Consumers hesitate to purchase field-grown shoot-tops of amaranths in Sri Lanka, citing the low-cleanliness making growers focus on greenhouse farming. However, the photosynthetic and growth variations in relation to the organoleptic preference of the greenhouse-grown amaranths in comparison to field-grown counterparts have not been studied. Also, the species delimits of the amaranths in Sri Lanka have not been identified, limiting our ability to interpret species-specific production characteristics. Thus, we assessed the common types of amaranths under greenhouse and field conditions. The photosynthesis was measured using a MultispeQ device of the PhotosynQ phenomic platform, which records chlorophyll fluorescence-based parameters. The shoot-tops were harvested and prepared as dishes according to the typical recipe for amaranths in Sri Lanka. The dishes were subjected to an organoleptic assessment for the parameters color, aroma, bitterness, texture, and overall taste. The differences in plant and the shoot-top biomass were also assessed. The markers atpB-rbcL, matk-trnT, and ITS were used to define the species delimits. The field-grown and greenhouse-grown amaranths exhibited species/cultivar-specific photosynthetic variations. The texture and overall taste of the dishes were different among greenhouse and field-grown material. The tasters preferred the texture and the overall taste of the greenhouse-grown shoot-tops. The greenhouse-grown plants also yielded higher shoot-top harvests compared to field-grown counterparts. Out of the tested markers, ITS defines the delimits of amaranth species. The higher organoleptic preference, the appreciable yield levels, unique photosynthetic patterns of the greenhouse-grown amaranths, and species definitions provide the much-needed platform for clean shoot-top production guaranteeing the highest end-user trust.

Three types of spinach, green spinach (GS), red spinach (RS), and tree spinach (TS) are consumed in Sri Lanka. GS, RS, and TS are referred to as Basella alba, Basella rubra, and Talinum fruticosum respectively. However, some taxonomists categorize GS and RS under B. alba causing an ambiguity. Due to the poor sanitation, consumers prefer to purchase greenhouse-grown spinach over field grown material. However, the taste parameters of field grown and greenhouse-grown spinach have not been assessed. The objectives of the present study were to resolve the taxonomic ambiguity between GS and RS, identify the evolutionary relationship of TS to other two species and to assess the organoleptic preference on the dishes prepared using greenhouse and field-grown shoot-tops of three spinach. The genomic DNA extracted from GS, RS, and TS, PCR amplified and sequenced for the barcoding markers rbcL, ITS, matK-trnT and atpB-rbcL. The sequences obtained along with other reported related sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis.  A sensory test was carried out using the shoot-tops of three species grown under greenhouse and field conditions. The taste panelists were asked to rank the dishes for preferred levels of color, aroma, texture, bitterness, and overall taste and the data were subjected to the association analysis. The rbcL and ITS markers separate GS and RS into two well -supported clades, B. alba and B. rubra respectively. The polymorphisms of atpB-rbcL and matK-trnT markers support the definition of two species. The monophyly of B. alba and B. rubra with T. fruticosum must be the reason for the same palate in dishes and designation of all three species under “spinach” in Sri Lanka. The taste panel data demonstrated that there is no specific fondness for greenhouse or field grown materials enabling the popularization of greenhouse-grown spinach to answer the safety concerns.

Asiatic pennyworts (AP) (Centella asiatica) are among the most popular leafy vegetable species in Sri Lanka. Five AP cultivars, namely, Lowland AP (LAP), Giant AP1 (GAP1), Giant AP2 (GAP2), Salad AP (SAP), and Medicinal AP (MAP) are grown in the country. Two other leafy vegetable species, water pennyworts (WP) (Hydrocotyle verticillata) and Korean pennyworts (KP) (Adenophora triphylla), are also designated under 'pennyworts' in Sri Lanka. The consumerpreference on the pennywort bunches available in the market and the salad properties are yet to be studied. Also, no attempts have been reported for the identification of species delimits and phylogenetic relationships among the different cultivars of C. asiatica. In the present study, consumer preference on the appearance of leaf bunches and salads of pennyworts were assessed. The intra-and interspecific variation of pennyworts grown in Sri Lanka were also studied. The genomic DNA extracted from the immature leaves was PCR amplified for the DNA barcoding markers matK-trnT, atpB-rbcL, and rbcL. The PCR products were sequenced and used to assess the intraand interspecific variation. The consumers mostly preferred to purchase the leaf bunches of GAP2 because of its large leaf size and appealing look. However, the highest preference for salads was reported for the dishes prepared using LAP, MAP, and WP. The clade structure of the phylogenetic tree drawn for AP cultivars shows an intraspecific variation. Our study also highlights the importance of producing an improved AP cultivar with larger leaf size, improved flavor properties, and sinuate leaf margin.

Discriminating injuries by animal attacks from other types of trauma and assessing their contribution to the cause of death is often difficult. Careful evaluation of the injury pattern, thorough scene examination and performing adequate ancillary investigations is essential in such situations.A young male was found dead in a hut in a chena, lying in a pool of blood with a shotgun beside him. There was a suicide note on the floor written with charcoal which indicated that he had encountered three bears in the jungle, fought and escaped with injuries. Autopsy revealed minimal damage to the clothes and to the body. There was a near contact entry wound under the chin. Shaving of the head hair revealed a star shaped entrance wound with burning and blackening on the vertex. An exit wound with extensive disruption of the left side of face was seen. CT scan confirmed the above findings. The manner of death was concluded as a homicide.Minimal damages to the clothes and other areas of the body exclude bear attack with a high probability. Even though entry under the chin is more suggestive of suicidal firing, the entry at the vertex favors the involvement of another person.

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