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Nanoemulsions derived from unconventional polysaccharides have gained attention as efficient delivery systems for bioactive compounds, helping in their enhanced absorption. Nontraditional sources of starch have been investigated in recent years due to their potential applications. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of extracting starch from faba beans and investigating their structural properties. Furthermore, the nanoemulsion is developed from starch, flax seed oil, and tween 80 and evaluated for different processing methods (temperature, pH, and NaCl). The extracted starch yields 31.20 g/100 g and X‐ray diffraction reveals its semicrystalline structure. The optimized nanoemulsion (N3) has an average droplet size of 108.62 ± 2.78 nm and a surface charge of −27.74 ± 0.12 mV. At different pH levels (2–9), temperature (30, 50, 70, and 90 °C), and ionic strengths (0.5, 1, and 2 m), the N3 nanoemulsion demonstrates significantly greater changes in stability. All the samples show excellent structural properties and stability. Overall, the results suggest that faba bean starch‐based nanoemulsion shows promise as a stable delivery system for bioactive compounds, but its stability is influenced by pH levels and ionic strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and Objectives: Faba beans are emerging as highly nutritious ingredients that have the potential to contribute to the global demand for healthy and sustainable plant‐based proteins. The current review aims to provide a summarized overview of faba bean macronutrients, protein quality, and antinutritional factors (ANFs), as well as their reduction strategies through a variety of processing means. Findings: Relative to other pulses, faba beans are higher in protein content and similar in protein quality. However, without proper preparation and/or processing, the presence of minor amounts of ANFs can hinder their nutritional value. These nonnutritive, but biologically active, compounds can be diminished through mechanical, thermal, and nonthermal treatments. Conclusions: Nonconventional processing techniques to retain or improve protein quality remain an area of future research for improving faba bean nutrition and expanding its utilization. Significance and Novelty: This review will advance the science and utilization of faba bean ingredients while providing future research opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From harvesting to consumption of the faba bean (Vicia faba), different plant residues such as stems, leaves, pods, and seed husks remain as by-products. The harvest residues constitute about 50% (w/w) of the whole aboveground biomass, while the empty pods and the seed husks account for 11% and 6% (w/w) on average, respectively. Due to the environmental and dietary benefits, the global production of faba beans is most likely to increase in the future. Concomitantly, the amounts of by-products will rise as well. So far, mainly the harvest residues have been widely studied, whereas the pods and husks have received less consideration. Therefore, the aim of this review was to provide an overview of the composition of the faba bean plant residues and to illustrate their potential of being used as feedstock in food, feed, or even non-food applications. This literature survey clearly reveals that all the residual materials of faba beans contain valuable compounds and might be suitable for a multitude of different applications. The residual material should thus not be disposed of but further valorized in order to exploit the full potential of the biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Interactions between plants and soil biota play an important role in maintaining the productivity and sustainability of agro-ecosystems, but mechanisms responsible for these interactions still are little understood. We investigated the growth of different faba bean genotypes in response to soil decomposer animals in monoculture and mixed cropping system. Methods: In a microcosms experiment, we tested the effects of cropping system (monoculture, mixture with wheat), genotypes (S-62, S-69) and soil decomposers (earthworms, collembolans) on agronomic traits of faba bean. Trait performance and organ biomass of faba bean were evaluated after 100 and 180 days. Results: Genotype S-62 performed better than S-69 for stem, leaf and flowering traits, but it was the opposite for bean biomass. Mixture with wheat reduced most agronomic traits values but not bean biomass for both genotypes. Soil decomposer animals only showed an impact on the S-69 genotype in mixture, with most agronomic traits reduced by 4.6% ~ 19.9% but bean biomass increased by 139.7%. Conclusions: The effect of soil decomposer animals on bean agronomic traits varied between bean genotypes and depended on cropping system. Effects were most pronounced in the genotype allocating more resources to roots and the effects were stronger in mixed cropping systems with wheat. The more pronounced effect of soil decomposer animals in mixed cropping systems was likely due to animals increasing the competitive strength of wheat, thereby suppressing a wide range of bean agronomic traits but not bean biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food & Dairy Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Crisp grass carp is a type of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) that has been fed faba beans. Flesh quality and expression of muscle quality-related genes in muscle of grass carp were evaluated. Compared with ordinary grass carp, 1901 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated and 1628 DEGs were down-regulated in crisp grass carp. The GO analysis results showed that the DEGs were enriched in ribosomes and proteins. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis results showed that amino acid metabolism was closely related to meat quality. COX3, ACADS, ACAT1, ECHS1, EHHADH, HADHAA, HADH, HMGCL, MCCC1 and MCCC2 were the top 10 hub genes most closely associated with other nodes and showed a strong positive correlation. Hardness was positively correlated with the COX3, ECHS1, ACADS, ACAT1, HADHA, HADH, HMGCL and MCCC1. These results have been demonstrated to play important roles in clarifying the molecular mechanism of muscle firmness increase in crisp grass carp.

