Chayote is also known as Gassho Melon, Fist Melon, Ten Thousand Years Melon, Luffa Melon, etc. It is a cultivated species of the genus Chayote in the Cucurbitaceae family and is a creeping perennial herb. Chayote is a perennial lettuce melon that likes temperature but is not heat-tolerant and can grow well at lower temperatures. Chayote has a long fruiting period. It bears fruit in spring and autumn every year in subtropical areas and is cultivated as an annual crop in temperate areas. Native to Mexico and Central America. It was introduced to the United States in the 18th century and to my country in about the 19th century. It is cultivated in South China and Southwest my country. Due to the high yield of a single plant of chayote, the tender melon is crisp, delicious, resistant to storage, and has fewer pests and diseases. As a pollution-free vegetable and to meet consumers' demand for diversified vegetables, its cultivation area continues to expand.

The main varieties of chayote cultivated in the southwest are:

(1) Green skin

Strong growth, thick and long vines, many fruits, and high yield , and can produce roots. The melon is long and large, with hard spines and dark green skin. The quality is inferior.

(2) White bark

The growth potential is weak, the vines are thinner and shorter, the results are less, and the yield is lower. The melon shape is round and small, smooth and thornless, and the skin is white. The structure is dense and the quality is better. It is cultivated in Yunnan, Zhejiang and other provinces.