Miracle Tree Moringa oleifera: Status of the Genetic Diversity, Breeding, In Vitro Propagation, and a Cogent Source of Commercial Functional Food and Non-Food Products

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is a fast-growing drought-resistant tree belonging to the family Moringaceae and native to the Indian subcontinent and cultivated and/or naturalized worldwide with a semi-arid climate. MO is also popularly known as a miracle tree for its repertoire of nutraceutical, pharmacological, and phytochemical properties. The MO germplasm is collected, conserved, and maintained by various institutions across the globe. Various morphological, biochemical, and molecular markers are used for determining the genetic diversity in MO accessions. A higher yield of leaves and pods is often desirable for making various products with commercial viability and amenable for trade in the international market. Therefore, breeding elite varieties adapted to local agroclimatic conditions and in vitro propagation are viable and sustainable approaches. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of MO germplasm conservation and various markers that are employed for assessing the genetic diversity among them. Further, breeding and in vitro propagation of MO for various desirable agronomic traits are discussed. Finally, trade and commerce of various functional and biofortified foods and non-food products are enumerated albeit with a need for a rigorous and stringent toxicity evaluation.

Enhancing the Nutritional Profile of Tenebrio molitor Using the Leaves of Moringa oleifera

“…Numerous previous studies have reported on the fat content of TM larvae that ranges between 24% [42] to about 34% [43,44]. 0.35 ± 0 c 0.37 ± 0 b 0.37 ± 0.01 b 0.39 ± 0 a IT 7 0.54 ± 0.01 c 0.55 ± 0.01 b 0.56 ± 0.01 b 0.58 ± 0 a HH 8 3.64 ± 0.07 a 3.56 ± 0.04 a,b 3.52 ± 0.05 b 3.41 ± 0.03 c HPI 9 2.82 ± 0.03 a 2.73 ± 0.02 b 2.68 ± 0.04 b 2.59 ± 0.02 c…”

“…7 IT, index of thrombogenicity. 8 HH index of hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic. 9 HPI, health-promoting index.…”

“…Moringa species belonging to the Moringaceae family are widely imported to countries with mild climates [ 8 ]. Among the different species, Moringa oleifera (MO) is the most well-known [ 9 ].…”

Chemistry and Significance of Moringa oleifera, a Miracle TreeA Review

“…At the moment, private organizations are receiving assistance from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to set up the required infrastructure. APEDA-registered exporter from Telangana intends to send about 40 metric tonnes of powdered moringa leaf to the United States (Alavilli et al, 2022).…”

Genetic and cytogenetic analysis of Moringa oleifera short and long capsule phenotypes

“…On the other hand, the use of molecular genetic markers is of great importance to detect genetic variability of genotypes of interest at the DNA level, and to develop effective selection strategies for breeding programs (Alavilli et al, 2022;RS et al, 2022;Saraswathi et al, 2023), since detection of genetic polymorphisms can contribute to improve the accuracy and e ciency of conventional breeding programs (Darkwa et al, 2020;Li et al, 2020). The most commonly used molecular marker techniques are based on DNA ampli cation employing the PCR technique, which generates copies of a DNA region, providing genetic information for genetic variability analysis (Orozco-Sifuentes et al, 2023).…”