Comparative cytological and fruit biochemical studies in two populations of Solanum torvum Sw. - an ethnobotanical species of Northeast India

Comparative cytological and fruit biochemical studies in two populations of Solanum torvum Sw. - an ethnobotanical species of Northeast India

Comparative cytological and fruit biochemical characteristics were studied between two wild populations of Solanum torvum Sw. to assess variability in fruit nutritional values. Constant somatic chromosome number 2n=24 was recorded in both the populations with distinct n=12 bivalents without any irregularities. Fruits of the two populations were morphometrically characterized and compared with their fruit size and average seed distribution per fruit at three developmental stages of their maturation and revealed no significant differences in average diameter of mature fruits and number of seeds per fruit. Soluble sugar content in mature fruits of population I was significantly high compared to population II. On the contrary, the level of flavonoid was found higher in population II. In addition, significant variation was also recorded in soluble protein content in different stages of fruits maturation in both the populations. Distinct variability in different biochemical attributes between the populations was recorded with 2n=24 somatic chromosome numbers. The present study highlights significance of fruit nutritional value of S. torvum used as non-conventional vegetable by the people of this region.