Biotechnological advancement in an important medicinal plant, Withania coagulans: An overview and recent updates

Abstract

Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal is an important and high-value medicinal plant of Solanaceae. It is popularly called Indian cheese maker or vegetable rennet. Plant possesses multiple medicinal properties, and the reproductive failure and overexploitation from wild habitat forced this species towards the verge of complete extinction. Plant tissue culture and recent advancements in the field of biotechnology like genomics, proteomics and metabolomics have enormous potential for the genetic improvement of plant species and facilitate the development of new methods for plant germplasm conservation, evaluation and improvement. Though W. coagulans is known for multiple medicinal properties, however, it has not been given considerable attention for genetic improvement. The present chapter will focus on the development and recent contribution of advanced biotechnological interventions in genetic improvement of W. coagulans. This chapter will provide a comprehensive information on the development of in vitro methods for conservation of germplasm, mass-scale multiplication and their employment in genetic transformation and secondary metabolite production. Further genomics, proteomics and metabolomics updates on W. coagulans have been discussed, and these will facilitate researchers a ready-to-use source of information.