Search

The heavy metal zinc (Zn) is known to be transmitted in the food chain; however, the effect of Zn stress on beans and herbivorous insects is largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate the resistance of broad bean plants to Zn stress and the consequent changes in their physiological and biochemical metabolism by simulating heavy metal pollution in soil. Simultaneously, the effects of aphid progeny treated with different Zn concentrations on the expression of carbohydrate and related genes were analyzed. The results showed that Zn had no effect on the germination rate of broad beans, but other effects mainly manifested as follows. (1) Chlorophyll content decreased. (2) The total soluble sugar and Zn content in stems and leaves increased with increasing Zn content. (3) The proline content first increased and then decreased with increasing Zn content. (4) The height of the seedlings indicates that low concentrations promote growth and high concentrations inhibit growth. In addition, only the first-generation fecundity decreased significantly when aphids fed on heavy metal broad beans. Continuous high Zn levels increase the trehalose content of aphid F1 and F2, while F3 decreases. These results can not only provide a theoretical basis for exploring the impact of soil heavy metal pollution on ecosystems but also preliminarily evaluate the possibility of broad beans as a means of pollution remediation.

At the time of tillage, the properties of the soil change, thereby changing the conditions of crop development and, ultimately, their productivity and quality. The effect of non-inversion tillage or no-till on faba bean development is still not widely understood. For this reason, on the basis of a long-term experiment (since 1988), investigations of tillage systems using deep and shallow ploughing, chiselling, disking and no-till were undertaken at Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy, Lithuania, in 2016–2019. The aim of this study was to highlight the interaction between tillage methods and crop vegetative conditions, and its effect on faba bean development parameters. Soil chiselling generally led to better faba bean canopy development rates than other treatments. Faba bean roots developed somewhat better in non-tilled plots. Different tillage methods had less impact on faba bean development than vegetative conditions during the growing seasons. This shows that, due to rapid climate change, the conditions of each vegetative season are unique, which may lead to significant changes in crop development parameters. In addition, in this case, agrotechnologies must be precisely used, such as the use of varieties resistant to abiotic stresses, as well as technical and technological approaches. The complex effects of these agrotechnological elements should be investigated in more detail.

IntroductionFaba bean (Vicia faba L.) flowers are edible and used as garnishes because of their aroma, sweet flavor and attractive colors. Anthocyanins are the common plant pigments that give flowers their vivid colors, whereas non-anthocyanin flavonoids can serve as co-pigments that can modify the color intensity of flowers.ObjectivesTo explore the polyphenol diversity and differences in standard and wing petals of faba bean flowers; and identify glycosylated flavonoids that contribute to flower color.MethodsFlower standard and wing petals from 30 faba bean genotypes (eight color groups with a total of 60 samples) were used for polyphenol extraction. Samples were analyzed using a targeted method and a semi-untargeted analysis using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) combined with photodiode array (PDA) detection. Compound Discoverer software was used for polyphenol identification and multivariate analysis.ResultsThe semi-untargeted analysis guided by the PDA detected 90 flavonoid metabolites present in faba bean flower petals. Ten anthocyanins largely influenced the flower colors, but other flavonoids (63 flavonols and 12 flavones) found with variable levels in different flower color groups appeared to also influence color, especially in mixed colors.ConclusionAnalysis of the different colored faba bean flowers confirmed that the color variation between the flowers was mainly controlled by anthocyanins in brown, red and purple-red flowers. Of the other flavonoids, multiglycosylated kaempferols were abundant in white and brown flowers, monoglycosylated kaempferols were common in red and purple-red flowers, and quercetin and apigenin glycosides were abundant co-pigments in purple-red flowers.

Tillage systems affect many properties of soil, such as soil bulk density, porosity, pore distribution, and soil water capacity. However, the effect of reduced tillage (RT) on faba bean cultivation requires wider analysis. We carried out our investigations at Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy (Lithuania), as part of a long-term field experiment. The aim was to determine the effect of tillage intensity on soil bulk density, pore distribution and soil water capacity in faba bean cultivation. Five tillage systems were used: deep (DP) and shallow (SP) ploughing, deep cultivation (DC) (chiselling), shallow cultivation (SC) (disking), and no tillage (NT). The results showed that the soil bulk density in NT plots was somewhat higher in upper (0–10 cm) and less in deeper (15–20 cm and 30–35 cm) soil layers compared to DP. The distribution of soil pores depended more on the sampling depth than on tillage. In RT and NT plots, the number of meso-pores was often higher, and that of micro-pores was lower than in ploughed plots. In the upper (0–5 cm) soil layer, the highest water capacity was established in NT, and in deeper layers, this was found in RT plots compared to DP. The density of soil mainly affected the volume of micro-and-macro-pores and water capacity.

