Search Results (3,785)

The increasing prevalence of celiac disease underscores the need to develop nutritionally balanced, gluten-free snacks based on local raw materials. This study aimed to develop extruded gluten-free snacks based on corn, rice, buckwheat, and chickpea flours, enriched with a 5% blend of berry powders (sea buckthorn, blackcurrant, cranberry), and to evaluate their physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant properties. Snacks were produced via high-temperature short-time extrusion (120–160 °C). The results demonstrated that chickpea/corn formulations exhibited the highest initial protein content (13.87%), which remained robust after berry addition (9.14%), outperforming the starchy corn/rice control (7.61%). Enrichment significantly enhanced the functional profile: water-soluble antioxidants increased from 0.039 to 0.60–0.71 mg/g, and DPPH radical scavenging activity reached up to 61.8 ± 2.4%. Furthermore, the enriched snacks exhibited high retention of thermolabile compounds, including Vitamin C (up to 18.91 mg/100 g). Sensory evaluation confirmed excellent organoleptic acceptability without compromising texture. These findings quantitatively demonstrate that combining legume flours with berry powders enables the production of gluten-free extruded snacks with improved protein density, superior antioxidant potential, and moderate energy value (322–330 kcal/100 g), offering a functional alternative for specific dietary needs. Full article

Mediterranean regions are forecasted to be increasingly threatened by climate change, leading to the occurrence of extreme events. One strategy to improve the resilience of agricultural systems is to introduce rotations that combine legumes and crops with high intraspecific diversity such as evolutionary populations (EPs). These cropping systems may be characterized by lower external input needs and higher buffering capacity than traditional ones. Our objective was to test if the introduction of wheat EPs impacts soil microbial functions—including microbial biomass, community structure, and enzymatic activity—and soil organic matter composition within a crop rotation framework. We conducted a two-year field experiment at two sites in Italy comparing a modern bread wheat variety to two EPs, evolved in different areas, in rotation with legumes. The composition and processes of rhizosphere microbial communities were characterized using EL-FAME and enzyme activities. In addition, rhizosphere soil organic matter signatures were measured by mid-infrared spectroscopy, and their relationships with microbial parameters were investigated using principal component analyses. The results showed that the EP–rhizosphere relationship, as well as its influence on microbial abundance and activity, is dependent both on the site of origin and local pedoclimatic conditions, although no consistent response was observed across the two sites. These effects may be buffered by the choice of the preceding crop in rotation. Full article

Studies aimed at identifying genotypes tolerant to water deficit are essential for the development of superior plant materials adapted to regions with limited water availability, such as the Brazilian Semi-Arid. This study evaluated the physiological, biochemical, and enzymatic responses of Stylosanthes spp. subjected to different levels of water availability (60%, 40%, and 20% of pot capacity). The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design using a 3 × 2 factorial scheme, comparing the accession BGF 11-001 and the cultivar BRS-Bela (cv. Bela). Physiological traits, biochemical variables, and antioxidant enzyme activity were analyzed. The accession BGF 11-001 showed resilience under water deficit, maintaining high chlorophyll content even under severe stress. This response was associated with increased accumulation of amino acids such as proline, as well as enhanced antioxidant activity, indicating a tolerance mechanism based on osmotic adjustment and cellular protection. In contrast, cv. Bela exhibited higher sensitivity to water stress, with a pronounced reduction in photosynthetic pigments and greater accumulation of compatible solutes, including total soluble proteins, reducing sugars, amino acids, and proline, without significant activation of antioxidant enzymes. Overall, the results demonstrate that the genotypes adopt distinct strategies to cope with water stress, with BGF 11-001 being more efficient in activating defense mechanisms. Therefore, BGF 11-001 has agronomic potential for cultivation in drought-prone regions and is a promising genetic resource for forage breeding programs aimed at improving drought tolerance. Full article