Abstract This research aimed to assess the production performance of faba beans, quantify the yield gap, and measure the adoption levels of improved varieties to map the actors and identify the major constraints of the faba bean seed value chain. The paper was based on primary data collected from a random sample of 168 farmers. The adoption rate of improved faba bean seed at the household level in the study area was 23%. It was low, primarily due to a lack of access to improved seeds (59.5%) and a lack of knowledge about the availability of improved varieties (23%). Improved seed users had a 13% higher average yield than non-users and received an 11% premium market price for better seed quality, uniform appearance, and larger beans. Furthermore, the econometric analysis revealed that family size and extension contact significantly influence farmers' use of improved seed. Adoption was positively and significantly associated with extension contact at the p

This research aimed to assess the production performance of faba beans, quantify the yield gap, and measure the adoption levels of improved varieties to map the actors and identify the major constraints of the faba bean seed value chain. The paper was based on primary data collected from a random sample of 168 farmers. The adoption rate of improved faba bean seed at the household level in the study area was 23%. It was low, primarily due to a lack of access to improved seeds (59.5%) and a lack of knowledge about the availability of improved varieties (23%). Improved seed users had a 13% higher average yield than non-users and received an 11% premium market price for better seed quality, uniform appearance, and larger beans. Furthermore, the econometric analysis revealed that family size and extension contact significantly influence farmers' use of improved seed. Adoption was positively and significantly associated with extension contact at the p <.001 level and inversely correlated with family size (p <.05), thereby indicating that larger families were less likely to adopt. Farmers' saved seed was their most important source of planting material. The formal seed industry only supplies about 2.2% of the total faba bean seed. Hence, farmer-to-farmer seed exchange, own-saved seed, community-based seed production, scaling activities, seed producer and marketing cooperatives, and farmer-to-farmer seed exchange were the main sources of faba bean seed. The main limitations to faba bean production were disease, limited availability of improved seeds, frost, and damage caused by pests. The study recommends promoting improved varieties, improving access to extension services, strengthening and improving the informal seed system, and linking and integrating all the actors in the chain. The institutional linkage and intensive communication among all the stakeholders are also important for technology scaling up and farmers' easy access to improved seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ditylenchus gigas Vovlas is the dominant species of Ditylenchus nematode on faba bean in the UK. It is normally reported with Botrytis fabae Sardiña, which causes chocolate spot of faba bean. The aim of the work reported here was to estimate how fast isolated infections of D. gigas may spread spatially and how background infection of the host with B. fabae alters multiplication of D. gigas. Spatial spread in field conditions was measured in plants growing in square grids. After establishment, single plants at the centre of each grid were spray inoculated with D. gigas. In summer 2017, D. gigas spread to a distance of at least 1 m, the edge of each 2 m × 2 m plot. Incidence on shoots decreased very slowly with distance beyond 0.4 m. In a repeat experiment harvested in autumn 2018, D. gigas was detected at distances of up to 160 cm in 4 m × 4 m plots. The yield effect and reproduction rate of D. gigas were measured in glasshouse experiments, alone and following brush inoculation with low (103) or high (106 conidia/mL) doses of B. fabae. At low doses of D. gigas inoculum multiplied by approximately 75‐fold, with lower rates of multiplication as the inoculum dose increased. The reproduction rate of D. gigas was reduced in plants inoculated with B. fabae, especially at high doses of D. gigas. The reduction was approximately proportional to log (B. fabae dose). Seed yield from inoculated plants decreased approximately in proportion to the logarithms of the initial dose of D. gigas and of B. fabae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of intercropping faba beans on soil fertility and microbial communities in pear orchards, soil samples were collected from no intercropping (CK), intercropped Sucan 3 Hao (CT1), intercropped Sucan 4 Hao (CT2), and intercropped Cican 1 Hao (CT3, local variety) treatments during the seedling stage, flowering stage, and maturity stage. The samples were analyzed for soil physicochemical properties, microbial activity, and community structures. The results showed that after intercropping with faba beans, the nitrate nitrogen (NO-3-N), and available phosphorus (Olsen P) increased during the seedling stage. During the flowering stage, soil electrical conductivity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and NO-3-N contents significantly increased, while pH and Olsen P contents significantly decreased. Intercropping with faba beans increased soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), especially CT1 and CT2 increased by 36% and 51%, respectively at the maturity stage compared with CK (P<0.05), and decreased the activity of hydrolytic enzymes related to the degradation of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Additionally, intercropping with faba beans increased the bacterial richness index and the Shannon index. It also increased the relative abundances of bacteria from the Planctomycetota, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, and Verrucomicrobia phyla, while decreasing the relative abundances of bacteria from the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria phyla. Mantel and CCA analyses indicated that pH and NO-3-N were important driving factors for microbial activity, and MBC significantly affected the bacterial community structures. Our results indicates that longterm intercropping of faba beans helps to increase soil microbial biomass and diversity, playing a crucial role in maintaining soil microecological diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candidate genes related to first pod height (FPH) traits in faba bean plants are crucial for mechanised breeding. However, reports on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping related to the FPH of faba bean are few, thus limiting the high-quality development of the faba bean industry to a certain extent. The identification and screening of candidate genes related to FPH is extremely urgent for the advancement of mechanised breeding for faba bean. In this study, a high-density genetic linkage map was constructed using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) of an F3 population and QTLs (genes) related to FPH were identified. The genetic linkage map contained seven linkage groups with 3012 SNP markers with an overall length of 4089.13 centimorgan (cM) and an average marker density of 1.36 cM. Thirty-eight QTLs for the first pod node (FPN) and FPH were identified (19 each for FPN and FPH). The 19 QTLs associated with FPN were located on chromosomes 1L, 1S, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; the 19 QTLs associated with FPH were located on chromosomes 1L, 1S, 2, 3, 5, and 6. There was a co-localisation interval of qFPN6-1 and qFPH6-1 on chromosome 6. By annotating the QTL qFPH6-1 interval, 36 genes that may be related to FPH were identified, these genes are related to plant growth and development. The results provide a basis for the precise location of QTLs related to FPH and could accelerate the breeding of faba bean varieties adapted to mechanised harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is a major challenge for faba bean