Bean Pod Research Articles

GmWRKY33A positively regulates disease resistance in soybean (Glycine max)

The WRKY transcription factor gene family is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays important roles defense responses. Studies in model plant Arabidopsis demonstrated that WRKYs function downstream of mitogen activated-protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade and participate in defense responses through activating the expression of defense-related genes. However, the roles of WRKYs in defense responses have not been previously investigated in paleopolyploidy soybean. Bioinfomatic analysis revealed that there are three pair of GmWRKY33 genes in the soybean genome. The identity of first two pair of GmWRKY33 genes is greater than 84% (named as GmWRKY33A). The identity of genes within the same pair is greater than 95%. A 300 bp fragment highly homologous to these four GmWRKY33A was chosen to clone into bean pod mosaic virus (BPMV)-based silencing vector (BPMV-VIGS) to achieve the goal of silencing four GmWRKY33A genes simultaneously. In this study, we simultaneously silenced four homologous genes of GmWRKY33A using a bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) vector carrying a single fragment of GmWRKY33A. Comparing the silenced plants with the vector control plants, no evident morphological phenotypes were observed. However, the GmWRKY33A-silenced plants exhibited significantly reduced resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea (Psg), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycine (Xag), as well as to soybean mosaic virus (SMV). Furthermore, we demonstrated that silencing these GmWRKY33A genes significantly inhibited the activation of GmMPK3/GmMPK6 induced by Psg infection. Collectively, our results suggest that GmWRKY33As are involved in soybean immunity through regulating the transcription of GmMPK3/6 genes or activating the kinase activities of GmMPK3/6. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GmWRKY33As are positive regulators of soybean immune responses.

Exploring Genetic Variability and Diversity in Exotic Germplasm Collection of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

The current research investigates the genetic variation and diversity in exotic accessions of cocoa to identify materials with desired characteristics as well as important traits contributing to yield and variability. The experiment was conducted at Cocoa Research Centre, Kerala Agricultural University, from 2021 to 2023. The study comprises 23 exotic genotypes in which observations were recorded on quantitative traits on flowers, pods, and beans. Statistical analysis was carried out based on the observations recorded. The morphological evaluation revealed ample variability among the genotypes for all the quantitative characters studied. The average dry bean weight recorded was 1.08 grams, which is a desirable trait in selecting individuals with high processing efficiency for the chocolate industry. Characters such as single bean dry weight, pod value, pod index, and efficiency index have recorded high values of GCV, heritability and genetic advance as percent of the mean. Principal component (PC) analysis showed that the first three PCs with more than one Eigen-value contributed to 92.18 percent of total variability among the germplasm. Yield components viz. pod value, total bean weight pod-1 and single bean dry weight significantly contribute to maximum variability among the exotic germplasm. Moreover, genotypes were grouped into five clusters based on hierarchical agglomerative clustering technique. Hybridization program involving superior genotypes identified in diverse clusters as parents can produce high-yielding hybrids. The high values recorded for the genetic parameters by yield components suggest the selection of genotypes based on which can result in better-performing progeny.

New emerging Pseudomonads as causal agents of bean blight disease

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production is negatively affected by several bacterial plant diseases. A severe outbreak of bean blight was observed in the nine major bean-producing provinces of Iran during 2021–2022. Necrotic spots were observed on leaves which become necrotic with chlorosis beyond it. One hundred-sixty bacterial strains with a greyish-white colony appearance were consistently isolated from the one-hundred eighteen symptomatic bean leaf, pod, seed and root samples on nutrient agar. All strains were screened for their ability to cause disease bean leaves among which 134 strains induced chlorosis three days after inoculation on bean leaves of cv. Yaghoot followed by necrotic spots on the inoculated sites one week after inoculation. The pathogenic strains clustered in three groups based on phenotypic characters and multilocus sequencing analyses. Three housekeeping genes including gyrB, rpoB, and rpoD of representative strains were partially sequenced. In the phylogenetic tree based on concatenated sequences of these three genes or each gene individually, the strains were divided into three clusters each with high bootstrap support. The first group of the strains clustered with Pseudomonas simiae CCUG 50988T. This is the first report of this species as causal agent of bean blight. The second group clustered close to Pseudomonas alloputida NMI5768T which apparently belong to a new species. The third group clustered in a separate clade in Pseudomonas chlororaphis species which belongs to a new subspecies based on pathogenicity on bean, phenotypic characters, sequences of five housekeeping genes which named as subsp. phaseoli subsp. nov. with the type strain UT-M315.