Nitrogen (N) fertilization is a fundamental agronomic practice that governs crop productivity, yet its effects on the molecular composition and chemical stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) remain poorly understood, especially in cereal–legume intercropping systems. Traditional studies have focused on total SOC stocks rather than molecular-level changes, and the mechanistic pathway linking N addition to SOC functional group transformation remains unclear. This study addressed these critical gaps by investigating how graded N addition (0, 180, 270, and 360 kg N ha⁻¹) reshapes SOC chemistry in a subtropical soybean–maize intercropping system. Soil physicochemical properties, inorganic N pools, N-transformation enzyme activities (urease, nitrate reductase, and glutaminase), microbial biomass indices, labile organic carbon fractions (particulate, mineral-associated, and dissolved organic carbon), and SOC functional groups characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were quantified across a two-year field experiment (2024–2025). Results showed that increasing N rates significantly elevated nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) accumulation while depressing soil pH. Nitrogen-transformation enzymes, especially nitrate reductase and glutaminase, responded strongly and positively to the N gradient. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) increased with moderate N input but exhibited saturation or decline at 360 kg N ha⁻¹, accompanied by reduced microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and a lower MBC/MBN ratio. Among labile carbon fractions, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was the most responsive pool, increasing markedly with N addition and correlating strongly with NO₃⁻-N. FTIR analysis revealed that N addition shifted SOC functional group composition toward chemically recalcitrant structures: the relative abundances of aromatic C=C and carbonyl C=O groups increased significantly, whereas labile C–O groups declined. Random forest modelling identified C=C, NO₃⁻-N, and DOC as the three most influential predictors of SOC chemical composition. Structural equation modelling (SEM) demonstrated a sequential mechanistic pathway: N fertilization increased NO₃⁻-N, which stimulated glutaminase activity and enhanced DOC, ultimately promoting C=C/C=O stabilization and explaining 91.3% of the variance in SOC aromaticity. These findings reveal that N addition does not merely augment SOC quantity but fundamentally transforms its molecular architecture toward greater chemical stability through a nitrate-mediated, enzyme–labile carbon coupling mechanism. This study provides a novel spectroscopic–mechanistic framework for understanding carbon–nitrogen interactions in intercropping agroecosystems and informs precision N management strategies aimed at simultaneous crop production and long-term soil carbon sequestration. Full article

Pea cultivation has witnessed significant growth in international trade in recent years, leading to increased export volumes worldwide. However, seed germination and early seedling growth often exhibit low uniformity, resulting in heterogeneous seedling sizes, which limit agronomic management and affect overall performance. As a result, this study aimed to assess the effects of gibberellin (GA) doses on the germination of the ‘Santa Isabel’ pea variety, one of Colombia’s most commonly cultivated varieties. A completely randomized design was employed with five treatments (0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg L⁻¹). The application of 200 mg L⁻¹ GA significantly enhanced germination percentage, germination potential, and germination speed index by 66.4%, 64.9%, and 71.5%, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, it increased the vigor index. The GA application reduced the mean germination time to 6.48 days, while the control exhibited 8.98 days. GA treatment increased seedling height to 5.3 cm, compared with 3.0 cm in the control. The variation coefficient in germinated seedling height increased as germination progressed and stabilized towards the end. Although GA did not affect the total fresh mass of the seedling, it did influence the proportion of mass allocated to each organ. Notably, there was a decrease in the amount of photoassimilates transferred from the seed to the leaves and stipules, accompanied by an increase in dry and fresh mass in the stems. The control treatment exhibited the highest fresh and dry leaf mass values compared with the GA-treated treatments. Full article

Legume–rhizobium symbiosis represents a crucial biological nitrogen fixation system. The AP2/ERF transcription factor ERN1 plays a vital role in nodulation of model legumes; however, its function in peanut (Arachis hypogaea), a typical crack-entry infection legume, remains unclear. To explore this, we performed transcriptome sequencing of peanut roots at 3 days post-inoculation (dpi) with rhizobium. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in DNA-binding transcription factor activity, plant–pathogen interaction, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. The most strongly up-regulated gene was AhERN1, which was highly expressed in peanut roots and nodules. Subcellular localization indicated that AhERN1 was a nuclear-localized protein, and yeast transcriptional activation assays confirmed that AhERN1 functions as a transcriptional activator relying on its C-terminal domain. Furthermore, hairy root overexpression of AhERN1 significantly increased the number of peanut nodules. Collectively, these results reveal that AhERN1 acts as a positive regulator to promote rhizobium-induced nodule development in peanut, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanism of nodulation in dalbergoid legumes. Full article

