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The search for elite cultivars with better architecture has been a demand by farmers of the chickpea and lentil crops, which aims to systematize their mechanized planting and harvesting on a large scale. Therefore, the identification of genes associated with the regulation of the branching and architecture of these plants has currently gained great importance. Herein, this work aimed to gain insight into transcriptomic changes of two contrasting chickpea and lentil cultivars in terms of branching pattern (little versus highly branched cultivars). In addition, we aimed to identify candidate genes involved in the regulation of shoot branching that could be used as future targets for molecular breeding. The axillary and apical buds of chickpea cultivars Blanco lechoso and FLIP07-318C, and lentil cultivars Castellana and Campisi, considered as little and highly branched, respectively, were harvested. A total of 1,624 and 2,512 transcripts were identified as differentially expressed among different tissues and contrasting cultivars of chickpea and lentil, respectively. Several gene categories were significantly modulated such as cell cycle, DNA transcription, energy metabolism, hormonal biosynthesis and signaling, proteolysis, and vegetative development between apical and axillary tissues and contrasting cultivars of chickpea and lentil. Based on differential expression and branching-associated biological function, ten chickpea genes and seven lentil genes were considered the main players involved in differentially regulating the plant branching between contrasting cultivars. These collective data putatively revealed the general mechanism and high-effect genes associated with the regulation of branching in chickpea and lentil, which are potential targets for manipulation through genome editing and transgenesis aiming to improve plant architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the quantitative methionine requirements in the diets of Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). Eight practical diets using soybean meal, poultry meal, and red lentil meal as the primary protein sources were formulated using graded levels of methionine supplement (0 to 0.70 g/100 g diet). Groups of 15 juvenile Florida pompano (4.04 ± 0.05 g) were size-sorted and placed into one of 40 glass aquaria (132 L) with five replicates per diet. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed in overall biomass, mean weight, weight gain, thermal growth coefficient (TGC), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). To estimate the dietary methionine requirement, a series of statistical models, including the one-slope broken line model (BLM1), two-slope broken line model (BLM2), broken quadratic model (BQM), and four-parameter saturation kinetic model (SKM-4) were used to assess mean weight, weight gain, TGC, apparent net protein retention (ANPR), and methionine retention (MR). The model selection showed that BLM1 fit the data best for MW and TGC, SKM-4 for PWG and ANPR, and BQM for MR. Based on these results, a minimum dietary methionine requirement of 0.68% of the diet or 1.70 g/100 g protein is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bakery products, especially bread, exist in many homes worldwide. One of the main reasons for its high consumption is that the main raw material is wheat, a cereal that can adapt to a wide variety of soils and climates. However, the nutritional quality of this raw material decreases during its industrial processing, decreasing the value of fibers, proteins, and minerals. Therefore, bread has become a product of high interest to increase its nutritional value. Due to the high consumption of bread, this paper provides a general description of the physicochemical and rheological changes of the dough, as well as the sensory properties of bread by incorporating alternative flours such as beans, lentils, and soy (among others). The reviewed data show that alternative flours can improve fiber, macro, and micronutrient content. The high fiber content reduces the quality of the texture of the products. However, new processing steps or cooking protocols, namely flour proportions, temperature, cooking, and fermentation time, can allow adjusting production variables and optimization to potentially overcome the decrease in sensory quality and preserve consumer acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Groundwater resources play an important role in meeting the water needs of agriculture and industry. Therefore, identifying the factors affecting the potential challenges of groundwater resources can be key to proper implementation and management, considered the main goal of the current research. In this study, agricultural groundwater poverty index (AGPI) and industrial groundwater poverty index (IGPI) were developed based on General, Effective, and Data mining methods for the study period 2012–2020 in the West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Both agricultural and industrial sectors were classified into five categories with 17 and 15 associated variables, respectively. The total scores of AGPI and IGPI were obtained (48.63, 47.80, 49.67) and (33.35, 33.60, 33.37), respectively, for General, Effective, and Data mining methods in the West Azerbaijan Province. In 2012–2020, the qualitative classification of the sustainability status of groundwater resources for the agriculture and industry sectors was at a good and very good level. The crop cultivation patterns of Pea, Beans, and Lentils products require management reforms to avoid the relative unsustainability in groundwater resources. Also, Production of Food and Beverages, Tobacco products, Production of Coke fuel, Oil refineries, and Nuclear fuels, Chemical Products, Rubber and Plastic products, and Non-Metallic Mineral Products could face management challenges in the West Azerbaijan Province. As the agricultural sector puts more pressure on groundwater resources than the industrial sector, it is expected that the southern part of the province will be more affected by water crises in the future. Also, the countries' internal management plans and international relations, such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), could have a significant impact on the status of their water resources. Due to saving time and money, it is highly recommended to use the Data mining method to develop the AGPI and IGPI in practical projects. The results of current study will have a critical impact on improving and optimizing the performance of implemented groundwater resource management projects in various temporal–spatial levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doubled haploid technology is, so far, the fastest route to induce a true homozygous state in plants. True homozygous plants are particularly important for breeders, as they can facilitate hybrid breeding and are useful in fixing traits in a breeding line. Fabaceae species are of great importance in food and feed production; however, they are far behind other families with respect to the development of effective haploidization protocols. Here, we present the most recent status of research on haploidization protocols in cool-season grain legume crops, including dry peas, chickpeas, faba beans, lentils, lupines, and grass peas. The first four species are primarily for human consumption; the latter are utilized as forage. All the mentioned species have been subject to haploidization trials; however, repeatable protocols, including the regeneration of confirmed haploid or doubled haploid plants, have not been elaborated. Research in field pea, chickpea, grass pea, and lupine is promising, with the reported regeneration of microspore-derived embryos in all four species. Repeatable plant regeneration has been reported only in field peas and chickpeas. The most recent achievements on haploidization through male and female gametophytes in faba bean are also presented. The key factors for the effective stimulation of haploid cell development in cool-season legumes are reviewed, providing a useful basis for future efforts toward haploidization in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Developing early maturing lentil has the potential to minimize yield losses, mainly during terminal drought. Whole‐genome resequencing (WGRS) based QTL‐seq identified the loci governing earliness in lentil. The genetic analysis for maturity duration provided a good fit to 3:1 segregation (F2), indicating earliness as a recessive trait. WGRS of Globe Mutant (late parent), late‐flowering, and early‐flowering bulks (from RILs) has generated 1124.57, 1052.24 million raw and clean reads, respectively. The QTL‐Seq identified three QTLs (LcqDTF3.1, LcqDTF3.2, and LcqDTF3.3) on chromosome 3 having 246244 SNPs and 15577 insertions/deletions (InDels) and 13 flowering pathway genes. Of these, 11 exhibited sequence variations between bulks and validation (qPCR) revealed a significant difference in the expression of nine candidate genes (LcGA20oxG, LcFRI, LcLFY, LcSPL13a, Lcu.2RBY.3g060720, Lcu.2RBY.3g062540, Lcu.2RBY.3g062760, LcELF3a, and LcEMF1). Interestingly, the LcELF3a gene showed significantly higher expression in late‐flowering genotype and exhibited substantial involvement in promoting lateness. Subsequently, an InDel marker (I‐SP‐383.9; LcELF3a gene) developed from LcqDTF3.2 QTL region showed 82.35% PVE (phenotypic variation explained) for earliness. The cloning, sequencing, and comparative analysis of the LcELF3a gene from both