Porastom svjetske populacije sve više raste zabrinutost vezana za količinu hrane dostatne da prehrani cijeli svijet, a osim toga sve se češće čuje i zabrinutost oko globalnog zatopljenja. Iz tih se razloga, a i zbog brige za zdravlje, sve više ljudi okreće prehrani baziranoj na biljnim proteinima umjesto životinjskih proteina. Cilj ovog rada bio je analizirati funkcionalna svojstva izolata proteina boba, jednog od potencijalnih kandidata koji bi zamijenio životinjske proteine, pri različitim pH vrijednostima, sa svrhom njegovog korištenja u prehrambenim proizvodima kao alternativa proteinima životinjskog porijekla. Određena je topljivost proteina, njihova sposobnost emulgiranja mogućeg i pjenjenja te zadržavanja vode. Rezultati su pokazali da dobivene vrijednosti uvelike ovise o pH suspenzije te bi se, pri određenim pH vrijednostima, bob mogao koristiti kao dodatak nekim prehrambenih proizvodima. With the increase in the world's population, concerns about the amount of food sufficient to feed the entire world are growing, and in addition, concerns about global warming are increasingly being heard. For these reasons, and also because of health concerns, more and more people are turning to a diet based on plant proteins instead of animal proteins. The aim of this work was to analyse the functional properties of bean protein isolate, one of the potential candidates that would replace animal proteins, at different pH values, with the purpose of its possible use in plant-based products. The solubility of proteins, their ability to emulsify and foam and retain water was determined. The results showed that the obtained values largely depend on the pH of the suspension and, at certain pH values, beans could be used as a supplement to some food products.

Exploring environmentally eco-friendly approaches to enhance crop growth and productivity are essential for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, a field trial was conducted during two growing seasons to study the effects of synthetic (nitrogen, N; phosphorus, P; and potassium, K), biogas digestate (BioD), bio-fertilizer (BioF), and their combinations on the growth, yield, and seed quality of faba bean (Vicia faba L.). The number of treatments was seven, as follows: control (zero NPK), NPK (30 kg N ha−1; 45 kg P2O5 ha−1: 48 kg K2O ha−1) as the recommended dose, BioD (2 t ha−1), BioF (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria; 1 kg ha−1), 50% NPK + 50% BioD, 50% NPK + 50% BioF, and 50% BioD + 50% BioF. The results indicated that all fertilizer sources and their combinations improved the growth, seed yield, and quality of faba bean. However, the highest increase in plant height, leaf area, dry leaf weight, and stem dry weight of faba bean was recorded for the combined application of 50% BioD + 50% BioF. Moreover, the BioD +BioF fertilization enhanced the number of branches, number of seeds, 100 seed weight, and seed yield of faba bean. Similarly, BioD + BioF fertilization enhanced the total chlorophyll and N, P, and K contents of faba bean leaves. BioD fertilization also increased seed quality traits such as N, P, protein, and carbohydrate contents. The outcomes of BioD + BioF fertilization on growth yield and quality parameters of faba bean suggest that the concurrent application of biogas digestate with bio-fertilizer can reduce synthetic fertilizers.

Two cultivars of faba bean (Vicia faba ‘Giza 843’ and ‘Nobaria 3’) that differ in aluminum (Al) tolerance were used to study cytogenetic and genomic alterations under the influence of Al Cl3 (5, 15, and 25 mmol AlCl3) for different periods (6, 12 and 24 h). Under Al treatments, mitotic index in both cultivars decreased and total chromosomal abnormalities increased. The frequencies of micronuclei and chromosomal abnormalities (C-anaphase, metaphase-star chromosomes, breaks, sticky and disturbed chromosomes during metaphase or anaphase) in ‘Giza 843’ were lower than in ‘Nabaria 3’. Increase of the registered cytogenetic events under the influence of Al stress led to increase the detected polymorphism using RAPD and ISSR markers. Application of RAPD primers gave the same value of polymorphism in both faba bean cultivars under Al stress. Polymorphism average of nine ISSR primers of ’Giza 843’ (65.36 %) was lower than that of ‘Nobaria 3’ (71.59 %). Molecular markers, cytogenetic characteristics and seedling growth data indicate that Al tolerance of ‘Giza 843’ was higher than of ‘Nobaria 3’. This work shows that cytogenetic and ISSR techniques could be used efficiently to distinguish between the ability of two faba bean cultivars to tolerate toxic effects of Al.

