As a part of the study to explore the possible strategy for enhancing the shelf life of mango fruits, we investigated the changes in biochemical parameters and activities of ripening associated enzymes of Ashwina hybrid mangoes at 4-day regular intervals during storage at −10°C, 4°C, and30±1°C. Titratable acidity, vitamin C, starch content, and reducing sugar were higher at unripe state and gradually decreased with the increasing of storage time at all storage temperatures while phenol content, total soluble solid, total sugar, and nonreducing sugar contents gradually increased. The activities of amylase,α-mannosidase,α-glucosidase, and invertase increased sharply within first few days and decreased significantly in the later stage of ripening at30±1°C. Meanwhile polyphenol oxidase,β-galactosidase, andβ-hexosaminidase predominantly increased significantly with the increasing days of storage till later stage of ripening. At −10°C and 4°C, the enzymes as well as carbohydrate contents of storage mango changed slightly up to 4 days and thereafter the enzyme became fully dormant. The results indicated that increase in storage temperature and time correlated with changes in biochemical parameters and activities of glycosidases suggested the suppression ofβ-galactosidase andβ-hexosaminidase might enhance the shelf life of mango fruits.

beta-D-N-Acetylhexosaminidase, a family 20 glycosyl hydrolase, catalyzes the removal ofβ-1,4-linkedN-acetylhexosamine residues from oligosaccharides and their conjugates. We constructed phylogenetic tree ofβ-hexosaminidases to analyze the evolutionary history and predicted functions of plant hexosaminidases. Phylogenetic analysis reveals the complex history of evolution of plantβ-hexosaminidase that can be described by gene duplication events. The 3D structure of tomatoβ-hexosaminidase (β-Hex-Sl) was predicted by homology modeling using 1now as a template. Structural conformity studies of the best fit model showed that more than 98% of the residues lie inside the favoured and allowed regions where only 0.9% lie in the unfavourable region. Predicted 3D structure contains 531 amino acids residues with glycosyl hydrolase20b domain-I and glycosyl hydrolase20 superfamily domain-II including the (β/α)₈barrel in the central part. Theαandβcontents of the modeled structure were found to be 33.3% and 12.2%, respectively. Eleven amino acids were found to be involved in ligand-binding site; Asp(330) and Glu(331) could play important roles in enzyme-catalyzed reactions. The predicted model provides a structural framework that can act as a guide to develop a hypothesis forβ-Hex-Sl mutagenesis experiments for exploring the functions of this class of enzymes in plant kingdom.

Houseplant propagation has surged in popularity among plant enthusiasts, fueled by growing interests in sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and the therapeutic joy of cultivating new life. Traditional propagation techniques—such as stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, division, and air layering—are widely practiced for their simplicity and high success rates. Social media has significantly influenced this trend, serving as a powerful tool for sharing propagation knowledge and building communities among hobbyists. The rising demand for rare and exotic houseplants has further intensified interest in propagation, as collectors seek affordable ways to expand their collections. Recent advancements in plant science and biotechnology, including tissue culture, genetic engineering, and genome editing, present promising opportunities for enhancing propagation efficiency, particularly for delicate and rare species. This comprehensive review systematically classifies various houseplants and delves into cutting-edge propagation technologies, with a focus on in vitro micropropagation, new cultivar development, and their environmental and economic implications. Additionally, the review explores current marketing strategies and provides a forward-looking perspective on the future of the houseplant industry. By examining the latest innovations, market dynamics, and future prospects, this review aims to provide stakeholders with a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of houseplant propagation, highlighting its potential for growth and innovation.

This study aimed at identification and characterisation of the wilting, leaf spot, stem canker and fruit-blight diseases of okra. Pathogen infected plant samples were sterilised with 2% sodium hychlorite solution for 20 mins and then cultured at 28 degrees C for 15 days followed by microscopic examination. Combined microscopic, morphological and cultural characteristics analyses identified the four okra fungal isolates (OFI) such as OFI-1, OFI-2, OFI-3 and OFI-4 as Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium chlamydosporum and Choanephora cucurbitarum, respectively. The isolates OFI-1, OFI-2, OFI-4 showed highest radial growth rates at 25 degrees C, pH 5 and 20% lactose containing media while it was sucrose for OFI-3. BLASTN search using the sequence of ITS regions revealed that OFI-1, OFI-2, OFI-3 and OFI-4 isolates had 98, 100, 97 and 100% homology with F. oxysporum, C. lunata, F. chlamydosporum and C. cucurbitarum, respectively. Pathogenicity tests were also confirmed by reproducing the disease symptoms in okra plants.