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Intercropping is a traditional farming system that increases crop diversity to strengthen agroecosystem functions while decreasing chemical inputs and minimizing negative environmental effects of crop production. However, the effect of intercropping legume-cereal in enhancing nutrient uptake and use efficiency under low phosphorus (P) soils is poorly understood. Growth, nodulation, P uptake and use efficiency, and changes in inorganic P availability in the rhizosphere of intercropped species were thus investigated in a field experiment with durum wheat and chickpea either grown alone or intercropped. The results showed that both plant biomass and grain yield, and consequently, the amount of P uptake by intercropped durum wheat increased significantly (30%, 12%, and 46%, respectively) compared with sole cropping during the two seasons. P availability increased in the rhizosphere of the two species, either grown as sole crops or as intercrops, and was enhanced by intercropping. Moreover, total biomass, grain yield, and P uptake were significantly improved, as indicated by higher land equivalent ratio (LER > 1) in intercropping over sole cropping treatments. The increased biomass and grain yield for intercropped durum wheat were associated with the stimulation of P absorption and use efficiency. Furthermore, intercropped wheat was more competitive than their respective chickpea over two growing seasons. The results of this study suggest that changes in the intercropped chickpea rhizosphere may enhance plant growth, P uptake, and use efficiency of the intercropped wheat under low-P soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transcription factor in plants encodes SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL) serves a broad spectrum of important roles for the plant, like, growth, flowering, and signal transduction. A gene family that encodes SPL proteins is documented in various model plant species, including Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a leguminous crop, has not been thoroughly explored with regard to the SPL protein-encoding gene family. Chickpea SPL family genes were located and characterized computationally using a genomic database. Gene data of chickpea were obtained from the phytozome repository and was examined using bioinformatics methods. For investigating the possible roles of SPLs in chickpea, genome-wide characterization, expression, as well as structural analyses of this SPL gene family were performed. Cicer arietinum genome had 19 SPL genes, whereas, according to phylogenetic analysis, the SPLs in chickpea are segregated among four categories: Group-I has 2 introns, Group-II and IV have 1–2 introns (except CaSPL13 and CaSPL15 having 3 introns), and Group-III has 9 introns (except CaSPL1 and CaSPL11 with 1 and 8 introns, respectively). The SBP domain revealed that SPL proteins featured two zinc-binding sites, i.e., C3H and C2HC and one nuclear localization signal. All CaSPL proteins are found to contain highly conserved motifs, i.e., Motifs 1, 2, and 4, except CaSPL10 in which Motifs 1 and 4 were absent. Following analysis, it was found that Motifs 1 and 2 of the chickpea SBP domain are Zinc finger motifs, and Motif 4 includes a nuclear localization signal. All pairs of CaSPL paralogs developed by purifying selection. The CaSPL promoter investigation discovered cis-elements that are responsive to stress, light, and phytohormones. Examination of their expression patterns highlighted major CaSPLs to be evinced primarily among younger pods and flowers. Indicating their involvement in the plant's growth as well as development, along with their capacity to react as per different situations by handling the regulation of target gene's expression, several CaSPL genes are also expressed under certain stress conditions, namely, cold, salt, and drought. The majority of the CaSPL genes are widely expressed and play crucial roles in terms of the plant's growth, development, and responses to the environmental-stress conditions. Our work provides extensive insight into the gene family CaSPL, which might facilitate further studies related to the evolution and functions of the SPL genes for chickpea and other plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of starch from waste is also an effective way to recover resources and provide new sources of starch. In this study, starch was isolated from white kidney bean residue, chickpea residue, and tiger nut meal after protein or oil extraction, and the morphology of starch particles was observed to determine their physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility. All these isolated starches had unique properties, among which white kidney bean starch (KBS) had a high amylose content (43.48%), and its structure was better ordered. Scanning electron microscopy revealed distinct granular morphologies for the three starches. KBS and chickpea starch (CHS) were medium‐granular starches, whereas tiger nut starch was a small granular starch. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the absence of significant differences in functional groups and chemical bonds among the three starch molecules. In vitro digestibility studies showed that CHS is more resistant to enzymatic degradation. Overall, these results will facilitate the development of products based on the separation of nonconventional starches from waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Development of protein‐enriched chickpea varieties necessitates an understanding of specific genes and key regulatory circuits that govern the synthesis of seed storage proteins (SSPs).Here, we demonstrated the novel involvement of Ca‐miR164e‐CaNAC100 in regulating SSP synthesis in chickpea.Ca‐miRNA164e was significantly decreased during seed maturation, especially in high‐protein accessions. The miRNA was found to directly target the transactivation conferring C‐terminal region of a nuclear‐localized transcription factor, CaNAC100 as revealed using RNA ligase‐mediated‐rapid amplification of cDNA ends and target mimic assays. The functional role of CaNAC100 was demonstrated through seed‐specific overexpression (NACOE) resulting in significantly augmented seed protein content (SPC) consequential to increased SSP transcription. Further, NACOE lines displayed conspicuously enhanced seed weight but reduced numbers and yield. Conversely, a downregulation of CaNAC100 and SSP transcripts was evident in seed‐specific overexpression lines of Ca‐miR164e that culminated in significantly lowered SPC. CaNAC100 was additionally demonstrated to transactivate the SSP‐encoding genes by directly binding to their promoters as demonstrated using electrophoretic mobility shift and dual‐luciferase reporter assays.Taken together, our study for the first time established a distinct role of CaNAC100 in positively influencing SSP synthesis and its critical regulation by CamiR164e, thereby serving as an understanding that can be utilized for developing SPC‐rich chickpea varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is a protective mechanism for dissipating excess energy generated during photosynthesis in the form of heat. The accelerated relaxation of the NPQ in fluctuating light can lead to an increase in the yield and dry matter productivity of crops. Since the measurement of NPQ is time-consuming and requires specific light conditions, theoretical NPQ (NPQ(T)) was introduced for rapid estimation, which could be suitable for High-throughput Phenotyping. We investigated the potential of NPQ(T) to be used for testing plant genetic resources of chickpea under drought stress with non-invasive High-throughput Phenotyping complemented with yield traits. Besides a high correlation between the hundred-seed-weight and the Estimated Biovolume, significant differences were observed between the two types of chickpea desi and kabuli for Estimated Biovolume and NPQ(T). Desi was able to maintain the Estimated Biovolume significantly better under drought stress. One reason could be the effective dissipation of excess excitation energy in photosystem II, which can be efficiently measured as NPQ(T). Screening of plant genetic resources for photosynthetic performance could take pre-breeding to a higher level and can be implemented in a variety of studies, such as here with drought stress or under fluctuating light in a High-throughput Phenotyping manner using NPQ(T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has become a significant pest of chickpea in recent years. The polyphagous nature allows it to survive on various hosts during the off-season, creating a great menace to the crop in the following season. To assess the incidence and document the alternate hosts