The genus Origanum consists of different aromatic and medicinal plants some of which are used in folk medicine and as food additives since ancient times. These plants have numerous and varied beneficial properties, among which are antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antiviral. While a mixture of components present naturally in these plants confers myriad of benefits phenolic compounds in particular have great importance in biocidal and antioxidants properties. In this review we focus on the genus Origanum, discussing the beneficial and probed properties that have potential implications in health-care and dietetics.

In the post-genome era, one of the main problems of plant genetics is to identify functions of genes. A massive change in gene expression is an important component of the cold acclimation process [1]. Around one thousand genes have been found to be differentially expressed following cold exposure in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Transcriptional re-programming occurs during cold acclimation to induce expression of around 100 Cold-Regulated (COR) genes, responsible for producing cryoprotective molecules. Central to this transcriptional regulation are the CBF (C-repeat-Binding Factor) genes that encode AP2/ERF family transcription factors [2]. A general scheme of genetic control of cold stress responses can be represented as a network of transcription factors and genes that are directly responsible for morphological changes leading to cold resistance. It is well known that there are two main pathways of cold response: ABA-dependent and ABA-independent. There is also an intersection between abiotic and biotic response pathways as well as between different kinds of abiotic response pathways such as cold, dehydration and high light [3]. However, functions of most cold response genes are still not found. On the other hand, the agricultural range of many important crop species is limited by their maximum freezing tolerance capacity, and freezing stress-related damage can result in considerable crop productivity losses [4].

Technological and scientific breakthroughs have added novel products to those traditionally produced by biological means. In this letter to the editor, some of these recent trends are summarized to raise the awareness of the power of Biotechnology.

Phosphorus (P) is considered the ultimate limiting nutrient for plants because of its form as insoluble complexes. To address P deficiency, different organic and inorganic fertilizers are added to soils. Inorganic P instantly become unavailable by forming complexes with metal ions and excess P-fertilizers application also leads to water eutrophication of P. Phytic Acid (PA; constitutes 15-50% of total P depending on soil types) as a component of organic P also form stable complexes and its natural degradation is almost impossible. Therefore, role of P solubilizing microbes in rhizosphere become important for P cycling. Several rhizospheric bacterial and fungal species have been reported to play important role in P solubilization in soil [1]. Based on several studies on diversity of P solubilizing microbes and enzymes in varying agro-ecosystems, soil P availability and its uptake by plants is mainly attributed to microbial phosphatases and plant exudates. Phytase producing microbes have gained recent interest due to their plant growth promoting abilities and P pollution management applications [2,3].

A. squamosa is belongs to the Annonaceae family. Its common names are Nona, sugar apple, ata, gishta and sweet sop plant [1,2]. The genus Annona comprises 120 species. An economically significant species is A. squamosa which belongs to the Annonaceae family. Its specific native range is indefinite because of widespread commercial cultivation but is generally deemed to originate from the Caribbean region [3]. Common names for this plant are Nona, sugar apple, ata, gishta and sweet sop [1,2]. It is a small semi-evergreen tree/shrub, 3-7 m tall, with irregular or crown branches. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate and pale green on both surfaces. The flowers are greenish-yellow and produced in single or short lateral clusters [4]. The petioles are green and 0.6-1.3 cm in length. The fruit of this plant is round, heart shaped, ovate or conical. It is green-yellow in colour initially. The ripe fruit is white with the sweetly aromatic pulp also white [1]. The seeds are shiny, numerous, and blackish or dark brown in colour [5]. It is used as a medicine for a general tonic, enriches blood, relieves vomiting, cancer, vermicide, skin complaints and also used for applied wounds and ulcer [4,6,7].