DNA barcoding and nutritional profiling of underutilized native indigenous plant species of Karnataka, India

Abstract

Locally adapted native indigenous plant species (NIPS) could restore the crop diversity in sustainable agriculture. Here, we report the molecular identi cation and nutritional pro ling of some ve NIPS of Karnataka; Musa paradisiaca cv. Nanjangud rasabale, Piper betle L. cv. Mysore betel leaf, Jasminum grandi orum cv Mysore mallige, Solanum melongena L. cv. Udupi Mattu Gulla and S. melongena L. cv. Erangere badane of which the rst four are Geographical Indication (GI) tagged. The samples were procured, authenticated and sequenced using two standard DNA barcodes; nuclear ITS2 and plastid rbcl. The phylogenetic analysis using Neighborhood joining method revealed all the ITS2 tree topologies with higher genetic divergence than rbcl. All the rbcl tree topologies were monophyletic indicating sequence conservation. Though the concatenated ITS2 + rbcl trees had higher bootstrap support (> 98% except Solanum sp.) differences were observed because of the lack of available sequence deposition at species level. The proximate and nutritional pro ling of the NIPS displayed superiority in terms of their nutritional pro le and their potential application in phytopharmaceutical sector as nutritional supplements. We anticipate that if research towards the identi cation of NIPS species is accelerated, these nutritionally enhanced crops could be used as a safe and sustainable food in changing global climatic conditions.