An assessment of genetic diversity studies was undertaken to understand the level and pattern of diversity in 65 mango (Mangifera indica L.) genotypes of India including 20 commercial cultivars, 18 hybrids, 25 local genotypes and two exotic cultivars based on qualitative and quantitative fruit characters as well as RAPD and ISSR profiles. A considerable variation was observed in respect of three important qualitative characters namely table quality, fruit attractiveness and storage life of ripe fruits and potentially superior genotypes for the above traits were identified. A wide variation was noticeable regarding metabolite composition of pulp of ripe mango fruit with respect to total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar, acidity, sugar:acid ratio, ascorbic acid and phenolic content. Fifteen RAPD primers yielded 27 monomorphic and 129 polymorphic bands with percent polymorphism averaging 82.7%. Of a total 70 ISSR bands generated from eight ISSR primers, 60 bands (85.71%) were found to be polymorphic. Cumulative band data from these two methods precisely arranged accessions into eight clusters which correspond well with their pedigree relationship. UPGMA dendrograms drawn using RAPD, ISSR and cumulative data showed highly similar grouping of genotypes on the basis of their parental origin. No clear-cut geographical separation was revealed among East, West, North and South Indian mango cultivars by neither of these molecular markers nor their combinations. This supports the common gene pool origin of mango as well as operation of similar selection pressure as the cultivar preferences in these areas are largely similar.

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Efficient in vitro regeneration of black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) var. Sarala was achieved through organogenesis using cotyledonary explants excised from 4 days old seedlings on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP. Organogenic calli were developed from cotyledonary tissues within 4-6 weeks of culture on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) along with 2.0 mg/l 1-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Shoot bud regeneration was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP within 3-4 weeks of subculture. The number of shoots per culture varied from 1.12 to 8.75 in different growth media. The cultures incubated initially on dark photoperiod for 2 weeks and subsequently transferred to 16 h photoperiod showed higher number of shoot bud regeneration. The proliferated shoots were further sub-cultured on similar medium for higher rate of shoot bud regeneration. The elongated shoots were rooted on strength MS medium fortified with 0.1-0.5 mg/l NAA or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) with 2 % (w/v) sucrose within 2-3 weeks of culture. The higher percentage of rooting was obtained on 0.1-0.25 mg/l NAA as compared with IBA or IAA. The rooted plantlets were transferred to soil mixture (soil: sand: vermi-compost, 1:1:1 ratio) and kept in the greenhouse with 85 % humidity. The regenerated plantlets were successfully grown with 75 % survival rate. This protocol can be used for genetic improvement of black gram.

An efficient and reproducible procedure for clonal multiplication through in vitro culture of Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. (Sarpagandha) is standardized. The different explants like leaf and stem were used for callus induction and regeneration of the complete plantlets. High-frequency callusing was induced in leaf and stem explant of Rauwolfia serpentina on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l 2,4-D. Maximum regeneration of shoots from callus (90%) was observed in MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/l NAA and 1.5 mg/l BA. However direct regeneration (96%) was recorded best in MS medium supplemented with BAP 2.5 mg/l. The maximum number of shoots per explant (6.5) was also highest in this phyto-hormone combination. Higher induction of root (100%) was observed in MS medium supplemented with NAA 0.5 mg/l. The rooted plantlets were successfully established in the field.

Bioinformatics is the new branch of science which deals with the acquisition, storage, analysis and dissemination of biological data with the help of computer science and information technology. It has the enormous ability to analyze a vast quantity of biological data quickly and cost-effectively. In the past decades, enormous sequence information has been generated due to the advances in DNA and protein sequencing techniques. Estimating similarities between biological sequences is becoming necessary to obtain hidden information present within the sequence and to trace evolutionary relationship exist within the sequences. This sequence comparison can be achieved by basic local alignment search tool (BLAST). So BLAST has become a fundamental tools of life science research. Hence it is essential to know how to do sequence comparison using BLAST and how to accurately interpret the BLAST output data. The present article aims to familiarize the biologists and researchers with different BLAST programs and their use in research program.

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