Bean Plants Research Articles

The role of substrate‐borne vibrational signals in the sexual communication of the painted bug, Bagrada hilaris

AbstractThe invasive alien stink bug Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), native to eastern‐southern Africa and central‐southern Asia, poses significant economic threats to agroecosystems due to its polyphagous diet with a preference for brassicaceous crops. Current control methods using broad‐spectrum insecticides are expensive and often result in significant negative ecological impacts, as well as posing a health risk to consumers. This study provides a detailed description of the mating behavior of B. hilaris, with the aim to ascertain whether substrate‐borne vibrations have a role in premating phases. Such knowledge may contribute to the development of alternative biorational control techniques employing vibrational strategies. Virgin adults were tested individually or in pairs on different substrates, that is, a loudspeaker membrane and a bean plant. Vibrations emitted by males and females were recorded using a laser Doppler vibrometer, and the following spectral and temporal parameters were analyzed: fundamental frequency, emission time, repetition time, and signal modulation. Three distinct types of vibration emitted by males and females were identified: a male vibrotype (MV‐1), a female vibrotype (FV), and a copula signal exclusively emitted by males (MS‐2). MV‐1 and FV were emitted prior to genitalia contact, whereas MS‐2 was emitted within the mounting and engagement phases. Statistical analysis revealed significant transitions in behavioral phases for couples that achieved mating. By analyzing the walking behavior, there was an inverse relationship between motility and signal emission when comparing the two sexes, which suggests that males might engage in a form of searching behavior. These findings provide insight into the crucial role of vibrational communication to achieve mating in B. hilaris.

GATA transcription factor in common bean: A comprehensive genome-wide functional characterization, identification, and abiotic stress response evaluation

The GATA transcription factors (TFs) have been extensively studied for its regulatory role in various biological processes in many plant species. The functional and molecular mechanism of GATA TFs in regulating tolerance to abiotic stress has not yet been studied in the common bean. This study analyzed the functional identity of the GATA gene family in the P. vulgaris genome under different abiotic and phytohormonal stress. The GATA gene family was systematically investigated in the P. vulgaris genome, and 31 PvGATA TFs were identified. The study found that 18 out of 31 PvGATA genes had undergone duplication events, emphasizing the role of gene duplication in GATA gene expansion. All the PvGATA genes were classified into four significant subfamilies, with 8, 3, 6, and 13 members in each subfamily (subfamilies I, II, III, and IV), respectively. All PvGATA protein sequences contained a single GATA domain, but subfamily II members had additional domains such as CCT and tify. A total of 799 promoter cis-regulatory elements (CREs) were predicted in the PvGATAs. Additionally, we used qRT-PCR to investigate the expression profiles of five PvGATA genes in the common bean roots under abiotic conditions. The results suggest that PvGATA01/10/25/28 may play crucial roles in regulating plant resistance against salt and drought stress and may be involved in phytohormone-mediated stress signaling pathways. PvGATA28 was selected for overexpression and cloned into N. benthamiana using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic lines were subjected to abiotic stress, and results showed a significant tolerance of transgenic lines to stress conditions compared to wild-type counterparts. The seed germination assay suggested an extended dormancy of transgenic lines compared to wild-type lines. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the PvGATA gene family, which can serve as a foundation for future research on the function of GATA TFs in abiotic stress tolerance in common bean plants.

The Effect of Moringa Leaf (Moringa oleifera L.) Liquid Organic Fertilizer with Different Concentrations on the Growth of Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

