Stress induced production of plant secondary metabolites in vegetables: Functional approach for designing next generation super foods.

Plant secondary metabolites are vital for human health leading to the gain the access to natural products. The quality of crops is the result of the interaction of different biotic and abiotic factors. Abiotic stresses during plant growth may reduce the crop performance and quality of the produce.

Impact of key parameters involved with plant-microbe interaction in context to global climate change.

Anthropogenic activities have a critical influence on climate change that directly or indirectly impacts plant and microbial diversity on our planet. Due to climate change, there is an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme environmental events such as temperature rise, drought, and precipitation. The increase in greenhouse gas emissions such as CO, CH, NOx, water vapor, increase in global temperature, and change in rainfall patterns have impacted soil-plant-microbe interactions, which poses a serious threat to food security.

Vegetable microgreens: The gleam of next generation super foods, their genetic enhancement, health benefits and processing approaches.

Considering the well-being cognizance of masses, the microgreens have emerged as the potential therapeutic functional foods for improving the overall health by dietary supplementation. Microgreens have delicate texture, distinctive flavors and exceptional volume of various nutrients accounting for higher neutraceutical benefits compared to their mature counterparts. Mounting interest in microgreens owes not only to their nutritional significance but also to their fascinating organoleptic traits.

Nanoparticle-based toxicity in perishable vegetable crops: Molecular insights, impact on human health and mitigation strategies for sustainable cultivation.

With the advancement of nanotechnology, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanomaterials (NMs) in agriculture including perishable vegetable crops cultivation has been increased significantly. NPs/NMs positively affect plant growth and development, seed germination, plant stress management, and postharvest handling of fruits and vegetables. However, these NPs sometimes cause toxicity in plants by oxidative stress and excess reactive oxygen species production that affect cellular biomolecules resulting in imbalanced biological and metabolic processes in plants.