production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This study investigated the effect of deficit irrigation and organic or bio-fertilization on faba bean yield and water use efficiency (WUE). The experiment was conducted in two consecutive winter seasons in Egypt, and the average results of the two seasons were presented because there were no significant differences between the two seasons. The experimental design was split-plot with three replicates in each season. The main plots were assigned to the amounts of irrigation water [3330 m3 ha−1 (I1), 2830 m3 ha−1 (I2), and 2330 m3 ha−1 (I3)] and the subplots were devoted to the fertilization treatments [control, humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and effective micro-organisms (EM)]. The results showed that the plant height and branch numbers were increased by 139.95 and 242.03%, respectively, for HA at irrigation treatment of I2 over the control. Adding HA increased chlorophyll and protein contents by 209.04 and 295.46%, respectively, over the control at irrigation regime of I2. Adding HA significantly increased pods number, pods weight per plant, and total green yield by 380.21, 314.51, and 420.28%, respectively, over the control. The WUE value was 4.51 kg m−3 by adding HA under deficit irrigation I2 compared to irrigation I3 (2.64 kg m−3) while the WUE value was 4.58 kg m−3 at normal irrigation (I1). Overall, the application of organic or bio-fertilizers, especially humic acid, could mitigate the negative effects of deficit irrigation and improve faba bean yield and WUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Faba bean is a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It serves as a staple food in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean region. Faba bean production in Canada has recently increased due to the interest in sustainable plant‐based proteins. Identifying faba bean varieties that can grow across different environments and provide good quality, nutrition, and functionality is important. This study aimed to determine the effect of variety, growing location, and year on the composition, certain anti‐nutrients, and functionality of the faba bean varieties grown in Canada. Findings: Variety, growing location, and year had significant effects on the protein content, crude fat, ash, phytic acid, stachyose, verbascose, trypsin inhibitor activity, and functional properties of faba beans, including oil emulsion and water holding capacity. Starch content, total dietary fiber, and least gelling concentration were significantly affected by variety and growing location, whereas raffinose, oil absorption capacity, foaming capacity, and stability were significantly affected by variety and growing year. Significant interactions of variety, growing location, and year were observed for most characteristics. Environment played a greater role in affecting faba bean characteristics than variety except for starch content, total dietary fiber, oligosaccharides, and foaming stability. Conclusions: It was found that varietal and environmental factors affected each trait differently. Selecting suitable varieties and growing conditions would improve the quality of faba bean. Significance and Novelty: Information from this study will be useful to breeders, growers, and food manufacturers to improve the production and utilization of faba beans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper crop rotation determines soil fecundity, which is pertinent for successor crops. With this problem in mind, a study was performed to evaluate the interference of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), winter wheat (T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), maize (Zea mays L.), and winter rape (Brassica napus L.) as forecrops on the increase in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and the biochemical and physicochemical properties of the soil. Tests with faba bean were performed in pots in the vegetation hall. The pots were filled with soil from under the abovementioned four plant species, and faba bean was grown. Soil unsown with faba bean was also tested to measure the rhizosphere effect. At the beginning of the experiment, and after its completion, enzymatic and physicochemical analyses of the soil were performed. On the 120th day of the study, faba bean was harvested and biometry was performed. The forecrop substantially influenced the biometric features of the faba bean and the biochemical activity of the soil. Faba beans grown in soil under spring wheat and winter wheat had the highest seed yield, while those grown in soil under the winter rape had the lowest yield. The geometric mean of the enzyme activity index was only significantly positively correlated with the number of faba bean seeds and the soil pH, as well as with the seed dry matter yield and the faba bean plant height. Faba bean cultivation increased the soil biochemical activity. The values of the biochemical and physicochemical parameters of the unsown soil were lower compared to the soil sown with faba bean. The conducted research can help to estimate the changes occurring in arable soils and maintain their stability thanks to the use of appropriate bioindicators, which are the soil enzymes. Moreover, the use of a diversified crop rotation in soil cultivation can provide a lot of information about its function, which can ultimately be used for planning the plant rotation, leading to the improvement of the soil structure and fertility, as well as its protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean is an important pulse. It provides proteins for the human diet and is used in industrial foodstuffs, such as flours. Drought stress severely reduces the yield of faba bean, and this can be efficiently overcome through the identification and application of key genes in response to drought. In this study, PacBio and Illumina RNA sequencing techniques were used to identify the key pathways and candidate genes involved in drought stress response. During seed germination, a total of 17,927 full-length transcripts and 12,760 protein-coding genes were obtained. There were 1676 and 811 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the varieties E1 and C105 at 16 h and 64 h under drought stress, respectively. Six and nine KEGG pathways were significantly enriched at 16 h and 64 h under drought stress, which produced 40 and 184 nodes through protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis, respectively. The DEGs of the PPI nodes were involved in the ABA (abscisic acid) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways, N-glycosylation, sulfur metabolism, and sugar metabolism. Furthermore, the ectopic overexpression of a key gene, AAT, encoding aspartate aminotransferase (AAT), in tobacco, enhanced drought tolerance. The activities of AAT and peroxidase (POD), the contents of cysteine and isoleucine, were increased, and the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA) and water loss decreased in the overexpressed plants. This study provides a novel insight into genetic response to drought stress and some candidate genes for drought tolerance genetic improvements in this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining population density is a crucial factor in assessing the damage caused by pests in stored products seed. In our study, we examined the population density and weight loss ratio of Callosobruchus chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) in foodstuffs derived from seeds, specifically cowpea and faba bean. We conducted the study at two different temperatures, 25 and 30 °C.Our findings indicated that faba bean was more susceptible to infestation by C. chinensis compared to cowpea, whereas cowpea was more susceptible to C. maculatus infestation than faba bean. Temperature and the type of food significantly influenced the population densities of the beetles. Under suitable conditions, the population density of C. chinensis was found to be lower than that of C. maculatus. Furthermore, we observed that the weight loss ratio was highest after infestation by C. maculatus, reaching 