Aflatoxins (AFs) are among the most hazardous mycotoxins in food, yet their occurrence in legume-based products remains poorly investigated, and official standardized analytical methods validated by international regulatory bodies are still limited for these specific matrices. This study evaluates the effectiveness of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) coupled with HPLC-FLD for the determination of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 in pea flour (Pisum sativum), with a particular focus on assessing the necessity of a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup step. Two analytical workflows were compared: direct MAE and MAE followed by SPE purification. The optimized MAE conditions (60 °C, 5 min, acidified acetonitrile) provided good repeatability (RSD < 8.7%) and acceptable recoveries (70–73% at 10 µg/kg), while the inclusion of SPE improved recoveries up to 95–103% but did not yield a noteworthy reduction in matrix effects for AFB1 and AFG1. Matrix-induced signal suppression (up to −24.6%) was observed in both approaches, highlighting the necessity of matrix-matched calibration. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.09 to 0.25 µg/kg (MAE) and from 0.12 to 0.43 µg/kg (MAE + SPE), with no statistically significant differences between the two protocols. Application to commercial pea flours (n = 7) revealed no quantifiable contamination, with only one sample showing AFB1 below the LOQ. Overall, the results demonstrate that under the tested conditions, the direct MAE approach, combined with trifluoroacetic acid derivatization and HPLC-FLD analysis, provides a reliable and efficient alternative to conventional cleanup-based methods for routine AF analysis in pea flour. The application to a small batch of commercial samples confirms the method’s fitness-for-purpose as a preliminary screening tool. Full article

As global trends continue to embrace environmentally friendly, plant-based diets, food systems that are nutrient-dense, climate-resilient, and economically viable in addressing protein–energy malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity have increased. Although cereal–legume combinations are widely recognised to be highly nutritious, most studies have focused primarily on enhancing compositional efficiency and have overlooked their interactions with the food matrix and the processing-mediated transformations they undergo. This review combines recent findings examining cereal–legume food matrices as functional systems, with particular emphasis on nutritional complementarity, bioactive interactions, processing-induced modifications, and sensory acceptability. Studies indicate that cereals and legumes provide complementary amino acid profiles, dietary fibre, essential micronutrients, and phytochemicals within these composite matrices that influence digestibility, bioavailability, antioxidant activity, and glycaemic response. Processing methods, including fermentation, germination, roasting, and extrusion, modulate these interactions by releasing bound phenolics, reducing antinutritional factors, and altering starch–protein–phenolic complexes, thereby affecting health functionality and sensory quality. However, inadequately optimised processing can affect nutrient retention and consumer acceptability. Overall, this review emphasises the relevance of integrating food matrix science and processing optimisation for the production of functional, acceptable, and sustainable cereal–legume foods that promote product innovation, public health improvement, and the utilisation of underutilised crops for sustainable food systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Soil salinity is a major constraint on legume productivity worldwide, threatening forage pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivation in semiarid regions. This study evaluated the effect of exogenous melatonin in attenuating NaCl-induced salinity stress across diverse forage pea genotypes. Methods: A three-factor factorial experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions, testing three NaCl levels (0, 100 and 200 mM) and four melatonin concentrations (0, 100, 150 and 200 µM) across 13 genotypes with three replications (468 pots). Nine vegetative traits were measured and analyzed by factorial ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test. Results: Increasing NaCl from 0 to 200 mM reduced plant height by ~28% and node number by ~32%. Application of 100 µM melatonin under 100 mM NaCl reduced canopy temperature from 28.1 °C to 23.7 °C and restored SPAD values from 21.7 to 26.5 under 200 mM NaCl. By contrast, 200 µM melatonin under severe salinity paradoxically suppressed SPAD to 8.9 and reduced root length. Emirbey and Kirazlí showed the greatest vegetative growth, while Özkaynak exhibited the highest chlorophyll content. Conclusions: 100 µM melatonin emerged as the optimal concentration for alleviating moderate salt stress in forage pea, and genotype selection is critical when deploying melatonin as a biostimulant under saline conditions. Direct measurement of biomass, yield, and forage quality under field conditions remains an essential next step before agronomic deployment. Full article

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer incidence and mortality in many countries worldwide although there is considerable geographic variation. Diet is thought to impact risk of developing breast cancer but identifying specific dietary factors involved in the etiology of this disease has proven difficult. The two primary factors that initially led to an interest in soy are the historically low breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Japan and the uniquely high concentration of isoflavones in soybeans and foods derived from this legume. Isoflavones bind to both estrogen receptors although preferentially to estrogen receptor-β. Prospective cohort studies indicate that isoflavone intake is associated with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer, but randomized controlled trials in which the impact of soy and isoflavones on markers of breast cancer risk has been evaluated are not supportive of this protective association. It may be that for isoflavones to reduce risk, intake needs to occur during childhood and/or adolescence. The notion that consuming soy early in life reduces risk of adult breast cancer, herein referred to as the “early soy intake hypothesis” (ESIH), was proposed >30 years ago. The results of rodent studies and retrospective observational studies that examined incidence and/or markers of breast cancer risk support the ESIH. However, a lack of randomized controlled trials precludes a clear recommendation for soy consumption during childhood and/or adolescence specifically for breast cancer prevention. Although soy foods provide high-quality protein and a variety of nutrients and can be part of a healthy diet for young and adolescent girls, more research is needed to advance the ESIH. Full article

Under the combined influence of climate change and long-term mowing pressure, natural mowing grasslands in the Altai Mountain meadow region of Xinjiang have undergone degradation, primarily manifested as a decline in the proportion of high-quality forage species and an increase in forbs, which has severely constrained grassland-based livestock production and regional ecological security. For the restoration of degraded natural mowing grasslands, systematic assessments of the effects of legume–grass mixture overseeding on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) are still lacking; existing studies have mostly focused on single ecological functions, and the understanding of how different species mixtures drive synergistic vegetation–soil system recovery and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study targeted degraded natural mowing grasslands in Altai and selected seven species: Onobrychis viciifolia cv. Qitai, Medicago sativa cv. Xinmu No. 4, Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan, Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis, Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1, and Elymus dahuricus. Overseeding mixtures with different species compositions were established under a uniform legume–grass ratio of 2:8. Through a fixed-point field observation experiment conducted from 2024 to 2025, we integrated indicators of quantitative community characteristics, forage nutritional quality, soil physical properties, and soil chemical properties to construct aboveground EMF (AEMF), belowground EMF (BEMF), and overall EMF indices. The effects of different legume–grass mixtures on the restoration of degraded natural mowing grasslands were evaluated, candidate mixtures suitable for different restoration goals were screened, and the driving mechanisms were elucidated. The results showed that: (1) The restoration effects of different legume–grass mixtures on degraded natural mowing grasslands differed markedly. Community composition changed after overseeding, and some mixtures rapidly formed a grass-dominated community structure. (2) Superior mixtures significantly increased community cover and aboveground biomass, improved forage quality, and enhanced soil fertility to a certain extent. (3) Overseeding resulted in a greater improvement in aboveground EMF than in belowground EMF. In the first year, EMF exhibited synchronous enhancement across all functions, whereas in the second year, the system shifted to a phase of functional reorganization. (4) Based on the 2024–2025 field trial results, candidate legume–grass mixtures suitable for different restoration objectives were preliminarily identified: for comprehensive ecological restoration, a mixture of 5% Onobrychis viciifolia cv. Qitai + 15% Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan + 15% Dactylis glomerata + 15% Poa pratensis + 50% Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1 is recommended; for rapid productivity recovery, a mixture of 10% Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan + 10% Medicago sativa cv. Xinmu No. 4 + 30% Poa pratensis + 50% Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1 is recommended; and for producing high-quality forage, a mixture of 10% Medicago sativa cv. Xinmu No. 4 + 10% Trifolium pratense cv. Minshan + 30% Dactylis glomerata + 50% Bromus inermis cv. Wusu No. 1 is recommended. This study clarifies the goal-specific suitability of different legume–grass mixtures in terms of productivity enhancement, quality improvement, and soil function recovery, and provides a reference for the ecological restoration and subsequent regional verification of degraded natural mowing grasslands in the Altai Mountain meadow area. Full article

Background/Objectives: Legume allergy is increasingly recognized as plant-based diets expand and legume proteins are widely used in processed foods. We aimed to characterize the clinical features, sensitization profiles, and management outcomes of IgE-mediated legume allergy in Italian children. Methods: This retrospective single-center study (January 2022–January 2024) included children (<18 years) allergic to ≥1 index legume (pea, lentil, chickpea, common bean, or soy). Diagnosis required a compatible clinical history and evidence of IgE sensitization. Clinical and allergy characteristics were analyzed. Results: Fifty-five children (63.6% male) were included; all had atopic comorbidities, and 96.4% had additional food allergies. Median age at first reaction was 18 months; anaphylaxis occurred at onset in 12.7%, most frequently triggered by pea. Pea (70.9%) and lentil (69.1%) were the most prevalent allergies, with pea causing 50% of index-legume anaphylaxis. Multi-legume allergy predominated (74.5%), with frequent co-allergy among pea, lentil, and chickpea (56–86%). Soy allergy was less frequent and mainly associated with Gly m 4 sensitization. Single-legume allergy (25.5%) was associated with later onset (54 vs. 15 months; p = 0.013) and liver transplantation (21% vs. 2%; p = 0.047). Peanut co-allergy occurred in 25.5%. Among 34 oral food challenges (OFCs), 23.5% were positive, including one case of pea-induced anaphylaxis. Of 16 oral immunotherapy (OIT) protocols initiated, 31.3% reached the full target maintenance dose, 37.5% remained on a lower, partial maintenance dose, and 31.3% were discontinued due to oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Conclusions: Pediatric legume allergy is characterized by early onset, frequent multi-legume involvement, and common co-allergies. In this cohort, pea allergy was associated with the highest proportion of severe reactions. Species-specific differences in severity, patterns of multi-legume involvement, and OIT outcomes should be interpreted cautiously given the limited sample size, while highlighting the need for tailored management and improved risk assessment across legume species. Full article

Mungbean is an important legume crop native to India. In this study, 500 indigenous mungbean accessions collected from diverse eco-geographical regions of India were evaluated for agronomic trait genetic variability and core collection development. The accessions were grown in an augmented design during 2019 and 2020, and data were recorded for seven quantitative and 13 qualitative traits. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), frequency distribution, and box-plot analyses revealed substantial phenotypic variation among the accessions. Traits including plant height (PHT), number of pods per plant (NPP), hundred-seed weight (HSW), and single-plant yield (SPY) exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, indicating the predominance of additive genetic effects. Principal component analysis showed that the first three principal components explained 70% of the total phenotypic variation. The Shannon–Weaver diversity index further indicated high levels of genetic diversity within the population. Based on quantitative traits, the accessions were grouped into six major clusters and 42 sub-clusters, with SPY, NPP, HSW, PHT, and days to 50% flowering (DFF) contributing substantially to genetic divergence. Correlation analysis suggested that direct selection for SPY and indirect selection through associated traits, including NPP, HSW, PHT, NSP, and pod length (POL), may enhance yield improvement. The germplasm collection also possessed desirable traits such as high yield potential, contrasting maturity groups, and plant types suitable for mechanical harvesting and bold-seeded type. A representative core set comprising 50 accessions was developed using the PowerCore program, providing valuable genetic resources for mungbean breeding and genetic improvement programs. Full article

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a major annual legume crop with a balanced nutritional profile and a broad spectrum of bioactive constituents; these characteristics have made it a useful ingredient in health-oriented food applications. Chickpea supplies protein that is readily absorbed and digested, along with isoflavones and other bioactive plant compounds that act on physiological pathways associated with chronic disease prevention. Nonetheless, the combined pressures of drought, heat, cold, and salinity persistently limit its yield potential and cultivation stability. This review integrates the most recent progress in chickpea research, with emphasis on its intrinsic value derived from macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive metabolites. It further synthesizes the physiological determinants and metabolic reprogramming mechanisms underlying abiotic stress tolerance, outlines precision breeding strategies for developing resilient and high-quality ideotypes, and examines pathways for the high-value utilization of chickpea-derived processing by-products. Future efforts should focus on developing stress-resilient cultivars and expanding chickpea’s application in functional food innovation. Full article

Drought stress is the most pervasive abiotic constraint on global crop productivity, with projected intensification under climate change threatening the yields of staple crops including wheat, rice, maize, and legumes. Conventional breeding approaches have delivered limited gains against drought tolerance, constrained by the polygenic and multifactorial nature of stress adaptation, the complexity of genotype-by-environment interactions, and the inadequacy of field-based phenotyping under variable stress conditions. Omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, and phenomics, have substantially advanced the molecular dissection of drought tolerance by enabling high-resolution characterization of stress-responsive genes, regulatory networks, adaptive proteins, and metabolic reprogramming pathways. Specific traits targeted include root system architecture and depth, osmotic adjustment capacity through proline and glycine betaine accumulation, antioxidant defense mechanisms, ABA-mediated stomatal regulation, LEA protein accumulation, epigenetic stress memory, and yield stability under water deficit. This review systematically examines omics-based strategies for drought stress mitigation across major crops, highlighting individual omics contributions, multi-omics integration frameworks, computational tools including machine learning and AI-driven predictive modelling, and translational breeding applications. Case studies in wheat, rice, maize, and legumes illustrate how omics-driven approaches accelerate precision breeding for drought resilience through marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and CRISPR-based gene editing. Challenges including data integration complexity, high implementation costs, limited cross-species transferability, and the need for field-scale validation of microbiome-based strategies are critically addressed. Future perspectives encompassing single-cell and spatial omics, AI-driven predictive breeding, digital agriculture integration, and international data governance frameworks are discussed. By aligning with climate-smart agriculture principles, multi-omics approaches provide a robust and transformative foundation for developing drought-resilient crop cultivars suitable for water-limited production systems worldwide. Full article