The Journal of Indian Botanical Society

Many of the Solanaceae members, especially the genus Solanum, are with taxonomical controversies. There were two morpho-types of Solanum melongena var. insanum, botanically considered as same. One of it is used in Ayurvedic preparations, locally known as ‘Cheruvazhuthina’, and the other locally known as ‘Punyahachunda’, was not. The morphological, macro-morphological, micromorphological and anatomical features showed similarities and little differences. Micro-morphological characters are unchangeable within a species or variety. Differences in micro-morphological features showed that these two plants may belong to two different varieties. So for confirmation, the advanced molecular techniques are used. DNA barcoding using two genes, ITS and matK, was carried out as preliminary molecular assay. The results showed similarities for both the morpho-types. Success of these two genes, matK and ITS, in Solanaceae family is doubtful. However a detailed molecular profiling is warranted to confirm the recently obtained results to solve the taxonomic position of the two morpho-types of S. melongena var. insanum.