Investigating the Tribological Behavior of Bioinspired Surfaces in Agro-waste and Alumina Reinforced AA6063 Matrix Composites

The tribological behavior of three bioinspired (BI) agro-waste ashes—bean pod ash (BPA), cassava peel ash (CPA), and coconut husk ash (CHA)—integrated as reinforcements in an alumina-reinforced AA6063 matrix hybrid and monolithic composite was investigated. Studies utilizing agro-wastes for bioinspired surfaces are limited despite these wastes posing significant environmental challenges. Consequently, there has been a growing effort to valorize these residues for sustainable engineering applications. This study uses a two-step stir-casting methodology to engineer bioinspired materials with lightweight properties, exceptional hardness, and wear-resistant characteristics. Microstructural investigations revealed a homogeneous distribution of natural and synthetic reinforcements within the AA6063 matrix. Lightweight AMCs were successfully fabricated, exhibiting densities ranging from 2.57 to 2.74 g/cm³ and hardness values between 81.28 and 107.47 BHN. The average surface roughness of these composites varied from 2.4 to 3.4 μm, with ANOVA tests confirming a statistically significant difference (p < 0.005). Wear rates and the coefficient of friction were observed to range from 2.52 x 10-3 to 5.50 x 10-3 mm³/m and 0.2476 to 0.5403, respectively. Reinforcing the AA6063 alloy with bioinspired agro-wastes significantly enhanced the hardness and tribological performance of the as-cast BI-AMCs. Notably, the wear rates and friction coefficients were significantly reduced, with the monolithic BI-AMCs demonstrating superior results. Furthermore, adding bioinspired agro-wastes, such as BPA, CPA, and CHA, improved the surface texture of AA6063 more effectively than Al2O3, leading to slightly smoother surfaces. These nuanced bioinspired tribological behaviors present opportunities for tailored load-bearing and aesthetic applications derived from agro-waste-based composites. This study advances our understanding of bioinspired tribological phenomena and paves the way for the development of innovative materials with diverse applications and enhanced performance.

Evaluation of Empty Fava Beans Pods as Bioadsorbent for the Removal of Pb2+ from Aqueous Solutions Using Phytoadsorption Technique

Environmental contamination with toxic heavy metals is a globally concerned issue. Cleaning up heavy metals from contaminated aquatic systems forces a lot of challenges. Phytoremediation processes are the interesting safe techniques that were focused by scientists and governments during the last decades for the up-taking of toxic heavy metals from ecosystems. Consequently, phytoadsorption approach was applied in this research using dry empty pods of fava beans (Vicia faba L.) to evaluate their potential for the removal of toxic lead heavy metal from its aqueous solutions. We have developed a green and simple method to remove lead ions (Pb2+) from their aquatic system. The obtained results have showed that the 350‒1000-μm biomass particles of fava beans pods were able to take up lead ions at highly rated removal percentages and high adsorption capacity using 100-ml, 100-ppm solutions at room temperature and neutral pH. For example, the highest removal percentage of lead ions was 66.8% with an absorption capacity of 3.34 mg/g using 2.0 g at a shaking rate of 200 OSC/min after 30 min. On the other hand, the removal percentage of lead ions using 0.1 g of fava beans pods biomass was 36.8 % with the highest absorption capacity of 36.8 mg/g at a shaking rate of 800 OSC/min at the same period of time. Therefore, the empty fava beans (Vicia faba L.) pods can be used as potential phytoadsorbents for the removal of lead and other heavy metals from the contaminated aquatic ecosystems.