of S. exigua, a rapid roving survey was conducted in 11 chickpea-growing areas of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Additionally, the life history traits of S. exigua were studied on major alternate host plants under laboratory conditions (27 ± 1 °C and 70 ± 2% RH) to understand the survival, life expectancy and potential contribution to future populations. The results show that, among the different crops surveyed, the maximum larval incidence was noticed in maize (1.93 larvae/plant), cowpea (1.73 larvae/plant), and sunflower (1.68 larvae/plant) during the off-season. Life history studies of S. exigua showed that highest larval survival percentage was observed on chickpea (83.6%), while the lowest was on maize (44.5%). The mean developmental time for larvae was longest on maize (27.1 days) and shortest on chickpea (14.9 days). Larvae did not develop beyond the third instar when fed with chilli. The growth index statistics showed chickpea (9.2) was the most suitable host plant, whereas maize (0.9) was the least suitable host. The age-stage-specific survival rate (Sxj) varied across developmental stages, and the survival curves overlapped, indicating different growth rates among individuals. The life expectancy (exj) at age zero was highest on groundnut (37.06 days). The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of S. exigua was lowest on maize (0.10 ± 0.0013) and highest on chickpea (0.22 ± 0.0010). Similarly, the net reproductive rate (R0) was highest on chickpea (846.39 ± 18.22) and lowest on maize (59.50 ± 2.06). The population doubled every 3.08 ± 0.011 days on chickpea compared to 7.22 ± 0.80 days on maize. The study conclusively indicates that chickpea and sunflower, primarily cultivated during the rabi season in India, are the most preferred hosts for S. exigua. In contrast, maize and cotton, mainly grown during the kharif season, are less preferred and merely support the pest's survival. Consequently, S. exigua switches hosts between different crops growing seasons, so effective management of S. exigua during the kharif season can help prevent pest outbreaks during the rabi season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a combinatorial next generation sequencing (NGS)-based high-throughput expression QTL-seq (eQTL-seq) strategy for rapid elucidation of complex genetic architecture and regulatory pathways of gene expression underlying quantitative trait variation in crop plants. This high-resolution genome-wide integrative genetical genomics strategy assists us to delineate functionally relevant molecular tags (QTLs/eQTLs, genes, master regulators/transcription factors, and alleles) regulating vital agronomic traits in order to expedite genomics-assisted breeding and crop improvement. As a proof-of-concept, the optimized eQTL-seq-led genetical genomics approach was employed in 192 mapping individuals of an intra-specific recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (desi accession ICC 4958 × kabuli accession ICC 12968) with contrasting seed weight trait. This led to identification and mapping of high-resolution major QTLs/eQTLs associated with seed weight based on genome resequence-derived genomic SNP-index (Δ(gSNP-index)), global transcriptome sequence-based expression SNP-index (Δ(eSNP-index)), and relative gene expression (RGE)-index (Δ(RGE-index)). The eQTL-seq scaled down the major seed weight QTLs/eQTLs into the potential candidate gene(s) governing cis- and trans-regulated expression to decipher the gene regulatory modules controlling complex quantitative seed weight trait by deriving global allele-specific gene expression polymorphism in chickpea. Henceforth, the efficacy of NGS-driven integrative eQTL-seq strategy as compared to traditional QTL mapping, fine-mapping (map-based cloning), and QTL-seq approaches that are widely adopted for delineation of candidate genes underlying major QTLs was evident in chickpea. This will further accelerate quantitative dissection of regulatory architecture by decoding the molecular genetic basis of gene expression variation controlling diverse complex phenotypic trait diversity in chickpea and other crop plants as well. [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]

The increase in the global human population and the accompanying challenges in meeting nutritional needs amidst climate change are a worldwide concern. Widespread protein and micronutrient deficiencies contribute to a significant number of individuals experiencing malnutrition, leading to severe health repercussions. This issue can be addressed through genomics-assisted breeding, particularly in enhancing the nutritional profile of vital staple crops like chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Chickpea, beyond being a rich source of protein, provides a diverse nutritional spectrum encompassing carbohydrates, fats, and minerals. To explore and improve the genetic basis of nutritional traits in chickpea, a study was conducted using 93 kabuli-type single plant derived lines and five cultivars in 2018, 2022, and 2023. Genotyping by sequencing revealed a total of 165K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within this kabuli chickpea mini-core collection. After filtering for a minor allele frequency greater than 5%, 113,512 SNPs were utilized, distributed across eight chromosomes of the chickpea genome. Marker-trait associations were analyzed using genome wide association study, leading to the identification of 27 significantly associated SNPs from across all eight chromosomes linked to three seed nutritional concentrations and 100-seed weight. To unravel the molecular mechanisms governing seed protein, fiber, fat concentrations, and 100-seed weight, 31 candidate genes were determined within a 30 kb window size. This comprehensive approach holds promise for advancing crop breeding strategies to combat malnutrition and improve global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes can be integrated into cereal crop systems as a service crop to fix nitrogen, support cereal grain quality, and provide fodder for animals. However, competitive effects on cereal crop yields need to be avoided as much as possible. Here, we study the effect of seven legume species on yield, yield components and grain quality of rice, in dependence of the relative sowing time of the legume and the spatial configuration of the intercrop. In the first year, legume species were sown simultaneously with rice as well as at 25 days after rice emergence (DARE). Based on the first year, legume species were only sown at 25 DARE in the second year, but in two spatial configurations: alternate and double row design. Rice grain yield and total dry mass were negatively associated, showing the difficulty in obtaining an increased biomass production without giving in on rice grain yield. There are legumes species (Crotalaria spectabilis, jack bean and dwarf pigeon pea) that compete more with upland rice than others and legumes sowing at 25 DARE and in double rows reduces this competitive effect. Overall, upland rice intercropped with C. breviflora presented a higher total dry mass production than sole rice, without affecting grain yield. The crude protein content of rice grains was higher in intercrops in which grain yield was reduced by legumes due to the dilution effect. The adjustments in sowing time and spatial arrangement increased the range of legume species that can be used to promote ecological benefits without negatively affecting rice yield and quality, enabling diversification of species and biomass in the same area, associating food production with the benefits of the legume ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Resistant starch (RS) has been shown to manipulate food digestion and nutrient metabolism as well as being important in promoting gut health. However, the presence of RS varies across diverse food systems depending upon process conditions. To investigate this, chickpeas, potatoes, arrowroots, unripe bananas and oats were subjected to boiling and pressure cooking at various cooking durations and the RS% was determined. After 45 min of boiling and 15 min of pressure cooking, RS% of chickpeas increased by ~29% and ~41%, respectively. Increasing the cooking time, together with boiling and pressure cooking, led to higher RS% in chickpeas, mainly due to the retrogradation of starch after gelatinisation. In contrast, boiling and pressure cooking led to a reduction in RS% for potatoes, arrowroots, unripe bananas and oats, while a further decrease was encountered with the increase in processing time. After 45 min of boiling, RS% of potatoes, arrowroots, unripe bananas, and oats were reduced by 58%, 22%, 80% and 70%, respectively. After 15 min of pressure