parents revealed 23 SNPs and InDels. Interestingly, a 52 bp deletion was recorded in the LcELF3a gene of L4775, predicted to cause premature termination of protein synthesis after 4 missense amino acids beyond the 351st amino acid due to the frameshift during translation. The identified InDel marker holds significant potential for breeding early maturing lentil varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The result of the implemented research is the development of a technology for sprouted lentil (lentil malt) production using cold plasma-treated aqueous solutions. The object of the study was lentil grain. The main technological task is to obtain high-quality lentil malt suitable for producing gluten-free beer and highly nutritious foods. The rationality of using cold plasma-treated aqueous solutions as an intensifier of lentil grain germination process and high-quality lentil malt disinfectant is experimentally proven. It is confirmed that using cold plasma-treated aqueous solutions can accelerate the process of lentil bean moistening by 2 times. The germination indicators of lentils also experienced positive changes, with germination energy increased by 8–16 %, germination capacity by 3–10 %, and sprout length by 12–29 %. An analysis of the amino acid composition of lentil grain and lentil malt was carried out. Thus, the experimental samples had an increased content of amino acids: non-essential by 2.7 %, essential by 3.6 %. There was also an increase in the content of B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B9), as well as PP and C, which indicates an increased biological value of lentil malt obtained by the presented technologies. In addition, the work noted the steady antiseptic properties of activated aqueous solutions in relation to lentil malt. The intensive technology of obtaining lentil malt can be implemented in the industrial production of malt for the brewing industry. In addition, sprouted lentil beans have health-improving properties and can be used in the production of functional products. The presented technology of lentil bean malting will be in demand in the production of highly nutritious and healthy grain products and fermented beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a globally-significant agricultural crop used to feed millions of people. Lentils have been cultivated in the Australian states of Victoria and South Australia for several decades, but efforts are now being made to expand their cultivation into Western Australia and New South Wales. Plant architecture plays a pivotal role in adaptation, leading to improved and stable yields especially in new expansion regions. Image-based high-throughput phenomics technologies provide opportunities for an improved understanding of plant development, architecture, and trait genetics. This paper describes a novel method for mapping and quantifying individual branch structures on immature glasshouse-grown lentil plants grown using a LemnaTec Scanalyser 3D high-throughput phenomics platform, which collected side-view RGB images at regular intervals under controlled photographic conditions throughout the experiment. A queue and distance-based algorithm that analysed morphological skeletons generated from images of lentil plants was developed in Python. This code was incorporated into an image analysis pipeline using open-source software (PlantCV) to measure the number, angle, and length of individual branches on lentil plants. Results: Branching structures could be accurately identified and quantified in immature plants, which is sufficient for calculating early vigour traits, however the accuracy declined as the plants matured. Absolute accuracy for branch counts was 77.9% for plants at 22 days after sowing (DAS), 57.9% at 29 DAS and 51.9% at 36 DAS. Allowing for an error of ± 1 branch, the associated accuracies for the same time periods were 97.6%, 90.8% and 79.2% respectively. Occlusion in more mature plants made the mapping of branches less accurate, but the information collected could still be useful for trait estimation. For branch length calculations, the amount of variance explained by linear mixed-effects models was 82% for geodesic length and 87% for Euclidean branch lengths. Within these models, both the mean geodesic and Euclidean distance measurements of branches were found to be significantly affected by genotype, DAS and their interaction. Two informative metrices were derived from the calculations of branch angle; 'splay' is a measure of how far a branch angle deviates from being fully upright whilst 'angle-difference' is the difference between the smallest and largest recorded branch angle on each plant. The amount of variance explained by linear mixed-effects models was 38% for splay and 50% for angle difference. These lower R2 values are likely due to the inherent difficulties in measuring these parameters, nevertheless both splay and angle difference were found to be significantly affected by cultivar, DAS and their interaction. When 276 diverse lentil genotypes with varying degrees of salt tolerance were grown in a glasshouse-based experiment where a portion were subjected to a salt treatment, the branching algorithm was able to distinguish between salt-treated and untreated lentil lines based on differences in branch counts. Likewise, the mean geodesic and Euclidean distance measurements of branches were both found to be significantly affected by cultivar, DAS and salt treatment. The amount of variance explained by the linear mixed-effects models was 57.8% for geodesic branch length and 46.5% for Euclidean branch length. Conclusion: The methodology enabled the accurate quantification of the number, angle, and length of individual branches on glasshouse-grown lentil plants. This methodology could be applied to other dicotyledonous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This study investigates the possibility of using the probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum 299v to ferment legume-derived beverages to enhance their bioactive properties. It has practical relevance in the development of innovative functional foods, nutraceuticals, supplements, or pharmaceuticals. Moreover, this study may be significant for exploring novel plant-based foods and searching for alternative protein sources. The investigations suggest effective approaches to increase the use of pulses, promoting their consumption and significance in the food industry. There is a global need to explore alternative protein sources and develop new health-promoting plant-based products. This study aimed to produce beverages from organic seeds of chickpeas and green or red lentils and assess the potential of using L. plantarum 299v to ferment these beverages. Spectrophotometric methods were used to evaluate the ability of the beverages to neutralize 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH•) and chelate Fe2+. Total dietary fiber (including soluble and insoluble fractions) and the protein profiles were compared among the tested legume-derived beverages. The observations were focused on reductions in pH levels, total extract content, dietary fiber, ash, and moisture levels in all the fermented legume products. Fermentation contributed to increased antioxidative activity in all the tested products. The strongest ability to chelate Fe2+ (58.33 ± 2.35%) was noted in non-fermented green lentil products, while green lentil beverages fermented for 72 h exhibited the highest value of free radical scavenging activity (88.44 ± 4.24 DPPH• inhibition %). Chickpea products fermented for 72 h displayed the highest count of viable bacterial cells at 7.0 ± 0.7 × 108 CFU/g, while those fermented for 48 h exhibited the greatest number (2764) of potential biopeptide sequences. These findings highlight the feasibility of using this probiotic strain to enhance the functional properties of legume-based beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polystyrene nanoplastics and titaniumdioxide nanoparticles arewidely spread in all environments, often coexisting within identical frameworks. Both these contaminants can induce negative effects on cell and plant physiology, giving concerns on their possible interaction which could increase each other's harmful effects on plants. Despite the urgency of this issue, there is very little literature addressing it. To evaluate the potential risk of this co-contamination, lentil seeds were treated for five days with polystyrene nanoplastics and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (anatase crystalline form), alone and in co-presence. Cytological analyses, and histochemical and biochemical evaluation of oxidative stress were carried out on isolated shoots and roots. TEM analysis seemed to indicate the absence of physical/chemical interactions between the two nanomaterials. Seedlings under cotreatment showed the greatest cytotoxic and genotoxic effects and high levels of oxidative stress markers associated with growth inhibition. Even if biochemical data did not evidence significant differences between materials treated with polystyrene nanoplastics alone or in copresence with titanium dioxide nanoparticles, histochemical analysis highlighted a different pattern of oxidative markers, suggesting a synergistic effect by the two nanomaterials. In accordance, the fluorescence signal linked to nanoplastics in root and shoot was higher under cotreatment, perhaps due to the well-known ability of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to induce root tissue damage, in this way