Purpose (1) To assess the biological N fixation (BNF) potential of varieties of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cropped with or without compost in an experimental field-scale rotation with no recent history of legumes, (2) to enumerate soil populations of Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae (Rlv), and to genetically characterize the nodulating Rlv strains, (3) compare BNF with other sites in Britain. Methods BNF was evaluated from 2012 to 2015 using 15 N natural abundance. Treatments were either PK fertilizer or compost. Soil rhizobial populations were determined using qPCR, the symbiotic rhizobia genotyped (16 S rRNA, nodA and nodD genes), and their BNF capacity assessed ex situ. The reliance of legumes on BNF at other British sites was estimated in a single season, and their nodulating symbionts examined. Results Faba bean obtained most of its N through BNF (>80%) regardless of variety or year. N-accumulation by cvs Babylon and Boxer increased with compost treatment in 2014/2015. Rhizobial populations were c. 105-106Rlv cells g−1 soil regardless of field or treatment. 157 Rlv microsymbionts grouped into two large nodAD clades; one mainly from V. faba, and the other from various legumes. All isolates nodulated, and some performed better than commercial inoculant strains. Conclusions Faba bean can provide most of its nitrogen through BNF and leave economically valuable residual N for subsequent crops. Recent legume cropping in northern Europe is not essential for effective nodulation: rhizobia may persist in a range of farmland locations. Nevertheless, there is the potential to apply elite rhizobial strains as inoculants in some soils.

Broad beans (Vicia fabaL.) are rarely consumed in Northern Europe and in the USA, whereas they are constantly present in the culinary habits of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. This grain legume is characterized by interesting nutritional properties because of high levels of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and dietary fiber, coupled with a low content of saturated lipids and the presence of several bioactive compounds. However, broad beans are much more than a cheap source of nutrients. Among the oldest domesticated legumes, they have also a cultural value linked to an ancient symbolic meaning. Generally associated with funerary rituals, broad beans have also a positive significance being “dead” seeds with a regenerative capacity. This review focuses on the social symbolism of broad bean consumption and its associated rituals. Furthermore, the culinary habits related to this legume are analyzed along different Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, from Egypt to Iran. Soups, thick gruels, and purees were found to be by far the most common culinary preparations. Using the Egyptianful medamesas a model, the study highlights a link between broad bean–based dishes in different countries, which arises from similar environmental conditions and from cultural interactions along trade routes. Enhancing the knowledge of these ethnic legume-based foods could improve the diet of Western countries by increasing the consumption of legumes.

Evaluation of genetic diversity among landraces could be an invaluable aid related to the sustainable use of ex situ collections. Statistical methods are currently available for analysis of databases from investigation of stored germplasm. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a self-pollinating with high percentage of foreign pollination legume crop with a great importance for food and forage due to its high protein content as well as the important role in soil fertility and nitrogen fixation. The local populations are well adapted to specific agro-climatic conditions in the growing areas and are a rich initial material for the breeding programs. The purpose of this study is to establish the genetic diversity of 21 Bulgarian faba bean landraces by important traits in order to review the current potential of conserved germplasm for its sustainable use. All genotypes, included in the study, are collected from expeditions in the country, recorded in the National Register for Plant Genetic Resources and long term stored at the National Genebank. They are characterized according to the International Faba Bean Descriptors. The cluster analysis results show a high genetic diversity in the collection and the variability of each studied trait is presented. The factor analysis, which complements the cluster analysis, gives a reason to group the genotypes with their features into groups that have a breeding value. Genetic diversity in the studied collection has been identified and some of the landraces could be included in future breeding programs.