cooking, RS% of potatoes, arrowroots and unripe bananas were reduced by 41%, 22% and 83%, respectively. This was mainly due to the disruption of the ordered structure of starch molecules during thermal processing in the presence of water. This study clearly elucidates the impact of boiling and pressure cooking on RS% as a function of processing time and type of RS source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal diseases are crucial factors in reducing chickpea production. Ascochyta Blight is caused by the necrotrophic fungi Didymella rabiei and is one of the most destructive diseases in most world areas. Therefore, a completely randomized factorial design with five replications was applied to evaluate the effects of Ascochyta Blight disease fungi on the chickpea plant. The chlorophyll index, the activities of superoxide dismutase isoforms, and evolutionary analyses were performed to get further insights. Also, 2D electrophoresis of chickpea leaf proteins, gene ontology, and protein-protein interactions analysis was performed. The results did not show any significant effect of A. rabiei infection on the wet weight of chickpea seedlings. Chlorophyll index levels significantly decreased with A. rabiei infection in both chickpea lines. Electrophoretic analysis of superoxide dismutase on 8% polyacrylamide gel revealed three isoforms. The activities of superoxide dismutase isoforms significantly increased with A. rabiei disease. Identification of proteins was performed according to their isoelectric points and approximate molecular weights. Leaf proteome analysis of chickpea lines showed that the expression of eight reproducible spots changed significantly under A. rabiei disease condition. Candidate proteins were components of defense and regulation systems. High expression of Dual specificity protein, Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase B2, and chloroplastic phosphatase 1B (the proteins involved in the defense system) reveals their essential functions under A. rabiei infection. Increased activities of superoxide dismutase enzymes and proteins involved in the defense system can reduce A. rabiei infection effects on chickpea seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Chickpea leaf water potential estimation from ground and VENμS satellite" published in the journal Precision Agriculture. The authors have identified and corrected textual errors, typos, and formatting issues in the introduction, methods sections, and figure captions. The original article has been updated to reflect these corrections. The correction notice provides specific details about the errors and their corrections. [Extracted from the article]

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a major grain legume grown worldwide as a staple protein source. Traditionally, it is a rain-fed crop, but supplemental irrigation can increase yields and counteract the challenges posed by the changing climate worldwide. A fast and non-destructive plant water status assessment method may streamline irrigation management. The main objective of this study was to remotely assess the leaf water potential (LWP) and leaf area index (LAI) of field-grown chickpea. Five irrigation treatments were applied in two farm experiments and two commercial fields. Ground hyperspectral canopy reflectance and Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite (VENµS) images acquired throughout the study. In parallel, LWP and LAI measurements were captured in the field. Vegetation indices (VIs) and machine learning (ML) based on all spectral bands were used to calibrate and validate spectral estimation models. The normalized difference spectral index (NDSI) that used bands on 1600 and 1730 nm (NDSI(1600,1730)) selected in the current study yielded the LWP lowest estimation error on independent validation (RMSE = 0.19 [MPa]) using linear regression. VENµS based VIs resulted in relatively lower LWP estimation accuracy (RMSE = 0.23–0.29 [MPa]) compared to VIs calculated from ground hyperspectral data (RMSE = 0.19–0.21 [MPa]). Artificial neural network (ANN) models for LWP from ground and space spectral data showed similar performances (RMSE = 0.15–0.17 [MPa]), and were both more accurate than VIs. LWP response to the irrigation treatments was faster than the LAI response and was captured by the NDSI(1600,1730). The low correlation found between LWP and LAI (r = 0.08–0.44) supports the conclusion that spectral reflectance of chickpea canopy can be used to estimate LWP per se and is only partially affected by morphological changes induced by irrigation treatments and canopy development. The ability to rapidly estimate chickpea LWP may improve irrigation scheduling in the future. [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 Journal of Food Science (JFS) has announced the winners of the 2024 Tanner Awards for the most-cited articles of 2021. The overall winner is a paper on the compositional and functional characteristics of goat milk as a base for infant formula. Another paper on microplastics contamination in food and beverages received an honorable mention. Other topics covered by the winning papers include food microbiology and safety, food engineering and materials science, integrated food science, health, nutrition, and food, sensory and food quality, new horizons in food research, food chemistry, and toxicology and chemical food safety. The Tanner Award for the Journal of Food Science Education (JFSE) was also given to a paper on flipped laboratory classes in undergraduate food science and technology. The winners will be celebrated at the Reviewers' Reception at the IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo in July. [Extracted from the article]

To evaluate the effects of Glycine Betaine, Zinc, and Boron elements on the yield and nutritional status of rainfed Cicer arietinum, a factorial experiment, was conducted during the 2019 and 2020 cropping years in Mahabad city. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental factors included soil application of zinc sulfate at two levels (40 kg/ha and no zinc application), foliar application of boron at three levels (no use, before, and after flowering with 3 kg per 1000 L of water), and foliar application of Glycine Betaine at three levels (no use, flowering, and after flowering with 1.88 g/L). The results indicated that the year significantly affected grain yield, biological yield, and uptake of boron and zinc. The treatments involving boron and Glycine Betaine showed an increasing effect on plant height, total chlorophyll, soluble sugar, Glycine Betaine, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight, grain yield, biological yield, nitrogen percentage, boron concentration, and grain protein percentage. The highest grain yield (1549.15 kg. ha−1) in the treatment without zinc application and with simultaneous application of boron and Glycine Betaine after flowering resulted in a 34.58% increase compared to the control. The foliar application of Glycine Betaine and boron in the pre-and post-flowering stages and boron in the post-flowering stage resulted in the highest grain nitrogen uptake at 60.2%. Also, the result showed that no Glycine Betaine and boron application before flowering exhibited the highest soluble sugar content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sprouting process includes changes in nutritional, biochemical, and sensory characteristics that improve chickpea quality and increase its digestibility. Various products such as Falafel are made from ground and dried chickpea sprouts. Therefore, in this research, the use of hot air (70°C), infrared (250 W), and microwave (220 W) methods for drying ground chickpea sprouts was investigated and modeled. The drying time of the samples in the infrared dryer was shorter than the other two dryers. The average drying time of the samples in the hot air, infrared and microwave dryers was 63.3, 26.7, and 156.7 min, respectively. In this research, the effective moisture diffusivity coefficient of ground chickpea sprouts in hot air, infrared and microwave dryers was determined to be 4.99×10-9 m² s -1, 17.95×10-9 m² s -1, and 1.59×10-9 m² s -1, respectively. To study the drying kinetics of ground chickpea sprouts, Wang and Singh, Henderson and Pabis, Approximation of diffusion, Page, Newton, Midilli, and Logarithmic mathematical models were fitted to the experimental data. Finally, when modeling the drying process of this product, Midilli's mathematical model with four parameters was chosen as the best model due to its minimal error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is becoming a significant health concern in Asia, where the prevalence has reached alarming levels. An important contributing factor is the