Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) is one of the most problematic invasive plants threatening agricultural lands in the northern Middle East. Its recent widespread occurrence has raised serious concern, as one of the major problems associated with lands infested by this weed is its allelopathic effect on successive crops. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic effect of different concentrations of its aqueous extracts on the germination and seedling development of three potential successive crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and to screen its chemical components. All tested concentrations of the plant extract had a negative impact, inhibiting germination and suppressing seedling growth. The highest concentration (12.5 %) inhibited germination of wheat and broad bean by 100 %, while flax seeds showed complete germination inhibition at concentration of 7.5 % and above. Furthermore, the lower concentrations exhibited an inhibitory effect on growth over time, likely due to the accumulation of active substances within seedlings, preventing normal germination and development. The results of the chemical composition analysis also indicated that the residues of this plant contain a considerable amount of bioactive secondary metabolites known to inhibit seed germination, particularly glycosides and terpenes. The study's findings demonstrate the adverse impact of this plant’s spread and recommend implementing all possible measures to limit its further expansion. Conversely, the study highlights the potential use of its bioactive compounds as natural agents for biological control.

Multilevel ecotoxicological assessment of three soil-applied pesticides using Allium cepa and Vicia faba as plant bioindicator models.

The escalating crisis of soil salinity, which is currently degrading 20% of the world’s cropland and projected to affect 50% by 2050, demands urgent agronomic solutions. This is particularly critical for irrigated arid regions, where saline groundwater and poor practices exacerbate the problem. While beans ( Fabaceae ) are nutritionally and economically vital, their response to salinity mitigation remains poorly understood. This research quantified the effects of two practical interventions, blending brackish water with reverse osmosis permeate and the application of composted mulch, on bean performance under saline stress. One field trial was conducted with faba bean ( Vicia faba ) in 2023–24 using a replicated factorial design to assess water quality × composted mulch interactions on key agronomic parameters, including growth, yield, and physiological health with two cultivars. The results demonstrated that reduced salinity agricultural water alone maximized yield and biomass. However, under raw brackish well water irrigation, compost mulch was a critical mitigation tool that produced a yield statistically equivalent to the optimum and an increase in plant height. These findings suggest alternative combinations of irrigation water quality and soil amendments to enhance legume production in salinity-affected regions.

Mechanistic insights of germination and autoclaving effects on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Fava Bean (Vicia faba L.): Molecular, structural, and functional perspectives

Multiscale analysis based on amorphous and fibrillated aggregates of fava bean proteins: mechanism of regulation of aggregation morphology and its functional properties

Influence of extrusion processing conditions on fibrous structure, texture, and digestibility of plant-based meat analogues incorporating faba bean protein and brewers’ spent grain

Heat-induced gelation properties of faba bean protein isolate at acidic condition: Impact of high methoxyl pectin and sucrose.

ABSTRACT Fusarium wilt is a devastating plant disease that causes significant yield losses worldwide. Biocontrol agents represent a sustainable alternative for Fusarium wilt management. In this study, three rhizospheric bacterial strains from Rhizobium and Bacillus genera were evaluated for managing Fusarium wilt in chili plants. Rhizobium nepotum strain Z-21 isolated from the rhizosphere of Vicia faba significantly reduced Fusarium wilt severity, showing a disease index of 26.2% that was 67.9% lower than the pathogen alone treatment. Additionally, Z-21 significantly increased shoot length (62.93%), root length (136.16%), and dry biomass (42.42%), compared to the negative control. We elucidated metabolomic mechanisms underlying Z-21-induced systemic resistance in chili plants. Z-21 increased total phenolic compounds by 37.54% and enhanced activities of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes by 2.12-fold and 1.78-fold, respectively, compared to the pathogen control. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ-ESI-MS) revealed that strain Z-21 effectively altered the metabolomic profile of chili plants. The application of Z-21 significantly increased the levels of numerous metabolites in chili plants that were reduced by Fusarium wilt infection. Metabolites present in the culture filtrates of Z-21 were identified by GC/MS analysis and used as ligands in molecular docking analysis. In-silico molecular docking analysis showed that di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and 2,2'-methylenebis-6-t-butyl-4-methylphenol (MBBM) had the highest docking scores towards defence-related receptor kinase proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Rhizobium nepotum as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium wilt in chili through induced systemic resistance (ISR).

