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Plant-based proteins from legume crops are emerging as sustainable alternatives to animal proteins and as nutritional ingredients in various food products. Mungbeans (Vigna radiata L. ) are rich in essential amino acids and have a high protein content. This study investigated changes in total amino acids, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), vitamins, and antioxidants for five days after germination. The amino acid and BCAA content of mungbeans varied depending on the genotype, and the amino acid composition changed during cultivation. Mungbeans in the early stages of germination had significantly higher total amino acid and BCAA contents than seeds. The antioxidant capacity and content of vitamin B-complex and vitamin C, but not thiamine, also increased significantly after germination. Among the 18 genotypes, Bohabe Yellow Mongo had the highest amino acid and BCAA contents in the early stages of germination, while Dahyeon showed high amino acid and BCAA contents in the seed state and high vitamin C content after germination. The seeds of 742, a wild genotype, showed high antioxidant capacity, especially high thiamine content. These findings indicated the importance of selecting appropriate varieties and cultivation times when cultivating mungbean as a source of plant-based proteins.

Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient for crop plants and essential for human health. The Zn-deficiency is an important malnutrition problem known globally. Biofortified foods could overcome Zn deficiency in humans. Mungbean [ Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is an important, pulse crop frequently grown in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Mungbean could provide essential micronutrients, including Zn to humans. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the impact of Zn fertilization on the yield and grain biofortification of mungbean. Twelve mungbean genotypes (i.e., NM-28, NM-2011, NM-13-1, NM-2006, NM-51, NM-54, NM-19-19, NM-92, NM-121-25, NM-20-21, 7006, 7008) were assessed for their genetic diversity followed by Zn-biofortification, growth and yield under control (0 kg ha -1 ) and Zn-fertilized (10 kg ha -1 ) conditions. Data relating to allometric traits, yield components, grain yield and grain Zn contents were recorded. Zinc fertilization improved entire allometric and yield-related traits. Grain yield of different genotypes ranged from 439 to 904 kg ha -1 under control and 536 to 1462 kg ha -1 under Zn-fertilization. Zinc concentration in the grains varied from 15.50 to 45.60 mg kg -1 under control and 18.53 to 64.23 mg kg -1 under Zn-fertilized conditions. The tested genotypes differed in their Zn-biofortification potential. The highest and the lowest grain Zn contents were noted for genotypes NM-28 and NM-121-25, respectively. Significant variation in yield and Zn-biofortification indicated the potential for improvement in mungbean yield and grain Zn-biofortification. The genotypes NM-28 and NM-2006 could be used in breeding programs for improvement in grain Zn concentration due to their high Zn uptake potential. Nonetheless, all available genotypes in the country should be screened for their Zn-biofortification potential.

The increasing challenges of high-temperature (heat stress) significantly impact plant growth and crop yield, including mung bean [( Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]. Simultaneously, seed quality, encompassing various seed nutrition components, is adversely affected by heat stress. To examine the impact of heat stress, we investigated the seed nutritional profiling of ten selected diverse mung bean genotypes for seed compounds (all expressed in concentration), protein, carbon (C), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and micronutrients, with main focused on seed iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and sulfur (S), under both control and heat stress conditions. All seed nutrient components, except seed protein, decreased under heat stress relative to the control. Furthermore, to gain insights into the genotype (G) × temperature (T) effect, the combined analysis of variance revealed a significant G × T effect for all assessed traits, except for seed P, Fe and Cu concentrations. Association analysis of seed components revealed a significant and positive correlation between seed P and protein concentrations under heat stress. Likewise, high and significant associations were observed between seed Ca with S and S with P concentrations under heat stress. However, under the control, seed C and protein, Fe and C, and seed yield per plant (SYP) and Zn all exhibited high and significant negative correlations. Under heat stress, positive and significant associations were observed, including seed protein and P, P and Mg, P and Fe, and S and Mg concentrations. Conversely, significant negative associations were observed between seed Cu and Ca, Cu and Mg, and SYP with seed C and P concentrations. Heat stress adversely affected seed nutritional and yield traits in mung bean.

