Less-known melons belonging to the genus Cucumis melo L. were studied for the Indian region. A total of 39 accessions of distinct types in less-known melons, C. melo subsp. agrestis var. agrestis (local names-‘choti kachri’, ‘badi kachri’, ‘sukkangai’), C. melo subsp. agrestis var. momordica (‘phunt’, ‘vellari’; snap melon), C. melo subsp. agrestis var. conomon (‘sohthiar’; oriental pickling melon), C. melo subsp. melo var. flexuosus (‘kakdi’, ‘tar’; snake melon) and C. melo subsp. agrestis var. alwarensis (‘arya’) were studied for morphological characters of fruit to identify their genetic resource value. Out of 39 accessions, four taxa were selected for nutritional analysis and the floral diversity study on the basis of research gaps, status of diversity in wild and vulnerability in cultivation, and non-availability of comparative account in the context of diversity in the Indian region. Nutritional components of 12 accessions of four taxa-‘choti kachri’ and ‘badi kachri’, snap melon, snake melon and ‘arya’ were analyzed. Additionally, the floral diversity traits were studied to support marker characters and to classify the subspecies under the respective botanical varieties and cultivar delimitation. Morphologically ‘choti kachri’ and ‘badi kachri’ were identical except for the fruit size and weight; arya and snake melon grouped together with snap melon and other intermediate forms; oriental pickling melon was entirely distinct, more closer to the musk melon but had no fruit aroma. Based on floral diversity study, ‘choti kachri’ and ‘badi kachri’ were grouped together whereas snake melon and ‘arya’ were closer and snap melon showed intermediary position. The result of the nutritional analysis clearly demonstrated variability recorded among accessions for all proximate traits in ‘choti kachri (IC629817) which had the highest proteins (2.16–3.67%), ash content (3.059%), crude fat (0.482%), dietary fibre (4.12%), starch content (3.50%), Fe (4.06 mg/100 g), Zn (1.498 mg/100 g), total phenols (29.5%) and ascorbic acid (25.9 mg/100 g) among the studied melon accessions. On the other hand, ‘badi kachri’ (IC629828) had the least protein, crude fat, Cu, Fe, total phenol and ascorbic acid contents followed by snap melon, snake melon and ‘arya’ with moderate to low values of all nutritive traits. The study would facilitate identification of the distinct morphotypes in each category and grouping the intermediate type and unknown taxa. Fruit nutritional analysis will help in using them for desirable nutritional traits for pre-breeding programmes. Besides, the floral diversity can lead to identification of marker characters in crop improvement programme.

属鲜为人知的甜瓜甜瓜L.研究的印度地区。在鲜为人知的甜瓜C. melo亚种中共有39种不同类型的登录。蛞蝓变种。蛞蝓（本地名称-'choti kachri”， '巴迪kachri'， 'sukkangai'），香瓜亚种。蛞蝓变种。木鳖子（ 'phunt'， 'vellari';卡扣甜瓜），香瓜亚种。蛞蝓变种。conomon（ 'sohthiar';东方酸洗甜瓜），香瓜亚种。甜瓜变种。flexuosus（'kakdi'，'tar';蛇瓜）和C. melo亚种 蛞蝓变种。Alwarensis（'arya'）进行了水果形态特征研究，以确定其遗传资源价值。在39个种质中，根据研究差距，野生生物多样性现状和耕作脆弱性以及在印度区域多样性背景下无法获得比较账户的基础，选择了四个分类单元进行营养分析和花卉多样性研究。分析了四个分类群“ choti kachri”和“ badi kachri”，喀麦隆，蛇瓜和“ arya”的12个种质的营养成分。此外，还研究了花卉多样性特征，以支持标记特征并根据各自的植物品种和品种划分对亚种进行分类。从形态上讲，“ choti kachri”和“ badi kachri”是相同的，除了果实的大小和重量。阿里亚（Aria）和蛇瓜与喀麦隆和其他中间形式组合在一起；东方腌瓜完全不同，更接近麝香瓜，但没有水果香气。根据花的多样性研究，“ choti kachri”和“ badi kachri”被分组在一起，而蛇瓜和“ arya”更接近，而按扣瓜表现出中间位置。营养分析的结果清楚地表明，'choti kachri（IC629817）的所有近代性状在种质之间记录到变异性，其中蛋白质（2.16-3.67％），灰分（3.059％），粗脂肪（0.482％），膳食最高纤维（4.12％），淀粉含量（3.50％），铁（4.06 mg / 100 g），锌（1.498 mg / 100 g），总酚（29.5％）和抗坏血酸（25.9 mg / 100 g）瓜类。另一方面，“ badi kachri”（IC629828）的蛋白质，粗脂肪最少，铜，铁，总酚和抗坏血酸的含量，其次是速食甜瓜，蛇瓜和“阿拉亚”，所有营养性状的值都为中到低。这项研究将有助于识别每个类别中不同的形态类型，并将中间类型和未知分类群分组。水果营养分析将有助于将其用于预育计划所需的营养性状。此外，花的多样性可以导致在作物改良计划中识别标记性状。水果营养分析将有助于将其用于预育计划所需的营养性状。此外，花的多样性可以导致在作物改良计划中识别标记性状。水果营养分析将有助于将其用于预育计划所需的营养性状。此外，花的多样性可以导致在作物改良计划中识别标记性状。