The main direction in the breeding of legumes is the development of high-productive cultivars with stable yields. In order to assess the ecological stability of 17 broad bean accessions (Fb 1896, Fb 1903, Fb 1929, Fb 2481, Fb 2486, Fb 3270, BGE 002106, BGE 029055, BGE 032012, BGE 041470, BGE 043776, BGE 046721, FbH 13, FbH 14, FbH 15, FbH 16, BGP) with regard to key quantitative traits, a field experiment was conducted in the Institute of Forage Crops (Pleven) in 2016–2018. Plants were grown under organic farming conditions without the use of fertilizers or pesticides. Three types of stability parameters were calculated based on regression, variance, and nonparametric analysis. The results of the variance analysis showed a significant genotype × environment interaction for all quantitative traits except pod width. The factor ‘environment’ had the greatest impact on the phenotypic manifestation of the traits, followed by the factors ‘genotype’ and ‘genotype × environment interaction’. In terms of plant height and 1st pod height, accessions FbH 16 and FbH 13 can be classified as high (79 cm, 35 cm) and ecologically stable (bi = 0.76, bi = 0.79). BGE 029055 was little variable and had high numbers of pods (15) and seeds (41) per plant. Accessions FbH 14, FbH 16, FbH 15, and BGP were distinguished by high seed weight per plant (from 28.36 to 34.93 g), but they exhibited instability (bi > 1) under unfavorable environmental conditions. In contrast, Fb 1903, BGE 043776, and Fb 3270 were very stable (bi < 1) but low-productive. Accessions Fb 1896, Fb 1929, Fb 2481, Fb 2486, BGE 002106, and BGE 029055 showed intermediate parameters, as they had the coefficient of linear regression close to 1, but they were also low-productive. BGE 041470 appeared to be of special interest for breeding. It had high values of 100 seed mass (101.38 g) and seed weight per plant (32.14 g), being relatively stable (bi = 1.10). GGE biplot analysis determined accessions BGE 046721, BGE 032012, FbH 15 and FbH 16 as a promising breeding material combining high and stable seed yield.

GWAS was applied to the antinutritive compounds vicine and convicine (V, C) in winter faba bean. V, C and V + C data for 189 inbred lines (five environments) were predicted by NIRS. These lines do not carry the strong ���vc-��� allele (locus VC1). Lab data for 646 samples enabled our NIRS calibration, which performed well for V and V + C yet poor for C. Heritability was high (0.911; 0.868) for V and V + C and lower for C (0.737). From the 2542 mapped SNPs, 47 were significantly associated with V and one with V + C. Four SNPs mapped near to the VC1 locus and were significant for V. Seemingly, non-���vc-��� alleles at that locus contributed to V variation. Marker-assisted breeding with this germplasm can reduce the V + C content to about 0.44%, compared to the current lowest line with 0.55%. Further research will show inasmuch this can serve agronomy and breeding., Journal of Cultivated Plants, Bd. 74 Nr. 01-02 (2022)

Water salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses, and the use of saline water for the agricultural sector will incur greater demand in the coming decades. Recently, nanoparticles (NPs) have been used for developing numerous plant fertilizers as a smart and powerful form of material with dual action that can alleviate the adverse effects of salinity and provide the plant with more efficient nutrient forms. This study evaluated the influence of calcium phosphate NPs (CaP-NPs) as a soil fertilizer application on the production and bioactive compounds of broad bean plants under salinity stress. Results showed that salinity had deleterious effects on plant yield with 55.9% reduction compared to control. On the other hand, CaP-NPs dramatically improved plant yield by 30% compared to conventional fertilizer under salinity stress. This improvement could be attributed to significantly higher enhancement in total soluble sugars, antioxidant enzymes, proline content, and total phenolics recorded use of nano-fertilizer compared to conventional use under salt stress. Additionally, nano-fertilizer reflected better mitigatory effects on plant growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, and oxidative stress indicators (MDA and H2O2). Therefore, our results support the replacement of traditional fertilizers comprising Ca2+ or P with CaP-nano-fertilizers for higher plant productivity and sustainability under salt stress.

