Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida Cogn.) and its variation of chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn.var. chieh-qua How.), originated in southern areas of China, now widely distributed in the tropical, subtropical and temperate parts of Asia, are traditional important vegetables and medical herbs. At the present time, only 299 accessions of ash gourd and 69 accessions of chieh-qua germplasms are distributed in national germplasm center in China, just several germplasm characteristics were simply and roughly descripted, however, many important germplasm characteristics information is blank and many different versions on genetic diversity of germplasm resources of ash gourd and chieh-qua are existed. Recommendations for future research directions: 1. to collect and rescue the plentiful germplasms scatted in folk and expand the national germplasms center in China. 2. to systematic survey the whole germplasm characteristics. 3. to construct the molecular identity information database of germplasms. 4. to distinguish the synonym and homonym germplasms, and construct the core germplasms.