Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) is a commonly cultivated functional food plant. In the present study, karyological variation among 34 accessions of M. charantia originating from the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, India and Pakistan) and Thailand was evaluated. Ploidy levels ranging from diploid (2n= 22) to hexaploid (2n= 66) were observed. Hexaploidy in M. charantia is reported herein for the first time. Chromosome length ranged from 0.8 to 2.9 μm. The hexaploid accessions had submetacentric and subtelocentric chromosomes. All accessions harboured median and submedian chromosomes. Only one hexaploid accession (TOT1140) had chromosomes with subterminal centromeres. There was considerable variation in chromosome length and chromosome arm ratio.

苦瓜属（葫芦科）是一种常用的功能性食用植物。在本研究中，其中34个国家加入核型变化苦瓜来自印度次大陆（孟加拉国，印度和巴基斯坦）和泰国发起了评价。观察到倍性水平从二倍体（2 n = 22）到六倍体（2 n = 66）。六倍体中的苦瓜是第一次在此报告。染色体长度范围从0.8到2.9μm。六倍体种质具有亚亚中心和亚亚中心染色体。所有种质均含有中值和次要染色体。只有一个六倍体种（TOT1140）的染色体带有亚末端着丝粒。染色体长度和染色体臂比存在很大差异。