facilitating the uptake and translocation of polystyrene nanoplastics into the plant body. In the antioxidant machinery, peroxidase activity showed a significant increase in treated roots, in particular under cotreatment, probably more associated with stress-induced lignin synthesis than with hydrogen peroxide detoxification. Present results clearly indicate the worsening by metal nanoparticles of the negative effects of nanoplastics on plants, underlining the importance of research considering the impact of cotreatments with different nanomaterials, which may better reflect the complex environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lentil is a significant legume that are consumed as a staple food and have a significant economic impact around the world. The purpose of the present research on lentil was to assess the hydrothermal time model's capacity to explain the dynamics of Lens culinaris L. var. Markaz-09 seed germination, as well as to ascertain the germination responses at various sub-optimal temperatures (T) and water potentials (Ψ). In order to study lentil seed germination (SG) behavior at variable water potentials (Ψs) and temperatures (Ts). A lab experiment employing the hydrothermal time model was created. Seeds were germinated at six distinct temperatures: 15 0С, 20 0С, 25 0С, 30 0С, 35 0С, and 40 0С, with five Ψs of 0, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9, and − 1.2 MPa in a PEG-6000 (Polyethylene glycol 6000) solution. Results: The results indicated that the agronomic parameters like Germination index (GI), Germination energy (GE), Timson germination index (TGI), were maximum in 25 0C at (-0.9 MPa) and lowest at 40 0C in 0 MPa. On other hand, mean germination time (MGT) value was highest at 15 0C in -1.2 MPa and minimum at 40 0C in (-0.6 MPa) while Mean germination rate (MGR) was maximum at 40 0C in (0 MPa) and minimum at 15 0C in (-0.6 MPa). Conclusions: The HTT model eventually defined the germination response of Lens culinaris L. var. Markaz-09 (Lentil) for all Ts and Ψs, allowing it to be employed as a predictive tool in Lens culinaris L. var. Markaz-09 (Lentil) seed germination simulation models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Being a cool season crop, lentil is very sensitive to temperature during its growth stages. It is found that delayed harvest of the preceding crop which is most frequently rice causes the majority of the country's lentil sowings to be postponed in India. As a result, the late-sown crop suffers during the seed-filling stage due to the rising high temperatures in most of its cultivated areas and results in lower yield. Therefore, there is a need to work out the optimum sowing time for realizing maximum yield potential as well as the selection of varieties suitable for normal as well as late sown condition of the crop. Methods: A field experiment was carried out in the new alluvial zone of West Bengal at the District Seed Farm of BCKV, Kalyani during the two subsequent rabi seasons (November-March) of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to examine the difference in yield between normal and late seeding conditions for various lentil cultivars. There were a total of ten genotypes evaluated, with each one being planted at one of two different times (15th Nov and 30th Nov). Result: The experimental findings revealed that lentil sown on 15th November recorded higher seed yield (2.34 t ha-1) compared to 30th November sown crop (1.63 t ha-1). Among the ten varieties, unreleased genotype C23E21 recorded the highest seed yield (2.25 t ha-1), followed by ILL 10802 (2.18 t ha-1). According to the results of this study, delaying the sowing window from the middle to the end of November can reduce yields by as much as 27.77%. Therefore, it is prudent to encourage the lentil farmers in the new alluvial zone region of West Bengal to sow their crops no later than the 15th of November of the Rabi season, to prevent a drop in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research examination led during the Rabi season of 2018-19 and 2019-20 to discover the Effect of hormonal seed strengthening on seed health status under accelerated ageing test in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) at state seed testing laboratory. The Blotter test was conducted in CRD plan with four replications. From the examination it was demonstrated that the hormonal treatment with salicylic acid at RH (90%) and temperature (35°C) for 2 days ageing showed least infection, while contagious contamination higher with the increment in relative humidity, temperature and duration of artificial ageing. Methods: During the years 2018 to 2020, the current experiment was carried out at the state seed testing laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. In the experiment, 37 different treatment permutations were used. To accelerate the ageing process, the seeds were placed in an ageing chamber with high temperatures and relative humidity. The aged seeds was then revitalized with hormones, a process known as hormonal seed fortification. Result: Our finding revealed that the aged seeds treated with gibberellic acid and salicylic acid (Growth Hormone) enhanced the quality of seed health status in Lentil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low solubility and enhanced fixation of zinc (Zn) in semi-arid and dry climates limits Zn uptake in plants. Zn deficiency in soil impairs crop production and human health, necessitating agricultural biofortification. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zn and various types of manure on the Zn biofortification of lentils. The treatments, consisting of a control (Con), normal manure (NM), composted manure (CM), and acidified manure (AM), were applied under saline soil (EC 8.00 dS m−1) and non-saline soil (EC 1.48 dS m−1) conditions along with two levels of Zn, including Zn at 0 kg ha−1 (native soil Zn = 2.2 mg kg−1) and Zn at 25 kg ha−1 (62.2 mg Zn kg−1 soil was achieved). The AM was prepared by adding sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to the composted manure. All the manures were applied at 1% (w/w), and ZnSO4 (33% Zn) was used as a Zn source. Lentil variety Masoor 2021 was cultivated as a test crop in five replications of each treatment arranged in a completely randomized design. Applying AM with Zn considerably increased the lentils' growth, yield, and Zn content under saline and non-saline conditions. Under non-saline soils, the treatment of AM + Zn significantly promoted the Zn content in the root (132.5%), shoot (91.7%), grain (49.1%), root length (79.7%), plant height (33.7%), and SPAD value (29.9%). Under saline conditions, application of AM + Zn promoted uptake of Zn in the root (218.5%), Zn content in the shoot (175.7%), Zn accumulation in the grain (107.7%), root length (109.7%), plant height (37.8%), and SPAD value (52.8%) compared to the control. According to the results, lentils should be grown with AM and Zn to increase their growth, yield, and Zn content significantly. This is a cost-effective and sustainable way to combat Zn deficiency in lentils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global environmental changes require the development of new food formulations with sustainable ingredients. In this context, legumes could be used to enrich foods with beneficial consequences both on human health and sustainability of the agri‐food system. The aim was to evaluate the liking of a whole corn‐based formulation including chickpea or red lentil flour with or without providing health and environmental information about legumes. The effect of the conveyed information in subjects with different food neophobia (FN) level as well as the association between FN and different sustainability dimensions were also investigated. A 100% whole‐corn sample and two samples added with 20% of chickpea or red lentil flour were tested by 127 consumers in blind, expected, and real conditions. Subjects completed questionnaires about FN, sustainable behavior, perceived environmental impact of food products, beliefs, and attitudes toward sustainable food. Legume‐based products were equally liked as the control sample indicating that these food ingredients are promising for the enrichment of polenta samples. The information increased consumers' hedonic expectations. However, incomplete assimilation was found for samples with legumes. When the effect of information was assessed as a function of FN level, a complete assimilation for subjects with low (chickpea sample) and medium (red lentil sample) FN score was found, while no significant effect was seen for subjects with high FN score. A significant negative association was found between FN and sustainability commitment. Practical Application: The results of the present study demonstrate that the development of sustainable food formulations using legumes is promising and that conveying health and environmental sustainability information contribute to increase consumer acceptance. However, consumers with high levels of FN were insensitive to information and were also those with low interest in sustainability issues. As a practical application, personalized communication strategies should be developed to reach different consumers targets when specific innovations are launched on the market alongside with industry efforts in developing marketing initiatives raising consumers awareness about health and environmental aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal-based foods have a large impact on the environment; for this