Influence of Organic Nutrient Sources on Nutrient, Quality and Yield Parameters of Vegetable Cluster Bean

Aim: The experiment was taken up to study the influence of various organic nutrient sources on soil nutrient availability and their uptake and also on quality parameters of vegetable cluster bean. Place and Duration of Study: the study was conducted at irrigated wetland farms, TNAU, Coimbatore during the year 2018. Methodology: The RBD (randomized complete block design) design was adopted and replicated thrice. The total number of treatments were 12 with various basal applications of organic manures namely farm yard manure, vermicompost, humic acid, ghanjeevamrutham and also foliar spray combinations namely panchagavya and banana pseudo stem sap. The standard recommended cultural practices of organic farming were followed for all treatments except fertilizer application and synthetic chemical use. Results: The data revealed that soil chemical properties viz., pH, EC and organic carbon were not significantly influenced by various organic nutrient sources. Significantly, higher values of N, P and K availability in soil and their uptake by cluster bean crop and crude protein content, crude fiber, ascorbic acid, moistures percentage in cluster bean pods were recorded with 100 % recommended dose of fertilizer and 2% foliar spray of TNAU pulse wonder. However, organic treatments were on par with inorganic treatments for all the nutrient, quality and yield parameters. Conclusion: Organic treatments like organic farmers practice and FYM along with Panchagavya were recommended to improve nutrient use efficiency and quality of yield, eventually to benefit farmers and complete agricultural ecosystem in terms of profit and sustainability, respectively.

Development of simplex and quintuplex RT-PCR for simultaneous detection of soybean viruses

Five simplex and a multiplex-RT-PCR (m-RT-PCR) protocols were developed for detection and differentiation of bean pod mottle virus (BPMV), cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV), raspberry ringspot virus (RpRSV), soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV) infecting soybean. The simplex RT-PCR protocols produced virus-specific amplicons of 538 bp for BPMV, 139 bp for CLRV, 298 bp for RpRSV, 403 bp for SMV, and 282 bp for ToRSV, with sensitivity down to 10−4 diluted cDNA. Further, to detect all the five viruses simultaneously in a single tube a quintuplex RT-PCR protocol was optimized with as low as 10−3 diluted cDNA and 0.05 µM primer. To validate the reliability of the simplex RT-PCR protocol, imported soybean samples were tested by ELISA as well as RT-PCR. The results revealed that the developed protocol could detect the viruses in imported soybean, and found to be efficient than ELISA in resolving ambiguity in detection of seed borne viruses. The developed simplex and quintuplex RT-PCR protocol will be quite helpful for the diagnosis of soybean germplasm co-infected with viruses during the quarantine processing for ensuring virus free long term seed conservation in the National Gene Bank as well as for quarantine certification.

Preparation and characterization of β-glucan/polyvinyl alcohol/clove essential oil film and its application in the preservation of fresh broad bean pods

In this study, an active film was developed based on β-glucan (BG)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/clove essential oil (CEO) and its preservation effects on fresh broad bean pods were examined. The impact of different BG:PVA ratios (50:50, 40:60 and 30:70) and CEO concentrations (0.25%, 0.50% and 1.00%) on the capacities of film were investigated. A BG:PVA ratio of 40:60 and CEO content of 0.5% (w/w) were adopted following the optimization of the physical, mechanical and barrier capacities of the blended film. Subsequent characterization of the film via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy suggested that the BG hydroxyl groups interacted well with the PVA and CEO, and the good heat stability of the BG/PVA-CEO film was confirmed via thermal gravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry. Importantly, the BG/PVA-CEO film also showed good antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the BG/PVA-0.5% CEO film effectively preserved fresh broad bean pods over a 30-day storage period, based on assessments of appearance, firmness, weight loss and the enzyme activities. These results indicate the promising applicability of the novel BG/PVA-CEO films as active coating materials for the preservation of fresh produce and food products.

Vicia faba L. Pod Valves: A By-Product with High Potential as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

Vicia faba L. is a leguminous plant with seeds rich in nutritional compounds, such as polyphenols and L-dopa, a dopamine precursor and first-line treatment for Parkinson's symptoms. Recently, its by-products have been revalued as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. In this study, aqueous extracts of Lucan broad bean pod valves (BPs) were characterized to evaluate their potential use as adjuvants in severe Parkinson's disease. L-dopa content, quantified by LC-UV, was much higher in BPs than in seeds (28.65 mg/g dw compared to 0.76 mg/g dw). In addition, vicine and convicine, the metabolites responsible for favism, were not detected in pods. LC-ESI/LTQ-Orbitrap/MS2 allowed the identification of the major polyphenolic compounds, including quercetin and catechin equivalents, that could ensure neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease. ESI(±)-FT-ICR MS was used to build 2D van Krevelen diagrams; polyphenolic compounds and carbohydrates were the most representative classes. The neuroprotective activity of the extracts after MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells was also investigated. BP extracts were more effective than synthetic L-dopa, even at concentrations up to 100 µg/mL, due to the occurrence of antioxidants able to prevent oxidative stress. The stability and antioxidant component of the extracts were then emphasized by using naturally acidic solutions of Punica granatum L., Ribes rubrum L., and gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica L.) as extraction solvents.

