The advancements made in tissue culture techniques has made it possible to regenerate various horticultural species in vitro as micropropagation protocols for commercial scale multiplication are available for a wide range of crops. Clonal propagation and preservation of elite genotypes, selected for their superior characteristics, require high degree of genetic uniformity amongst the regenerated plants. However, plant tissue culture may generate genetic variability, i.e., somaclonal variations as a result of gene mutation or changes in epigenetic marks. The occurrence of subtle somaclonal variation is a drawback for both in vitro cloning as well as germplasm preservation. Therefore, it is of immense significance to assure the genetic uniformity of in vitro raised plants at an early stage. Several strategies have been followed to ascertain the genetic fidelity of the in vitro raised progenies comprising morpho-physiological, biochemical, cytological and DNA-based molecular markers approaches. Somaclonal variation can pose a serious problem in any micropropagation program, where it is highly desirable to produce true-to-type plant material. On the other hand, somaclonal variation has provided a new and alternative tool to the breeders for obtaining genetic variability relatively rapidly and without sophisticated technology in horticultural crops, which are either difficult to breed or have narrow genetic base. In the present paper, sources of variations induced during tissue culture cycle and strategies to ascertain and confirm genetic fidelity in a variety of in vitro raised plantlets and potential application of variants in horticultural crop improvement are reviewed.

The present study reports the role of morphological, physiological and reproductive attributes viz. membrane stability index (MSI), osmolytes accumulations, antioxidants activities and pollen germination for heat stress tolerance in contrasting genotypes. Heat stress increased proline and glycine betaine (GPX) contents, induced superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities and resulted in higher MSI in PDL-2 (tolerant) compared to JL-3 (sensitive). In vitro pollen germination of tolerant genotype was higher than sensitive one under heat stress. In vivo stressed pollens of tolerant genotype germinated well on stressed stigma of sensitive genotype, while stressed pollens of sensitive genotype did not germinate on stressed stigma of tolerant genotype. De novo transcriptome analysis of both the genotypes showed that number of contigs ranged from 90,267 to 104,424 for all the samples with N50 ranging from 1,755 to 1,844 bp under heat stress and control conditions. Based on assembled unigenes, 194,178 high-quality Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), 141,050 microsatellites and 7,388 Insertion-deletions (Indels) were detected. Expression of 10 genes was evaluated using quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Comparison of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under different combinations of heat stress has led to the identification of candidate DEGs and pathways. Changes in expression of physiological and pollen phenotyping related genes were also reaffirmed through transcriptome data. Cell wall and secondary metabolite pathways are found to be majorly affected under heat stress. The findings need further analysis to determine genetic mechanism involved in heat tolerance of lentil.

In present study, 10 preferred traditional vegetables from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, were analysed for nutritional profiles. Moisture content in their edible parts ranged from 83.43 to 94.78%. Maximum ash content was recorded in Portulaca oleracea, crude protein in Colocasia esculenta, crude fibre in Eryngium foetidum and fat in E. foetidum. Phosphorus was maximum in Ipomea aquatica, potassium in C. esculenta, zinc, calcium and manganese in Centella asiatica, copper in Sauropus androgynous, sodium and iron in P. oleracea, magnesium in Amaranthus viridi and cobalt in C. esculenta. Maximum polyphenol was recorded in Hibiscus sabdariffa, carotenoids in A. viridi, ascorbic acid in Saursops androgynus, anthocyanin in C. esculenta and chlorophyll in S. androgynus. Antioxidant activity was maximum in P. oleracea. Positive correlation was observed between polyphenol and tannin content and also between antioxidant activity and photochemicals. The developed nutritional profiles is being used in health and nutrition related schemes in Islands.

Morinda citrifolia, commonly called noni, has a long history as a medicinal plant and its use as a botanical dietary supplement has grown tremendously in recent years. This has prompted a concomitant increase in research on the phytochemical constituents and biological activity of noni. It has been reported for its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelminthic, analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing effects. This plant has also been popular as a source of red, yellow and purple dyes. In order to encapsulate the medicinal value and therapeutic effects of the noni fruit and to summarize scientific evidence that supports the traditional claims, a literature review and recent advances in noni research has been detailed.

The study was carried out to assess genetic diversity among 119 lentil genotypes grown in different habitats for heat tolerance using morpho‐physiological and reproductive traits and SSR markers. High‐temperature stress was applied at seedling (35/33°C) and anthesis stages (35/20°C) to study the effects on morpho‐physiological and reproductive traits under hydroponic condition, which was compared with non‐stressed and stressed field conditions. A set of 209 alleles were identified by 35 SSR markers among the genotypes. Genetic diversity and polymorphism information content values varied between 0.0494–0.859 and 0.0488–0.844, with mean values of 0.606 and 0.563, respectively. Genotypes were clustered into nine groups based on SSR markers. Morpho‐physiological and reproductive traits under heat stress were found to be significantly different among SSR clusters. These findings suggest that heat adaptation is variable among the genotypes and the tolerant materials can be evolved through hybridization using parents from different clusters with diverse mechanisms of heat tolerance.