One of the efforts to increase the production of chickpea plants to meet market needs is to optimally utilize the waste of Moringa leaves by converting Moringa leaves into liquid organic fertilizer so that it is easier and more practical to apply and easily absorbed by plants. Liquid organic fertilizer plays a role in improving the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, which can increase the production of upright bean plants. This study aims to determine the effect of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) of Moringa leaves with different concentrations and to determine the most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) on the growth of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The method used is an experimental method with a completely randomized design (CRD). The treatment consisted of a concentration of 16% chicken manure (as a control), POC concentrations of 60%, 65%, 70%, 75% and 80%. The results showed that there was an effect of different concentrations of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa oleifera L. on the growth of plant height, number of leaves and wet weight in bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa leaves is at a concentration of 80% with an average plant height of 41.2 cm, an average number of leaves of 15.25 leaves and an average wet weight of 3.98 grams. number of leaves and fresh weight on chickpea plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa leaves is at a concentration of 80% with an average plant height of 41.2 cm, an average number of leaves of 15.25 leaves and an average wet weight of 3.98 grams. number of leaves and fresh weight on chickpea plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa leaves is at a concentration of 80% with an average plant height of 41.2 cm, an average number of leaves of 15.25 leaves and an average wet weight of 3.98 grams.

Effect of nano zinc oxide on the chlorophyll content of bean plants under drought stress

The mechanism by which nanoparticles are involved in drought tolerance responses in plants is complex and requires further investigation. Considering the important role of ZnO nanoparticles in plant defense systems, it is relevant to investigate the effects of these nanoparticles depending on the type of plants and their developmental stages. The results of our experiments have shown that ZnO nanoparticles can play a role in the drought resistance of bean plants. It is clear from the results that ZnO nanoparticles, when applied under normal irrigation conditions, have a positive effect on the height development of plants, reduce the vegetation period and keep the pigment content stable. The difference in the pigment content observed in our experiments during the growing season may be related to the formation of bean leaves in different layers at different times. It is interesting that in the plants subjected to drought stress (variant IV) where ZnO nanoparticles were applied, the pigment content remains stable, although the growth of the plants is not fast. , the growing season is shortened and pod formation occurs more quickly. In addition, Chl pigment degradation does not occur for a long time, the leaves retain their greenness.

Recent Insights into Glucose-Responsive Concanavalin A-Based Smart Hydrogels for Controlled Insulin Delivery.

Many efforts are continuously undertaken to develop glucose-sensitive biomaterials able of controlling glucose levels in the body and self-regulating insulin delivery. Hydrogels that swell or shrink as a function of the environmental free glucose content are suitable systems for monitoring blood glucose, delivering insulin doses adapted to the glucose concentration. In this context, the development of sensors based on reversible binding to glucose molecules represents a continuous challenge. Concanavalin A (Con A) is a bioactive protein isolated from sword bean plants (Canavalia ensiformis) and contains four sugar-binding sites. The high affinity for reversibly and specifically binding glucose and mannose makes Con A as a suitable natural receptor for the development of smart glucose-responsive materials. During the last few years, Con A was used to develop smart materials, such as hydrogels, microgels, nanoparticles and films, for producing glucose biosensors or drug delivery devices. This review is focused on Con A-based materials suitable in the diagnosis and therapeutics of diabetes. A brief outlook on glucose-derived theranostics of cancer is also presented.

Botanical extracts control the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum boninense in smallholder production of common bean

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. remains an intractable problem in the most common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production areas worldwide and can cause total yield loss. Many smallholder farmers are familiar with using botanical extracts to control insect pests; however, there is less familiarity with their use to control fungal diseases due to a lack of evidence. Here, we demonstrate that anthracnose could be controlled effectively by pesticidal plant species that are used for insect control. In laboratory trials, water extracts from 11 plant species could inhibit fungal growth (100%) and spore germination (75–100%) equally well to two commercially available fungicides, the synthetic Mancolaxyl and biofungicide Bioderma. In screenhouse trials, anthracnose disease was reduced by the extracts of three plant species. Moreover, bean crop growth in these botanical treatments did not differ significantly from that observed in the commercial fungicide treated plants. Field trials in a smallholder community reporting severe problems with anthracnose showed an effect similar to the screenhouse results. Field trials resulted in bean seed yields approximately 350 kg/ha higher in bean plants treated with Azadirachta indica and Lippia javanica at 10% w/v compared to the negative control untreated plants. In all trials, botanical extracts were as effective as commercially available fungicides, suggesting that these botanical extracts could provide dual-purpose pest and disease management for anthracnose and crop pest insects. The outcomes of this research show that prospects for using locally available resources to control anthracnose on common bean are credible and can be combined with controlling insect pests.