Nucleotide metabolism in common bean pods during seed filling phase reveals the essential role of seed coats

Common bean is a legume with high demand for human consumption and with high protein content on its seeds. The seed filling stage is a crucial step to obtain high-quality seeds with a good level of nutrients. For this, it is necessary for a correct communication between the different seed compartments. Nucleotides are essential components with nitrogen and phosphorous on its molecules, and its metabolism in seed development has not been studied in detail. In this manuscript, we have studied nucleotide metabolism in common bean pods during seed filling stage at pod valves, seed coats, and embryos. Nuclease and ribonuclease activities were assayed as nucleotide-generating enzymes, and nucleotidase, nucleosidase, and allantoinase as nucleotide-degrading activities. Nuclease was predominant in seed coats whereas ribonuclease was equally determined in seed coats and valves, although with differences in the three ribonucleases determined (16, 17, and 19 kDa). Nucleotidase and nucleosidase activities were detected in the three pods parts, and differently to nucleic degrading activities with significant activity in embryos. The relative expression of gene families coding for all these activities (S1 nuclease, S-like T2 ribonuclease, nucleotidase, nucleosidase and allantoinase) in the three pods parts was also studied. We have found the highest level of expression for some members of each family in seed coats. The allantoinase data suggest that nucleotide might be fully degraded in valves and seed coats but not in embryos. Overall, the data presented allow to conclude that there is an intense nucleotide metabolism in fruits during the seed filling stage with an especial involvement of seed coats in the process.

Predation efficacy of Chrysoperla carnea on two economically important stink bugs

Larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are generalist predators feeding on a range of pests in agroecosystems. Little is known about the suitability of stink bugs as prey for lacewing larvae. In the present laboratory study, the predatory efficacy of C. carnea on two economically important stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), was evaluated at three constant temperatures (16, 21, and 26 °C) in different arenas (10-cm diameter dishes with bean pod slices or caged small bean plants). We found that second and third instars of C. carnea readily prey on the first instars of both stink bug species. However, only third instars of C. carnea could successfully kill and feed on second instars of either pentatomid. The complexity of the arena, as well as the life stage of the prey and predator influenced the predation efficacy of C. carnea on stink bug nymphs, whereas temperature did not. The observed predation rates on the early instars of both stink bugs suggest that augmentative releases of C. carnea larvae may have some potential in greenhouse crops, particularly against N. viridula infestations, whereas in open field crops their natural populations may also contribute to pest suppression within the broader predator guild.

A Preliminary Evaluation of Faba Bean as a Green Shell Bean in Virginia, USA

Even though faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important food crop on worldwide basis, its use as a vegetable i.e. use of green seeds as food is limited. We were interested in characterizing production and food quality traits of faba bean grown in eastern USA. Our main objective is to develop faba bean as a winter alternative crop for this region to diversify cropping system that currently mainly depends upon cereal grain crops. This necessitates existence of winter-hardy faba bean varieties. We conducted a preliminary experiment with two winter-hardy faba bean breeding lines to record production and seed composition traits. Two faba bean lines (VSX-BL and VSX-BH) were planted in the field in November 2022 and green pods were harvested in June 2023 at physiological maturity. Values of most of the traits under study were statistically similar between the two lines except for concentration of phosphorus. Results demonstrated that faba bean green pod and green seeds yields could be approximately 5700 and 2100 kg ha-1. The shelling percent in green faba bean pods was approximately 37 whereas seed number per pod was approximately 2.6. Concentrations (g 100 g-1) of fructose, glucose, and sucrose were 0.245, 0.668, 2.9021, respectively whereas concentrations of Fe and Zn (mg kg-1) were 103.7 and 69.7, respectively. Green faba bean seeds contained small amounts of RFO carbohydrates. Seed composition traits of green faba bean seeds compare well with green seeds of pea, soybean, and white lupin. Our results provide a positive proof of concept that production of green faba bean as an alternate winter food legume crop in eastern USA is possible.