Amaç: Bu araştırmada organik, inorganik ve biyo gübrelerin yerel baklanın toprakaltı ve toprak üstü aksamları üzerindeki etkisinin belirlemesi amaçlanmıştır. Materyal ve Yöntem: Araştırma Dicle Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi’ne ait sera koşullarında yürütülmüş olup, tesadüf parsellerinde bölünmüş parseller deneme desenine göre ve üç tekrarlamalı olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma materyali olarak Nutri-umix 660 (organik gübre), Fosil (organik gübre), DAP (inorganik gübre), Rhizobium leguminoserum (biyogübre) kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada yaş bitki ağırlığı, yaş sap+yaprak ağırlığı, yaş kök ağırlığı, bitki boyu, kök uzunluğu, yaprakçık sayısı, yaprak ağırlığı, nodül sayısı, yaş nodül ağırlığı, kuru sap ağırlığı, kuru kök ağırlığı, kuru yaprak ağırlığı, kuru nodül ağırlığı ve yaprak alanı özellikleri çiçeklenme öncesi, çiçeklenme dönemi ve çiçeklenme sonrası dönem olmak üzere üç ayrı dönemde incelenmiştir. Ayrıca toplam bitki yaş ve kuru ağırlıklarından faydalanarak bazı eşitlikler ile uygulamaların oransal kök ağırlığı, oransal sap ağırlığı ve oransal yaprak ağırlığına etkisi araştırılmıştır. Araştırma Bulguları: Araştırma sonucunda çiçeklenme öncesi dönemde yapılan uygulamaların incelenen özellikler üzerinde herhangi bir etkisinin olmadığı, çiçeklenme döneminde ise organik gübrelerin diğer gübrelere oranla daha fazla etki ettiği saptanmıştır. Çiçeklenme sonrası dönemde yaprakçık sayısı, yaprak ağırlığı, kuru sap ağırlığı, kuru kök ağırlığı ve yaprak alanına kontrol uygulaması, nodül sayısı ve yaş nodül ağırlığına azotlu gübreler, kuru yaprak ağırlığına Nutri-umix ve kuru nodül ağırlığına ise Fosil uygulaması en fazla etkide bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Bu araştırma ile bakla yetiştiriciliğinde inorganik gübre kullanımının çok önemli bir etkisinin olmadığı, ancak organik gübrelerin bitkisel özellikleri artırdığı saptanmıştır. Bakla yetiştiriciliğinde bu gübrelerin kullanılmasının toprak verimliliğinin sürdürülmesine de katkıda bulunulacağı düşünülmektedir. Objective: In this research, it was aimed to determine the effect of organic, inorganic and bio fertilizers on the subsoiland and aboveground parts of local faba bean. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out in the greenhouse conditions of the Faculty of Agriculture of Dicle University, and in randomized plots according to the split plot design with three replications. It was used Nutri-umix 660 (organic fertilizer), Fossil (organic fertilizer), DAP (inorganic fertilizer), Rhizobium leguminoserum (biofertilizer) as research material. In research, plant height, whole weight, stem+leaf weight, root weight, root length, number of leaflet, leaflet weight, number of nodules, nodule weight, dry stem weight, dry root weight, dry leaflet weight, dry nodule weight and leaf area were examined in pre-blooming, full-blooming and post blooming periods in three development stages. Additionaly, it was investigated with some equations the effects of treatments on the proportional root weight, proportional stem weight and proportional leaf weight by using the total plant fresh and dry weights. Results: As a result, it was determined that the treatments made in the pre-blooming period did not have any effect on the investigated properties, and had a greater effect than other fertilizers during the flowering period, organic fertilizers. In the post blooming stage, number of leaflets, leaflet weight, dry stem weight, dry root weight and leaf area control, DAP on nodule number and nodule weight, Nutriumix on dry leaf weight and Fosil on dry nodule weight had the most effect. Conclusion: With this research, it was determined that the use of inorganic fertilizers in faba bean cultivation did not have a significant effect, however organic fertilizers were increased plant characteristics. It is thought that the use of these fertilizers in faba bean cultivation will contribute to the maintenance of soil fertility, as well.