consumption of high‐carbohydrate foods, including rice, bread, etc. These high‐carbohydrate foods pose a major risk to public health due to their impact on postprandial hyperglycemia. This research aimed to formulate a chickpea pulao (cooked Indian–Pakistani rice dish) and to evaluate its effects on postprandial blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic individuals. Antioxidant potential and total phenolic contents of herbs at different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9%) were measured through DPPH and Folin Ciocalteu assays. The antidiabetic potential was tested by α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibition assays. After sensory evaluation, the best‐chosen concentration was used to formulate the chickpea pulao. The study trial was advertised under "DP trial," and 12 participants were recruited. A single‐blind randomized cross‐over trial was conducted for 3 weeks with a one‐week wash‐over time in between. Participants' preprandial and postprandial blood glucose levels were recorded for control and intervention recipes. Results indicated that both fenugreek seeds (FS) and Indian rennet (IR) showed good antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity (p =.000) in raw and boiled extracts. For DPPH, the IC50 values of unboiled and boiled combined (FS + IR) extracts were calculated as 7.4% and 8.02%, respectively. Similarly, for α‐amylase, the IC50 values of combined IR and FS unboiled and boiled extracts were 6.58% and 6.83%, and for α‐glucosidase inhibition assay, the values were measured as 14.98% and 16.24%. The single‐blind randomized cross‐over trial showed that consuming the intervention recipe significantly reduced postprandial hyperglycemia (p =.000) in type 2 diabetic participants. The intervention recipe decreased hyperglycemia by approximately 15% daily compared to the control recipe. Incorporation of hypoglycemic herbs into dietary patterns can work as an adjunct therapy for diabetes management, especially in populations with a high prevalence of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spread products have an important market share as they have high nutritional value and they are increasingly consumed, especially by children as a source of energy. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the potential use of powdered chickpea, black rice, carob, doum, date seeds, and beetroot to produce novel functional spreadable products as cocoa‐free alternatives. Additionally, to avoid the side effects of cocoa‐based products and to assess the cocoa replacement effects on the sensory properties, chemical composition, texture analysis, viscosity, antioxidant, peroxide stability, and microbial quality during storage periods were compared to the ones of cocoa spread. Sensory evaluation revealed that most formulated spreads were accepted as chocolate spread alternatives since there was no significant difference in overall acceptability among cocoa, chickpea, black rice, carob, and doum, while date seeds and beetroot spreads were significantly less acceptable. A variation was observed in the proximate chemical analysis of the produced functional spreads, as the alternative spreads had different characteristics to each other in their physicochemical, texture, and rheological properties. Results indicated a wide variation in the total phenolic content (TPC) of the different spread extracts. The highest amount of TPC was obtained for beetroot spread (455.84 mg GAE/100 g) followed by black rice spread (436.08 mg GAE/100 g). The obtained results indicated that the antioxidant activity of different spreads was significantly different (p <.05) while based on their microbiological analysis, they could have a shelf life of up to 9 months. According to the results, chickpea, carob, doum, black rice, date seeds, and beetroot powders could be used for the production of cocoa‐free alternatives as they were highly acceptable and they showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei is a major constraint in the productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). The mechanisms governing resistance/susceptibility to blight in chickpea are poorly understood. We used a blight‐resistant (HC1) and a blight‐susceptible (GPF2) genotype of chickpea and genes of pathogenesis‐related proteins (PRPs), phenylpropanoid pathway metabolites, abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA) and jasmonic acid (JA) to understand the role of these in A. rabiei resistance/susceptibility. The JA, ABA and GA biosynthesis genes of chickpea were retrieved, characterized and gene‐specific primers were used for transcriptional studies. Gene expression revealed that chickpea activated its defences rather quickly and well before initiation of spore germination. In resistant HC1, the majority of the JA, GA and phenylpropanoid pathway genes had peak maxima at 2 h post‐inoculation (hpi) whereas PRPs/defence genes had peak maxima at 24/36 hpi implying that defence to A. rabiei in chickpea is composed of a two‐tier system separated by time: immediately after spore attachment and at or just prior to host penetration. Unlike HC1, susceptible GPF2 was late in activation of defence responses or did not activate them. Another striking difference between HC1 and GPF2 was up‐regulation of ABA biosynthesis genes in inoculated GPF2 and down‐regulation in HC1. This study revealed that phenylpropanoids, PRPs, JA, 8‐(1R,2R)‐3‐oxo‐2‐(Z)‐pent‐2‐enyl cyclopentyl octanoate, (15Z)‐12‐oxophyto‐10,15‐dienoic acid and methyl‐jasmonate govern resistance to A. rabiei in chickpea whereas ABA governs susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant transformation remains a major bottleneck to the improvement of plant science, both on fundamental and practical levels. The recalcitrant nature of most commercial and minor crops to genetic transformation slows scientific progress for a large range of crops that are essential for food security on a global scale. Over the years, novel stable transformation strategies loosely grouped under the term "in planta" have been proposed and validated in a large number of model (e.g. Arabidopsis and rice), major (e.g. wheat and soybean) and minor (e.g. chickpea and lablab bean) species. The in planta approach is revolutionary as it is considered genotype-independent, technically simple (i.e. devoid of or with minimal tissue culture steps), affordable, and easy to implement in a broad range of experimental settings. In this article, we reviewed and categorized over 300 research articles, patents, theses, and videos demonstrating the applicability of different in planta transformation strategies in 105 different genera across 139 plant species. To support this review process, we propose a classification system for the in planta techniques based on five categories and a new nomenclature for more than 30 different in planta techniques. In complement to this, we clarified some grey areas regarding the in planta conceptual framework and provided insights regarding the past, current, and future scientific impacts of these techniques. To support the diffusion of this concept across the community, this review article will serve as an introductory point for an online compendium about in planta transformation strategies that will be available to all scientists. By expanding our knowledge about in planta transformation, we can find innovative approaches to unlock the full potential of plants, support the growth of scientific knowledge, and stimulate an equitable development of plant research in all countries and institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, ten (10) selected bacteria isolated from chasmophytic wild Chenopodium were evaluated for alleviation of drought stress in chickpea. All the bacterial cultures were potential P, K and Zn solubilizer. About 50% of the bacteria could produce Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase. The bacteria showed wide range of tolerance towards pH, salinity, temperature and osmotic stress. Bacillus paralicheniformis L38, Pseudomonas sp. LN75, Enterobacter hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89, B. paramycoides L17 and Micrococcus luteus LA9 significantly improved growth and nutrient (N, P, K, Fe and Zn) content in chickpea under water stress during a green house experiment conducted following a completely randomized design (CRD). Application of Microbacterium imperiale LJ10, B. stercoris LN74, Pseudomonas sp. LN75, B. paralicheniformis L38 and E. hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89 reduced the antioxidant enzymes under water stress. During field experiments conducted following randomized block design (RBD), all the bacterial inoculations improved chickpea yield under water stress. Highest yield (1363 kg ha−1) was obtained in plants inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. LN75. Pseudomonas sp. LN75, B. paralicheniformis L38 and E. hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89 have potential as microbial stimulants to alleviate the water stress in chickpea. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of using chasmophyte associated bacteria for alleviation of water stress in a crop plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil dehydrogenase (14.2, 11.3 mg TPF g-1 day-1), alkaline phosphatase (109.5, 86.7 mg PNP g-1 soil h-1), acid phosphatase (69.7, 51.6 mg PNP g-1 soil h-1) and urease activity (60.4, 39.9 mg NH4 g-1 2 h-1) in chickpea at flowering and harvest with seed rate @ 105 kg ha-1. Among, nutrient management the corresponding activity (14.9, 11.7 mg TPF g-1 day-1), (120.7, 96.7 mg g PNP g-1 soil h-1), (70.5, 52.7 mg g PNP g-1 soil h-1) was higher with 75% RDF + microbial consortia (MC). Contrarily, urease activity (62.3, 38.7 mg g NH4 g-1 2 h-1), soil available soil nitrogen (181.3, 179.0 kg ha-1) and phosphorus (78.3, 76.5 kg ha-1) were higher under 125% RDF + MC. PCA indicated that among nutrient management, first principal component explained 71.37% variability to urease activity, available soil potassium and dehydrogenase activity and second component (22.34%) to available soil phosphorus and nitrogen. Among planting density, first component explained variability (66.87%) to acid phosphatase and second component (32.11%) to available phosphorus. [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]

This study uses the Just–Pope approach to investigate the effects of seasonal weather variables and extremes on the mean yield and yield variability of rice, bajra, chickpea, groundnut and sugarcane in India during the period 1990–2015. Results reveal that changes in rainfall and evapotranspiration across seasons largely affect mean yields for most crops, including bajra, chickpea and groundnut. However, high summer rainfall and low monsoon evapotranspiration extremes reduce groundnut and chickpea yield variability. Considering the importance of water availability to crop yields, this study suggests improving irrigation and water reallocation and management to reduce the severity of seasonal climate effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are well-known biocontrol agents to control both above- and below-ground insect pests. EPNs can also control plant parasitic nematodes by releasing allelochemicals through symbiotic bacteria present in their guts. This study aimed to evaluate the bio-efficacy of a novel powder formulation comprising of infective juveniles (IJs) of a heat-tolerant indigenous EPN species of India, Steinernema abbasi, against subterranean termites (Odontotermes obesus) in wheat and chickpea fields. The bioefficacy of test formulation in field study for three rabi seasons (2020-2023) in wheat and chickpea grown in field heavily infested with subterranean termites decreased the plant damage from termite attack, monitored as relative number of infested tillers in wheat and infested plants in chickpea fields. The reduced damage in test crops caused by termites increased growth, yield attributes and yield of test crops. This present research validated the prepared formulation's potential as a biopesticide ideal for organic farming and integrated pest management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Chickpea is one of the most important legume crops in Ethiopia; however, its production is far below the mean international chickpea production due to biotic and abiotic stressors. Plant-parasitic nematode infestation is extensive in chickpea-growing areas worldwide. The distribution and population density of plant-parasitic nematodes in chickpea were determined during the September-December 2021 growing season. Ten plant-parasitic nematode taxa were identified from 27 localities across ten districts in the main chickpea-growing areas in Ethiopia. Pratylenchus had the highest prominence values, followed by Rotylenchulus and Meloidogyne spp. Helicotylenchus , Hoplolaimus , Scutellonema and Quinisulcius were more prevalent than Criconemoides and Ditylenchus. Sequences of different molecular markers, including D2-D3 of 28S rDNA, ITS of rDNA, and COI and Nad5 of mtDNA, revealed the presence of Meloidogyne javanica , Rotylenchulus parvus , Scutellonema clathricaudatum and Helicotylenchus caudatus. Helicotylenchus caudatus and R. parvus are the first reports from Ethiopia and chickpea, while S. clathricaudatum is the first report for chickpea. This study provides essential baseline information of nematode pest occurrence on chickpea in Ethiopia. This information will raise awareness among growers, agricultural officers, and extension advisors, enabling them to develop effective nematode management strategies for the chickpea production system in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact damage is the most destructive effect on the seeds during harvesting, handling, and storage, both on‐farm and off‐farm. The chickpea seeds' dicotyledonous characteristics and large mass and size make them susceptible to mechanical damage under impact loading. Tests were conducted to determine the extent of damage to chickpea seeds due to the impact caused by free fall. The extent of internal damage to the chickpea seeds was determined, which included the measurement of seed deterioration by the accelerated aging method (percentage loss in germination in the accelerated aging test) and the measurement of electrical conductivity. Three independent variables were used in the test, namely: (a) drop height (3, 6, 9, and 12 m), (b) impact surface (concrete, metal, plywood and seeds on seeds), and (c) seed moisture content (10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% w.b). The results showed that drop height, impact surface, and moisture content had significant effects (p <.01) on the loss in germination percentage and change in electrical conductivity of chickpea seeds. In terms of loss in germination, the highest damage to seeds occurred at the metal impact surface (41.96%) and the least at the seed on the seed (29.71%). The highest amount of electrical conductivity was related to the seeds dropped on the metal (36.09 μS cm−1 g−1) and the lowest was related to seed‐on‐seed contact (21.68 μS cm−1 g−1). By increasing the drop height from 3 to 12 m, the loss in germination and electrical conductivity of seeds increased from 27.74% to 48.08% and from 18.72 to 40.47 μS cm−1 g−1, respectively. Increasing the moisture content of chickpea seeds from 10 to 25% causes a decrease in the amount of damage to the seeds in terms of electrical conductivity (from 38.40 to 21.18 μS cm−1 g−1), but increases the damage in the form of a loss in the percentage germination in the accelerated aging test (from 29.22% to 42.88%). To reduce the impact damage to peas caused by free fall, the height of the fall should be limited to about 6 m, and they should be prevented from hitting hard and rough surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pod dehiscence brings much loss for modern agricultural production, and multiple pod dehiscence components have been identified in many plant species. However, the pod dehiscence regulation factors in soybean are limited. In this study, we investigate the function of GmDIR26, a close homologues gene of pod dehiscence genes GmPdh1, PvPdh1, and CaPdh1, in the regulation of pod dehiscence in soybean. The secondary and tertiary structure analysis reveals that GmDIR26 protein has a similar structure with GmPdh1, PvPdh1, and CaPdh1 proteins. Synteny analysis of soybean and chickpea genomes shows that the genomic region surrounding GmDIR26 and CaPdh1 might be evolved from the same ancestor, and these two genes might have similar function. GmDIR26 shows an increased expression pattern during pod development and reaches a peak at beginning seed stage. Meanwhile, GmDIR26 exhibits high expression levels in dorsal suture and pod wall, but low expression pattern in ventral suture. In addition, GmDIR26 shows higher expression levels in pod dehiscence genotype than that in pod indehiscence accessions. Overexpression of GmDIR26 in soybean increases pod dehiscence in transgenic plants, of which the lignin layer in inner sclerenchyma pods is thicker and looser. The expression levels of several pod dehiscence genes are altered. Our study provides important information for further modification of pod dehiscence resistance soybean and characterization of soybean pod dehiscence regulation network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological plasticity may be induced by altering host plants and commonly it is