Why was the work done: The brewing industry faces growing challenges from stricter regulations and from climate change, driving the need for sustainable innovation. One approach is the use of legumes as brewing adjuncts, given their low carbon footprint and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in soil. Incorporating diverse crops, such as barley, wheat, oats, and faba bean, promotes regenerative agriculture but also broadens raw material use in brewing. With the aim of promoting regenerative agriculture and sustainability in brewing, this study explores a ‘crop rotation’ beer made from barley, wheat, oats, and faba bean. How was the work done: The use of malt bills including barley, wheat, oats, and faba bean would support crop rotation and diversify raw materials. Faba bean was incorporated in both a raw and malted form. Brewing was performed at both laboratory and pilot scale, and the physicochemical and sensory properties of the beers were evaluated in comparison to barley malt beers. What are the main findings: The results show that crop rotation worts made with malted faba beans (Sprau®) were superior to raw faba beans with improved maltose levels, greater free amino nitrogen, and more protein, alongside lower polyphenol concentration. Further, pilot scale crop rotation beers brewed with Sprau® and its starch fraction achieved a more balanced flavour profile and higher ratings for taste, aroma, and overall quality, compared to those brewed with raw faba beans. The quality scores of the beers containing Sprau® were considered 'good' (>6) and on par with those observed with commercial malted barley beer. Why is the work important: A ‘crop rotation’ beer, utilising malt made from four different crops, can be produced with similar physicochemical and sensory properties to beer from malted barley. Incorporating legumes in the malt bill supports sustainable farming practices, enhances biodiversity, and reduces reliance on cereal grains such as barley. Compared to raw faba beans, malted faba beans (Sprau®) exhibited superior physicochemical, functional, and sensorial properties, making them more suitable for brewing application. Therefore, incorporating malted legumes can yield beers with a balanced flavour profile and this offers brewers new alternatives for improving the sustainability of their products.

Introduction Plant viruses severely affect agricultural crops and are the cause of almost half of all major plant diseases. No successful antiviral agents are now widely available for agricultural use against phytoviruses. Methods Micrococcus luteus was collected from the rhizosphere of faba bean and molecularly characterized via the 16S rRNA (Acc# PV650302). Soil inoculation greatly enhanced growth and induced systemic resistance to BYMV (Bean yellow mosaic virus) infection in faba bean plants grown in the greenhouse or field conditions. Results and Discussion Soil drenching application of Micrococcus luteus resulted in a 78% decrease in the severity of the disease and a 70% decrease in viral accumulation levels. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were all significantly increased after M. luteus treatment. The levels of oxidative stress indicators, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), were shown to be much lower after M. luteus treatment. The transcripts of genes involved in pathogenesis were found to be upregulated with these alterations. It is possible to use M. luteus as a biocontrol agent, which is a practical and environmentally friendly way to protect faba bean plants against BYMV infection, since it may increase faba bean growth and generate systemic resistance against BYMV disease. Antiviral action against viral infections in plants has never been previously documented for M. luteus .

The extraction of high-quality plant DNA in large quantities is considered a difficult task in all plant molecular studies, which makes the extraction of high-quality DNA from plants containing high amounts of inhibitor compounds the main challenge for researchers. Therefore, three different DNA extraction methods (CTAB, SDS, and a mixture of CTAB and SDS) were used and tested for the purpose of obtaining the best method for DNA extraction from Faba bean (Vicia faba L) plant leaves at different plant ages (7, 14, and 30 days). The estimation of DNA quality and purity was conducted by the Nanodrop spectrophotometer and gel electrophoresis system. The results of the present study showed that among the three DNA extraction methods used in this study CTAB method was the best method for extracting DNA from leaves in different plant ages specially leaves at the age of 7 days, followed by the SDS and CTAB methods. The absorbance ratio of extracted DNA from leaves with 7 days’ age using the CTAB method was above 1.9. CTAB performance was good in the elimination of the effects of inhibitor compounds such as protein; this technique has the potential to be an effective protocol for DNA extraction using leaves tissue. The result of this study also proved that the mixture of SDS and CTAB methods produced DNA with acceptable purity, whereas the A260/A280 ratio of absorbance for extracted DNA from leaves with 7 days’ age by the SDS+CTAB method treatment was 1.89. The results showed that the purity levels of extracted DNA from plant leaves at the age of 7 days were significantly higher than the other two treatments (14 and 30 days) in all the used methods, which explains that extracting DNA from young leaves is clearly successful. According to our result SDS method has an A260/A280 ratio of absorbance ranging from 1.53 to 1.87 in the treatment of leaves with 7 days’ age, whereas this range was lower than the CTAB method.