Advancing common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) disease detection with YOLO driven deep learning to enhance agricultural AI

Common beans (CB), a vital source for high protein content, plays a crucial role in ensuring both nutrition and economic stability in diverse communities, particularly in Africa and Latin America. However, CB cultivation poses a significant threat to diseases that can drastically reduce yield and quality. Detecting these diseases solely based on visual symptoms is challenging, due to the variability across different pathogens and similar symptoms caused by distinct pathogens, further complicating the detection process. Traditional methods relying solely on farmers’ ability to detect diseases is inadequate, and while engaging expert pathologists and advanced laboratories is necessary, it can also be resource intensive. To address this challenge, we present a AI-driven system for rapid and cost-effective CB disease detection, leveraging state-of-the-art deep learning and object detection technologies. We utilized an extensive image dataset collected from disease hotspots in Africa and Colombia, focusing on five major diseases: Angular Leaf Spot (ALS), Common Bacterial Blight (CBB), Common Bean Mosaic Virus (CBMV), Bean Rust, and Anthracnose, covering both leaf and pod samples in real-field settings. However, pod images are only available for Angular Leaf Spot disease. The study employed data augmentation techniques and annotation at both whole and micro levels for comprehensive analysis. To train the model, we utilized three advanced YOLO architectures: YOLOv7, YOLOv8, and YOLO-NAS. Particularly for whole leaf annotations, the YOLO-NAS model achieves the highest mAP value of up to 97.9% and a recall of 98.8%, indicating superior detection accuracy. In contrast, for whole pod disease detection, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 outperformed YOLO-NAS, with mAP values exceeding 95% and 93% recall. However, micro annotation consistently yields lower performance than whole annotation across all disease classes and plant parts, as examined by all YOLO models, highlighting an unexpected discrepancy in detection accuracy. Furthermore, we successfully deployed YOLO-NAS annotation models into an Android app, validating their effectiveness on unseen data from disease hotspots with high classification accuracy (90%). This accomplishment showcases the integration of deep learning into our production pipeline, a process known as DLOps. This innovative approach significantly reduces diagnosis time, enabling farmers to take prompt management interventions. The potential benefits extend beyond rapid diagnosis serving as an early warning system to enhance common bean productivity and quality.

Synthesis of Co-Cr(0) and Co-Cr-B catalysts from bean pods extract by the green synthesis method and their application in sodium borohydride hydrolysis

AbstractIn this study, the effect of Co-Cr(0) and Co-Cr-B nanocatalysts on sodium borohydride hydrolysis was investigated. The extract obtained from the pods of the bean plant was produced using the environmentally friendly green synthesis method, along with the chemical reduction method as the production procedure for the catalysts. The analyses used to study the structure and surface morphology of catalysts are SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and XPS. From the SEM and TEM pictures, the shape of the catalysts comprises of tiny spheres and has a porous nanostructure, and the particle size is 35–40 nm. The XRD investigation revealed that the catalysts had an amorphous structure. The catalysts’ structure has been confirmed to include the components Co, Cr, and B using EDX and XPS analyses. It was examined how different amounts of catalyst, different NaBH4/NaOH concentrations, and different solution temperatures affected the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. The n-th order kinetic model was utilized to determine the activation energies of Co-Cr(0) and Co-Cr-B nanocatalysts, which were found to be 24.39 kJ/mol and 43.09 kJ/mol, respectively. Also, the turnover frequency (TOF) values of synthesized nanocatalysts Co-Cr(0) and Co-Cr-B at 60 °C were calculated as 19,210 mLmin− 1g− 1 and 12,410 mLmin− 1g− 1, respectively. The repeatability of catalysts in NaBH4 hydrolysis showed high activity even after the fifth use. Graphical Abstract

Identification of Interleukin (IL)-33 Inhibitory Constituents from Canavalia gladiata Pods.

