Bitter principles of the cucurbitaceae. VIII.—cucurbitacins in seedlings—occurrence, biochemistry and genetical aspects

The bitter principle content of the seedlings of twenty-one species and a large number of varieties of cucurbits has been investigated. The cucurbitacins B and E are the main bitter principles in all seedlings. The biogenesis of the cucurbitacins, the taxonomy of the family and the genetics of bitterness are discussed in the light of these results.