Leaf trichome-mediated predator effects on the distribution of herbivorous mites within a kidney bean plant.

Some predators prefer to settle on leaf patches with microstructures (e.g., trichomes and domatia), leaving traces on the patches. Herbivorous arthropods, in turn, select leaf patches in response to these traces left by predators. It remains unclear whether traces of predators on leaf patches affect the distribution of herbivorous prey within plants through plant microstructure. Therefore, we examined the distribution of herbivorous mite (Tetranychus urticae) and predatory mite (Phytoseiulus persimilis) by investigating their oviposition pattern. We used a kidney bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) with two expanded primary leaves and the first trifoliate leaf, focusing on leaf trichomes as the microstructure. The density of trichomes was higher on the first trifoliate leaf than on the primary leaves and on the abaxial surface of the leaves than on the adaxial surface. Adult female P. persimilis laid more eggs on the first trifoliate leaf to the primary leaves. Although adult female T. urticae preferred to oviposit on the abaxial surface of primary leaves, previous exposure of plants to predators diminished this preference. The altered egg distribution would be a response to the traces of P. persimilis rather than eggs of P. persimilis. Our findings indicate that T. urticae reproduces on leaf patches with traces of predators without altering their oviposition preference. Given that the presence of predator traces is known to reduce the reproduction of T. urticae, it may have a substantial effect on the population of T. urticae in the next generations on kidney bean plants.

Impact of microbial consortium of Rhizobium tropici and Rhizobium mayense on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The main objectives of the present investigation was to characterize and recognize potential indigenous Rhizobium spp. associated with red clover nodules, as well as to evaluate the influence of prospective rhizobia inoculation (individual and consortia) on common bean plant growth. Total of 8 rhizobia like bacteria were isolated and were investigated for their specific PGP traits, production of hydrolytic enzymes. Results revealed, four isolates synthesize IAA (22.3 ± 1.45 to 88.6 ± 1.45 μg mL−1), three isolates solubilized phosphate (40.69 ± 1.25 to 216.3 ± 1.31 μg mL−1), three isolates solubilized potassium, produced siderophore, and showed chitinase production, two isolates possess ACC deaminase activity, one isolate was able to solubilize zinc, 5 isolates produced β- 1, 3-glucanase (0.38 ± 0.005 to 2.82 ± 0.011 % units) and four isolates produced cellulase. Two bacterial isolates found to exhibit most of the PGP activities, were selected and identified on the basis of phenotypic, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequencing, as Rhizobium tropici IHTF-1 and Rhizobium mayense IHTF-2. Interaction of these potential rhizobium strains individually and consortia with common bean plants under greenhouse conditions boosted root and shoot length, fresh and dry biomass compared to un-inoculated control plants. SEM study revealed that both the strains, IHTF-1 and IHTF-2 colonized common bean roots. These results imply that Rhizobium spp., identified in this work, can be used as bio-inoculants to increase common bean plant production in a sustainable way.

Distribution of minerals in the organs of green pea and snap bean plants that could be used in Industry 4.0

Objective: Know the composition of minerals, essential trace elements and toxic trace elements of the organs of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants for their possible use in industry 4.0.
 Design/methodology/approach: The concentration of mineral elements was determined through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the relationship of the amount of minerals with the flours of the different organs (root, stem, leaves and fruits of peas (P. sativum L.) and green beans (P. vulgaris).
 Results: The leaves represent an important fraction of the dry matter (30-40%) in the plants evaluated and are rich in minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium), essential trace elements (manganese, iron, selenium, zinc) , toxic trace elements (aluminum, strontium, boron, tin, ba-rium) and rare earth elements (cerium, yttrium, lanthanum and neodymium).
 Limitations on study/implications: The production condition of the crops is unknown, on which the content of mineral elements largely depends.
 Findings/conclusions: The organs of pea and snap bean plants represent an alternative as raw material in the production of foods and biomaterials enriched with minerals, essential trace elements, toxic trace elements and rare earth elements, since these accumulate and biocontain -focus on these organs and these plants can be used as indicators or as phytoextractors to be selected as inputs in industry 4.0 processes.

