Anthocyanin profiling of genetically diverse pigmented potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clonal accessions from north-eastern sub-Himalayan plateau of India.

White-fleshed potatoes have health concerns due to high glycemic index. Native and unexplored pigmented potato landraces may offer adequate and future smart alternatives with a balanced nutritional profile. Twenty-five pigmented potato clonal accessions across the eastern sub-Himalayan plateau of India were collected, purified and categorized into 'Badami' (UBAC) and 'Deshi' (UDAC) types. Evaluation of different nutritional attributes revealed that pigmented UBAC accessions are boosted with, high total dietary fibre, and total anthocyanin content and have remarkably low reducing sugar and glycemic index. Non-targeted LC-MS analysis identified caffeoyl and coumaroyl derivatives of delphinidin and petunidin glycosides, as major classes of anthocyanin compounds in pigmented potato accessions. HPLC-mediated quantification revealed high contents of delphinidin in the majority of accessions along with the selective presence of other anthocyanins. Selected accession was found to have polyphenolic compounds like gallic acid, vanillic acid, cinnamic acid and quercetin. The genetic cluster analysis of clonal accessions divided these genotypes into five major clusters. An ISSR repeat motif (AGG)6 was tightly linked with the total anthocyanin content of the accessions in Single Marker Analysis. Altogether, these native pigmented potato accessions offer a nutritious and healthy alternative to the conventional white-fleshed potato genotypes.

Evaluation of indigenous aromatic rice cultivars from sub-Himalayan Terai region of India for nutritional attributes and blast resistance.

Indigenous folk rice cultivars often possess remarkable but unrevealed potential in terms of nutritional attributes and biotic stress tolerance. The unique cooking qualities and blissful aroma of many of these landraces make it an attractive low-cost alternative to high priced Basmati rice. Sub-Himalayan Terai region is bestowed with great agrobiodiversity in traditional heirloom rice cultivars. In the present study, ninety-nine folk rice cultivars from these regions were collected, purified and characterized for morphological and yield traits. Based on traditional importance and presence of aroma, thirty-five genotypes were selected and analyzed for genetic diversity using micro-satellite marker system. The genotypes were found to be genetically distinct and of high nutritive value. The resistant starch content, amylose content, glycemic index and antioxidant potential of these genotypes represented wide variability and 'Kataribhog', 'Sadanunia', 'Chakhao' etc. were identified as promising genotypes in terms of different nutritional attributes. These cultivars were screened further for resistance against blast disease in field trials and cultivars like 'Sadanunia', 'T4M-3-5', 'Chakhao Sampark' were found to be highly resistant to the blast disease whereas 'Kalonunia', 'Gobindabhog', 'Konkanijoha' were found to be highly susceptible. Principal Component analysis divided the genotypes in distinct groups for nutritional potential and blast tolerance. The resistant and susceptible genotypes were screened for the presence of the blast resistant pi genes and association analysis was performed with disease tolerance. Finally, a logistic model based on phenotypic traits for prediction of the blast susceptibility of the genotypes is proposed with more than 80% accuracy.