reason, plant-based meat analogous are now in the spotlight. Although protein concentrates/isolates from soy are the most used raw materials for meat analogues, some concerns about allergenicity, loss of biodiversity, and low sustainability of their production rise from their uses. In this context, high protein fractions obtained by air classification of pulse flours are here proposed as substitutes of protein concentrates. Thus, this work is aimed at understanding the aptitude of high protein fraction from pulses to be transformed into meat analogous through high moisture extrusion process. Differences in functional and rheological properties among high protein fractions resulted in different high moisture extrusion properties and thus products with different appearance. Specifically, the foaming capacity of high protein fraction from red lentil resulted in expansion at the end of the extruder creating a heterogeneous structure, whereas the high lipid content of high protein fraction from chickpea can account for the unsuitability of this raw material to high moisture extrusion. On the contrary, high protein fraction from both fava bean and yellow pea presented a fibrous structure. However, the structure and textual properties of the final products need to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) improvement is necessary to increase its contribution to food and nutrition security in the impoverished regions such as the Sub-Saharan African Region. Genetic variability is fundamental to selecting parental genetic resources with agronomic and economic important traits for recombination. Gamma radiation is one of the valuable mutagens for creating novel mutant populations with allelic combinations needed to develop varieties with the desired traits. In this study, we determined the optimum dosage of gamma irradiation to use in breeding programs to enhance high yield and tolerance to field pests, including Maruca pod borers (Maruca vitrata) in locally adapted cowpea varieties. Seeds of two locally adapted cowpea genotypes (NkR1P3 and NamCp201) were treated with six gamma irradiation doses - 0 (un-irradiated), 75, 150, 300, 450, and 600 Gy. Consequently, the radio-sensitivity test was conducted in seed trays under net house conditions at the experimental field of Ogongo Campus, University of Namibia, Namibia. The study was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Significant interactions (p < 0.001) of genotype and gamma irradiation dosage were found on percentage emergence (%E) and seedling survival percentage (%SS). This revealed that optimum gamma irradiation doses for tested cowpea genotypes where genotypic and dose depended. The significant effect (p < 0.001) of dose on all tested traits revealed the need to identify highly responsive traits for large-scale mutagenesis. Seedling survival rate and shoot length were the most responsive and were consequently used to determine the optimum dose for mutagenesis. The optimum dosage of gamma radiation for genotypes NkR1P3 and NamCp201 ranged between 382 and 427 Gy and 324 and 335 Gy, respectively. These optimal doses can be used to generate genetic variation to improve yield and tolerance to local stresses including tolerance to M. vitrata pod borers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation of pulses as a clean processing technique has been reported to have a favorable impact on the functional and nutritional quality of the starting materials. Compared to commonly fermented pulses such as peas and chickpeas, limited information is available on the effect of fermentation on lentils, especially when using a high protein isolate (>80% protein) as compared to seeds or flours. Therefore, in the present work, lentil protein isolate was used as a feedstock for submerged fermentation with Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, or Lactobacillus plantarum. After 48 h, the samples showed increased protein content with enhanced solubility and oil‐holding capacity. Controlled fermentation, as opposed to spontaneous fermentation, maintained the high foaming capacity; however, all fermented samples had lower foam and emulsion stabilizing properties and reduced water‐holding capacity compared to the control. The fermented proteins were also less digestible, possibly due to an increase in phenolics and saponins. New volatile compounds were identified in fermented samples that show promise for improved sensory attributes. Significant differences were observed in specific quality attributes depending on the microbial strain used. Further research is required to better understand the fermentative metabolism of microbial communities when provided high‐protein lentil ingredients as growth substrates. Practical Application: Fermented lentil protein isolate has promising flavor profiles that may improve its sensory properties for food application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment was to determine drought tolerance exhibited by lentil lines developed by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in an artificial environment, and to investigate the relationships between traits with various methods. This experiment examined 15 traits of 21 lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) accessions grown under artificial drought stress created with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 (0%, 10%, 15% and 20%) concentrations during germination and early seedling stages. Germination characteristics, seedling developmental properties and root system architecture traits were investigated to observed the impacts of drought stress. The originality lies in enabling the identification of drought-tolerant and sensitive genotypes through a brief and practical research method, while shedding light on the key traits by principal component analysis. The first two PCs explained 22.9% and 31.7% (total 54.6%) under optimal conditions while they described 14% and 58.3% (total 72.3%) under PEG-induced drought conditions, respectively. Variation in PC1 was mostly contributed by positive coefficients of germination index, uniformity of germination and germination energy, and negative coefficients of mean germination time. Variation in PC2 was mostly contributed by positive coefficients of seedling vigor index, root fresh weight and root dry weight. 'Tigris', G3664 and G3840 exhibited higher performance in terms of germination characteristics, while G3710, G3829 and G3840 produced higher DM accumulation, total biomass and lateral roots. Overall, PC-biplot denoted that selection based on germination index and seedling vigor index at germination and seedling stages would improve drought tolerance. In conclusion, genotypes G3840 and G3664 were identified as droughttolerant, whereas genotypes G35, G3659, G3759, G3837, and G3844 were classified as drought-sensitive. In addition, G3664, G3840 and G3710 exhibited the highest stress tolerance index (STI) under artificial drought conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drought, extreme temperatures, salinity, chemical toxicity and oxidative stress are such environmental stresses, that are serious threats to agriculture globally and result in the deterioration of the environment and crops. To Study the effect of drought stress on seed germination and early establishment in different crop varieties, PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) induced drought stress is the most common screening method. The species and its variety, its growing conditions and the developmental stage of the plant, as well as osmotic concentration responded differently to osmotic stress. The current study aimed to study the effect of different concentrations of PEG-6000 in eight genotypes of lentil in order to understand the management and control of drought stress-related problems in crop plants. Methods: The experimental work was conducted during 2018-2019 at the Laboratory of Botany, S.S. Jain Subodh P.G. (Autonomous) College, Jaipur to study the effect of drought stress during early growth of genotypes of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) under osmotic stress. The plant material consisted of eight genotypes belonging to the macrosperma and microsperma subspecies of lentil (Lens culinaris M.). PL-4, L-4147, L-4594 and L-4596 belong to the microsperma subspecies and K-75, L-4076, DPL-15 and DPL-62 belong to the macrosperma subspecies. Result: In conclusion, due to their better values of germination percentage (GP%), germination relative index (GRI), seedling vigor index (SVI) and seedling growth under simulated drought conditions PL-4, L-4594, DPL-15 and DPL-62 stand out as the most tolerant lentil genotypes among eight species studied in this work. These genotypes showed a significant enhancement in germination percentage (%), germination relative index, seedling vigor index and seedling length under mild moisture stress. Our results confirmed that PEG-induced drought stress can be used to study the drought-tolerant species by studying a few parameters viz. germination percentage, germination relative index and, seedling vigour index, that will result in increased crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) production has increased exponentially in Montana in the last two decades. However, there are important gaps in knowledge on best management practices for lentil. Agronomic recommendations are based on performance of old cultivars outside of the area for seeding rate, and on anecdotal evidence for proper roll timing, particularly since the widespread adoption of