DNA barcoding is a supplementary tool in plant systematics, extensively used to resolve the species level controversies. This paper details the identification of DNA barcodes for seven species of Momordica, using the chloroplast gene matK. Since the species M. cymbalaria has been confused as a member of the genus Luffa, 26 accessions of Momordica belonging to seven Indian species and two accessions of Luffa acutangula were included in this study. Analysis of matK sequences has yielded distinct barcodes in M. charantia var. charantia, M. subangulata subsp. renigera, M. cochinchinensis, M. balsamina, M. cymbalaria and also in Luffa acutangula. Evolutionary status of each species was reflected as nucleotide polymorphisms in each sequence. The wild species M. dioica and M. sahyadrica have yielded one barcode but failed to get differentiated. Further, this study provides conclusive proof that M. cymbalaria is a member of Momordica genus. The phylogram generated was successful to distinguish the monoecious species of this genus, M. charantia, M. balsamina and M. cymbalaria, from the dioecious species M. dioica, M. sahyadrica, M. subangulata subsp. renigera and M. cochinchinensis. Thus, matK locus, by accumulating the evolutionary sequence variations, is proven efficient to differentiate the Momordica species and to reveal their relatedness.

DNA条形码是植物系统学中的一种补充工具，广泛用于解决物种水平的争议。本文详细介绍了使用叶绿体基因matK鉴定七种苦瓜的 DNA 条形码。由于M. cymbalaria物种被混淆为丝瓜属的成员，因此本研究包括了属于 7 个印度物种的26 份苦瓜和 2 份Luffa acutangula。matK序列的分析在M. charantia var. 中产生了不同的条形码。charantia, M. subangulata subsp.renigera、M. cochinchinensis、M. balsamina、M. cymbalaria以及Luffa acutangula。每个物种的进化状态反映为每个序列中的核苷酸多态性。野生物种M. dioica和M. sahyadrica产生了一个条形码，但未能区分。此外，这项研究提供了确凿的证据，证明M. cymbalaria是苦瓜属的成员。生成的系统图成功地将该属的雌雄同株物种M. charantia、M. balsamina和M. cymbalaria与雌雄异株物种M. dioica、M. sahyadrica、M. subangulata subsp.区分开来。renigera和M. cochinchinensis。因此，通过积累进化序列变异，matK基因座被证明可以有效区分苦瓜物种并揭示它们的相关性。