10.22376/ijpbs.2019.10.1.p1-12 Volume 8 Issue 2 2017 (April - June) Cucurbitaceous species are cultivated on large scale from tropical to sub-tropical regions of the world. In India, along with major cucurbits such as lessThan i greaterThan Luffa cylindrica, Citrullus lanatus, Cucurbita pepo, Cucumis melo lessThan /i greaterThan lessThan i greaterThan , lessThan /i greaterThan lessThan i greaterThan C. sativus lessThan /i greaterThan , lessThan i greaterThan Lagenaria lessThan /i greaterThan lessThan i greaterThan siceraria lessThan /i greaterThan etc., some minor cucurbits are also cultivated. The minor cucurbits generally found in Jammu and Himachal Pradesh includes lessThan i greaterThan Momordica charantia lessThan /i greaterThan var lessThan i greaterThan . muricata, M. dioica lessThan /i greaterThan lessThan i greaterThan , Trichosanthes cucumerina lessThan /i greaterThan var. lessThan i greaterThan cucumerina, T. dioica, Luffa acutangula lessThan /i greaterThan and lessThan i greaterThan lessThan /i greaterThan lessThan i greaterThan Coccinia grandis lessThan /i greaterThan . These species provide nutritious vegetables and are source of medicinally important components. While information regarding the distribution and utilization of minor cucurbits in South, central and eastern India is documented, knowledge on these aspects is missing for the minor cucurbits from North-western states, particularly Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Surveys made presently on these cucurbits from Jammu and Himachal Pradesh indicated that these are cultivated to a limited extent. Except wild lessThan i greaterThan C. grandis lessThan /i greaterThan which is found in abundance, wild forms of remaining taxa have been reported at few locations. Present compilation describes nutritional importance and distribution of six minor cucurbits in Jammu and H.P. as well as probable reasons responsible for their underutilization. The information provided will encourage farmers to cultivate these cucurbits on large scale and improve the acceptability of these species among the local populations. MEHNAZ BANO AND GEETA SHARMA Cucurbits, dioecious, perennial, underutilized 667-670