Under natural field stress conditions in newly reclaimed sandy soils characterized by extreme diurnal temperature fluctuations (ΔT > 20 °C, peak temperatures 42 °C), limited water retention, and moderate salinity, faba bean cultivation faces significant yield stability challenges. This study evaluated whether combined foliar applications of sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol) and boron could synergistically enhance stress tolerance and yield stability in faba bean under these conditions. A two-season field experiment (2023/2024, 2024/2025) at Sadat City, Egypt, tested three cultivars (Nobaria3, Misr1, Giza717) under seven foliar treatments: control (CK, distilled water), individual applications of sorbitol (40 g L⁻¹), mannitol (40 g L⁻¹), boron (50 mg L⁻¹), and binary combinations (S + M, S + B, M + B) administered at four critical growth stages (30, 40, 50, 60 days after planting) arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Combined treatments demonstrated superior efficacy, with sorbitol + boron (S + B) producing maximum improvements: plant height increased 31% (111.91 vs. 85.38 cm in control, p < 0.01), leaf area expanded 85% (1275.92 vs. 689.93 cm², p < 0.001), and chlorophyll content increased 17% (40.56 vs. 34.78 mg L⁻¹, p < 0.05). The S + B treatment enhanced grain quality with 30.6% higher protein content (31.87% vs. 24.40%, p < 0.001) and 39% increase in 100-grain weight (112.48 vs. 80.67 g, p < 0.01). Nobaria3 exhibited superior treatment responsiveness, achieving peak yield stability of 5.24 t ha⁻¹ (Season 1) and 3.70 t ha⁻¹ (Season 2). Treatment effects remained consistent across contrasting seasons (Season × Treatment interaction was non-significant for 9 of 12 parameters, p ≥ 0.05), demonstrating robust stress-mitigation mechanisms applicable to variable production conditions in newly reclaimed arid lands. The strategic foliar application of combined sorbitol and mannitol enhances osmoregulation, stabilizes cellular membranes, and improves photosynthetic efficiency, thereby ensuring sustained reproductive development. Consistent treatment effects across seasons demonstrate reliable stress alleviation mechanisms appropriate for climate-resilient production systems in newly reclaimed soils.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-33363-2.

Introduction Members of receptor like cytoplasmic kinase VII (RLCK VII) subfamily are important participants in plant growth and development, innate immunity, and resistance to abiotic stress. However, in broad beans, the regulatory mechanisms of RLCK VII subfamily genes involved in these processes remains unclear. Methods To further elucidate the regulatory mechanisms, a comprehensive whole-genome analysis was conducted. To investigate the disease resistance function of VfRLCK VII genes, their expression patterns under infection by Alternaria alternata were analyzed through transcriptome sequencing. And functional validation of VfRLCK VII4 (VfRLCK176) was performed via transformation into Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). Results VfRLCK VII subfamily comprised 45 members, which were unevenly distributed across 6 chromosomes. These genes encoded protein sequences ranging from 296 to 595 aa in length, with 39 located in the nucleus and 6 in chloroplasts. VfRLCK VII proteins were classified into 9 subgroups and 3 members, all of which contained only a single PKc_like superfamily domain. Promoter analysis indicated that VfRLCK VII genes possessed various cis-acting elements, including light responsive elements, plant hormone responsive elements, stress responsive elements, and growth and development regulatory elements. Among them, 21 genes exhibited differential expression level, which might be involved in the disease resistance function of broad beans. The disease resistance assessments demonstrated that after inoculation with A. alternata , transgenic tobacco plants displayed milder symptoms and significantly smaller lesion areas compared to wild type controls. This finding suggested that VfRLCK VII4 could positively regulate tobacco's resistance to A. alternata . Discussion This study provides novel insights into the RLCK VII-mediated defense network and offers candidate genes for breeding disease-resistant broad bean varieties.

This paper discusses the total replacement of egg white (EW) with faba bean protein concentrate (FPC) in a marshmallow formulation. The physico-chemical and techno-functional characterizations of the ingredients revealed that FPC, with a protein content of 68%, exhibited an interesting foaming capacity (200%) compared to EW, which had comparable foaming stability. The physico-chemical properties of the final products indicated that the FPC marshmallow (FPCM) had a higher density (0.519 g/mL), lower moisture (17.337%), and a water activity within the recommended range for this type of product. The FPCM had the highest hardness and elasticity values but the lowest cohesiveness and adhesiveness. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the FPCM structure is similar to that of the EW marshmallow (EWM). In front-face fluorescence spectroscopy measurements, the FPCM exhibited higher emission intensity for tryptophan with a maximum at 382 nm and vitamin A with a maximum located around 338 nm. FTIR analysis presented higher peaks at 850, 918, and 1034 cm-1 for the EWM compared to the FPCM. In a hedonic evaluation, the majority of descriptors (hardness, odor, and general acceptability) showed similar scores for both formulations. All results demonstrated the success of the total substitution of egg white by FPC in the marshmallow formulation.

