Legume Science最新文献

Intercropping is an effective method for resource utilization that typically enhances crop yields compared with monoculture. This study was conducted using split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications over the 2022–2023 years. The main plot was designated for inoculation with Rhizobium phaseoli at two levels (inoculation and non-inoculation), while the subplot was assigned to the maize-bean intercropping ratio at five levels: 100% maize, 100% bean, 75% maize +25% bean (M75B25), 50% maize +50% bean (M50B50), and 25% maize +75% bean (M25B75). Total land equivalent ratio (LER) increased with a higher proportion of bean in intercropping, and the highest LER was achieved in the M25B75 ratio in both years. The monetary advantage index (MAI) was greater for M25B75 compared with the other two intercropping ratios. The average tester view of biplot revealed that the M25B75 intercropping ratio under inoculation conditions resulted in the most pronounced expression of the studied traits in both maize and bean. M25B75 was the most effective for enhancing maize and bean traits in both inoculation and non-inoculation conditions. These results indicate that cultivating a combination of bean and maize with rhizobium bacteria inoculation can effectively enhance the yield of both crops.

Sequential processing, germination-dehulling-extrusion, improves technofunctional and chemical properties of black bean cotyledons. This work aims to evaluate the effect of germinated, dehulled and extruded black bean cotyledon on Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium growth using the Automated and Robotic Intestinal System (ARIS). Germinated-dehulled cotyledons were thermoextruded at 4 last barrel temperatures: 95°C (E1), 120°C (E2), 135°C (E3), and 145°C (E4). Proximal composition, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, and starch content were determined. All flours were evaluated as carbon and nitrogen sources for acid lactic fermentation. All the flours obtained from the extrudates contained higher soluble dietary fiber than cooked beans and that obtained at 120°C (E2) had 12.89% while cooked beans had 2.17%. E2 proved to be the most effective medium made from experimental materials in acid lactic fermentation, achieving the same ending microbial concentration as positive controls (standard MRS broth or its homemade equivalent). E2 flour ARIS evaluation showed bifidogenic properties, increasing content 70% after 8 days of testing. The sequential processing of black bean generated a new food product alternative that has bifidogenic properties and could be consumed as a snack.

Soybean (Glycine max) is a globally important crop, yet its productivity is highly susceptible to drought stress, particularly in rainfed systems. To better understand the biochemical basis of drought tolerance, this study employed pathway-based metabolomics to characterize differentially expressed metabolites between drought-tolerant and susceptible soybean genotypes and to identify underlying mechanisms. Metabolite profiles of leaves collected from both watered and drought-stressed conditions were analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Discriminant metabolites were identified through multivariate statistical analysis and pathway mapping. Principal component analysis revealed distinct metabolic variation primarily under drought stress, indicating that drought-tolerant genotypes engage in active metabolic reprogramming in response to water deficit. Overall, the metabolic responses of drought-tolerant genotypes were less pronounced than those of susceptible ones, suggesting a more selectively managed allocation of metabolic resources in the tolerant genotypes. Pathway analysis indicated that tolerant genotypes selectively enhanced specific primary and secondary metabolic processes, including central carbon metabolism, shikimate pathway–associated metabolites, and specific amino acid pools, while also displaying divergent allocation within phenylpropanoid (secondary metabolism) and branched-chain amino acid pathways (primary metabolism). Both tolerant and susceptible cultivars exhibited shared drought responses, including hormonal activation, lipid remodeling, accumulation of phenylpropanoid intermediates, and osmoprotective amino acids. This study demonstrates that drought adaptation arises from the interplay between conserved biochemical adjustments and genotype-specific reprogramming in primary and secondary metabolism, providing metabolite-level insights that can guide future large-scale field studies aimed at selecting genotypes for drought tolerance using biomarkers.