First Report of Chocolate Spot Caused by Botrytis eucalypti on Faba bean in China.

Faba bean (Vicia faba) is one of the characteristic economic crops in Qinghai Province of China, which has multiple uses as grain, vegetable, fodder, fertilizer and medicine. Chocolate spot is a critical disease of faba bean in the world, and it is widely spread in all production areas of Qinghai. In August 2021, a severe occurrence of chocolate spot was found in a faba bean field in Xunhua County, Qinghai Province (35°52'N, 102°22'E, alt. 1890m). All plants in the field were affected by this disease. A voucher specimen was deposited in the Herbarium of Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences at Qinghai University under accession No. PY015. The pathogen infected the leaves and stems, causing small irregular red spots to appear, which later coalesce into larger spots and faded green lesions appear around the spots. Diseased leaf pieces 5 mm2 were surface sterilized with 75% ethyl alcohol for 30s, 1.2% NaOCl for 30s, and rinsed three times with sterile water. They were then plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 22℃ for 10 days in the dark. Fungal colonies are initially white, then gray, and have produced spores by 5 days. Conidia are clusters, ellipsoidal or ovoid, 9-14 × 6-9 μm. The conidiophore is straight, terminally enlarged, septate, 300-1500 μm long, 8-13 μm wide. No sclerotia were observed during culture. DNA of the strain PY015 was extracted by CTAB method. Molecular identification was first performed using the universal region of ITS (ITS1/ITS4). The PCR product was sequenced, the sequence was deposited in GenBank under the accession number OR739575. The results showed 100% similarity to Botrytis spp. (KX301016, MT250940, LC519322) in BLAST search. Molecular characterization was continued using five specific primer pairs: RPB2 (DNA-dependent RNA polymerase subunit II, RPB2-5F/RPB2-7cR), NEP1 and NEP2 (necrosis and ethylene-inducing proteins, NEP1for/ NEP1revB and NEP2forD/NEP2revD), HSP60 (heat-shock protein 60, HSP60for/HSP60rev), G3PDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, G3PDHfor/G3PDHrev). The sequences of PY015 were deposited in GenBank (accession numbers: OR731179, OR731180, OR731181, OR731182, OR731183), and all five sequences showed 100% similarity to Botrytis eucalypti YZU171088 (accession numbers: MH614610 MH614611, MH614612, MH614613 MH614614). A phylogenetic tree based on these five genes was constructed using Mega7.0 (1000 bootstrap replicates, neighbor-joining method), and PY015 was placed in the same clade as YZU171088 with 100% bootstrap values. Morphological and molecular biological results confirmed that isolate PY015 was B. eucalypti. To fulfill Koch's postulates, the spore suspension (2 × 105 conidia/ml) was sprayed on healthy faba bean (Yun-122) plants at the 10-leaf stage, while an equal amount of sterile distilled water was applied to controls. After 7 days, the inoculated plants showed symptoms consistent with field infection and B. eucalypti was re-isolated using the same protocol, while the control remained asymptomatic. The pathogenicity test was repeated twice. The same isolates were recovered from symptomatic leaves and identified by NEP1 sequence. B. eucalypti was morphologically and molecularly identical to the original isolates, completing Koch's postulates. Currently, Botrytis fabae, Botrytis fabiopsis, and Botrytis cinerea are the main pathogens of chocolate spot on faba bean that have been identified and reported nationally and internationally. B. eucalypti is a new species discovered from eucalyptus in southern China in 2016, and its current hosts are only eucalyptus and citrus. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report of chocolate spot caused by B. eucalypti on faba bean in China.