Weeds are one of the greatest threats to faba bean (Vicia faba L.) production and herbicide application is known to be the most efficient weed control method. However, the susceptibility of the current cultivars to post emergence herbicide applications impose a limitation for weed control in faba bean. Therefore, the deployment of postemergence herbicide tolerance is desirable in faba bean. To address this, a set of 130 faba bean accessions were screened for their response to the recommended dosages of two herbicides, metribuzin at 250 g a.i. ha−1 and imazethapyr at 75 g a.i. ha−1 at Marchouch and Terbol stations during four seasons between 2014 and 2018. The herbicide damage score along with other phenological and yield related traits were recorded and analyzed to evaluate the effects of post emergence herbicide application on the tested accessions and to select the herbicide tolerant ones. Tolerance to metribuzin and imazethapyr in eight faba bean accessions was confirmed as no significant reduction in grain yield resulted from the herbicide application. Moreover, in the aim to identify superior and broad adapted herbicide tolerant faba bean genotypes and to identify the most discriminating environments for herbicide screening, 37 accessions with different levels of tolerance to the recommended dosages of metribuzin and imazethapyr were selected to further evaluate the performance and stability of their plant height and grain yield across different environments (location x season x herbicide treatment). Data collected at Marchouch and Terbol during four seasons between 2014 and 2019 were used and the evaluation was based on the following stability parameters: cultivar superiority, static stability, Wricke’s eco-valence and Finlay and Wilkinson’s regression model. Differences observed in the genotypes ranking suggest that the evaluation of performance and stability of herbicide tolerant faba beans should be based on a combination of stability parameters. Genotype * environment biplot analysis indicated that the environments representing the metribuzin treatment at Marchouch 2014–2015 and the non-treated treatment at Terbol 2018–2019 are the ideal environments for evaluating faba bean genotypes. Biplots showed also that the metribuzin and imazethapyr tolerant accession IG12983 is the ideal genotype as he showed good and stable plant height and grain yield performance across the environments. Finally, to identify molecular markers associated with key genes imparting tolerance to herbicides the same set of accessions phenotyped before was genotyped using genotyping by sequencing (GBS). The GBS yield 10,794 high quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). 10 and 14 SNPs highly associated with phenological and yield related traits under herbicide treatments were identified after conducting Single-trait and Multi-trait Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) respectively. Genomic sequences containing herbicide tolerance associated SNPs were aligned against the NCBI database using BLASTX tool and default parameters to annotate candidate genes underlying the causal variants. SNPs from acidic endochitinase, LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase RCH1, probable serine/threonine-protein kinase NAK, malate dehydrogenase, photosystem I core protein PsaA and MYB-related protein P-like were significantly associated with herbicide tolerance traits. The identified SNPs will facilitate and fasten the efficient and effective development of herbicide tolerant cultivars and can be used for introgressing herbicide tolerance into desired agronomic background. Las malas hierbas se consideran como mayor amenaza para la producción de las habas (Vicia faba L.) ya que no se dispone de métodos efectivos de control adecuados particularmente en el estado de postemergencia. En un intento de mejorar la tolerancia a los herbicidas de postemergencia más comunes, se evaluó durante cuatro años la respuesta de una colección de 130 accesiones de habas a las dosis recomendadas de metribuzin (250 g i.a. ha−1) e imazetapir (75 g i.a. ha−1) en condiciones de campo en las estaciones experimentales de Marchouch (Marruecos) y Terbol (Líbano). Estos trabajos han permitido confirmar la tolerancia de ocho accesiones a metribuzin y a imazetapir. Asimismo, se ha estudiado la estabilidad de componentes del rendimiento de 37 accesiones de habas con diferentes niveles de tolerancia a las dosis recomendadas de ambos herbicidas en diferentes ambientes (localidad x año x tratamiento con herbicida). Los resultados mostraron que la estabilidad de la respuesta en habas tolerantes a herbicidas se basa en una combinación de efectos. Los análisis de interacción Genotipo*Ambiente mostraron el tratamiento con metribuzin en Marchouch 2014-2015 y el control sin herbicida en Terbol 2018-2019 son los ideales para evaluar los genotipos de habas con tolerancia a herbicidas. La accesión IG12983 tolerante a ambos herbicidas mostró una altura de planta y rendimiento de grano altos y estables en todos los ambientes. Finalmente, la colección de habas fue genotipada por secuenciación (Genotyping by Sequencing “GBS”), resultando en la identificación de 10.794 polimorfismos de un solo nucleótido (SNP) de alta calidad. El análisis de asociación (Genome Wide Association “GWAS”) permitió la identificación de 10 y 14 SNP altamente asociados con tolerancia a los herbicidas, según se analizara por un solo o por múltiples caracteres, respectivamente. Las secuencias genómicas que contenían SNP asociados con la tolerancia a los herbicidas se alinearon con la base de datos del NCBI utilizando y la herramienta BLASTX y parámetros predeterminados para anotar los genes candidatos subyacentes a las variantes causales. Los SNP de la endoquitinasa ácida, la serina/treonina-proteína quinasa RCH1 similar al receptor LRR, la probable serina/treonina-proteína quinasa NAK, la malato deshidrogenasa, la proteína PsaA del núcleo del fotosistema I y la “MYB”- relacionada con proteína “P-like” se asociaron significativamente con los caracteres de a tolerancia a herbicidas. Estos SNP identificados permitirán acelerar el desarrollo eficiente y eficaz de cultivares tolerantes a herbicidas.