Faba beans are emerging as a promising alternative protein source for bakeries, snacks, cereals and ready-to-eat foods. The quality and consistency of such products depend strongly on the processing behaviour of their flours, including handling, storage, mixing and extrusion performance, all of which are governed by flour flow and structural characteristics. However, there is currently a lack of information on the structural and flow properties of thermally treated faba bean flours. This study aims to understand the influence of dry and steam-heating temperature (70°C–100°C for 15–45 min) on the physical, structural and flowability properties of faba bean flours. Moisture content consistently decreased with high drying temperatures and longer duration for dry heating and vice versa for steam treatment. Dry-treated samples exhibited reduced particle size (D₅₀ = 14.5–18.9 μm), contributing to enhanced grindability but also increased cohesiveness. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed conformational changes in protein and starch domains, confirming that heating mode and moisture jointly influence molecular structure and powder behaviour. Flow indices (ff_c) classified dry-heated flours as cohesive to very cohesive (ff_c = 1.61–2.91), whereas steam-treated samples, particularly at 70°C for 15 min, were easy flowing (ff_c = 4.24). Principal component analysis explained 70.78% of the variance, distinguishing treatments based on moisture and flow attributes. These findings demonstrate that controlled thermal pretreatments can be used to tailor faba bean flour handling properties, facilitating their use in food manufacturing processes such as flour conveying, blending and hydration-based applications where powder flow and stability are critical.

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume that contributes to agricultural sustainability through nitrogen fixation and offers substantial nutritional benefits. Nonetheless, its genetic enhancement has been constrained by challenges associated with tissue culture and transformation. This study presents the development and optimisation of a robust and reproducible protocol for tissue culture and genetic transformation in various V. faba genotypes. Thirty-three genotypes were evaluated with various hormone combinations to enhance shoot and root regeneration. Among these, 1.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) demonstrated the highest efficacy for uniform root formation across all genotypes. Genetic transformation was performed through particle bombardment, utilising excised embryos as the target tissues. A transformation efficiency of 11.7% was achieved in cultivar Tiffany, demonstrating stable transgene inheritance. This protocol mitigates significant limitations in faba bean regeneration, such as the production of phenolic compounds and variability in rooting, thereby facilitating consistent transformation across cultivars. This study presents an efficient and reproducible protocol for tissue culture and transformation in V. faba genotypes. The approach establishes a practical foundation for subsequent applications in gene editing and molecular breeding of faba bean and a potential methodological basis for optimisation in other legume crops.

Polypropylene bag is inadequate to manage fungi, insect pests, and fluctuating environmental conditions on stored chickpea seed over an extended duration. The study was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of different seed storage methods and duration on chickpea seed health quality attributes under midland and highland agroecological zones. Super GrainPro (SGP) bags, Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags, polypropylene bags (PPb), plastic drums (PD), and filter cake blended with seed stored in PD (PD + FC) and PPb (PPb + FC) were used for the study. Seed moisture content (SMC), fungal seed infection (SI) and fungal frequency (FF), hundred seed weight (HSW), seed damage (SD), and seed weight loss (SWL) were measured every 2 months for 6 months. The results showed that Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium were the main fungal genera associated with chickpea seed stored under different conditions. The results also revealed that hermetic bags sustained stable SMC, fungal seed infection level, and frequency for 6 storage months, whereas PPb showed a significant increase in SMC, fungal infection, and frequency over time. Seed stored in PPb showed remarkable changes in chickpea quantitative aspects after 6 storage months at the midland AEZ location. Accordingly, the average HSW decreased by 9.6%, SD increased by 113 times, and SWL increased by 37 times after 6 months at the midland AEZ storage location. The study confirms that filter cake–treated seed and hermetic bags could significantly reduce quantitative and qualitative seed loss and could maintain the seed safely for 6 storage months. Therefore, we recommend promoting these seed storage methods at the farm level to maintain healthy seed and ultimately enhance chickpea production and productivity, which is expected to promote food security in Ethiopia.

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a promising legume crop due to its resilience to climatic stress factors such as drought and waterlogging. However, the occurrence of the neurotoxin β-N-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) and the lack of adapted varieties pose significant challenges for its wider adoption across Europe. On the other hand, the presence of l-homoarginine (l-hArg) in grass pea has gained attention for its benefits on cardiovascular health. In this study, contrasting grass pea genotypes were grown at three locations in Germany, and the concentrations of α-, β-ODAP, l-hArg, and 17 other free amino acids were analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). β-ODAP concentrations ranged from 0.06% DW to 0.44% DW, whereas l-hArg concentrations varied from 0.16% DW to 0.90% DW. Concentrations of β-ODAP and l-hArg showed a positive correlation (r = 0.40, p < 0.01). Glutamic acid was identified as the most abundant free amino acid, followed by arginine, aspartic acid, and alanine. Genotypes with mean β-ODAP concentrations below 0.15% DW were identified as suitable for cultivation and food processing. β-ODAP and l-hArg were significantly influenced by the environment, whereas the genotype significantly affected l-hArg concentration. The location with the lowest amount of rainfall during the flowering period exhibited the highest β-ODAP concentrations. For the first time, we identified genotypes and environmental conditions with positive health-promoting and low neurotoxin attributes under Central European conditions.