Roots enable the plant to survive in the natural environment by providing anchorage and acquisition of water and nutrients. In this study, root architectural traits of 153 mungbean genotypes were compared under optimum and low phosphorus (P) conditions. Significant variations and medium to high heritability were observed for the root traits. Total root length was positively and significantly correlated with total root surface area, total root volume, total root tips and root forks under both optimum P (r = 0.95, r = 0.85, r = 0.68 and r = 0.82 respectively) and low P (r = 0.95, r = 0.82, r = 0.71 and r = 0.81 respectively). The magnitudes of the coefficient of variations were relatively higher for root forks, total root tips and total root volume. Total root length, total root surface area and total root volume were major contributors of variation and can be utilized for screening of P efficiency at the seedling stage. Released Indian mungbean varieties were found to be superior for root traits than other genotypic groups. Based on comprehensive P efficiency measurement, IPM-288, TM 96-25, TM 96-2, M 1477, PUSA 1342 were found to be the best highly efficient genotypes, whereas M 1131, PS-16, Pusa Vishal, M 831, IC 325828 were highly inefficient. Highly efficient genotypes identified would be valuable genetic resources for P efficiency for utilizing in the mungbean breeding programme.

Trehalose serves as a crucial osmolyte and plays a significant role in stress tolerance. The influence of exogenously added trehalose (1 and 5 mM) in alleviating the chromium (Cr; 0.5 mM) stress-induced decline in growth, photosynthesis, mineral uptake, antioxidant system and nitrate reductase activity in Vigna radiata was studied. Chromium (Cr) significantly declined shoot height (39.33%), shoot fresh weight (35.54%), shoot dry weight (36.79%), total chlorophylls (50.70%), carotenoids (29.96%), photosynthesis (33.97%), net intercellular CO 2 (26.86%), transpiration rate (36.77%), the content of N (35.04%), P (35.77%), K (31.33%), S (23.91%), Mg (32.74%), and Ca (29.67%). However, the application of trehalose considerably alleviated the decline. Application of trehalose at both concentrations significantly reduced hydrogen peroxide accumulation, lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage, which were increased due to Cr stress. Application of trehalose significantly mitigated the Cr-induced oxidative damage by up-regulating the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (182.03%), catalase (125.40%), ascorbate peroxidase (72.86%), and glutathione reductase (68.39%). Besides this, applied trehalose proved effective in enhancing ascorbate (24.29%) and reducing glutathione content (34.40%). In addition, also alleviated the decline in ascorbate by Cr stress to significant levels. The activity of nitrate reductase enhanced significantly (28.52%) due to trehalose activity and declined due to Cr stress (34.15%). Exogenous application of trehalose significantly improved the content of osmolytes, including proline, glycine betaine, sugars and total phenols under normal and Cr stress conditions. Furthermore, Trehalose significantly increased the content of key mineral elements and alleviated the decline induced by Cr to considerable levels.

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soil poses significant threats to ecosystem sustainability and human health. An outdoor box experiment was conducted as factorial abased on randomized complete block design, with three replications, during 2017 cropping season to evaluate the effects of biofertilizers on Vigna radiata L. growth and yield under different Cu concentrations. The first factor was fertilizer treatment including plant growth-promoting bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti (PGP), arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungus Piriformospora indica (AM), and chemical fertilizer (CF) and the second factor was Cu concentrations consisted of 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg Cu /kg soil . The greatest plant height (30.20 and 30.17 cm) and leaf area index (LAI) (1.64 and 1.55) were observed at 0 and 50 mg Cu /kg soil , particularly in CF and AM treatments. The highest Cu concentrations were found in the shoots (74.42 mg/kg) and grains (75.92 mg/kg) when using CF at 200 mg Cu /kg soil . The highest Cu concentration in the roots was obtained in PGP biofertilizer treatment (160.7 mg Cu /kg root ). In all Cu concentrations, the shoot bioconcentration factors (BCF) in CF and control treatments were higher than those in PGP and AM treatments. The root BCF improved with the use of PGP and AM treatments, compared to the control. Except the CF, the translocation factor (TF) in other treatments were ˂ 1 and the highest TF was obtained in 200 mg Cu /kg soil (0.842) and CF (1.050) treatment. Based on the results, we concluded that high Cu concentrations reduced the mung bean yield and productivity. However, applying AM in Cu-contaminated soil showed significant potential for improving mung bean yield, reducing Cu availability, and minimizing plant uptake. Generally, compared with chemical fertilizer (CF), P. indica and S. meliloti inoculation effectively increased Cu accumulation in the roots of mung bean grown in Cu-contaminated soil.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a species with superior tolerance to drought stress compared to other legumes. It is a promising crop with increasing importance in the face of global climate changes. Local forms, well adapted to particular agro-climatic conditions, are useful germplasm resources. Five Bulgarian cowpea landraces, which had displayed differences in osmotic stress tolerance at the germination stage, were subjected to severe stress (15% PEG 6000 in Hoagland nutrient media) during 16 days at the vegetative growth stage (plants with expanded trifoliate leaves). All local forms responded to the imposed stress by biomass and leaf area diminution, a slight increase in leaf water deficit and electrolyte leakage, proline accumulation in roots and leaves, and an increase in root starch and leaf phenol content. Roots presented more pronounced metabolic changes than leaves, including increased total antioxidant activity, phenolic and carbohydrate content, and proline accumulation. Under osmotic stress, tight control of oxidative stress and concerted upregulation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione transferase, and peroxidase activities in leaves were registered along with changes in certain specific isoforms, while glutathione reductase activity diminished. Antioxidant enzyme activities had different changes in stressed roots, compared to leaves, and among genotypes. The accession most sensitive to osmotic stress at germination presented more symptoms of oxidative stress at the vegetative growth stage.