no‐till farming. Replicated field experiments were conducted at three sites during the 2019, 2020, and 2021 growing seasons in Montana to determine the impacts of roll timing and seeding rate on lentil yield and identify best practices. Overall, rolling at emergence and at the 10‐leaf stage decreased yields by 5% and 8%, respectively, but rolling just after planting or at the early vegetative stage (two‐ to four‐leaf stage) did not decrease yields. Higher yields were achieved at higher seeding rates, with yields increasing between 6 and 52 lb ac−1 for each additional plant established per square foot, but emergence rates were variable and relatively low, so a higher seeding rate may be necessary to achieve plant densities above 12 plants ft−2 in this region. In five out of nine site years, the largest partial economic returns were achieved with 22.5 or 30 live seeds ft−2 seeding rate, corresponding to achieved plant densities of 12 to 16 plants ft−2. It was generally economical to increase seeding rate from 15 to 22.5 live seeds ft−2, thus increasing average achieved plant density from 8 to 13 plants ft−2, except when seed costs were high (>$0.45 lb−1) combined with low market prices (< $0.20 lb−1). Plain Language Summary: Lentil production has increased exponentially in Montana in the last two decades. However, there are important gaps in knowledge on best management practices for lentil regarding the correct timing for rolling lentil and what seeding rates to use. We conducted an experiment at three sites in Montana during the 2019, 2020, and 2021 growing seasons and found that rolling immediately after planting and at the —two‐to four‐leaf stage was safe, but rolling at emergence or later in the season (10‐leaf stage) led to reductions in yields. In addition, we found it was generally economical to increase seeding rates up to 22.5 live seeds ft−2 to ensure a target plant population density of 12 to 16 plants ft−2, as emergence rates in semi‐arid areas can be low and variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes, including beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils, are cultivated worldwide and serve as important components of a balanced and nutritious diet. Each legume variety contains unique levels of protein, starch, fiber, lipids, minerals, and vitamins, with potential applications in various industries. By-products such as hulls, rich in bioactive compounds, offer promise for value-added utilization and health-focused product development. Various extraction methods are employed to enhance protein extraction rates from legume by-products, finding applications in various foods such as meat analogs, breads, and desserts. Moreover, essential fatty acids, carotenoids, tocols, and polyphenols are abundant in several residual fractions from legumes. These bioactive classes are linked to reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammation, some cancers, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, among other relevant health conditions. The present contribution provides a comprehensive review of the nutritional and bioactive composition of major legumes and their by-products. Additionally, the bioaccessibility and bioavailability aspects of legume consumption, as well as in vitro and in vivo evidence of their health effects are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea and lentils are one of the most important legumes not only as sources of food and nutrients but also for enrichment of soil as a nitrogen fixating crop. An early onset of higher temperatures and drought are affecting chickpea and lentil growth and flowering leading to reduction of yield. In search for a tolerant varieties presented study performed a large-scale screening of two legume varieties (chickpea and lentils) investigating phenotypical response to early onset of drought under heat stress. Under heat stress and two different irrigation conditions, 19 chickpea and 18 lentil accessions were examined. The evaluation focused on their growth, biomass production, and flowering rate in comparison to commercially available varieties. Six chickpea accessions showed tolerance to water stress while only two lentil accessions differed from the rest of tested accessions. Generally, lentils genotypes were less stressed by decreased water availability compared to chickpea. Large scale screening of legume accessions could be a valuable tool to identify new varieties that could show phenotypical traits more adaptable to climate related environmental stresses. To improve the reproductive efficiency in chickpeas and lentils under adverse conditions associated to climate change an extensive breeding effort should be focused on investigation of more tolerant genotypes and cultivation in crop systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of co-ingesting cereals and legumes on starch and protein during simulated infant in vitro digestion. Various legumes (chickpeas, lentils, peas) were added to cereals (durum wheat, brown rice, white maize), and their effects on starch and protein hydrolysis were analyzed. Substituting 50% of cereal with legumes increased proteins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Infant food with legumes exhibited smoother pasting properties. Legumes in cereal purées led to varying starch hydrolysis trends, with the lowest values in durum wheat with chickpea and all cereal blends with peas. Resistant starch levels exceeding 50% were found in infant food samples. Digested protein hydrolysis increased with legumes in durum wheat, except for peas. Brown rice mixtures decreased significantly compared to the control with chickpeas (61%) and peas (42%), while lentil blends increased by 46%. Legumes generally did not significantly affect starch bioavailability, even with α-amylase inhibitors. Lentil-cereal purées could enhance infant food nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Lentils that are considered powerhouse of healthy calories are traditionally consumed in different regions of the world. With the increasing awareness regarding lentils' health‐related benefits, it is getting popular among people of all ages. The rising demand also necessitated the increase in global lentil production with Canada grabbing the top rank among the global producers. This review discussed lentil's trade‐related statistics, along with in depth details of various popular cuisines, and consumption patterns observed in Asia, Middle East, Africa, the United States, Canada, Europe, and Mediterranean region. Lentils are added as ingredient in soups, rice cuisines, pasta, flat breads, salads, nuggets, and burger patties and thus carry its name throughout the food menus from appetizers and salads to main course meals.

Legumes are renowned for their distinctive biological characteristic of forming symbiotic associations with soil bacteria, mostly belonging to the Rhizobiaceae familiy, leading to the establishment of symbiotic root nodules. Within these nodules, rhizobia play a pivotal role in converting atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-assimilable form. However, it has been discerned that root nodules of legumes are not exclusively inhabited by rhizobia; non-rhizobial endophytic bacteria also reside within them, yet their functions remain incompletely elucidated. This comprehensive review synthesizes available data, revealing that Bacillus and Pseudomonas are the most prevalent genera of nodule endophytic bacteria, succeeded by Paenibacillus, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Agrobacterium, and Microbacterium. To date, the bibliographic data available show that Glycine max followed by Vigna radiata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Lens culinaris are the main hosts for nodule endophytic bacteria. Clustering analysis consistently supports the prevalence of Bacillus and Pseudomonas as the most abundant nodule endophytic bacteria, alongside Paenibacillus, Agrobacterium, and Enterobacter. Although non-rhizobial populations within nodules do not induce nodule formation, their presence is associated with various plant growth-promoting properties (PGPs). These properties are known to mediate important mechanisms such as phytostimulation, biofertilization, biocontrol, and stress tolerance, emphasizing the multifaceted roles of nodule endophytes. Importantly, interactions between non-rhizobia and rhizobia within nodules may exert influence on their leguminous host plants. This is particularly shown by co-inoculation of legumes with both types of bacteria, in which synergistic effects on plant growth, yield, and nodulation are often measured. Moreover these effects are pronounced under both stress and non-stress conditions, surpassing the impact of single inoculations with rhizobia alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic identification of insertion/deletion (InDel) length polymorphisms from the entire lentil genome can be used to map the quantitative trait loci (QTL) and also for the marker-assisted selection (MAS) for various linked traits. The InDels were identified by comparing the whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) data of two extreme bulks (early- and late-flowering bulk) and a parental genotype (Globe Mutant) of lentil. The bulks were made by pooling 20 extreme recombinant inbred lines (RILs) each, derived by crossing Globe Mutant (late flowering parent) with L4775 (early flowering parent). Finally, 734,716 novel InDels were identified, which is nearly one InDel per 5,096 bp of lentil genome. Furthermore, 