Interleukin (IL)-33, a member of the IL-1 cytokine family, plays a vital role in immune system regulation and inflammation, with oxidative stress being implicated in its expression. During the search for compounds from natural sources with potential as therapeutic agents for allergic diseases via IL-33 signal modulation, we discovered significant IL-33 inhibitory activity in the methanol extract of Canavalia gladiata (sword bean) pods. Through chromatographic separation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we isolated 11 compounds (1-11) from the methanol extract. Furthermore, we assessed the inhibitory effects of these substances on IL-33/ST2 signaling in processes related to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among them, compounds 7, 10, and 11 exhibited substantial IL-33 inhibitory efficacy, with values reaching 78%, 86%, and 79% at 100 µM, respectively. Remarkably, compounds 7, 10, and 11 demonstrated significant and dose-dependent inhibition of IL-33 signaling at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 µM. Computational molecular docking and dynamic simulations further elucidated the underlying mechanisms. These findings have promising pharmacological implications for allergy prevention and treatment associated with flavonoid glycosides derived from C. gladiata.

Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California

Fava bean has been cultivated as a grain, vegetable, and cover crop in California for more than a century. Despite a decline in popularity as a grain, many growers are taking a second look to satisfy demands for vegetable fava bean (pod) and to provide plant-derived nitrogen (N) to grow summer cash crops. This paper presents the results of a series of experiments aimed at quantifying fava bean biomass and N at planting date and termination, as well as pod production in response to the harvest scheme. Sowing before the end of October resulted in the highest biomass and N in Northern California. Termination of fava bean cover crops in early April between the flowering and first pod stage increased the forage yield of the following crop (sudangrass), compared to termination at the earlier branching stage, which is typically in late February. We found that delaying vegetable pod harvest until the end of the growing season resulted in low fresh-pod yields. The results provide a starting point for growers interested in incorporating fava bean.

SCREEN-HOUSE REARING OF THE CASHEW MIRID HELOPELTIS SCHOUTEDENI REUTER (HETEROPTERA: MIRIDAE) ON THREE VEGETABLES FOR ITS MANAGEMENT ON CASHEW

Helopeltis schoutedeni (Heteroptera: Miridae) is a significant cashew and cotton pest in East and West Africa. To date, viable laboratory rearing and maintenance protocols have been lacking to facilitate biological investigations on the bug. This drawback has largely hindered its successful management. The potential of three vegetable intercrops, cucumber fruit (Cucumis sativus L.), fresh French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) pods, and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) were the suitable host plants for establishing laboratory colonies of H. schoutedeni. The developmental time, survival, oviposition, and feeding behaviors of H. schoutedeni under screen-house conditions were monitored. Newly hatched nymphs reared on these substrates successfully developed into adults with varying average developmental times of 25.72, 25.81, and 33.26 days for French beans, pigeon peas, and cucumbers, respectively. Similarly, survival varied significantly on the different plants, with the highest survival occurring on pigeon pea seedlings (97-100%) and the lowest on cucumber (48-69%; P &amp;lt; 0.05). Significantly more feeding lesions were recorded on pigeon peas (349.6 ± 82.56) than on cucumbers (52.6 ± 13.62) in the feeding preference test. The proportion of adult feeding during the scotophase was significantly higher than in the photophase (Pigeon pea seedling: t = -3.545; df = 18; P &amp;lt; 0.05, French beans: t = -2.684; df = 28; P &amp;lt; 0.05 and Cucumber t = 3.713; df = 18; P &amp;lt; 0.05). Oviposition was only recorded on pigeon pea seedlings. Present findings demonstrate the potential for using specific vegetables as suitable host plants for H. schoutedeni under confined and open field settings to aid future research studies toward effective management.. KEYWORDS :Cashew, Helopletis Schoutedeni, Legumes, Pest Management, Rearing

Silencing GmATG5 genes accelerated senescence and enhanced disease resistance in soybean

