Uso y manejo de Ibervillea millspaughii (Cogn.) C. Jeffrey, Melothria pendula L. y otras especies silvestres de la familia Cucurbitacea: Posibles procesos de domesticación incipiente

Information on use and management of wild species of Cucurbitaceae is presented, in order to analyze processes of incipient plant domestication. Ibervillea millspaughii is a perennial plant species with massive roots, distributed from Tamaulipas to Belize. Roots of this species are utilized as medicine in the treatment of arthritis, inflammations and muscular pain. Roots are commonly collected from individuals in wild populations, but, in some villages of Quinatana Roo people tolerate and enhance individuals of this plant species in anthropogenic areas; also, people cultivate this plant species in home gardens. Melothria pendula is distributed from the United States to Argentina. Fruits and young stems and leaves of this species are consumed as food and used in traditional medicine. These products are generally gathered from wild or weedy populations, but in La Montaña de Guerrero region, the tolerance of this species and the intentional dispersion of its seeds in anthropogenic areas are also common, in order to increase its availability. Use and propagation of this plant species may involve selection by people who distinguish between "bitter" and "sweet" variants, preferring the "sweet" ones. Sicyos parviflorus, Cyclanthera dissecta, C. langaei and C. ribiflora are consumed as greens by people in different regions of Mexico, who gather them from wild or weedy populations, although individual plants of these species are also tolerated in anthropogenic areas. The different forms of management identified in the species mentioned are possibly causing processes of domestication, but such processes are yet to be evaluated.