Sri Vijaya Puram, June 25: Scientist from Botanical Survey of India, Dr. Lal Ji Singh discovered a new species of Wild Brinjal from one of the remote Island of Andaman group of Islands which situated in under the biodiversity hotspots referred to as a part of the Indo-Burma Hotspot.
It was discovered in an evergreen forest of Middle Andaman by Eminent Botanist, Dr. Lal Ji Singh. Distribution of Solanum pandeyi is known only in restricted areas of the Islands and its conservation status is accessed as “Data Deficient (DD)” as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories and criteria. Recently its molecular analysis has been published in an International Journal of Botanical Taxonomy and Geobotany: Feddes Repertorium 136(3):147-274, 2025 with the collaboration of Dr. Shruti Kasana, University of Delhi.
The new species of Wild Brinjal discovered from Andaman is named as Solanum pandeyi in honor of a Botanist, Prof. Arun Kumar Pandey, Department of Botany, University of Delhi. It is locally called as wild orange eggplant (Jungali Narangi Brinjal/ Jungali Narangi Baigan in Hindi) based on the colour of fruit and there pulp. This species has resistance potential against the brinjal crop diseases which indicates good genetic resource for develop a high-yielding, disease-resistant variety of edible brinjal variety -said by Lal Ji Singh.
Botanical Scientist, Dr. Singh is heading the regional centre of Botanical Survey of India and working in exploratory and conservation studies on flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands since 2010. His dedication in the field of biodiversity research led to significant contribution in the taxonomy of flowering plants and commitment towards conservation of biodiversity discovered a new genus and more than 28 new species of higher plants as new to science includes wild relative of Banana, Brinjal, Ginger Karaunda etc. which provide genetic bases for edible genotype. One of his pioneer research finding is an invention of Reusable, eco-friendly drinking straw: A novel way to replace plastic drinking straws which granted patent by Govt. of India. The new inventions and discoveries made by Dr. Singh in the world of Science demonstrate the importance of a unique socio-economic and environmental potential. Several plant species, such as Dendrophthoe laljii, Portulaca laljii, and Pyrostria laljii, have been named in his honor. This reflects his unique achievements and the high regard for his work within the field of botanical science.