Unveiling the Potential of Coffee Grounds, Banana Peels and Egg Shells as an Eco‐Friendly and Sustainable Fertilizer

AbstractCoffee grounds, along with other organic materials like eggshells and banana peels, offer a promising solution for improving food security. This research brings innovation to the forefront by reimagining kitchen waste as a valuable resource for sustainable agriculture, introducing a multicomponent fertilizer approach, exploring different application methods, and focusing on a staple crop, ultimately contributing to the broader discourse on food security and environmental conservation. This study evaluated the effect of coffee grounds, eggshells, and banana peels as fertilizers on the growth and germination of Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) plants. Two types of fertilizers are prepared: a dry mixture and a wet mixture obtained by boiling the dry mixture in water for 15 min. The height of the plants is measured weekly over a period of four weeks. The results indicated that the wet fertilizer mixture is more effective in promoting plant growth than the dry mixture. Plants that received the wet fertilizer mixture exhibited a higher growth rate and reached a greater height than those that received the dry mixture. It can be concluded that the wet fertilizer mixture is more efficient in promoting the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris plants than the dry mixture.

Effect of Tetranychus urticae and Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tetranychidae, Tarsonemidae) at different infestation levels and feeding durations on chlorophyll content of bean plants

The study investigated the effects of different initial infestation levels and feeding durations of Tetranychus urticae and Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tetranychidae, Tarsonemidae) on the chlorophyll content of the pinto bean plants [Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae)]. The experiment was carried out on 3 cm diameter leaf discs and potted plants. To determine the effects of mite feeding on the chlorophyll content of leaf disc, 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mated adult females (24-48 hours old) were separately placed on each disc. Chlorophyll measurements were made 5 and 10 days after the initial infestation. For the potted plant bioassay, young plants were infested separately with different densities of P. latus or T. urticae (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 females per plant) while noninfested plants acted as the control. Data were obtained at intervals of 5 days for a total of 5 times. The chlorophyll contents at infestation levels of 15, 20, and 25 T. urticae per disc were statistically lower than the control discs after exposure for 5 days. The heavily infested discs with 10 or more T. urticae were destroyed until the second measurement. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the chlorophyll contents of P. latus-infested and noninfested discs 5 days after infestation. However, the content was significantly lower in infested discs at all infestation levels than in noninfested discs 10 days after infestation. According to the potted plant experiment, the chlorophyll contents of T. urticae and P. latus-infested plants were significantly lower than the noninfested plants at all infestation levels from the 10th and 20th days of the infestation, respectively. A highly significant negative correlation was recorded between chlorophyll content and mite density, as well as exposure time indicating that the leaf chlorophyll content of infested bean plants decreased with increasing mite density and time. It was also determined that P. latus required a longer feeding time than T. urticae to affect the chlorophyll content of the bean plants.

AN INVESTIGATION TO ASSESS THE WATER AND FRTILIZERS PRODUCTIVITY OF FABA BEANS UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION USING MONOTORING BY SMART CONTROL SYSTEM AND HUMIC COMPOUNDS

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of a smart and modern controller system for drip irrigation, as well as two critical elements related to humic compost and various treatments for field capabilities, on the yield of Faba beans, as well as the productivity of water and fertilizers (WP, FP). The Agricultural Research Station, National Research Centre, El-Nubaria district, Egypt, conducted field experiments during the winter season of 2022 and 2023. The experiments took place in sandy soil and focused on the cultivation of the Faba bean (Vica Faba. L). Faba bean seeds were planted in the last week of October, and the growing season lasted for 135 days. The smart controller drip irrigation system utilizes three different irrigation rates with corresponding field capacities of 35, 65, and 100. Additionally, two different amounts of humic compost, 100 kg/fed and 35 kg/fed, can be added. The highest Faba bean yield, water productivity (WP), and fertilizer productivity (FP) were achieved while applying 100 kg/fed of humic compost with a field capacity of 100%. Conversely, the lowest results were obtained when utilizing 35 kg/fed of humic compost with a field capacity of 35%. The application of 100 kg/fed of humic compost had a significant favorable effect on faba bean plants. This is attributed to the increased levels of macro and micronutrients present in the compost, which also aids in water conservation in sandy soil. Consequently, the plants were able to avoid water stress. Insufficient water supply in drip irrigation causes increased water stress, which negatively impacts plants and crop productivity. Faba bean plants can tolerate water stress when provided with 100% field capacity (FC) but are negatively affected by water stress at FC levels of 35% and 65%.