49.6% over a four-month period. Fractionation of proteins using SDS-PAGE revealed differences in protein bands between infested and uninfested cowpea seeds with C. maculatus.Additionally, we tested the effectiveness of various plant powders at different concentrations against C. maculatus. The results demonstrated that cloves and cumin were the most efficient in controlling the infestation. Overall, our study highlights the importance of population density in assessing pest damage in stored products, and provides insights into the susceptibility of different food types to infestation by C. chinensis and C. maculatus, as well as the impact of temperature and plant powders in controlling these pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Faba bean is a protein-rich winter legume used for food and feed. To meet the growing needs for improved cultivars of faba bean in India, long-term breeding research was conducted during 2007–2020, to develop a cultivar with superior seed yield and quality. In the first year, field screening of 55 genotypes was conducted for yield and quality, with 17 genotypes selected and used in a crossing program to generate F1 hybrids. In subsequent years, F2–F6 progenies were advanced, after continuous evaluation, rejection, and selection, with 20 superior recombinants identified as promising genotypes. These were evaluated in field trials during winter seasons of 2015–2016 and 2016–2017. Based on this testing, four genotypes; HB 14-18, HB 1-20, HB 1-32, and HB 1-21 had higher grain yield and grain protein content and were further evaluated in multi-location field trials at four locations; namely, Ambikapur, Ayodha, Hisar, and Ludhiana in India during 2017–2020. Among these four genotypes, HB 1-21 produced higher yield, 2.656 t/ha, and increased grain protein, 28.05%, an increase of more than 10% compared to national check cultivars HFB-1 (2.315 t/ha, 24.78%) and Vikrant (2.198 t/ha, 25.42%). Additionally, HB 1-21 was low in anti-nutritional content vicine-convicine and resistance to diseases Alternaria blight and root rot disease. This genotype, HB 14-21 has all desirable traits of increased yield and quality and has been recommended for commercial release as a new cultivar in the plain zones of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity of faba bean is highly constrained by an emerging and destructive faba bean gall (FBG) disease caused by the fungus Physoderma. Field surveys were conducted to assess the spatial and temporal distribution as well as intensity of FBG disease and determine the association of biophysical factors with FBG disease epidemics in Ethiopia, during 2018 and 2019. A total of 783 fields were assessed across 14 districts. FBG disease was present in all surveyed districts with variable incidence and severity. The highest mean FBG disease severity was recorded in Sinan district (64%) and Ankober district (45%) during 2018 and 2019, respectively. The associations of independent variables with disease incidence and severity were analyzed using the logistic regression model. District, altitude (≥2700 m), poorly drained soil, high weed and crop density, flowering stage, manure application, and early or late planting showed a significant association (P < 0.0001) with FBG disease incidence and severity. FBG disease was found as a major production constraint in all survey districts. Therefore, proper soil drainage, weed managements, adjusting crop density, recommended planting time along with tolerant varieties should be targeted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean is an important cool-season food legume currently constrained by an emerging gall disease (Olpidium viciae) in Ethiopia's highlands. Variability tests of O. viciae isolates were conducted to determine its pathogenic variation on six faba bean varieties in the growth chamber and eight other legumes in the screen house. Each faba bean variety and legume was inoculated with zoospores suspension (106 spores mL−1) of each isolate. The variability tests were conducted twice on six faba bean varieties to identify the pathogenic level of 30 O. viciae isolates and the experiments were factorially arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. There was significant variation (P < 0.01) among faba bean varieties, other legumes, and isolates in the components of disease development in both experiments. Isolates ST8 and SL4 caused the highest disease severity (34.23%) and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) (180.56%-days) on faba bean variety Bulga 70. Seven pathogenic isolates were identified as causing more disease on faba bean varieties than the remaining 23 isolates and then inoculated on other legumes. Isolate SEL caused the highest disease severity on grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) (20.99%). Next to faba bean, higher AUDPC (156.64%-days) was calculated from inoculated grass pea with WQZ isolate. Thus, the isolates varied in their infection ability in the tested legumes and faba bean varieties, and the pathogen had a wide range of hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase Europe's self-sufficiency for protein sources, boosting plant protein production is a prerequisite. Yield variability is one of the main problems regarding the cultivation of protein crops. In this light, cereal–legume intercropping can offer a solution, as well-balanced intercropping systems are less prone to yield variations. Therefore, in this study the effects of (i) species/genotype combination, (ii) intercropping sowing densities and (iii) fertilizer regime were evaluated under Belgian (Northwestern European) conditions over three years (i.e., the 2020–2021, 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons). Regarding the species combinations, winter barley x winter pea, winter wheat x winter faba bean and winter triticale x winter faba bean, it was observed that the best-performing combination varied from year to year depending on the prevailing weather conditions. A reduced sowing density (i.e., 130 seeds/m2 for the cereal partner and 20 seeds/m2 in the case of faba bean or 40 seeds/m2 in the case of pea) was sufficient to achieve competitive yields under the prevailing conditions. Inoculation with commercial Rhizobium strains did not result in an increased yield. Fertilization with one or two nitrogen fractions significantly increased the total yield thanks to a yield increase in the cereal partner; however, as a consequence, the proportion of legumes in the mixture decreased. In conclusion, it can be stated that with the investigated cereal–legume combinations, a competitive yield and qualitative protein yield can be achieved with a reduced fertilizer input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented research was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, Horticulture and Landscape Design, Agriculture and Forestry College, Univ. of Mosul. The research examines the mineral concentration and protein in fifteen genotypes of faba bean, which were sowing under Mosul condition using RCBD design with three replicates for each genotype. The result showed that the mineral element concentration was considerable variation amongst the genotypes ; genotype (S 2009, 140) gave a high value in the number of seeds in each pod, while genotype (S 2008, 096) was supervised in seed diameter, genotype S2009,81 gave a high value in seed length. At the same time, the genotype (S 2009, 175) was supervise compared with the other genotypes under the study, in the other hand the genotype (S 2008, 034) gave the high value in the seed weight plant-1, The genotype (S 2009, 140 ) supervised in Fe percentage which was given a high value (5.275%) comparative with the other genotypes, while the genotype (Aguadulce) gave high value such as K percentage (4.1%), the genotype (S2009,40) supervised in Ca percentage (1.75%) comparative with the other genotypes under the study, in addition to the genotypes (S 2009, 116, S 2009, 81,S 2008, 034) gave the zero (0.0%) percentage in Mn., while the genotype (S 2008, 096) gave the high value in Pb percentage (8.710%).The genotype (ILB 1814) was supervised in N percentage and protein, which were (4.9 and 30.625%) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Below-ground (BG) N of N2 fixing grain legumes is an important N input to farming systems, likely underestimated as N solely in coarse roots. 