sex‐specific in phytophagous insects. It is hypothesized that stress in insects caused by a host shift leads to morphological changes and developmental destabilization, which may be identified by fluctuating asymmetry. We performed reciprocal transplant experiments in eight replicated populations of the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) adapted to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) as its ancestral host and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L., Fabaceae) as a suboptimal host. Using methods of geometric morphometrics we assessed the effects of the short‐ and long‐term host shift on size and shape variation of beetles of both sexes. We also tested the hypothesis that fluctuating asymmetry is lower when the beetles develop within seeds of the ancestral host. Our results showed that females respond more plastically related to their body size and shape of the abdomen, particularly during a short‐term host shift, suggesting that females have a greater importance in maintaining the population on a new host. The level of fluctuating asymmetry is lowest in males that have evolved for generations on bean indicating that they have the most canalized development, so we suggested that symmetry in A. obtectus is maintained by sexual selection. Even if the beetles are adapted to a suboptimal host over many generations, they stabilize their development after returning to the ancestral host. Our work indicates that host shifts may change morphological aspects of the beetles in a sex‐specific manner and consequently influence their developmental trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea is a highly nutritious protein-rich source and one of the major crops to alleviate global malnutrition, but poor seed quality affects its productivity. Seed quality is essential for better crop establishment and higher yields, particularly in the uncertain climate change. The present study investigated the impact of botanical priming versus hydropriming and bavistin seed treatment on chickpea seeds. A detailed physiological (germination percentage, root and shoot length, vigour index) and biochemical (amylase, protease, dehydrogenase, phytase, and lipid peroxidation) analysis was carried out in order to assess the effect of priming treatments. Turmeric-primed seeds showed better germination rate (94.5%), seedling length, enzyme activity, and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed the expression of minor polypeptides of albumin and globulin in the primed seeds. Moreover, field experiments indicated increased crop growth, vigour, days to 50% flowering, yield and its attributing traits in turmeric-primed seeds. Botanical priming can increase chickpea yield by up to 16% over the control group. This low-cost and eco-friendly technique enhances seed and crop performance, making it a powerful tool for augmenting chickpea growth. Therefore, chickpea growers must adopt botanical priming techniques to enhance the quality of seed and crop performance. Moreover, this approach is environmentally sustainable and can help conserve natural resources in the long term. Therefore, this new approach must be widely adopted across the agricultural industry to ensure sustainable and profitable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea is a highly nutritious protein-rich source and one of the major crops to alleviate global malnutrition, but poor seed quality affects its productivity. Seed quality is essential for better crop establishment and higher yields, particularly in the uncertain climate change. The present study investigated the impact of botanical priming versus hydropriming and bavistin seed treatment on chickpea seeds. A detailed physiological (germination percentage, root and shoot length, vigour index) and biochemical (amylase, protease, dehydrogenase, phytase, and lipid peroxidation) analysis was carried out in order to assess the effect of priming treatments. Turmeric-primed seeds showed better germination rate (94.5%), seedling length, enzyme activity, and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed the expression of minor polypeptides of albumin and globulin in the primed seeds. Moreover, field experiments indicated increased crop growth, vigour, days to 50% flowering, yield and its attributing traits in turmeric-primed seeds. Botanical priming can increase chickpea yield by up to 16% over the control group. This low-cost and eco-friendly technique enhances seed and crop performance, making it a powerful tool for augmenting chickpea growth. Therefore, chickpea growers must adopt botanical priming techniques to enhance the quality of seed and crop performance. Moreover, this approach is environmentally sustainable and can help conserve natural resources in the long term. Therefore, this new approach must be widely adopted across the agricultural industry to ensure sustainable and profitable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea is a field crop that is playing an emerging role in the provision of healthy and sustainable plant‐based value‐added ingredients for the food and nutraceutical industries. This article reviews the characteristics of chickpea (composition, health properties, and techno‐functionality) and chickpea grain that influence their use as whole foods or ingredients in formulated food. It covers the exploitation of traditional and emerging processes for the conversion of chickpea into value‐added differentiated food ingredients. The influence of processing on the composition, health‐promoting properties, and techno‐functionality of chickpea is discussed. Opportunities to tailor chickpea ingredients to facilitate their incorporation in traditional food applications and in the expanding plant‐based meat alternative and dairy alternative markets are highlighted. The review includes an assessment of the possible uses of by‐products of chickpea processing. Recommendations are provided for future research to build a sustainable industry using chickpea as a value‐added ingredient. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [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]

The curriculum for undergraduate Agricultural Engineering does not usually include much laboratory practice. In order to address this, here we propose the design of a practical class on legume-rhizobia symbiosis, using an interdisciplinary approach that takes elements from botany, agriculture, and microbiology. The students perform an assay to stimulate nodulation in chickpea seedlings through inoculation with Mesorhizobium strains recommended as commercial inoculants, and evaluate improvement in plant growth as a result of nitrogen fixation. The experiment could serve as a springboard to discuss the importance of plant-bacteria interactions in the cultivation of a regionally relevant crop. It may also encourage the use of abilities of different kinds, including the appropriate manipulation of lab materials, the active engagement of scientific thought, the application of knowledge to specific real world scenarios and collaborative teamwork, all of which will be of paramount importance throughout the students' careers. The class can be easily adapted for other degrees connected to environmental microbiology, as well as for other symbiotic pairs that may include significant crops from other regions around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental sampling error is one of the sampling errors defined by Pierre Gy's Theory of Sampling and is related to the constitution heterogeneity of the mineralisation. Even if a sampling procedure is considered ideal or perfect, this error will still exist and, therefore, cannot be eliminated. A key input into Gy's fundamental sampling error equation is intrinsic heterogeneity. The intrinsic heterogeneity of a fragmented lot can be estimated by the "calibrated" formula of Gy, which can be written as a function of the sampling constants K and α. These constants can be calibrated by the standard heterogeneity test, originally developed by Pierre Gy and Francis Pitard. This method is based on the selection of rock fragments, individually and randomly, in an equiprobabilistic way from a lot of particulate material, aiming to estimate the intrinsic heterogeneity of the lot. This test, in addition to demanding time and space, can be influenced by human biases, and is difficult to quantify or measure. Aiming to simplify the test execution and eliminate the variance generated by human biases, a prototype called the intrinsic heterogeneity tester was developed as an automated alternative for heterogeneity testing. This prototype selects fragments from a falling stream, one by one, by means of a predefined laser count. To evaluate the