Search

Purpose: Grass pea is a legume species with recognized resistance to several diseases and thus important for the improvement of related major legume crops. It is infected by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi (Fop), known as causal agent of pea fusarium wilt. We aim to identify, among grass pea, new sources of resistance against Fop and characterize the detected resistance mechanisms. Methods: A grass pea worldwide collection of accessions was characterized under controlled conditions for response to Fop race 2. Fungal colonization dynamics and potential resistance mechanisms were studied through confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) using Fop race 2 expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). Results: A quantitative nature of resistance to Fop, ranging from highly to partially resistant and susceptible accessions was detected, with resistance being the most frequent phenotype. Diverse colonization patterns were observed, suggesting the existence of different resistance mechanisms. In the highly resistant accessions, absence of fungal colonization in the vascular tissue was detected, while fungal progression was arrested at the level of roots both in highly resistant and partially resistant accessions. Conclusions: The resistant accessions identified here can be exploited in grass pea breeding for fusarium wilt resistance, and due to the phylogenetic relatedness to pea, potentially contribute to pea improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of food products from legume flours is increasing. Seed and flour characteristics must be analysed for selection of the best screening quality traits. With this purpose, germplasm collections of faba bean (Vicia faba), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens culinaris) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) were evaluated for their physicochemical, pasting and cooking characteristics. The accessions were grouped accordingly to several seed traits (size, shape, colour, variety and surface) that affected final viscosity, cooking time, hydration capacity and seed weight. In general, seed weight was correlated with hydration capacity. Among species, faba bean revealed higher values of pasting parameters. Cooking time was significantly negatively correlated with final viscosity (-0.298) and positively correlated with seed weight (0.601). The general variance was analysed by using principal component analysis, which allowed identification of specific accessions with important traits such as higher protein or fibre content, hydration capacity or seed weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Portugal, maize has been used for centuries to produce an ethnic bread called broa, employing traditional maize varieties, which are preferred by the consumers in detriment of commercial hybrids. In order to evaluate the maize volatiles that can influence consumers' acceptance of broas, twelve broas were prepared from twelve maize varieties (eleven traditional and one commercial hybrid), following a traditional recipe. All maize flours and broas were analyzed by HS-SPME-GC-MS (headspace solid-phase microextraction) and broas were appraised by a consumer sensory panel. In addition, the major soluble phenolics and total carotenoids contents were quantitated in order to evaluate their influence as precursors or inhibitors of volatile compounds. Results showed that the major volatiles detected in maize flours and broas were aldehydes and alcohols, derived from lipid oxidation, and some ketones derived from carotenoids' oxidation. Both lipid and carotenoids' oxidation reactions appeared to be inhibited by soluble phenolics. In contrast, phenolic compounds appeared to increase browning reactions during bread making and, consequently, the production of pyranones. Traditional samples, especially those with higher contents in pyranones and lower contents in aldehydes, were preferred by the consumer sensory panel. These findings suggest that, without awareness, consumers prefer broas prepared from traditional maize flours with higher contents in health-promoting phenolic compounds, reinforcing the importance of preserving these valuable genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivated Olea europaea L., or olive tree, is an ancient crop extremely relevant for the bioeconomy of Mediterranean countries, especially for Portugal. With orchard modernization, Portugal has the potential to become the third-largest producer of olive oil over the next decade. In this country, the main national variety is 'Galega vulgar,' characterized by an excellent olive oil quality, rusticity and tolerance to drought. Nevertheless, its production has suffered a reduction due to replacement by foreign varieties. The present narrative review offers an overall perspective of present gaps and challenges to the conservation and use of 'Galega vulgar.' Existing information about traditional and innovative olive production systems, and the importance of life cycle thinking approaches for a sustainable olive chain were synthesized, focusing particularly in the last 10 years. Furthermore, the olive molecular characterization advances and their breeding importance were also evaluated considering their application to this Portuguese variety. To ensure an efficient and sustainable exploitation of the 'Galega vulgar,' we propose that efforts should concentrate on the characterization of the existing variability and development of genotype to phenotype prediction tools, integrating detailed molecular marker genotypic and environmental characterization, to support better informed conservation and breeding decisions in a multi-environment context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the most consumed legume crops in the world, and Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli, is one of the major diseases affecting its production. Portugal holds a very promising common bean germplasm with an admixed genetic background that may reveal novel genetic resistance combinations between the original Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools. To identify new sources of Fusarium wilt resistance and detect resistance-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we explored, for the first time, a diverse collection of the underused Portuguese common bean germplasm by using genome-wide association analyses. The collection was evaluated for Fusarium wilt resistance under growth chamber conditions, with the highly virulent F. oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli strain FOP-SP1 race 6. Fourteen of the 162 Portuguese accessions evaluated were highly resistant and 71 intermediate. The same collection was genotyped with DNA sequencing arrays, and SNP- resistance associations were tested via a mixed linear model accounting for the genetic relatedness between accessions. The results from the association mapping revealed nine SNPs associated with resistance on chromosomes Pv04, Pv05, Pv07, and Pv08, indicating that Fusarium wilt resistance is under oligogenic control. Putative candidate genes related to phytoalexin biosynthesis, hypersensitive response, and plant primary metabolism were identified. The results reported here highlight the importance of exploring underused germplasm for new sources of resistance and provide new genomic targets for the development of functional markers to support selection in future disease resistance breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There was a clear genotype × environment interaction on beans metabolomics profiles. • Heat stress increased salicylic acid and decreased some saponins' contents. • A complexity of interactions supported common precursors in the metabolic routes. • White accessions presented the highest percent area of organic oxygen compounds. • Colored accessions presented the highest percent area of phenylpropanoids. Metabolomics is one of the most powerful - omics to assist plant breeding. Despite the recognized genetic diversity in Portuguese common bean germplasm, details on its metabolomics profiles are still missing. Aiming to promote their use and to understand the environment's effect in bean metabolomics profiles, 107 Portuguese common bean accessions, cropped under contrasting environments, were analyzed using spectrophotometric, untargeted and targeted mass spectrometry approaches. Although genotype was the most relevant factor on bean metabolomics profile, a clear genotype × environment interaction was also detected. Multivariate analysis highlighted, on the heat-stress environment, the existence of higher levels of salicylic acid, and lower levels of triterpene saponins. Three clusters were defined within each environment. White accessions presented the lowest content and the colored ones the highest levels of prenol lipids and flavonoids. Sources of interesting metabolomics profiles are now identified for bean breeding, focusing either on local or on broad adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]