74.94% of InDels were within the intergenic region and 99.45% displayed modifier effects. Of these, 15,732 had insertions or deletions of 20 bp or more, making them amenable to the development of PCR-based markers. An InDel marker I-SP-356.6 (chr. 3; position 356,687,623; positioned 174.5 Kb from the LcFRI gene) was identified as having a phenotypic variance explained (PVE) value of 47.7% for earliness when validated in a RIL population. Thus, I-SP-356.6 marker can be deployed in MAS to facilitate the transfer of the earliness trait to other elite late-maturing cultivars. Two InDel markers viz., I-SP-356.6 and I-SP-383.9 (chr. 3; linked to LcELF3a gene) when tested in 9 lentil genotypes differing for maturity duration, clearly distinguished three early (L4775, ILL7663, Precoz) and four late genotypes (Globe Mutant, MFX, L4602, L830). However, these InDels could not be validated in two genotypes (L4717, L4727), suggesting either absence of polymorphism and/or presence of other loci causing earliness. The identified InDel markers can act as valuable tools for MAS for the development of early maturing lentil varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentils (Lens culinaris) are produced in diverse agroecological regions and are consumed as one of the most important food legumes worldwide. Lentils possess a nutritional profile from a human health perspective that is not only nutrient dense but also offers a better balance between protein and carbohydrates. However, lentil causes food allergy, which has been a significant concern due to increased consumption in parts of the world. Len c3, a non-speci fic lipid transfer protein (LTP), was identified as one of the allergens in lentil seeds. In this study, we identified an LTP gene Lcu.2RBY.4g013600 that encodes the lentil allergen Len c3. We then focused on gene screening from a collection of natural accessions to search for natural mutations of the Len c3 allergen-encoding gene. A natural lentil line M11 was identified with mutations at LcLTP3b and low accumulation of vicilin through genomic-assisted approaches. Furthermore, we generated a pool of lentil germplasms with LcLTP3b mutation background through crossing the identified lentil plant M11 with two lentil cultivars, CDC Redmoon and CDC Gold. These generated lentil hybrids can be used as a breeding resource targeting at reducing allergen risk in lentil consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium (Al) toxicity causes major plant distress, affecting root growth, nutrient uptake and, ultimately, agricultural productivity. Lentil, which is a cheap source of vegetarian protein, is recognized to be sensitive to Al toxicity. Therefore, it is important to dissect the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Al tolerance in lentil. To understand the physiological system and proteome composition underlying Al tolerance, two genotypes [L‐4602 (Al‐tolerant) and BM‐4 (Al‐sensitive)] were studied at the seedling stage. L‐4602 maintained a significantly higher root tolerance index and malate secretion with reduced Al accumulation than BM‐4. Also, label‐free proteomic analysis using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometer exhibited significant regulation of Al‐responsive proteins associated with antioxidants, signal transduction, calcium homeostasis, and regulation of glycolysis in L‐4602 as compared to BM‐4. Functional annotation suggested that transporter proteins (transmembrane protein, adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette transport‐related protein and multi drug resistance protein), antioxidants associated proteins (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent oxidoreductase, oxidoreductase molybdopterin binding protein & peroxidases), kinases (calmodulin‐domain kinase & protein kinase), and carbohydrate metabolism associated proteins (dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase) were found to be abundant in tolerant genotype providing protection against Al toxicity. Overall, the root proteome uncovered in this study at seedling stage, along with the physiological parameters measured, allow a greater understanding of Al tolerance mechanism in lentil, thereby assisting in future crop improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lens culinaris , commonly known as lentils, has undergone extensive research to uncover its multifaceted nature, delve into its rich traditional applications, and explore its modern therapeutic potential. This leguminous plant holds a central role in global culinary traditions, revered for its exceptional versatility as a nourishing ingredient. Recent scientific investigations have unveiled the latent medicinal properties of lentils, primarily through the meticulous isolation and identification of bioactive compounds. Noteworthy examples of these bioactive constituents include arbutin, β-sitosterol, uridine, trigonelline, and kaempferol, each capturing researchers' attention due to their remarkable health-enhancing attributes. These compounds exhibit a wide spectrum of benefits, ranging from potent antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory properties to cholesterol-lowering capabilities and even potential anti-cancer properties. This article offers a comprehensive overview of Lens culinaris, spanning its global geographical distribution. It not only underscores the enduring significance of lentils in traditional culinary practices but also highlights their contemporary therapeutic potential. Furthermore, it delves into the chemical identities and structures of these bioactive compounds, shedding light on their pivotal role in promoting health and well-being. [Display omitted] • Lentil, a nutrient-rich legume is widely cultivated in Canada and India. • Traditionally used in gut, skin, blood diseases, also in snake bites and blister. • Significant anticancer, anti-obesity, and cardioprotective attributes are observed. • Isolated active constituents include arbutin, kaempferol, uridine, and β-sitosterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legume crop, lentil is often found to be contaminated with arsenic (As) across the globe, and becomes a serious problem when consumed as dietary component. Bioremediation techniques are considered to be sustainable, and low cost measures to combat this problem. The current study has been aimed at identifying the As-resistant endophytic bacteria from the root nodule of lentil plants grown in As-contaminated soil, assess their capacity to tolerate As, and establish their contribution in plant growth promotion. Four As-resistant endophytic bacteria were isolated from the lentil nodules in the contaminated (17.1 and 1.54 mg kg−1 of total and available As) field (Uttar Panchponta, Nadia, West Bengal, India located at 23° 05′ N and 88° 54′ E). The results showed that among all isolates, ARGNCAR-1 exhibits the highest As resistant capacity (200.0 mM for arsenate and 21.0 mM for arsenite). Interestingly, the ARGNCAR-1(Acinetobacter calcoaceticus , KX882106) is also able to solubilize phosphate (8.59-8.6 µg mL−1 under arsenate stress and 8.0-8.1 µg mL−1 under arsenite stress) and produce significant amount of indole acetic acid (10.2-10.4 µg mL−1 under the arsenate stress and 9.4-9.5 µg mL−1 under arsenite stress). The presence of aoxB gene was detected in these four As (III) oxidizing isolates. A pot experiment was conducted with the contaminated soil and the isolated strains were inoculated. The strain ARGNCAR-1 was found to be the most efficient in reducing about 20% As from soil and 22% As from the lentil seeds and ensured significant plant yield enhancement (5.17 g plant−1) than uninoculated soil (4.54 g plant−1) mainly through their corresponding increase in pod plant−1 (110) and biomass (6.51 g plant−1). Considering the efficacy of curbing As load as well as improving plant growth, the ARGNCAR-1(Acinetobacter calcoaceticus KX882106) emerged as one of the most promising candidates in As contaminated belts. [Display omitted] • The legume crop, lentil is often found to be contaminated with arsenic (As) globally. • As-resistant endophytic bacteria from the root nodule of lentil plants have been isolated. • ARGNCAR-1 strain had highest As resistant capacity (200.0 mM for arsenate and 21.0 mM for arsenite). • ARGNCAR-1 could solubilize phosphate (8.59-8.6 and 8.0-8.1 µg mL−1) and produce IAA (10.2-10.4 and 9.4-9.5 µg mL−1) under arsenate and arsenite stress. • Pot experiment confirmed As resistance and better growth of lentil and ARGNCAR-1 emerged as most suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil is one of the most important legumes cultivated in various provinces of Iran. However, there is limited information about the symbiotic rhizobia of lentils in this country. In this study, molecular identification of lentil-nodulating rhizobia was performed based on 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer (IGS) and recA, atpD, glnII , and nodC gene sequencing. Using PCR-RFLP analysis of 16S–23S rRNA IGS, a total of 116 rhizobia isolates were classified into 20 groups, leaving seven strains unclustered. Phylogenetic analysis of representative isolates revealed that the rhizobia strains belonged to Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium laguerreae , and the distribution of the species is partially related to geographical location. Rhizobium leguminosarum was the dominant species in North Khorasan and Zanjan, while R. laguerreae prevailed in Ardabil and East Azerbaijan. The distribution of the species was also influenced by