15N methodology can improve measures of BG N accumulation. Our objective was to identify a 15N method for potential use at remote field sites. We hypothesised that method and frequency of 15N feeding may result in different estimates of BG N. Methods: Glasshouse-grown grain legumes, leaf or stem fed 15N once or twice, were sampled three weeks after feed and at physiological maturity. Three BG fractions were isolated using 2 mm sieving; recovered cleaned roots>2 mm, unrecovered roots >2 mm remaining on sieve with adhering soil, and bulk soil that passed through sieve along with fine roots <2 mm. Fractions were measured for N/15N to estimate BGN. Inorganic, total soluble organic and microbial N/15N were also assessed for bulk soil. Results: Estimates of BG N were not influenced by method or frequency of 15N feeding. Recovered root N was 33–55% of estimated plant BG N at physiological maturity. Low amounts of fed 15N detected as inorganic or soluble organic N (0.1–0.7%) and microbial biomass N (0.2–2.5%) were attributed to rhizodeposition. A large proportion of fed 15N in bulk soil (51–67%) was present as 'insoluble' N attributed to fine roots. Conclusions: A single 15N stem-feeding at remote field sites should suffice to provide a measure of BG N larger than that N measured in recovered roots on a 2 mm sieve. Little evidence for direct leakage into soil labile N pools of highly labelled 15N post-feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With worldwide cultivation, the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) stands as one of the most vital cool-season legume crops, serving as a major component of food security. China leads global faba bean production in terms of both total planting area and yield, with major production hubs in Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Gansu provinces. The faba bean viruses have caused serious yield losses in these production areas, but previous researches have not comprehensively investigated this issue. In this study, we collected 287 faba bean samples over three consecutive years from eight provinces/municipalities of China. We employed small RNA sequencing, RT-PCR, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis to detect the presence of viruses and examine their incidence, distribution, and genetic diversity. We identified a total of nine distinct viruses: bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV, Potyvirus), milk vetch dwarf virus (MDV, Nanovirus), vicia cryptic virus (VCV, Alphapartitivirus), bean common mosaic virus (BCMV, Potyvirus), beet western yellows virus (BWYV, Polerovirus), broad bean wilt virus (BBWV, Fabavirus), soybean mosaic virus (SMV, Potyvirus), pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV, Potyvirus), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, Cucumovirus). BYMV was the predominant virus found during our sampling, followed by MDV and VCV. This study marks the first reported detection of BCMV in Chinese faba bean fields. Except for several isolates from Gansu and Yunnan provinces, our sequence analysis revealed that the majority of BYMV isolates contain highly conserved nucleotide sequences of coat protein (CP). Amino acid sequence alignment indicates that there is a conserved NAG motif at the N-terminal region of BYMV CP, which is considered important for aphid transmission. Our findings not only highlight the presence and diversity of pathogenic viruses in Chinese faba bean production, but also provide target pathogens for future antiviral resource screening and a basis for antiviral breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their combination (Ch-AgNPs) in controlling the chocolate spot of faba bean caused by Botrytis fabae. Five isolates of B. fabae were collected from diseased faba bean plants and screened for pathogenicity on the most susceptible faba bean cultivar, Giza 843. Among the isolates, B. fabae isolate No.3 exhibited the highest virulence. Antifungal effects of ChNPs, AgNPs (with an average particle size of 15 and 42 nm, respectively), and Ch-AgNPs mixture at 5, 10 and 20 ppm were assessed against B. fabae isolate No.3. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the Ch-AgNPs mixture at 20 ppm exhibited the greatest inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of B. fabae, with a reduction of 100% compared to the individual nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy revealed notable cellular changes in B. fabae cells treated with the Ch-AgNPs mixture. Greenhouse results exhibited that the great reductions in disease severity were achieved with Tridex 80% WP® fungicide (96.51%), followed by Ch-AgNPs mixture with 84.53% reduction. The Ch-AgNPs mixture effectively enhanced the activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase enzymes and the total phenol content in the plants. Application of ChNPs, AgNPs, and the Ch-AgNPs mixture significantly improved faba bean growth and yield parameters. However, the cytotoxicity assay indicated a concentration-dependent toxic effect of Ch-AgNPs, with no significant hemolytic activity observed in red blood cells. In conclusion, the Ch-AgNPs mixture was promising as a fungicide for combating the chocolate spot in faba bean.

Environmental concerns linked to animal-based protein production have intensified interest in sustainable alternatives, with a focus on underutilized plant proteins. Faba beans, primarily used for animal feed, offer a high-quality protein source with promising bioactive compounds for food applications. This study explores the efficacy of ultrasound-assisted extraction under optimal conditions (123 W power, 1:15 g/mL solute/solvent ratio, 41 min sonication, 623 mL total volume) to isolate faba bean protein (U-FBPI). The ultrasound-assisted method achieved a protein extraction yield of 19.75 % and a protein content of 92.87 %, outperforming the control method’s yield of 16.41 % and protein content of 89.88 %. Electrophoretic analysis confirmed no significant changes in the primary structure of U-FBPI compared to the control. However, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed modifications in the secondary structure due to ultrasound treatment. The U-FBPI demonstrated superior water and oil holding capacities compared to the control protein isolate, although its foaming capacity was reduced by ultrasound. Thermal analysis indicated minimal impact on the protein’s thermal properties under the applied ultrasound conditions. This research highlights the potential of ultrasound-assisted extraction for improving the functional properties of faba bean protein isolates, presenting a viable approach for advancing plant-based food production and contributing to sustainable protein consumption.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides a high-throughput phenotyping technique to assist breeding for improved faba bean seed quality. We combined chemical analysis of protein, oil content (and composition) with NIRS through chemometrics, employing Partial Least Squares (PLS), Elastic Net (EN), Memory-based Learning (MBL), and Bayes B (BB) as prediction models. Protein was the most reliably predicted trait (R2 = 0.96–0.98) across field trials, followed by oil (R2 = 0.82–0.86) and oleic acid (R2 = 0.31–0.68). Samples for training the models were selected using K-means clustering. The optimal statistical approach for prediction was compound-specific: PLS for protein (Root Mean Squared Error - RMSE = 0.46), BB for oil (RMSE = 0.067), and EN for oleic acid content (RMSE = 2.83). Reduced training set simulations revealed different effects on prediction accuracy depending on the model and compound. Several NIR regions were pinpointed as highly informative for the compounds, using the shrinkage and variable selection capabilities of EN and BB.