Autophagy plays an essential role in recycling/re-utilizing nutrients and in adaptions to numerous stresses. However, the roles of autophagy in soybean have not been investigated extensively. In this study, a virus-induced gene silencing approach mediated by bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) was used to silence autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5) genes in soybean (referred to as GmATG5). Our results showed that ATG8 proteins were massively accumulated in the dark-treated leaves of the GmATG5-silenced plants relative to the vector control plants (BPMV-0), indicating that autophagy pathway is impaired in the GmATG5-silenced plants. Consistent with the impaired autophagy, an accelerated senescence phenotype was observed on the leaves of the dark-treated GmATG5-silenced plants, which was not shown on the leaves of the dark-treated BPMV-0 plants. In addition, the accumulation levels of both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and salicylic acid (SA) were significantly induced in the GmATG5-silenced plants compared with that of the vector control plants (BPMV-0), indicating an activated immunity. Accordingly, the GmATG5-silenced plants exhibited significantly enhanced resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea (Psg) in comparison with the BPMV-0 plants. Nevertheless, the activated immunity observed in the GmATG5-silenced plant was independent of the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).

GmAGB1 plays a positive regulatory role in soybean defense responses

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G-proteins) complex, which consists of Gα, Gβ and Gγ subunits, plays critical roles in defense signaling. Arabidopsis genome contains only a single Gβ-encoding gene, AGB1. Loss function of AGB1 in Arabidopsis results in enhanced susceptibility to a wide range of pathogens. However, the function of soybean AGB1 in immunity has not been previously interrogated. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that there are four GmAGB1 homologous genes in soybean genome, sharing homology of 86%-97%. To overcome the functional redundancy of these GmAGB1 homologs, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) mediated by the bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) was used to silence these four genes simultaneously. As expected, these four GmAGB1 homologous genes were indeed silenced by a single BPMV-VIGS vector carrying a conserved fragments among these four genes. A dwarfed phenotype was observed in GmAGB1s-silenced soybean plants, suggesting that GmAGB1s play a crucial role in growth and development. Disease resistance analysis indicated that silencing GmAGB1s significantly compromised the resistance of soybean plants against Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycinea (Xag). This reduced resistance was correlated with the decreased accumulation of pathogen-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reduced activation of GmMPK3 in response to flg22, a conserved N-terminal peptide of flagellin protein. These results indicate that GmAGB1 functions as a positive regulator in disease resistance and GmAGB1 is indispensable for the ROS production and GmMPK3 activation induced by pathogen infection. Yeast two hybrid assay showed that GmAGB1 interacted with GmAGG1, suggesting that an evolutionary conserved heterotrimeric G protein complex similarly functions in soybean.

GEOTECHNICAL AND MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LATERITIC SOIL AND LOCUST BEAN (PARKIA BIGLOBOSA) PODS ASH AS CONSTRUCTION SOIL

African locust bean (Parkia Biglobosa) has been in great demand and consequently yielding large amounts of the pods which could be a potential hazard to the environment. Converting the pods to ash that would be utilized as construction material is another way of handling them properly. The effects of the mineralogy of the soil on its geotechnical characteristics when the soil is treated with locust bean pod ash have been given very little attention. Therefore, this study considered the effects of locust bean pod ash (LBPA) and the mineralogy of lateritic soil on some geotechnical properties necessary for it to be used as subgrade or foundation soil. The determination of the chemical constituents of the LBPA was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The lateritic soil was characterized by identifying the clay minerals as well as non-clay minerals present in the soil using the x-ray diffraction technique and preliminary tests were also carried out to properly rate the soil. The soil was treated by applying dosages of LBPA 0 – 25% at intervals of 5% and the percentages were measured by weight of the dry soil. The tests conducted on the prepared soil samples with LBPA were specific gravity, consistency indices, compaction (British Standard Light), California bearing ratio and direct shear box test. The LBPA was found to be an acceptable pozzolanic material for the treatment of the lateritic soil. The lateritic soil was observed to belong to soil groups A-2-6(0) in the AASHTO and poorly graded sand (SP) in USCS ratings. It was also observed that the non-clay minerals present in the soil were quartz, feldspar and mica whereas the clay minerals present were kaolinite, iolite, vermiculite and chlorite which had a significant influence on the geotechnical characteristics of the soil. The specific gravity of the LBPA was relatively low and the additions of LBPA reduced the specific gravity of the soil. The consistency indices also dropped and subsequently increased with the further addition of LBPA. The increase in LBPA contents caused increments in the optimum moisture content while the maximum dry density and shear strength parameters reduced. The strength characteristics like the California Bearing Ratio of the lateritic soil improved by 173.91% at the addition of 5% LBSA content which was determined to be the optimum dosage.