Growing as much crop biomass as possible in the shortest possible time is the target for most bio-energy producers. However, according to the requirements of the Green Deal, the consumption of fertilizers and crop protection products will have to be significantly reduced between 2023 and 2027. In order to meet all the necessary conditions for the production of biomass, a stationary field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, in 2020–2021. Multi-cultivations of maize, hemp and faba bean were investigated. The aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of multi-cropping intensity on soil structural composition, stability, penetration resistance and gas concentration–respiration. As expected, multi-cropping stabilized the gas concentration and emission from the soil and decreased the proportion of micro-structures in the top soil layers. However, the stability of the soil decreased in all the experimental plots. Gas concentration and respiration mainly depended on soil structural composition, temperature and moisture content. The results of the experiment suggest performing investigations at a long-term scale because the intensive variation of meteorological conditions had a higher impact on the soil properties than the multi-cropping systems.

Weeds are one of the greatest threats to faba bean (Vicia faba L.) production and herbicide application is known to be the most efficient weed control method. However, the susceptibility of the current cultivars to post emergence herbicide applications impose a limitation for weed control in faba bean. Therefore, the deployment of postemergence herbicide tolerance is desirable in faba bean. To address this, a set of 130 faba bean accessions were screened for their response to the recommended dosages of two herbicides, metribuzin at 250 g a.i. ha−1 and imazethapyr at 75 g a.i. ha−1 at Marchouch and Terbol stations during four seasons between 2014 and 2018. The herbicide damage score along with other phenological and yield related traits were recorded and analyzed to evaluate the effects of post emergence herbicide application on the tested accessions and to select the herbicide tolerant ones. Tolerance to metribuzin and imazethapyr in eight faba bean accessions was confirmed as no significant reduction in grain yield resulted from the herbicide application. Moreover, in the aim to identify superior and broad adapted herbicide tolerant faba bean genotypes and to identify the most discriminating environments for herbicide screening, 37 accessions with different levels of tolerance to the recommended dosages of metribuzin and imazethapyr were selected to further evaluate the performance and stability of their plant height and grain yield across different environments (location x season x herbicide treatment). Data collected at Marchouch and Terbol during four seasons between 2014 and 2019 were used and the evaluation was based on the following stability parameters: cultivar superiority, static stability, Wricke’s eco-valence and Finlay and Wilkinson’s regression model. Differences observed in the genotypes ranking suggest that the evaluation of performance and stability of herbicide tolerant faba beans should be based on a combination of stability parameters. Genotype * environment biplot analysis indicated that the environments representing the metribuzin treatment at Marchouch 2014–2015 and the non-treated treatment at Terbol 2018–2019 are the ideal environments for evaluating faba bean genotypes. Biplots showed also that the metribuzin and imazethapyr tolerant accession IG12983 is the ideal genotype as he showed good and stable plant height and grain yield performance across the environments. Finally, to identify molecular markers associated with key genes imparting tolerance to herbicides the same set of accessions phenotyped before was genotyped using genotyping by sequencing (GBS). The GBS yield 10,794 high quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). 10 and 14 SNPs highly associated with phenological and yield related traits under herbicide treatments were identified after conducting Single-trait and Multi-trait Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) respectively. Genomic sequences containing herbicide tolerance associated SNPs were aligned against the NCBI database using BLASTX tool and default parameters to annotate candidate genes underlying the causal variants. SNPs from acidic endochitinase, LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase RCH1, probable serine/threonine-protein kinase NAK, malate dehydrogenase, photosystem I core protein PsaA and MYB-related protein P-like were significantly associated with herbicide tolerance traits. The identified SNPs will facilitate and fasten the efficient and effective development of herbicide tolerant cultivars and can be used for introgressing herbicide tolerance into desired agronomic background. Las malas hierbas se consideran como mayor amenaza para la producción de las habas (Vicia faba L.) ya que no se dispone de métodos efectivos de control adecuados particularmente en el estado de postemergencia. En un intento de mejorar la tolerancia a los herbicidas de postemergencia más comunes, se evaluó durante cuatro años la respuesta de una colección de 130 accesiones de habas a las dosis recomendadas de metribuzin (250 g i.a. ha−1) e imazetapir (75 g i.a. ha−1) en condiciones de campo en las estaciones experimentales de Marchouch (Marruecos) y Terbol (Líbano). Estos trabajos han permitido confirmar la tolerancia de ocho accesiones a metribuzin y a imazetapir. Asimismo, se ha estudiado la estabilidad de componentes del rendimiento de 37 accesiones de habas con diferentes niveles de tolerancia a las dosis recomendadas de ambos herbicidas en diferentes ambientes (localidad x año x tratamiento con herbicida). Los resultados mostraron que la estabilidad de la respuesta en habas tolerantes a herbicidas se basa en una combinación de efectos. Los análisis de interacción Genotipo*Ambiente mostraron el tratamiento con metribuzin en Marchouch 2014-2015 y el control sin herbicida en Terbol 2018-2019 son los ideales para evaluar los genotipos de habas con tolerancia a herbicidas. La accesión IG12983 tolerante a ambos herbicidas mostró una altura de planta y rendimiento de grano altos y estables en todos los ambientes. Finalmente, la colección de habas fue genotipada por secuenciación (Genotyping by Sequencing “GBS”), resultando en la identificación de 10.794 polimorfismos de un solo nucleótido (SNP) de alta calidad. El análisis de asociación (Genome Wide Association “GWAS”) permitió la identificación de 10 y 14 SNP altamente asociados con tolerancia a los herbicidas, según se analizara por un solo o por múltiples caracteres, respectivamente. Las secuencias genómicas que contenían SNP asociados con la tolerancia a los herbicidas se alinearon con la base de datos del NCBI utilizando y la herramienta BLASTX y parámetros predeterminados para anotar los genes candidatos subyacentes a las variantes causales. Los SNP de la endoquitinasa ácida, la serina/treonina-proteína quinasa RCH1 similar al receptor LRR, la probable serina/treonina-proteína quinasa NAK, la malato deshidrogenasa, la proteína PsaA del núcleo del fotosistema I y la “MYB”- relacionada con proteína “P-like” se asociaron significativamente con los caracteres de a tolerancia a herbicidas. Estos SNP identificados permitirán acelerar el desarrollo eficiente y eficaz de cultivares tolerantes a herbicidas.