The interplay between the inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and the rhizosphere microbiome and their impact on plant phenotype

Microbial inoculation stands as a pivotal strategy, fostering symbiotic relationships between beneficial microorganisms and plants, thereby enhancing nutrient uptake, bolstering resilience against environmental stressors, and ultimately promoting healthier and more productive plant growth. However, while the advantageous roles of inoculants are widely acknowledged, the precise and nuanced impacts of inoculation on the intricate interactions of the rhizosphere microbiome remain significantly underexplored. This study explores the impact of bacterial inoculation on soil properties, plant growth, and the rhizosphere microbiome. By employing various bacterial strains and a synthetic community (SynCom) as inoculants in common bean plants, the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere were assessed through 16 S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing. Concurrently, soil chemical parameters, plant traits, and gene expression were evaluated. The findings revealed that bacterial inoculation generally decreased pH and V%, while increasing H+Al and m% in the rhizosphere. It also decreased gene expression in plants related to detoxification, photosynthesis, and defense mechanisms, while enhancing bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere, potentially benefiting plant health. Specific bacterial strains showed varied impacts on rhizosphere microbiome assembly, predominantly affecting rhizospheric bacteria more than fungi, indirectly influencing soil conditions and plants. Notably, Paenibacillus polymyxa inoculation improved plant nitrogen (by 5.2%) and iron levels (by 28.1%), whereas Bacillus cereus boosted mycorrhization rates (by 70%). Additionally, inoculation led to increased complexity in network interactions within the rhizosphere (∼15%), potentially impacting plant health. Overall, the findings highlight the significant impact of introducing bacteria to the rhizosphere, enhancing nutrient availability, microbial diversity, and fostering beneficial plant-microbe interactions.

Common bean under different water availability reveals classifiable stimuli-specific signatures in plant electrome

ABSTRACT Plant electrophysiology has unveiled the involvement of electrical signals in the physiology and behavior of plants. Spontaneously generated bioelectric activity can be altered in response to changes in environmental conditions, suggesting that a plant’s electrome may possess a distinct signature associated with various stimuli. Analyzing electrical signals, particularly the electrome, in conjunction with Machine Learning (ML) techniques has emerged as a promising approach to classify characteristic electrical signals corresponding to each stimulus. This study aimed to characterize the electrome of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. BRS-Expedito, subjected to different water availabilities, seeking patterns linked to these stimuli. For this purpose, bean plants in the vegetative stage were subjected to the following treatments: (I) distilled water; (II) half-strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution; (III) −2 MPa PEG solution; and (IV) −2 MPa NaCl solution. Electrical signals were recorded within a Faraday’s cage using the MP36 electronic system for data acquisition. Concurrently, plant water status was assessed by monitoring leaf turgor variation. Leaf temperature was additionally measured. Various analyses were conducted on the electrical time series data, including arithmetic average of voltage variation, skewness, kurtosis, Probability Density Function (PDF), autocorrelation, Power Spectral Density (PSD), Approximate Entropy (ApEn), Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and Multiscale Approximate Entropy (ApEn(s)). Statistical analyses were performed on leaf temperature, voltage variation, skewness, kurtosis, PDF µ exponent, autocorrelation, PSD β exponent, and approximate entropy data. Machine Learning analyses were applied to identify classifiable patterns in the electrical time series. Characterization of the electrome of BRS-Expedito beans revealed stimulus-dependent profiles, even when alterations in water availability stimuli were similar in terms of quality and intensity. Additionally, it was observed that the bean electrome exhibits high levels of complexity, which are altered by different stimuli, with more intense and aversive stimuli leading to drastic reductions in complexity levels. Notably, one of the significant findings was the 100% accuracy of Small Vector Machine in detecting salt stress using electrome data. Furthermore, the study highlighted alterations in the plant electrome under low water potential before observable leaf turgor changes. This work demonstrates the potential use of the electrome as a physiological indicator of the water status in bean plants.

