics, cultivation of cucurbits is extensive in many temperate regions having long periods of warm weather. Species of important vegetable cucurbits are frost sensitive, although some tolerate low temperatures better than others, and some are adapted to xerophytic conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, USA

    Vincent E. Rubatzky & Mas Yamaguchi

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  1. Vincent E. Rubatzky
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  2. Mas Yamaguchi
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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Rubatzky, V.E., Yamaguchi, M. (1997). Cucumber, Melons, Watermelons, Squash, and Other Cucurbits. In: World Vegetables. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6015-9_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6015-9_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7756-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-6015-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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