Tropical and subtropical vegetables (2+1)

Economic importance

CHOW-CHOW
Botanical name : Sechium edule
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Chromosome number: 2n=24
Origin : Southern Mexico and Central America
Common name : Chayote

Economic importance
It is grown principally for its pear-shaped fruits, which are cooked in many ways. The fruits, tubers, seeds, and leaves have long been used by the native Americans. The seeds are even considered a delicacy. Chayote has now spread throughout the tropics and subtropics. The fruits are fleshy and pyriform with longitudinal furrows, about 10-20cm long and contain a single, large, flat seed about 5x3cm.