Biology and host preference studies of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ethiopia

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, was first reported on the African continent in early 2016 and reported from Ethiopia in early 2017. The host preference and its biology are not known in Ethiopia. Therefore, the current study was aimed at studying the biology and host preferences of FAW. The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse and wire-house of Ambo Agricultural Research Center from July 2021 to October 2021. The biology of FAW was studied using maize, sorghum, chickpeas, barley, and wheat. The experiments were conducted in the average rearing room temperature of 25.5°C to 37.4°C and relative humidity of 35.33% to 45.46%. Data on egg incubation period, pre-pupal, pupal, egg to adult period, pupal weight, sex ratio, and cannibalism percentage were collected for the biology study. The egg incubation period was between 5 and 8 days. The larval developmental period completed in 14 to 19 days, while pupal stage needed 8 to 9 days. FAW females lay 32-122 eggs in their lifetime. The oviposition period was 2 to 3 days. FAW life cycle ranged from 31 to 38 days at the specified temperature and relative humidity. In terms of the sex ratio of FAW, there was no difference between the tested crops. However, significant (P<0.05) variation was observed with respect to larval cannibalism when reared on different crops. The host preference study was carried out using choice and no-choice experiments on 23 different crops. Data on preferences for oviposition by adult females and for larval feeding were collected. Compared to the other studied host crops, it was discovered that maize, sorghum, swiss chard, teff, elephant grass, and cabbage were the most preferred hosts for larval development and egg laying. The adult female laid eggs on faba bean, soya bean, haricot bean, garlic, and mustard plants, but the eggs did not hatch into larvae. These findings have important implications for understanding the FAW survival, development, and host preference, as well as knowing the best time to plan its effective management.

Impacts of nano-acetamiprid pesticide on faba bean root metabolic response and soil health

The associated benefits and potential environmental risks of nanopesticides on plant and soil health, particularly in comparison with traditional pesticides, have not been systematically elucidated. Herein, we investigated the impacts of the as-synthesized nano-acetamiprid (Nano-Ace, 20 nm) at low (10 mg/L), medium (50 mg/L), high (100 mg/L) doses and the corresponding high commercial acetamiprid (Ace, 100 mg/L) on the physiological and metabolic response of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plants, as well as on rhizosphere bacterial communities and functions over short-, medium- and long-term exposures. Overall, Nano-Ace exposure contributed to basic metabolic pathways (e.g., flavonoids, amino acids, TCA cycle intermediate, etc.) in faba bean roots across the whole exposure period. Moreover, Nano-Ace exposure enriched rhizosphere beneficial bacteria (e.g., Streptomyces (420.7%), Pseudomonas (33.8%), Flavobacterium (23.3%)) and suppressed pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Acidovorax (44.5%)). Additionally, Nano-Ace exposure showed a trend of low promotion and high inhibition of soil enzyme activities (e.g., invertase, urease, arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase) involved in soil C, N, S, and P cycling, while the inhibition was generally weaker than that of conventional Ace. Altogether, this study indicated that the redox-responsive nano-acetamiprid pesticide possessed high safety for host plants and soil health.

Trichoderma harzianum prevents red kidney bean root rot by increasing plant antioxidant enzyme activity and regulating the rhizosphere microbial community.

Root rot is one of the main reasons for yield losses of red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production. Pre-inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum can effectively lower the incidence of red kidney bean root rot. In this study, four treatments including CK (control), Fu13 (Fusarium oxysporum), T891 (T. harzianum) and T891 + Fu13 (T. harzianum + F. oxysporum) were arranged in a pot experiment to investigate how T891 affected the incidence and severity of root rot, plant growth, and changes of defense enzyme activity in red kidney bean plants. Community composition and diversity of the rhizosphere microbiota was evaluated through high-throughput sequencing, and co-occurrence network was analyzed. The results showed that when compared to the Fu13 treatment, pre-inoculation with T891 reduced the incidence and severity of red kidney bean root rot by 40.62 and 68.03% (p < 0.05), increased the root length, shoot length, total dry biomass by 48.63, 97.72, 122.17%. Upregulated activity of super-oxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) by 7.32, 38.48, 98.31% (p < 0.05), and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) by 23.70% (p < 0.05), respectively. Microbiological analyses also showed that F. oxysporum reduced alpha diversity resulting in alteration the composition of the rhizosphere microbial community in red kidney bean. T891 significantly reduced abundance of F. oxysporum, allowing the enrichment of potentially beneficial bacteria Porphyrobacter (ASV 46), Lysobacter (ASV 85), Microbacteriaceae (ASV 105), and Gemmatimonas (ASV 107), resulting in a more stable structure of the microbial network. The results of random forest analysis further revealed that ASV 46 (Porphyrobacter) was the primary influencing factor for the incidence of root rot after inoculation with T891, while ASV 85 (Lysobacter) was the primary influencing factor for the biomass of red kidney bean. In conclusion, T. harzianum promotes the growth of red kidney bean and inhibits root rot by improving plant antioxidant enzyme activity and regulating the rhizosphere microbial community.

