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The plant adaptation response to a changing environment depends on the genetic diversity level it possesses. Genetic diversity and a thorough understanding of population indices are pivotal for decoding plant adaptation to dynamic environmental stressors. The development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular markers enables comprehensive population analyses and the precise detection of individuals and groups with unique genetic variations. Various molecular markers have been employed to assess genetic diversity, examine population structure, and delineate cluster patterns within and among populations. DNA markers revolutionize plant diversity studies by allowing detailed analyses of genetic variations, including economically significant trait-influencing genes. Despite their simplicity, they offer high reproducibility, ensuring accurate estimations of plant variation. Integrating multiple marker systems with advanced high-throughput sequencing techniques is poised to enhance the understanding and management of depleting plant genetic resources by providing a comprehensive picture of diversity at the genome-wide level. This review explores diverse molecular markers, elucidating their advantages and limitations, and highlights their impact on evaluating the genetic diversity and population structure of plants.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative dementia in older adults worldwide. Sadly, there are no disease-modifying therapies available for treatment due to the multifactorial complexity of the disease. AD is pathologically characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. Increasing evidence suggest that Aβ also accumulates intracellularly, which may contribute to the pathological mitochondrial dysfunction observed in AD. According with the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis, mitochondrial dysfunction precedes clinical decline and thus targeting mitochondria may result in new therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, the precise mechanisms connecting mitochondrial dysfunction with AD are largely unknown. In this review, we will discuss how the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is contributing to answer mechanistic questions in the field, from mitochondrial oxidative stress and calcium dysregulation to mitophagy and mitochondrial fusion and fission. In particular, we will highlight specific mitochondrial insults caused by Aβ and tau in transgenic flies and will also discuss a variety of genetic tools and sensors available to study mitochondrial biology in this flexible organism. Areas of opportunity and future directions will be also considered.

Orchids, with their astonishingly stunning flowers, dominate the international floricultural market. They are considered prized assets for commercial applications in pharmaceutical and floricultural industries as they possess high therapeutic properties and superior ornamental values. The alarming depletion of orchid resources due to excessive unregulated commercial collection and mass habitat destruction makes orchid conservation measures an extreme priority. Conventional propagation methods cannot produce adequate number of orchids, which would meet the requirement of these ornamental plants for commercial and conservational purposes. In vitro orchid propagation using semi-solid media offers an outstanding prospect of rapidly producing quality plants on a large scale. However, the semi-solid (SS) system has shortcomings with low multiplication rates and high production costs. Orchid micropropagation using a temporary immersion system (TIS) overcomes the limitations of the SS system by reducing production costs and making scaleup and full automation possible for mass plant production. The current review highlights different aspects of in vitro orchid propagation using SS and TIS and their benefits and drawbacks on rapid plant generation.