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of the College of Agriculture, Anbar University, Ramadi district during the 2021-2022 season. The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of four concentrated sprays of Nano-zinc fertilizer on some growth traits of four different Faba bean genotypes. Split Plot Design was applied according to R.C.B.D. design with three replicates. The main factor included four Nano-zinc concentrations: 0, 60, 120, and 180 mg L-1, while the other factor included four Faba bean genotypes (Local, American, Dutch, and Italian). The results showed that the studied traits were significantly influenced by the study factors. The American genotype achieved the highest average in most studied traits, with a plant height of 93.96 cm, leaf area of 6.10 cm² plant-1, leaf chlorophyll content of 1.39 mg g-1, and zinc concentration in leaves of 98.38 mg kg-1. Spraying with Nano-zinc fertilizer also led to significant improvement in most of the studied traits, where the high concentration of zinc (180 mg L-1) led to the highest average number of branches per plant (10.40 branches plant-1) and zinc concentration in leaves (100.18 mg kg-1). As for the interaction between genotypes and Nano-zinc, it significantly influenced some of the studied traits. The interaction between the American genotype plants treated with 60 mg L-1 Nano-zinc achieved the highest averages for plant height and leaf zinc concentration.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of four biochar concentrations (0, 2, 5, and 8%) on single and interactive effects of salinity and drought stresses on the morphological, physiological, and photosynthetic parameters of faba bean plants. PCA analysis showed that plants displayed different behavior under non-stressed and stressed conditions. The most discriminating quantitative characters were related to plant biomass production and photosynthesis, especially shoot dry mass, root dry mass, plant fresh mass, internal CO2 concentration, net CO2 assimilation rate, and relative water content. The obtained results confirm the biochar's important role in promoting plant growth under normal or stressed conditions. Thus, a better understanding of the impact of biochar on plant growth under drought and salinity stresses will be beneficial for sustainable agriculture.

In a lab experiment using seed priming, the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seed germination and seedling development were studied. Twenty different priming techniques were utilized in the study, each comprising varying concentrations of NaOCI, CaCl2, KNO3, Manitol, PEG, KCL, H2O and a control group that received no priming. Four replications of a completely randomized design (CRD) were used in the experiment. Among the three priming treatments, there were substantial differences in the seedling growth metrics and germination rate. When 500 ppm NaOCl was used as a treatment, the highest seed germination percentage (96%) was attained. Although 100 ppm PEG had the greatest germination index (42.92), 10000 ppm NaOCl had the quickest mean germination time (8.27). Additionally, at a concentration of 1500 ppm NaOCl, the greatest seedling vigor index (29.79) and maximum germination coefficient (12.28) were likewise obtained. With H2O treatment, the maximum shoot length (21.09 cm) was observed for seedling growth parameters. The largest root length was produced by a 10000 ppm KNO3 treatment (11.19 cm). With 20000 ppm KNO3, the maximum root dry weight was achieved (88.50 mg), whereas H2O produced the highest shoot dry weight (51.0 mg). Additionally, it was discovered that a treatment with 10000 ppm KNO3 had the best root-shoot ratio (0.72). The research thus supports the possible use of seed priming as a method to improve faba bean seed germination and seedling growth. NaOCl and KNO3 seemed to work best for faba bean seed germination and seedling growth.

Abstract Background Orobanche is an obligate parasite on faba bean in the Mediterranean region, causes considerable yield losses. Breeding tolerant faba bean genotypes to Orobanche is pivotal to sustain production and ensuring global food security, particularly considering the challenges posed by population growth. In the present study, seven faba bean lines and four testers were used in a line×tester mating design during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 growing seasons. The eleven parents and their 28 F1 crosses were evaluated under Orobanche free and naturally infested soils. Results The results demonstrated considerable variations among the evaluated genotypes, wide diversity among the parental materials, and heterotic effects for all studied agronomic traits under Orobanche-free and infested soils. Orbanche infestation displayed a significant adverse impact on all the studied agronomic traits. The genotypes Line1, Line2, Line3, and Line5 displayed superior performance under Orobanche-infested conditions and recorded the highest values of all studied agronomic traits. Additionally, Line1, Line2, Line3, Line5, and Line7 exhibited desirable significant GCA for most evaluated traits under the two infestation conditions. The obtained crosses displayed significant negative or positive heterosis for studied agronomic characters such as plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, and seed weight per plant were observed. Furthermore, specific cross combinations such as Line2×Sakha3, Line3×Nubaria5, Line7 × Nubaria5, Line6×Nubaria1, Line5×Sakha3, Line1×Sakha3, and Line1 × Nubaria5 exhibited superior performance in seed yield and contributing traits under Orobanche-infested conditions. Moreover, these specific crosses showed superior efficacy in reducing dry weight of Orobanche spikes. The results obtained from GGE biplot analysis closely aligned with those from the line×tester procedure, affirming the significance of GGE biplot as a valuable statistical tool for assessing genotype combining ability in line× tester data. Both additive and non-additive gene actions were reported to be predominantly involved in the inheritance of the studied agronomic traits in faba bean. Conclusions The detected genetic diversity within the evaluated faba bean genotypes and their developed crosses exhibits substantial potential for improving faba bean productivity under Orobanche-infested conditions. The parental genotypes, Line1, Line2, Line3, Line5, and Line7, were identified as effective and promising combiners. Moreover, the developed crosses Line2×Sakha3, Line3×Nubaria5, Line7×Nubaria5, Line6×Nubaria1, Line5×Sakha3, Line1×Sakha3, and Line1×Nubaria5 could be considered valuable candidates for developing high-yielding and tolerant faba bean genotypes to Orobanche.

