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.

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.

Spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) is a perennial medicinal herb grown in the tropical regions worldwide. In India, it is used as a potential spice for garnishing and flavoring the dishes and treating several ailments. Eryngium spp. found in coastal Odisha, India has a strong aroma similar to the seasonal Coriandrum. The volatile flavor constituents of the unique plants were analyzed through headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) using capillary gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The volatile compounds exhibited high chemodiversity, with 10-undecenal as the major component in leaves (44.98%) and branches (57.43%). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified eight major peaks grouped into six main regions. Chemo profiles of these two corianders were overlapped and showed similar area differences in the spectral peak. The lesser-known perennial Eryngium with high chemodiversity would be a better alternative to the seasonal coriander for aromatic, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses.