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Food legumes are important for defeating malnutrition and sustaining agri-food systems globally. Breeding efforts in legume crops have been largely confined to the exploitation of genetic variation available within the primary genepool, resulting in narrow genetic base. Introgression as a breeding scheme has been remarkably successful for an array of inheritance and molecular studies in food legumes. Crop wild relatives (CWRs), landraces, and exotic germplasm offer great potential for introgression of novel variation not only to widen the genetic base of the elite genepool for continuous incremental gains over breeding cycles but also to discover the cryptic genetic variation hitherto unexpressed. CWRs also harbor positive quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for improving agronomic traits. However, for transferring polygenic traits, “specialized population concept” has been advocated for transferring QTLs from CWR into elite backgrounds. Recently, introgression breeding has been successful in developing improved cultivars in chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ), pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan ), peanut ( Arachis hypogaea ), lentil ( Lens culinaris ), mungbean ( Vigna radiata ), urdbean ( Vigna mungo ), and common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). Successful examples indicated that the usable genetic variation could be exploited by unleashing new gene recombination and hidden variability even in late filial generations. In mungbean alone, distant hybridization has been deployed to develop seven improved commercial cultivars, whereas in urdbean, three such cultivars have been reported. Similarly, in chickpea, three superior cultivars have been developed from crosses between C. arietinum and Cicer reticulatum . Pigeonpea has benefited the most where different cytoplasmic male sterility genes have been transferred from CWRs, whereas a number of disease-resistant germplasm have also been developed in Phaseolus . As vertical gene transfer has resulted in most of the useful gene introgressions of practical importance in food legumes, the horizontal gene transfer through transgenic technology, somatic hybridization, and, more recently, intragenesis also offer promise. The gains through introgression breeding are significant and underline the need of bringing it in the purview of mainstream breeding while deploying tools and techniques to increase the recombination rate in wide crosses and reduce the linkage drag. The resurgence of interest in introgression breeding needs to be capitalized for development of commercial food legume cultivars.

Improper use of water resources in irrigation that contain a significant amount of salts, faulty agronomic practices such as improper fertilization, climate change etc. are gradually increasing soil salinity of arable lands across the globe. It is one of the major abiotic factors that inhibits overall plant growth through ionic imbalance, osmotic stress, oxidative stress, and reduced nutrient uptake. Plants have evolved with several adaptation strategies at morphological and molecular levels to withstand salinity stress. Among various approaches, harnessing the crop genetic variability across different genepools and developing salinity tolerant crop plants offer the most sustainable way of salt stress mitigation. Some important major genetic determinants controlling salinity tolerance have been uncovered using classical genetic approaches. However, its complex inheritance pattern makes breeding for salinity tolerance challenging. Subsequently, advances in sequence based breeding approaches and functional genomics have greatly assisted in underpinning novel genetic variants controlling salinity tolerance in plants at the whole genome level. This current review aims to shed light on physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses under salt stress, defense mechanisms of plants, underlying genetics of salt tolerance through bi-parental QTL mapping and Genome Wide Association Studies, and implication of Genomic Selection to breed salt tolerant lines.

Greengram is an important protein-rich food legume crop. During the reproductive stage, high temperatures cause flower drop, induce male sterility, impair anthesis, and shortens the grain-filling period. Initially, 116 genotypes were evaluated for 3 years in two locations, and based on flowering, biomass, and yield attributes, they were grouped into four major clusters. A panel of 17 contrasting genotypes was selected for their heat tolerance in high-temperature greenhouses. The seedlings of the selected genotypes were exposed to heat shock in the range 37°C-52°C and their recovery after heat shock was assessed at 30°C. The seedlings of EC 398889 turned completely green and rejuvenated, while those of LGG 460 failed to recover, therefore, EC 398889 and LGG 460 were identified as heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive genotypes, respectively. Except for EC 398889, the remaining genotypes could not survive after heat shock. Fresh seeds of EC 398889 and LGG 460 were planted in field and pollen fertility and sucrose-synthase (SuSy) activity in grains were assessed at high temperatures. The pollen germination and SuSy activity were normal even at temperatures beyond 40°C in EC 398889 and high SuSy activity enabled faster grain filling than in LGG 460. The precise phenotyping demonstrated significant differences in the light-temperature response of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of quantum yield (Fv/Fm), and electron transport rate (ETR) between heat-tolerant (EC 398889) and heat-sensitive (LGG 460) genotypes. Molecular profiling of selected accessions showed polymorphism with 11 SSR markers and the markers CEDG147, CEDG247, and CEDG044 distinguished tolerant and sensitive groups of accessions.

Mungbean [ Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata ] is an important food and cash legume crop in Asia. Development of short duration varieties has paved the way for the expansion of mungbean into other regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Mungbean productivity is constrained by biotic and abiotic factors. Bruchids, whitefly, thrips, stem fly, aphids, and pod borers are the major insect-pests. The major diseases of mungbean are yellow mosaic, anthracnose, powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, halo blight, bacterial leaf spot, and tan spot. Key abiotic stresses affecting mungbean production are drought, waterlogging, salinity, and heat stress. Mungbean breeding has been critical in developing varieties with resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, but there are many constraints still to address that include the precise and accurate identification of resistance source(s) for some of the traits and the traits conferred by multi genes. Latest technologies in phenotyping, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics could be of great help to understand insect/pathogen-plant, plant-environment interactions and the key components responsible for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review discusses current biotic and abiotic constraints in mungbean production and the challenges in genetic improvement.

Subtilisin-like serine proteases (SBTs) are serine proteolytic enzymes that play various roles in plant growth, function and stress responses. Vigna glabrescens , a wild relative of mungbean known to be a potential donor of photo- and thermoperiod insensitivity, was characterized for thermotolerance through reproductive biology and gene expression profiling. Whole-genome sequencing of this species has not yet been performed; hence, genome-wide analysis of this species has not been explored. In the present study, a systematic analysis of SBT-encoding genes in the V. radiata (Vradi_SBT) genome was conducted, with a focus on their response during flower development under different temperature regimes, such as optimum temperature, heat and cold stresses, in Vigna radiata and a wild relative, Vigna glabrescens . Thirty-eight Vradi_SBT genes were identified in the V. radiata genome and were further grouped into five distinct subgroups. The key domain of the SBT peptidase, “peptidase_S8_53,” was found in all 38 Vradi_SBT proteins, while 28 of them contained the “peptidase_S8” domain. Additionally, 30 of these proteins contained a maximum of 10 motifs. A total of 22 orthologous genes were identified in Arabidopsis thaliana , whereas paralogous gene pairs were detected as tandemly duplicated genes with V. unguiculata . Cis -acting element analysis revealed that these genes presented more stress-responsive promoter sequences than the other promoters. Furthermore, Vradi_SBT- 1.9 was found significantly upregulated under both high- and low-temperature stresses. This study provides insights into SBT-encoding genes and their possible role in flower development and thermotolerance in Vigna species.

Abiotic stresses significantly affect plant growth and productivity. Identification of stress-tolerant genotypes is the best and an effective mitigation strategy. The present study evaluates the thermosensitive Vigna radiata cv. Shikha and the thermotolerant Vigna glabrescens accession TCR-20 under the control (non stress), cold stress, and heat stress conditions, without any treatment or foliar treatment with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), salicylic acid (SA), or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Chlorophyll content revealed that TCR-20 maintained higher chlorophyll content under stress, whereas Shikha exhibited higher chlorophyll content upon foliar spray of GABA. Histochemical staining confirmed an increased oxidative stress under extreme temperatures, with GABA effectively mitigated the hydrogenperoxide and superoxide accumulation in both genotypes. Further, mining and comparative analysis of 96 heat shock proteins (HSPs), including HSP20, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP100 were also done. Physicochemical characterization revealed varied stability, solubility, and thermostability of these proteins, which exhibited higher stress tolerance potential. All 96 HSPs were found widespread across the 11 chromosomes. Notably, the HSP70 family, particularly VrHSP-70.2 in TCR-20, exhibited the most robust response under both cold and heat stress, with significant upregulation, especially with GABA followed by IAA treatments. The genes such as VrHSP-70.2 , VrHSP-60.22 , and VrHSP-20.24 highlighted their significant upregulations in TCR-20 over Shikha. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying thermotolerance in Vigna species, emphasizing the role of HSPs and stress-mitigating treatments for improving stress resilience in Vigna crops.

Purpose The medical field is rapidly evolving, requiring innovative teaching methodologies to enhance comprehension and retention among students. Integrated video-based learning (VBL), which combines audio-visual content with faculty-led discussions, aims to improve understanding through multi-sensory engagement. This study compares the effectiveness of integrated VBL with conventional didactic lectures in medical education. Methodology This multicentric study was conducted across five medical institutions in India, involving 608 s-year MBBS students (Phase II) and 12 faculty members. Two topics, tuberculosis and biomedical waste management, were taught using a crossover design, with students randomly assigned to Group A ( n  = 304) and Group B ( n  = 304). Integrated VBL combined video content with interactive faculty-led sessions, while didactic lectures relied on traditional lecture-based teaching. Pre- and post-test assessments, using identical multiple-choice questions (MCQs), were conducted, and feedback was collected via a 1–5 Likert scale. Results For tuberculosis, the mean pre-test score was 7.35 ± 1.74. Post-test scores were 13.10 ± 2.05 for Group A (integrated VBL) and 10.25 ± 1.84 for Group B (didactic). For biomedical waste management, the mean pre-test score was 6.31 ± 1.39, with post-test scores of 12.59 ± 2.33 for Group B (integrated VBL) and 8.50 ± 1.67 for Group A (didactic). Over 60% of students reported that integrated VBL improved understanding, retention, and self-directed learning. Faculty feedback corroborated these findings, though they noted increased workload. Conclusion Integrated VBL significantly outperformed conventional didactic teaching, as evidenced by higher post-test scores and positive feedback. Neither VBL nor didactic teaching alone is optimal; however, their integration leverages visual-aural engagement and faculty guidance to enhance comprehension and retention. This approach is a vital component of modern medical education, fostering deeper understanding and clinical correlation.

Susceptibility to root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) is one of the major factors limiting mungbean production in South and South-East Asia. Host-pest-environment interaction in mungbean and root-knot nematode ( M . incognita ) was investigated in multi-location field evaluation using 38 promising mungbean genotypes extracted from initial evaluation of 250 genotypes under sick plots considering second stage freshly hatched juvenile as inoculants. The extent of environmental and genotype-by-environment interactions (GGE) was assessed to comprehend the dynamism of resistance and identification of durable resistant mungbean genotypes. Among environmental factors, nematode activity was highly influenced by rainfall and minimum temperature. The GGE biplot and multiple comparison tests detected a higher proportion of genotype × environment (GE) interaction followed by genotype and environment on number of nematode galls, gall index and reproduction factor. The first two principal components (PCs) explained 64.33% and 66.99% of the total variation of the environment-centered gall scoring and reproduction factor data, respectively. The high GE variation indicated the presence of non-cross over interactions which justify the necessities of multi-location testing. Detection of non-redundant testing locations would expedite optimum resource utilization in future. The GGE biplot analysis identified genotypes such as PM-10-12, IPM-410-3 and NVL-641 as the outperforming and desirable genotypes with durable resistance against M . incognita which can be exploited in mungbean breeding programmes globally. On the contrary, the highest gall scoring and reproduction factor were recorded in genotype IPM-9901-8. Computation of confidence interval (CI) at 95% level through bootstrapping increased precision of GGE biplot towards genotype recommendation. Furthermore, total phenol content, ascorbic acid, phenlylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were also higher in identified resistant genotypes and this information would be useful for devising mungbean breeding strategies in future for resistance against root-knot nematodes.

Urdbean leaf crinkle disease (ULCD) affects mainly the urdbean or blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) causing distinct symptoms that often result in serious yield losses. It has been known to occur for more than five decades and is considered to be of viral etiology. The identity of the causal agent, often referred to as the urdbean leaf crinkle virus, is not unequivocally proved. There are few attempts to characterize the causal agent of ULCD; however, there is no unanimity in the results. Recent attempts to characterize the causal agent of ULCD using next-generation sequencing of the virome of ULCD-affected urdbean plants indicated the involvement of cowpea mild mottle virus; however, without conforming through Koch’s postulates, the etiology of ULCD remains inconclusive. Claims of different insect vectors involved in the transmission of ULCD make this disease even more mysterious. The information available so far indicates that either two different viruses are causing ULCD or a mixture of viruses is involved. The identity of the virus/es causing ULCD still remains to be unambiguously ascertained. In this review, we attempt to analyze information on the various aspects of ULCD.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are identified in many crops for their response and role in adaptation to various abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and temperature. The LEA genes have been studied systematically in several crops but not in Vigna crops. In this study, we reported the first comprehensive analysis of the LEA gene family in three legume species, namely, mung bean ( Vigna radiata ), adzuki bean ( Vigna angularis ), and cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ), and the cross-species expression of VrLEA genes in a wild tetraploid species, Vigna glabrescens . A total of 201 LEA genes from three Vigna crops were identified harboring the LEA conserved motif. Among these 55, 64, and 82 LEA genes were identified in mung bean, adzuki bean, and cowpea genomes, respectively. These LEA genes were grouped into eight different classes. Our analysis revealed that the cowpea genome comprised all eight classes of LEA genes, whereas the LEA-6 class was absent in the mung bean genome. Similarly, LEA-5 and LEA-6 were absent in the adzuki bean genome. The analysis of LEA genes provides an insight into their structural and functional diversity in the Vigna genome. The genes, such as VrLEA-2 , VrLEA-40 , VrLEA-47 , and VrLEA-55 , were significantly upregulated in the heat-tolerant genotype under stress conditions indicating the basis of heat tolerance. The successful amplification and expression of VrLEA genes in V. glabrescens indicated the utility of the developed markers in mung bean improvement. The results of this study increase our understanding of LEA genes and provide robust candidate genes for future functional investigations and a basis for improving heat stress tolerance in Vigna crops.