Influence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediated osmotic stress on reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging machinery of Chinese potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir.) J. K. Morton) was investigated. Five genotypes of Chinese potato were raised in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium containing 6–benzylaminopurine (BAP, 1 mg L^–1) along with various concentrations of PEG–6000 mediated stress conditions (0, –0.2 and –0.5 MPa) and evaluated for osmotic stress tolerance in vitro. The medium containing PEG–6000 had a detrimental effect on plantlet growth and development while compared with the control. Accumulation of H₂O₂ was lower in Sreedhara and Subala and higher in Nidhi under PEG stress, which was evident by in situ detection in leaves. Lipid peroxidation product such as malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased due to PEG stress which was more in susceptible genotype than that in tolerant ones. An enhanced ROS–scavenging antioxidant enzyme was observed under stress with respect to the control. The enzymes of ascorbate–glutathione cycle showed an important role in scavenging ROS. The imposition of PEG stress also increased the non–enzymatic antioxidants viz., the ascorbate and reduced glutathione content which was prominent in tolerant genotypes in comparison to susceptible. The present study indicated that, Sreedhara and Subala showed more tolerance to osmotic stress with better ROS scavenging machineries which would be the lines of interest for augmenting future breeding strategies in this climate resilient minor tuber crop.

Commercial interest in the culinary herb, Eryngium foetidum L., has increased worldwide due to its typical pungency, similar to coriander or cilantro, with immense pharmaceutical components. The molecular delimitation and taxonomic classification of this lesser-known medicinal plant are restricted to conventional phenotyping and DNA-based marker evaluation, which hinders accurate identification, genetic conservation, and safe utilization. This study focused on species discrimination using DNA sequencing with chloroplast–plastid genes (matK, Kim matK, and rbcL) and the nuclear ITS2 gene in two Eryngium genotypes collected from the east coast region of India. The results revealed that matK discriminated between two genotypes, however, Kim matK, rbcL, and ITS2 identified these genotypes as E. foetidum. The ribosomal nuclear ITS2 region exhibited significant inter- and intra-specific divergence, depicted in the DNA barcodes and the secondary structures derived based on the minimum free energy. Although the efficiency of matK genes is better in species discrimination, ITS2 demonstrated polyphyletic phylogeny, and could be used as a reliable marker for genetic divergence studies understanding the mechanisms of RNA molecules. The results of this study provide insights into the scientific basis of species identification, genetic conservation, and safe utilization of this important medicinal plant species.

Pathogen secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) induce plant innate immune responses. The expression of rice transcription factor APETALA2/ethylene response factor-152 (OsAP2/ERF152) is enhanced in leaves upon treatment with different CWDEs and upon wounding. Ectopic expression of OsAP2/ERF152 in Arabidopsis leads to induction of immune responses such as callose deposition and upregulation of both salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid/ethylene-responsive defense genes. Arabidopsis transgenics expressing OsAP2/ERF152 exhibited resistance to infections caused by both bacterial and fungal pathogens (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA, respectively). Ectopic expression of OsAP2/ERF152 results in transient activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases 3/6 (MPK3/6), which could be leading to the induction of a broad range immunity in Arabidopsis.

Eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) and its wild cousins, comprising 13 clades with 1500 species, have an unprecedented demand across the globe. Cultivated eggplant has a narrow molecular diversity that hinders eggplant breeding advancements. Wild eggplants need resurgent attention to broaden eggplant breeding resources. In this study, we emphasized phenotypic and genotypic discriminations among 13 eggplant species deploying chloroplast–plastid (Kim matK) and nuclear (ITS2) short gene sequences (400–800 bp) at DNA barcode region followed by ITS2 secondary structure predictions. The identification efficiency at the Kim matK region was higher (99–100%) than in the ITS2 region (80–90%). The eggplant species showed 13 unique secondary structures with a central ring with various helical orientations. Principal component analysis (PCoA) provides the descriptor–wise phenotypic clustering, which is essential for trait–specific breeding. Groups I and IV are categorized under scarlet complexes S. aethiopicum, S. trilobatum, and S. melongena (wild and cultivated). Group II represented the gboma clade (S. macrocarpon, S. wrightii, S. sisymbriifolium, and S. aculeatissimum), and group III includes S. mammosum, and S. torvum with unique fruit shape and size. The present study would be helpful in genetic discrimination, biodiversity conservation, and the safe utilization of wild eggplants.