Synergistic advantages of volcanic ash weathering in saline soils: CO2 sequestration and enhancement of plant growth

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a primary greenhouse gas that has experienced a surge in atmospheric concentration due to human activities and lifestyles. It is imperative to curtail atmospheric CO2 levels promptly to alleviate the multifaceted impacts of climate warming. The soil serves as a natural reservoir for CO2 sequestration. The scientific premise of this study is that CO2 sequestration in agriculturally relevant, organically-deficient saline soil can be achieved by incorporating alkaline earth silicates. Volcanic ash (VA) was used as a soil amendment for CO2 removal from saline soil by leveraging enhanced silicate rock weathering (ERW). The study pursued two primary objectives: first, we aimed to evaluate the impact of various doses of VA, employed as an amendment for organically-deficient soil, on the growth performance of key cultivated crops (sorghum and mung bean) in inland saline-alkaline agricultural regions of northeastern China. Second, we aimed to assess alterations in the physical properties of the amended soil through mineralogical examinations, utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses, quantifying the increase in inorganic carbon content within the soil. In the potting tests, mung bean plant height exhibited a noteworthy increase of approximately 41 % with the addition of 10 % VA. Sorghum plant height and aboveground and belowground biomass dry weights increased with VA application across all tested doses. At the optimal VA application rate (20 %), the sorghum achieved a CO2 sequestration rate of 0.14 kg CO2·m−2·month−1. XRD and SEM-EDS analyses confirmed that the augmented inorganic carbon in the VA-amended soils stemmed primarily from calcite accumulation. These findings contribute to elucidating the mechanism underlying VA as an amendment for organically-deficient soils and provide an effective approach for enhancing the carbon sink capacity of saline soils.

Homeopathic preparations to increase resistance and development of yield in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) crops

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is an essential part people’s staple diet in Brazil as well as in some Latin American countries. The excessive use of agrochemical for pest and disease control negatively impacts human health, contaminates soil and water, harms biodiversity, and contributes to pest resistance. It is referred to a specific homeopathic preparation. In the context of homeopathy, the term "preparations" refers to homeopathic remedies that are created through a specific process of dilution and agitation. The use of highly diluted homeopathic preparations, which enhance the plants ability to resist diseases, represents a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative. In homeopathy, "Silicea" is used as a homeopathic remedy derived from silica which is not a silica in its natural form. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Silicea terra and Phosphorus application in high dynamized dilutions, on morphometric and productive variables of common bean plants. Two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse and one experiment in the field, in a randomized block design for both situations. In greenhouse, the preparations were used in dynamizations 7, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60CH (CH= Hahnemannian centesimal dilution order) and distilled water was used as control. In the field, the treatments were Phosphorus 48 and 60CH, Silicea terra 36 and 60CH, and distilled water as a control. In greenhouse, application of Silicea terra 36CH increased (p&lt; 0.05) shoot dry biomass weight (9.78 g) and leaf dry biomass weight (5.36 g), compared to control. In the field, Silicea terra 36CH and Phosphorus 60CH increased bean productivity in relation to the control. The results indicate that homeopathic preparations had a high potential for improving development and consequently increasing yield when applied to common bean plants.