prototype, a study was carried out, using painted chickpeas to simulate mineralisation grades and, sequentially, processing the same lot in the intrinsic heterogeneity tester prototype several times. The statistical and mineral content analysis, and comparisons between the intrinsic heterogeneity tester and the standard heterogeneity test sampling constants and constitution heterogeneities were undertaken. As a result, the authors conclude that the intrinsic heterogeneity tester prototype can be used as an alternative to the manual selection of individual fragments and for estimating the intrinsic heterogeneity of particulate material lots to support sampling protocol optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea is a nutritious staple pulse with numerous consumption patterns. It is also used in bakery products, especially in bread, in the forms of chickpea flour, fermented-chickpea liquor (FCL), and chickpea yeast (FCL-fermented sourdough) in various countries. However, a large variation exists in the traditional fermentation of FCL and chickpea yeast (CY). In this study, fermentation parameters (cracked-chickpea size, water-chickpea ratio, fermentation temperature, and fermentation time) for the production of FCL and CY were sequentially optimized through separate RSM designs. Therefore, this study aimed at optimization of the fermentation conditions for the preparations of both FCL and CY. First, FCL production parameters of fermentation temperature, time, chickpea particle size, and waterchickpea ratio were optimized and determined to be 40°C, 26 h, 2-6 mm, and 4:1 ratio, respectively. Secondly, the CY process parameters (fermentation temperature and time) were optimized using the optimized FCL conditions and determined to be 38°C and 9 h. The validation studies proved that there is no statistical difference (p>0.05) between the RSM-model predicted and experimental responses. At the optimized fermentation conditions, the FCL and CY had pH values of 4.44 and 4.31, and LAB counts of 9.87 and 9.08 log cfu g-1. The optimum fermentation conditions determined in this study are somewhat comparable to those commonly employed in the traditional preparations of both FCL and CY. Such optimization could lead to the better utilization of FCL and CY in the food industry and improved consumer health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Botrytis gray mold (BGM) caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., has become a major threat for chickpea cultivation in India. In view of monetary significance of this disease and growing its spread into new regions through seed and soil (sclerotia) encouraged us to study variability of this pathogen from diverse regions. Methods: Botrytis cinerea infected chickpea samples were collected from Punjab and Uttarakhand states. Pathogen was isolated using chickpea dextrose agar media. Pathogenicity was proved by inoculation of spore suspension (3 X 105 spores'mL-1) of the fungus on susceptible cultivar. In vitro studies were conducted for observations of morphological and cultural variability of the fungus. The pathogenic fungus was also identified through molecular characterization using ITS primers. Result: The isolates were categorized into different groups based on growth rate of the pathogen on PDA media. Pathogenicity test proved that B. cinerea isolates from Punjab were showed less disease severity scale compared to Uttarakhand state isolates. The B. cinerea fungus prefers PDA for efficient growth and multiplication than Chickpea Dextrose Agar (CDA) media. There was no conspicuous difference in colour of the colony on PDA and CDA media. The colour of the mycelium were initially white or dirty white or greyish and sporulated culture shown to have as grey with profuse mass on the surface of the mycelium. The fungus B. fabae, a different species was also responsible for causing BGM disease which was confirmed through pathogenicity and ITS sequencing. Twenty-eight isolates were studied for diversity in cultural, morphological and molecular level. The diversity in colony colour, growth type and diameter of mycelial growth, sclerotia initiation, number and pattern of sclerotia formation were observed amongst the isolates. This study would help in designing breeding strategy for development of disease resistant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seed shape in chickpea, a less known but not a trivial trait to study, as the possibility to include it in applied breeding aspect is yet to be deciphered. The present study mainly focuses on the study of seed shape classification and its interrelationship with seed quality parameters. Methods: The present study was conducted at the N.E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. Seed shapes in chickpea were classified into distinct classes like angular, globular and owl headed types, using set of genotypes that constituted all the three seed shapes and corresponding hybrids obtained by crossing them. Result: The codominance of radicle length and dominance nature of shape of chalazal end was observed in a definite pattern. Angular types were dominant over owl-head and globular types, whereas the globular type was dominant over owl-head type. Angular and globular types had low and high protein content respectively. Globular types would be a key to merge the bi-directionally acting seed traits like protein content and seed weight. From our observations seed shape can be a potential criteria to select for seed protein content. We made clear cut shape classification based on seed components, which could helps in seed shaped based selection in large populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The AquaCrop model for Bengal gram successfully matches the biomass and yield of reported crop data under various planting dates, according to results that have been validated. Further this study was carried out in different agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu to assess variations in yield and water requirement. Methods: In order to simulate realistic yields for the Bengal gram in response to planting date impacts in the Guziliamparai Block in the Dindugal District of Tamil Nadu, the study parameterized and verified performance of the AquaCrop model. Four field trials planted in D1-1st November, D2-15th November, D3-1st December and D4-15th December provided the model calibration data. Result: Fruit yield and biomass had R2 values of 0.9 and 0.8, respectively, indicating strong agreement between observed and model-simulated data. Fruit output and biomass were found to have RMSE values of 0.4 and 0.2, respectively. The NRMSE values for fruit yield and biomass were determined to be 0.3 and 0.1, respectively. The AquaCrop model somewhat overestimated fruit production and biomass since the BIAS was less than 0.4 and 0.2 for yield and biomass, respectively. Fruit production and biomass showed less agreement between simulated and actual D levels (0.4 to 0.6). The Aqua Crop model for bengal gram successfully matches the biomass and yield of reported crop data under various planting dates, according to results that have been validated. Further this study was carried out in different agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu to assess variations in yield and water requirement. Across Tamil Nadu's ACZ, a 2°C temperature increase decreased the yield by an average of 6%, with minimums of 2% and maximums of 13%. An rise in temperature of 3°C and 4°C, respectively, decreased the yield by 9% and 19% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diseases pose a severe threat to the food security of the global human population. One such disease is Fusarium wilt, which affects many plant species and causes up to 100% yield losses. Fusarium pathogen has high variability in its genetic constitution; therefore, it has evolved into different physiological races to infect different plant species spread across the different geographical regions of the world. The pathogen mainly affects plant roots, leading to colonizing and blocking vascular bundle cells, specifically xylem vessels. This blocking results in chlorosis, vascular discoloration, leaf wilting, shortening of plant, and, in severe cases, premature plant death. Due to the soil-borne nature of the wilt pathogen, neither agronomic nor plant protection measures effectively reduce the incidence of the disease. Therefore, the most cost-effective management strategy for Fusarium wilt is developing varieties resistant to a particular race of the fungus wilt prevalent in a given region. This strategy requires understanding the pathogen, its disease cycle, and epidemiology with climate-changing scenarios. Hence, in the review, we will discuss the pathogenic aspect and genetics of the Fusarium wilt, including molecular interventions for developing climate-smart wilt tolerant/resistant varieties of crops. Overall, this review will add to our knowledge for advancing the breeding of resistance against the wilt pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea is the world's second most widely grown pulse. This legume will become increasingly important due to its natural drought and heat tolerance ability, and its capacity to fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with rhizobia what makes this pulse a low-water and carbon fingerprint crop. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional value, the mineral composition, and the phenolic compound profiles of ten Spanish chickpea genotypes. Seed morphological characteristics were also determined as useful traits for analyzing plant biodiversity. Most of these advanced lines and/or recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were derived from intraspecific crosses among kabuli-type chickpeas genotypes. The variety Kasin and two RILs, namely 5-RIL-33 and 5-RIL-92, shared the same parental lines, one of them from India (WR315) of desi type. Only one genotype (5-RIL-33) has colored grains and pink flowers (common desi-type traits). These three genotypes were resistant to both ascochyta blight [Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr] and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris race 5. The protein content of all genotypes was higher than 20% with some outstanding lines having > 25%. Other functional components such as crude fat, fiber, and carbohydrates contents and minerals were broadly uniform across the studied material. The analysis of the phenolic compounds on methanolic seed extracts reveals common features as the presence of gentisic and 4-hydroybezoic acids, besides l-glutamic, citric, and succinic organic acids. In contrast, some compounds such as gallic acid, gallocatechin, and rutin are exclusively present in the colored 5-RIL-33 line, in addition to the reference Apulian black chickpea variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Understanding the behaviour of legumes during soaking results of importance since this might affect subsequent processing steps and thus final product quality. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different ultrasound‐assisted soaking conditions (45.8–108.7 W cm−2 for 10–30 min) on the hydration, physicochemical and nutritional properties of kabuli chickpeas. During sonication, the temperature of the soaking media was either controlled at 20 °C (treatment referred to as US) or allowed to rise (treatment referred to as US + T). Selected temperature treatments without sonication (treatment referred to as T) were also included to identify thermal effects. Results showed that higher sonication intensities enhanced water imbibition up to a moisture content of 74.5% (w/w), being more pronounced in treatments where a temperature rise was allowed. Hydration kinetics were well described by the Peleg model (R2 = 0.961–0.998). Samples treated with temperature (US + T; T) showed high solid (0.8–5.1%), di‐ (13.2–59.7%) and α‐galactosyl‐sucrose oligosaccharide (5.4–58.7%) losses. In contrast, high US treatments enhanced oligosaccharides to up to 26.2% as well as pasting properties, while decreasing leaching losses (0.93–3.33%). Nutritional properties of sonicated chickpeas were only slightly affected after cooking following no clear trend. Overall, sonication was an effective pre‐treatment to reduce hydration time of up to 90% in chickpeas, especially when combined with temperature, and could be applied to drastically reduce the processing time of chickpea and chickpea flour in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted during the rabi season (October, 2021-April, 2022) at the Crop Research Centre, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, focused on 30 chickpea genotypes to evaluate genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlations and path analysis among quantitative traits. Utilizing a randomized block design, the study found that the number of pods plant-1 exhibited the highest variability, while pod length showed the least variability. Significant phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation highlighted substantial variability among the genotypes, with shoot length, root length, and the number of secondary branches displaying high genetic advance and heritability. This suggested the predominant influence of additive gene action on these traits, making them suitable for selection-based improvements. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations were generally similar, indicating minimal environmental influence on most traits. Positive correlations were identified between the number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, pods plant-1, seeds pod-1, seed index and other dependent traits, indicating their potential for enhancing crop yield through selection. The study further revealed significant direct associations among traits, emphasizing the presence of additive gene action and the feasibility of effective selection for improving chickpea characteristics. In conclusion, the findings offer valuable insights into the genetic variability and heritability of chickpea traits, guiding future breeding and selection programs for enhanced genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major abiotic stress worldwide limiting chickpea yield drastically. Low heritability and high genotype × environment interactions make the trait-based breeding strategy an unreliable approach. This study was planned to identify the drought-tolerant lines by evaluating yield-based selection indices in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from an inter-specific cross between drought-tolerant genotype GPF 2 (Cicer arietinum L.) and drought-sensitive accession ILWC 292 (C. reticulatum) at two locations in India (Ludhiana and Faridkot). A total of six yield-based selection indices were calculated and significant variation was observed in the RILs and their parents for yield-based selection indices at both locations. A holistic approach across association analysis and principal component analysis identified drought tolerance index, mean productivity, geometric mean productivity and harmonic mean productivity as key selection indices, which could be used for indirect selection of drought-tolerant lines. Overall, on the basis of these approaches, a total of 15 promising RILs were identified for their use in chickpea breeding programme for developing drought-tolerant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCallosobruchus maculatus is a global and widely distributed grain pest. Chemical control has potential toxicity risks, and the present study aimed to estimate the repercussions of environmental variations and diet effects on C. maculatus biology. Four different sets of temperature and humidity exhibited a different influence on the development of C. maculatus both in natural and artificial diet patterns. The present data revealed that the population of C. maculatus was surviving better at 27.5 − 32.5 °C and 80–90%. The artificial diet based on vicilin and chitinases suppressed C. maculatus, as evidenced by delayed developmental times and reduced adult longevity (AL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health and environmental issues regarding dairy consumption have been highlighted in recent years leading to tremendous consumer demand for plant-based substitutes. In this review, we focused on quality and health dimensions of pulse-based dairy alternatives (PuBDA) using chickpeas, lupins and mung beans. Appraisal of existing documents show that there is limited information on PuBDA with the said pulses compared to similar materials such as soy and pea. Most of the studies focused on milk or fermented milks, either in full or partial substitution of the dairy ingredients with the pulses. Issues on stability, sensory properties, shelf life and nutritional quality were underlined by existing literature. Although it was emphasized in some reports the health potential through the bioactive components, there is scarce data on clinical studies showing actual health benefits of the featured PuBDA in this paper. There is also a scant number of these PuBDA that are currently available in the market and in general, these products have inferior nutritional quality compared to the animal-based counterparts. Technological innovations involving physical, biological and chemical techniques can potentially address the quality problems in the use of chickpeas, lupins, and mung beans as raw materials in dairy alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]