AbstractFaba bean is an important, protein-rich pulse crop grown worldwide, with increasing acreage in Canada in the last 50 years. Stemphylium blight can cause substantial yield losses due to defoliation of the plant. In 2022, high incidence levels of Stemphylium blight were observed in research plots at Rosthern and Melfort, SK. Based on morphological characteristics, DNA barcoding, and virulence testing, S. eturmiunum was confirmed as the causal pathogen of these Stemphylium blight lesions. This is the first report of S. eturmiunum infection causing Stemphylium blight on faba bean in Canada. Based on the severity of symptoms it can cause, S. eturmiunum has the potential to pose a serious threat to faba bean production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean is an important legume crop worldwide, which is grown both for food and feed. As for many legume crops, postemergence weed control is difficult. The aim of this work was to assess the potential of intercropping in weed management by assessing the effect of mixing faba bean with different crops (wheat, barley, and pea) on weeds in the South of Spain. Four field trials were conducted over four consecutive seasons, and the results found that the addition of alternate intercropping of faba bean and barley achieved high levels of weed control, both for coverage and biomass (92.7% and 76.6%, respectively). Intercropping with wheat did not reduce weed coverage but did decrease weed biomass by 46.1% as compared with the faba bean monocrop. Intercropping with pea did not provide significant reductions in weed coverage or weed biomass. The diversity of the weed community was not altered by the different crop combinations tested. Additional experiments under controlled conditions were carried out to determine the possible role of barley allelopathy in weed suppression. A strong allelopathic effect entailing a reduction in the number of plants and biomass was detected for four weeds including Sinapis arvensis, Polypogon monspeliensis, Matricaria camomilla, and Medicago truncatula. It can be concluded that intercropping faba bean with barley is an excellent strategy for weed control in Southern Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with high-resolution imaging sensors have shown great potential for plant phenotyping in agricultural research. This study aimed to explore the potential of UAV-derived red–green–blue (RGB) and multispectral imaging data for estimating classical phenotyping measures such as plant height and predicting yield and chlorophyll content (indicated by SPAD values) in a field trial of 38 faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivars grown at four replicates in south-eastern Norway. To predict yield and SPAD values, Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Random Forest (RF) models were utilized. Two feature selection methods, namely the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and sequential forward feature selection (SFS), were applied to identify the most relevant features for prediction. The models incorporated various combinations of multispectral bands, indices, and UAV-based plant height values at four different faba bean development stages. The correlation between manual and UAV-based plant height measurements revealed a strong agreement with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.97. The best prediction of SPAD value was achieved at BBCH 50 (flower bud present) with an R2 of 0.38 and RMSE of 1.14. For yield prediction, BBCH 60 (first flower open) was identified as the optimal stage, using spectral indices yielding an R2 of 0.83 and RMSE of 0.53 tons/ha. This development stage presents an opportunity to implement targeted management practices to enhance yield. The integration of UAVs equipped with RGB and multispectral cameras, along with machine learning algorithms, proved to be an accurate approach for estimating agronomically important traits in faba bean. This methodology offers a practical solution for rapid and efficient high-throughput phenotyping in faba bean breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity for sustainable agricultural practices has propelled a renewed interest in legumes such as faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as agents to help deliver increased diversity to cropped systems and provide an organic source of nitrogen (N). However, the increased cultivation of faba beans has proven recalcitrant worldwide as a result of low yields. So, it is hoped that increased and more stable yields would improve the commercial success of the crop and so the likelihood of cultivation. Enhancing biological N fixation (BNF) in faba beans holds promise not only to enhance and stabilize yields but also to increase residual N available to subsequent cereal crops grown on the same field. In this review, we cover recent progress in enhancing BNF in faba beans. Specifically, rhizobial inoculation and the optimization of fertilizer input and cropping systems have received the greatest attention in the literature. We also suggest directions for future research on the subject. In the short term, modification of crop management practices such as fertilizer and biochar input may offer the benefits of enhanced BNF. In the long term, natural variation in rhizobial strains and faba bean genotypes can be harnessed. Strategies must be optimized on a local scale to realize the greatest benefits. Future research must measure the most useful parameters and consider the economic cost of strategies alongside the advantages of enhanced BNF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollination in angiosperms depends on complex communication between pollen grains and stigmas, classified as wet or dry, depending on the presence or absence of secretions at the stigma surface, respectively. In species with wet stigma, the cuticle is disrupted and the presence of exudates is indicative of their receptivity. Most stigma studies are focused on a few species and families, many of them with self-incompatibility systems. However, there is scarce knowledge about the stigma composition in Fabaceae, the third angiosperm family, whose stigmas have been classified as semidry. Here we report the first transcriptome profiling and DEGs of Vicia faba L. styles and stigmas from autofertile (flowers able to self-fertilize in the absence of manipulation, whose exudate is released spontaneously) and autosterile (flowers that need to be manipulated to break the cuticle and release the exudates to be receptive) inbred lines. From the 76,269 contigs obtained from the de novo assembly, only 45.1% of the sequences were annotated with at least one GO term. A total of 115,920, 75,489, and 70,801 annotations were assigned to Biological Process (BP), Cellular Component (CC), and Molecular Function (MF) categories, respectively, and 5918 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the autofertile and the autosterile lines. Among the most enriched metabolic pathways in the DEGs subset were those related with amino acid biosynthesis, terpenoid metabolism, or signal transduction. Some DEGs have been related with previous QTLs identified for autofertility traits, and their putative functions are discussed. The results derived from this