Introducing insectary plants along with principal crops is an effective way to increase the biological diversity of beneficial insects and improve the stability of ecological equilibrium in agrocenoses and could be an alternative to chemical plant protection, particularly in organic farming. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of white mustard as a companion plant in broad bean cultivation on the occurrence of Aphis fabae Scop., Syrphidae, and Coccinellidae. The study also aimed at finding the optimum row separation of broad bean plants. It also evaluated the effectiveness of the thinning of mustard in a specific time to eliminate excessive competition with the main crop. The results showed that white mustard contributed to visible suppression of A. fabae abundance on broad bean (to the level similar as with the use of chemical protection). S. alba contributed to an increased abundance of hoverflies and lady beetles on broad bean despite the relatively low abundance of their prey, i.e., aphids. Mustard thinning positively affected abundance of larvae and adults of lady beetles as well as improved predator-prey ratio for hoverfly larvae and adult lady beetles. The most appropriate distance between broad bean rows when white mustard was introduced was 65 cm, with the concomitant conduct of mustard thinning when the broad bean plants reached flower bud formation. White mustard can be recommended as an element increasing the role of natural enemies of aphids in mixed crops, however, its strong growth should be taken into account and the plant density should be properly adjusted to avoid excessive competition with main plant.

The experiment was conducted at the agricultural research station of the College of Agriculture- University of Basrah in 2018-2019 season in sandy loam soils in order to study the effect of three concentrations of humic acid (0, 2 and 4 g.L-1) on the growth and yields of two hybrids of Broad bean ("Rico and Rama F1"). Split Plot Design by Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) with three replications, and the least significant difference test (L.S.D) was used to compare averages at a probability level of 0.05. The most important results obtained are: The hybrid "Rico" is gave a significant increase in the number of branches.Plant-1, the percentage of flowering in addition to the average weight of the pod, while the hybrid "Rama F1" gave a significant increase in the number of flowers and pods.Plant-1, weigh of pod.Plant-1 (259.3 gm) in addition to the total yield (24.34 tons.ha-1). Humic acid concentrations 2 and 4 g.L-1 gave a significant increase in number of leaves.plant-1, leaf area, soft weight of vegetative, number of flowers.plant-1, number of pods.plant-1, average weight of pod, yield. Plant-1 (259.9 g) in addition the total yield (24.40 tons.ha-1), while control treatment gave a significant increase in the percentage of ripening flowers. The interaction between humic acid and hybrids had significant increase in all characters in the study except the percentage of ripening flowers.