Taxonomic significance of flavonoid data in Cucurbitaceae

Abstract

The distribution pattern of three major classes of flavonoids namely chalcones, flavonols and flavones in six tribes of Cucurbitaeae is analysed and interpreted for the basic infrafamilial phylogenetic relationships using phenetic, cladistic and patristic techniques. Phenetically Benincaseae and Melothrieae hang together and are more closer to Joliffeae than other tribes. Cladistically Cucurbiteae - Sicyoeae are relatively primitive and Trichosantheae are advanced. Patristically all the six tribes constitute a close knit group.