work provide an important transcriptomic reference for style-stigma processes to aid our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in faba bean fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Faba bean has gained attention as a cost-effective protein source with the potential to enhance product quality (texture properties, collagen content, etc.) in fish. However, its anti-nutrition factor, high feed conversion ratio, poor growth performance, etc. limit the widely application as a dietary source, especially in carnivorous fish. The water or alcohol extract of faba bean might resolve the problem. In this study, the juvenile Nibea coibor, known for their high-protein, large-sized, and high-grade swim bladder, were fed with seven isoproteic and isolipid experimental diets with the additive of faba bean water extract (1.25%, 2.5%, and 5%) or faba bean alcohol extract (0.9%, 1.8%, and 3.6%), with a control group without faba bean extract. After the 10-week feeding trail, the growth, antioxidant capacity, textural properties, and collagen deposition of the swim bladder were analyzed. Results showed that the 1.25% faba bean water extract group could significantly promote growth, textural quality of the swim bladder, and have beneficial effects on antioxidant response of fish. Conversely, dietary supplementation of faba bean alcohol extract resulted in reduced growth performance in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, fish fed diet with 1.25% faba bean water extract exhibited increased collagen content and upregulated collagen-related gene expression in the swim bladder, which was consistent with the Masson stain analysis for collagen fiber. Our results suggested that the anti-nutrient factor and bioactive component of faba bean may mainly be enriched in alcohol extract and water extract of faba bean, respectively. Besides, the appropriate addition of water extract of faba bean may improve the texture quality of the swim bladder by promoting collagen deposition. This study would provide a theoretical basis for the formulated diets with faba bean extract to promote product quality of marine fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although the transition toward a more sustainable agricultural system is sparking the interest of scientists and farmers around the globe, breeding programs are still focusing on optimizing cultivars intended for the monoculture system, and most cultivars available on the market are not suitable for intercropping. The incorporation of versatile cool-season food legumes (CSFLs) in the intercropping system is a promising way toward more diversified and sustainable cropping systems. However, as the selection of good-performing cultivars under sole cropping does not always lead to a good performance in intercropping, the development of an alternative breeding scheme for intercropping is now a necessity. The case study of faba bean-wheat intercropping was used to select for traits associated with better performance of faba bean, resulting in identifying the combined grain yield, 100-seed weight, number of pods per plant, and canopy height as key traits for faba bean-wheat intercropping suitability. Incorporating these traits in the breeding programs would be the cornerstone of the prospective transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-cropping is becoming an increasingly popular technique in agriculture to tackle major and complex agroecosystem problems such as biodiversity and soil fertility loss, erosion and degradation, increased greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Comprehensively assessing the impact of multi-cropping intensity on agroecosystems is a new and still under-researched approach that can provide a better understanding of the impact of individual indicators on the overall functioning of biodiverse agroecosystems. Data from a stationary field experiment using multi-cropping at the Vytautas Magnus University Experimental Station between 2020 and 2022 were used to carry out this study. The study included maize, hemp, and faba bean as single, binary, and ternary crops. A complex assessment approach (CEI value) was used to determine the impact of these crops on the agroecosystem, the interrelationships between the main indicators, and the strength of their effects. It was found that the ternary maize–hemp–faba bean crop had the most positive effect on the agroecosystem. The effectiveness of other crops was 2 to 35% less. The lowest value was calculated for the maize–faba bean crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black bean aphids are considered a serious pest that can reduce faba bean yield by more than 50%, especially in organic farms. In response to the huge losses caused by aphids, this study aimed to investigate the effect of faba bean-oat and/or wheat intercropping modalities on the incidences and severity of black bean aphids (Aphis fabae Scop.). The experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the number of aphids per plant among the sole faba bean crop and the faba bean cereal intercropping systems. The faba beanoat intercropping at (1:4) ratio significantly reduced the number of aphids per plant, as well as the number of infested plants, with a reduction percentage of 84.44% and 42.42% respectively. However, intercropping faba bean with the two species of cereals at (1:1) ratio did not improve aphid control. Regarding faba bean yield, the intercropping with oat at (1:2) ratio provided the best results and improved the yield crop from 3.76 Q/ha (in sole faba bean) to 8.12 Q/ha (in intercropping system). It was concluded that black bean aphid infestation could be minimized by intercropping practices such as faba bean cereal intercropping. However, the choice of crop species and intercropping modalities is highly important, not only to ensure suitable faba bean productivity but also for sustainable pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop microcapsules containing juniper or black pepper essential oils, using a combination of faba bean protein and chia seed polysaccharides (in ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1). By synergizing these two polymers, our goal was to enhance the efficiency of essential oil microencapsulation, opening up various applications in the food industry. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the influence of different polymer mixing ratios on the properties of the resulting microcapsules and the course of the complex coacervation process. To dissolve the essential oils and limit their evaporation, soybean and rapeseed oils were used. The powders resulting from the freeze-drying of coacervates underwent testing to assess microencapsulation efficiency (65.64–87.85%), density, flowability, water content, solubility, and hygroscopicity. Additionally, FT-IR and DSC analyses were conducted. FT-IR analysis confirmed the interactions between the components of the microcapsules, and these interactions were reflected in their high thermal resistance, especially at a protein-to-polysaccharide ratio of 2:1 (177.2 °C). The water content in the obtained powders was low (3.72–7.65%), but it contributed to their hygroscopicity (40.40–76.98%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]