agroecological climates; R. leguminosarum thrived in cold semiarid climates, whereas R. laguerreae adapted to humid continental climates. Both species exhibited equal dominance in the Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, in Lorestan and Kohgiluyeh-Boyer Ahmad provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide an updated summary of recent advances in the application of gamma irradiation to elicit secondary metabolism and for induction of mutations in plant cell and organ cultures for the production of industrially important specialized metabolites (SMs). Research on the application of gamma radiation with plants has contributed a lot to microbial decontamination of seeds, and the promotion of physiological processes such as seed germination, seedling vigor, plant growth, and development. Various studies have demonstrated the influence of gamma rays on the morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of plants. Recent research efforts have also shown that low-dose gamma (5–100 Gy) irradiation can be utilized as an expedient solution to alleviate the deleterious effect of abiotic stresses and to obtain better yields of plants. Inducing mutagenesis using gamma irradiation has also evolved as a better option for inducing genetic variability in crops, vegetables, medicinal and ornamentals for their genetic improvement. Plant SMs are gaining increasing importance as pharmaceutical, therapeutic, cosmetic, and agricultural products. Plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures represent an attractive alternative to conventional methods of procuring useful SMs. Among the varied approaches the elicitor-induced in vitro culture techniques are considered an efficient tool for studying and improving the production of SMs. This review focuses on the utilization of low-dose gamma irradiation in the production of high-value SMs such as phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Furthermore, we present varied successful examples of gamma-ray-induced mutations in the production of SMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black lentils contain protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins, as well as phytochemicals and various bioactive compounds. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ultrasound (US) methods are innovative technologies that can be used to increase the efficiency of the germination process in grains and legumes. To improve the nutritional value and bioactive compounds of the cookies, black lentils germinated by applying UV radiation and US technology were used in the cookie formulation. Before the germination process, UV, US, and their combination (UV+US) were applied, and pretreated and unpretreated germinated black lentil flours were used at a level of 20% in the cookie formulation. The results revealed that pretreatment application increased the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity more than the lentil sample germinated without any treatment. In addition, the pretreatments applied further reduced the amount of phytic acid in black lentils and the lowest phytic acid content was obtained with the UV–US combination. Compared to cookies containing unpretreated germinated black lentil flour, higher L* values and lower a* values were obtained in the cookie samples containing pretreated germinated black lentil flour. Cookies containing all pretreated germinated lentils generally exhibited higher Ca and K content. This study demonstrated that UV radiation and US improved the nutritional value and bioactive components of the germinated black lentil flour and the cookies in which it was used, compared to the black lentils germinated without any treatment. Practical Application: Pretreatment of black lentils with UV/US application before germination resulted in a greater increase in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to the control sample. The applied pretreatments caused a further decrease in the amount of phytic acid in black lentil samples. Black lentils germinated with the UV+US combination revealed higher Ca, Fe, K, and Mg content compared to the sample germinated without any treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulses are edible seeds belonging to the Leguminosae family for human consumption and consist of various species such as common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), peas (Pisum sativum), lentils (Lens culinaris), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.), and faba beans (Vicia faba). Pulses are sustainable sources of nutritional compounds, especially containing almost twice the protein content compared to cereal grains. In addition to becoming an excellent source of macronutrients and micronutrients, they are abundant in phytochemicals, containing bioactive compounds with potential health benefits resulting from various phenolic compounds, as well as antinutritional compounds (e.g. phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors, lectins, saponins), which have received widespread concern by researchers. More essentially, various processing approaches for consumption purposes will result not only in enhanced nutritional and sensory characteristics in pulses but also in affected phytochemicals contents and their bioavailability. In this review, the nutritional and phytochemical compositions of pulses will be first introduced, followed by different common-applied processing methods (thermal and non-thermal), along with their impacts and pulse storage effects on the content of corresponding phytochemicals. Furthermore, through food processing and digestion, the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of pulse phytochemicals will be improved, thus releasing more health benefits, and expressing pharmacological functions in the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat shock protein (HSP) 70 is a key player in the development of thermotolerance among the several members of the HSP superfamily, which function as a molecular chaperon by attaching to denaturing proteins and stabilising them while maintaining their activity. The current study intended to screen the HSP70 gene in cattle of the Kankrej breed for polymorphisms and potential variations in thermotolerance. A 295 bp fragment of HSP70 gene was subjected to PCR - Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) in 100 Kankrej cattle. Association of thermolerance traits, viz., rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate with identified genotypes were analyzed for different seasons. Three SSCP patterns, viz., AA, AB and BB and consequently two alleles namely A and B were documented in fragment of HSP70 gene. Comparative association of identified genotypes with different heat tolerance traits were found non-significant. However, it is anticipated that the polymorphism at HSP70 may be a strong predictor of cow heat tolerance, which could help with thermotolerance selection screening large number of samples and future genetic improvement in breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on performance records of 529 crossbred animals available from organised herd of Instructional dairy farm of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (India) spread over a period of 30 years (1990-2019) were analysed to determine the effect of several genetic and non-genetic factors on performance traits, viz., age at first calving (AFC), first service period (FSP), first dry period (FDP), first calving interval (FCI), first lactation period (FLP), first lactation milk yield (FLMY), first lactation 305 days milk yield (FL305DMY), first lactation peak yield (FLPY) and first lactation days to attain peak yield (FLDAPY). The random effect of sire was statistically significant (p<0.01) on AFC, FLMY, FL305DMY and FLPY. Genetic group had statistically significant effect on FSP (p<0.05), FL305DMY (p<0.01) and FLDAPY (p<0.05). Season of calving significantly (p<0.05) affected the FL305DMY and FLDAPY. The significant differences of period of calving were observed on AFC (p<0.01), FSP (p<0.05), FLP (p<0.01), FLMY (p<0.01), FL305DMY (p<0.01) and FLDAPY (P<0.01). Variability in the traits due to various factors might be attributed to the differences in genetic groups and management practices. Therefore, satisfactory management and appropriate genetic improvement strategies would result in ameliorating the performance of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is the most necessary food for humans because it provides almost all nutrients such as the most nutritious protein, calcium, essential fatty acids, water-soluble vitamins, and other bioactive compounds responsible for maintaining health and other physiological functions. Milk has also been used effectively in the Unani system of medicine for centuries to improve complexion and to treat other ailments (especially dermatological disorders). For skin brightening, Unani physicians mentioned the use of the paste made up of powdered tukhm e kharpazah (seeds of musk melon), aarad e nakhud (powdered chickpea) each 2 parts, arad e baqla(powdered broad beans), aarad e jau (powdered barley) each 1 part, adas muqashshar (powdered lentil), nishasta (corn flour), kateera (tragacanth gum) each half part, tukhm e turb (radish seeds) 1/4th part, za’fran (saffron) a little and milk at night on the face and advice to wash the face with the decoction of banafsha (sweet violet) and post kharpaza (musk melon fruit epicarp) in the morning. Milk has several therapeutic actions too e.g. Musammin e Badan (adipogenous), Muhallil (anti-inflammatory), Mugharri (glutinous- Mugharri drug is a cold and dry substance with a small amount of viscid moisture that coats the surface and constricts pores. It moisturizes the skin and makes it appear lighter), Mohsin e laun (fairness activity), Ghassal (irrigator), Tiryaq (antidote), and Muqawwi (general tonic), etc. There are some scientific reports on the anti-hyperpigmentation effect of cow milk in which a paste of cow milk and powdered roasted red lentils was tested to enhance the complexion. They found significantly effective result on the Fitzpatrick scale, enhanced complexion, and reduced tanning as well as dullness. The main objective of this article is to present cow milk's nutritional and therapeutic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lentils are one of the most important rainfed legumes in the world. They are an excellent source of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Methods: Proximate composition (moisture, total ash, total fat, protein, fiber, and carbohydrate), mineral content, antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50), and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were determined in the raw, germinated, and cooked samples of two cultivars of Iranian lentils. Results: Cooking and germination showed a significant effect on TPC, antioxidant activity, and minerals. The highest amount of phenolic compounds was obtained in raw black lentil, followed by raw green and germinated lentils. The black cultivar showed a higher quantity of K, Cu, Ca, and Zn and treatments decreased the concentrations of mineral elements in the investigated samples. Moreover, losses of the minerals in the cooked samples were higher than the germinated ones. Conclusions: Cooking and germination brought about a significant reduction in the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Meaningful reductions were also recognized in the mineral content during cooking and germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium proliferatum is associated with the root rot of many plant species, but knowledge of its impact on western Canadian field crops is limited. This study assessed the host range of this fungus and its effect on plant emergence, plant height, and shoot and root dry weights in repeated greenhouse experiments with wheat, barley, faba beans, peas, lentils, canola, lupine, and soybeans. Infection was confirmed via PCR, and principal component analysis determined the utility of different parameters in assessing host responses. All crops were at least partly susceptible, developing mild to severe disease at the seedling and adult stages, and showing significant reductions in growth. In general, the barley and wheat demonstrated higher tolerances to infection, followed by the faba bean and the pea. The soybean, canola, lupine, and lentil were most susceptible. The canola and the soybean were particularly vulnerable to F. proliferatum at the pre-emergence stage, while infection greatly reduced the lentil's biomass. Reductions in the barley's emergence and other growth parameters, however, occurred only under a high inoculum concentration. Variability in root rot severity among cultivars of the same crop indicated some diversity in host reactions within species. Nonetheless, the absence of fully-resistant crops may pose challenges in managing F. proliferatum in western Canadian cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of sole applications of biofertilizers and phosphorus as well as their integrated use in lentil. The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of phosphorus (0, 15, 20 and 25 kg P2O5 ha−1) and biofertilizer inoculation treatments [uninoculated control, Mesorhizobium, Mesorhizobium + RB-1 (Pseudomonas argentinensis) and Mesorhizobium + RB-2 (Bacillus aryabhattai)] on nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency and residual nutrient status of soil after the harvest of chickpea. Mesorhizobium + RB-1 recorded the highest uptake of nitrogen (73.7, 59.0 and 132.7 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total, respectively), phosphorus (8.29, 11.34 and 19.63 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total) and potassium (23.48, 43.36 and 66.84 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total) as well as partial factor productivity (113.1 kg grain kg−1 P2O5). Application of 25 kg P2O5 ha−1 recorded the highest phosphorus concentration (0.39% in grain and 0.26% in straw), phosphorus uptake (8.35, 12.32 and 20.67 kg ha−1 in grain, straw and total, respectively) and phosphorus status in soil after crop harvest (18.7 and 16.7 kg P ha−1 in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers, respectively). Partial factor productivity was recorded the highest with the application of 15 kg P2O5 ha−1 (132.2 kg grain kg−1 P2O5). It can be concluded that dual applications of biofertilizers [Mesorhizobium + RB-1 (Pseudomonas argentinensis)] and 25 kg P2O5 ha−1 improve nutrient uptake by the crop and build up of nutrients in the soil after the harvest of the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Glycoprotein clusterin (CLU) has many functions such as phagocyte recruitment, complement system inhibition, apoptosis inhibition, hormone and lipid transport, as well as in the immune response. The study aimed to assess the changes in CLU concentrations and the profile and degree of CLU glycosylation between patients with severe COVID-19, convalescents, and healthy subjects (control). The profile and degree of serum CLU N-glycosylation were analyzed using lectin-ELISA with specific lectins. CLU concentrations were significantly lower and relative reactivities of CLU glycans with SNA (Sambucus nigra agglutinin) were significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patients in comparison to convalescents and the control group. The relative reactivities of CLU glycans with MAA (Maackia amurensis agglutinin), together with relative reactivity with LCA (Lens culinaris agglutinin), were also significantly higher in patients with severe COVID-19 than in convalescents and the control group, but they also significantly differed between convalescents and control. The development of acute inflammation in the course of severe COVID-19 is associated with a decrease in CLU concentration, accompanied by an increase in the expression of α2,3-linked sialic acid, and core fucose. Both of these parameters can be included as useful glycomarkers differentiating patients with severe COVID-19 from convalescents and the control group, as well as convalescents and healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the characteristics of non-treated and fermented [via submerged (SMF) and solid-state (SSF) fermentation using Pediococcus acidilactici] lentils (Lens culinaris) grown either in pure stands (L) or relay intercropped with winter rye (LR). It was observed that the lentils were suitable substrate for lacto-fermentation. Most of the free amino acid concentrations increased in lentils after both fermentations. The highest concentration of γ-aminobutyric acid was found in SSF LR samples. However, fermentation led to higher biogenic amines (BA) content in lentils. The most abundant fatty acid in lentils was C18:2. SSF lentils showed more complex volatile compound (VC) profiles (with between nine and seventeen new VCs formed), whereas, in SMF samples, between two and five newly VCs were formed. When comparing lentil grown types, L contained significantly higher concentrations of Na, K, Ca, P, Mn, and Se, while LR contained significantly higher concentrations of Fe and Ni. To sum up, fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) contributed to the improved biological value of lentils; still, the quantity of BA needs to be considered. Further investigations into the P. acidilactici metabolism of certain compounds (such as phenolic and antinutritional compounds) in lentils during fermentation ought to be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the feasibility of substituting wheat flour with varying levels (10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) of flour derived from field bean, chickpea, lentil, and pea seeds. The investigation focused on assessing the physical properties of wheat dough and the physicochemical characteristics of bread samples. The addition of legume seed flours significantly influenced the dough's development time, particularly with chickpea flour causing a notable increase in this parameter. While dough stability was generally shorter for mixtures containing wheat flour and legume seed flour, chickpea flour was an exception, significantly prolonging dough stability time. Furthermore, the inclusion of legume flours resulted in increased protein, ash, fiber, fat, and phenolic contents in the enriched bread, while the carbohydrate content decreased. Additionally, the crumb exhibited increased redness and yellowness and decreased lightness due to the enrichment of the bread. Notably, the antioxidant activity of bread containing legume flour also increased, with the most significant increase observed when pea flour was utilized. Conversely, negative effects on bread volume, crumb density, and texture parameters were noted with the incorporation of legume additives. Taking into consideration the results of both physicochemical analyses and sensory evaluation, it is recommended that the incorporation of the specified legume flours should not exceed 15% in relation to the quantity of wheat flour used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]