Legume root nodules host symbiotic rhizobia that are essential for nitrogen fixation but also harbor diverse non-rhizobial taxa that remain poorly characterized. Field pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars adapted to distinct seasonal growth (spring and winter) offer an opportunity to explore whether host genotype influences nodule-associated bacterial composition and function. This study investigates the taxonomic and functional profiles of nodule bacterial communities in seasonal field pea varieties. A field experiment with 6 field pea cultivars (three spring and three winter types) was conducted in South Dakota. Surface-sterilized root nodules were subjected to full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing using Oxford Nanopore technology. Reads were quality filtered, organellar sequences removed, and taxonomic classification performed with the Emu pipeline. Microbial diversity, community structure, and core taxa were analyzed using R, with predicted functions inferred by FAPROTAX. The nodule bacterial community was dominated by Rhizobium, accounting for up to 98% of classified reads. After excluding Rhizobium, non-rhizobial diversity revealed a conserved core microbiome shared across cultivars, including cyanobacteria with potential phototrophic and diazotrophic traits. Minor seasonal differences were observed, with winter cultivars exhibiting higher evenness and specific associations. Field pea nodules harbor a stable, cyanobacteria-enriched core microbiome, largely consistent across seasonal cultivars. Season-specific microbial patterns suggest potential host-genotype influences, warranting further validation.

Lupine, an underutilized legume with high protein content, offers a promising plant-based protein source for functional foods. This study evaluated four lupine genotypes to determine how extraction pH (EpH) and isoelectric precipitation pH (IEPpH) influence the techno-functional and thermal properties of lupine protein isolates (LPIs) using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD). LPIs exhibited genotype-dependent functional behavior: Vitabor showed the highest solubility (95.9%–95.7%) at pH 7–9 and superior foaming capacity (240%) with stability of 89.2%; the local genotype excelled in emulsifying capacity (50%) and gelation (8%), and Probor had the highest oil holding capacity (2.96 g/g). Thermal analysis revealed Sanabor possessed the highest enthalpy (ΔH = 87.36 J/g) and broad denaturation range (T_d = 82.5°C, T_e = 122.8°C), indicating robust structural integrity, while the local genotype showed comparable thermal stability. Optimal EpH and IEPpH were genotype-specific, reflecting inherent compositional differences affecting protein functionality and thermal behavior. Based on their distinct profiles, LPIs from Local are suitable for dairy alternatives and meat analogues, Vitabor for protein-enriched beverages, and Probor and Sanabor for sauces, spreads, and heat-processed foods. These findings demonstrate lupine's versatility as a functional plant protein and provide mechanistic insight into how genotype and extraction conditions govern structural and functional performance. Future studies should investigate protein digestibility, bioactive peptide formation, and application in real food and industrial systems to fully harness the nutritional and functional potential of LPIs.

The study aimed to optimize the rate of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn) fertilization in dryland chickpea. A 2-year study was conducted to analyze the chickpea responses to N (0, 25, and 50 kg ha⁻¹), P₂O₅ (0, 30, and 60 kg ha⁻¹), and Zn (0, 10, and 20 kg ha⁻¹) using the response surface methodology (RSM) technique. The optimization of fertilizer application was conducted using three approaches: economic, environmental, and economic-environmental (integrated). There was more and better-distributed precipitation in the first year compared to the second year. Increasing the N rate in the first year improved seed yield and increased the content of protein, phosphorus, and zinc in seeds, while the crop's response to N in the second year was lower. Phosphorus improved seed yield in the first year but had no effect on it in the second year. Zn positively affected seed yield in both years. Comparing the optimization methods indicated that the integrated approach was most successful. This approach decreased fertilizer usage significantly compared to the economic approach and resulted in higher seed yield than the environmental approach. According to the integrated approach, the optimal amounts of N, P₂O₅, and Zn to be used were 26, 16, and 8 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, in the high rainfall year, and 13, 0, and 4 kg ha⁻¹ in the low rainfall year. The findings indicated that by incorporating economic and environmental considerations, a low-input fertilization strategy could be implemented to achieve satisfactory yields in chickpea dryland farming.