The role of exogenous spermine (0.25 mM Spm, a type of polyamine (PA) in reducing Cd uptake and alleviating Cd toxicity (containing 1 and 1.5 mM CdCl 2 in the growing media) effects was studied in the mung bean ( Vigna radiata L. cv. BARI Mung-2) plant. Exogenously applied Spm reduced Cd content, accumulation, and translocation in different plant parts. Increasing phytochelatin content, exogenous Spm reduced Cd accumulation and translocation. Spm application reduced the Cd-induced oxidative damage which was reflected from the reduction of H 2 O 2 content, O 2 •– generation rate, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, and lipid peroxidation level and also reflected from the reduction of spots of H 2 O 2 and O 2 •– from mung bean leaves (compared to control treatment). Spm pretreatment increased non-enzymatic antioxidant contents (ascorbate, AsA, and glutathione, GSH) and activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S -transferase (GST), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR) which reduced oxidative stress. The cytotoxicity of methylglyoxal (MG) is also reduced by exogenous Spm because it enhanced glyoxalase system enzymes and components. Through osmoregulation, Spm maintained a better water status of Cd-affected mung bean seedlings. Spm prevented the chl damage and increased its content. Exogenous Spm also modulated the endogenous free PAs level which might have the roles in improving physiological processes including antioxidant capacity, osmoregulation, and Cd and MG detoxification capacity. The overall Spm-induced tolerance of mung bean seedlings to Cd toxicity was reflected through improved growth of mung bean seedlings.

Soil salinity is one of the most severe impacts of climate change, negatively affecting plant growth and development. Seed germination and seedling emergence are among the most critical stages susceptible to salt stress, making it important to explore them to identify the most resilient accessions for crop yield improvement. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is an important crop due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, improving soil health, and its high protein content. The main objectives of this study were to screen salt-resilient cowpea accessions from a worldwide collection and to evaluate cowpea responses to salt stress at germination stage through gene expression analysis. A total of 40 cowpea accessions from sixteen different countries were subjected to two treatments: control (water) and salt stress (150 mM NaCl solution). The seeds germinated, and the seedlings grew for ten days. The germination and growth parameters and lipid peroxidation quantification were determined. The results revealed significant differences in all parameters among accessions and treatments. A high variation in salt responses was detected among accessions, allowing the selection of five accessions (Co_2, Co_4, Co_21, Co_30, Co_31) as resilient to salt stress at germination stage. Subsequently, two salt stress-related genes (DREB2 and VuEXO) were evaluated through qPCR, revealing genotype-dependent regulation. These results provide valuable insights for the early selection of salt-resilient cowpea accessions, which may be considered for the development of improved and new varieties in the future.

Adzuki bean, an important legume crop, exhibits poor tolerance to low temperatures. To investigate the effect of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on the physiological metabolism and yield resistance of adzuki bean under low-temperature stress, we conducted a potted experiment using Longxiaodou 4 (LXD 4) and Tianjinhong (TJH) as test materials and pre-sprayed with exogenous ABA at flowering stage continuously for 5 days with an average of 12°C and an average of 15°C, respectively. We found that, compared with spraying water, foliar spraying exogenous ABA increased the activities of antioxidants and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants, effectively inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) content, O 2 -· production rate. Exogenous ABA induced the activation of endogenous protective mechanisms by increasing antioxidant enzymes activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as elevated levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants including ascorbic acid (ASA) and glutathione (GSH). Moreover, the yield loss of 5.81%-39.84% caused by chilling stress was alleviated by spraying ABA. In conclusion, foliar spraying exogenous ABA can reduce the negative effects of low-temperature stress on the yield of Adzuki beans, which is essential to ensure stable production of Adzuki beans under low-temperature conditions.