The heating of plant proteins at high temperatures is often associated with phase separation due to the aggregation of protein fractions, resulting in weak or discontinuous gels in liquid processing systems. This study examined the high-temperature gelation behaviour of commercial yellow pea, faba bean, and mungbean protein isolates and evaluated how different levels of dry-fractionated starch substitution tailor viscosity development and final gel strength. To characterise structural changes during heating, pasting behaviour was evaluated at 95 °C and 120 °C using a high-temperature Rapid Visco Analyser, while gel strength, temperature-ramp rheology, and thermal transitions were measured using a texture analyser, rheometer, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. At 95 °C, all systems showed controlled pasting behaviour, with yellow pea exhibiting moderate viscosity development and clear recovery during cooling, mungbean generating the highest peak viscosity, and faba bean forming the strongest elastic network and gel structure. At 120 °C, yellow pea showed reduced stability, whereas faba bean and mungbean retained higher viscosity during heating. Starch addition improved the viscosity stability and gel strength across all proteins by limiting excessive aggregation and supporting network formation. These findings clarify how protein type and starch substitution affect high-temperature gelation, supporting the development of a heat-stable, clean-label plant-based gel system.

Tillage and crop rotation alter soil environments, thereby influencing both crop yields and methane-cycling microbiomes, yet their combined effects on microbial diversity, assembly, and interaction networks remain unclear. Using a two-factor field experiment, we assessed the impacts of raised seedbed vs. flat cultivation and rice–oilseed rape vs. rice–faba bean rotations on crop productivity and the ecology of methanogen (mcrA) and methanotroph (pmoA) communities. Raised seedbed cultivation significantly increased yields: rice yields were 7.6–9.6% higher in 2020 and 4.7–5.8% higher in 2021 than under flat cultivation (p &lt; 0.05). Faba bean and oilseed rape yields were also improved. Flat rice–bean plots developed more reduced conditions and higher organic matter, with a higher NCM goodness-of-fit for methanogens (R2 = 0.466), indicating patterns more consistent with neutral (stochastic) assembly, whereas the lower fit for methanotrophs (R2 = 0.269) suggests weaker neutrality and stronger environmental filtering, accompanied by reduced richness and network complexity. In contrast, raised seedbed rice–oilseed rape plots improved redox potential and nutrient availability, sustaining both mcrA and pmoA diversity and fostering synergistic interactions, thereby enhancing community stability and indicating a potential for methane-cycle regulation. Overall, raised seedbed cultivation combined with legume rotation offers yield benefits and ecological advantages, providing a sustainable pathway for paddy management with potentially lower greenhouse gas risks.

Plant proteins, especially legume proteins, have garnered widespread attention due to their rich nutritional value and numerous health benefits. In this study, the flavor properties of soy, pea, mung bean, chickpea, faba bean, and peanut proteins were analyzed and compared using rapid gas chromatography electronic nose (GC-E-Nose), headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) coupled with chemometrics. GC-E-Nose analysis showed a distinct difference in the volatile compounds of six legume proteins. A total of 208 and 101 volatile compounds were identified using GC-MS and GC-IMS, respectively, with aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones being the main volatile components. Among the six legume proteins, chickpea protein possessed the highest content of volatile compounds, whereas peanut protein contained the largest number of volatile compounds. In the meanwhile, 40 and 33 compounds with variable importance in the projection (VIP) greater than 1 were screened using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), of which 15 (hexanal, nonanal, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, heptan-2-one, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, pentan-1-ol, tridecane, tetradecane, oct-3-en-2-one, 1,4-xylene, hexanoic acid, dodecane, 2-pentylfuran, hexan-1-ol, pentanal), and 3 (propan-2-ol, heptan-2-one-D, pentan-1-ol-D) compounds with VIP > 2, respectively. These volatiles were the key differential compounds that distinguished the six legume proteins. GC-MS combined with odor activity value (OAV) identified 35 flavor compounds as key odor active compounds with OAV > 1. The combined application of these techniques better characterized the flavor profile differences among legume proteins, providing theoretical guidance for developing new plant-based alternative protein products. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

The increasing demand for sustainable and functional plant-based foods has driven interest in 3D food printing technologies, which require bioinks with tailored rheological and structural properties. This study investigated the effects of transglutaminase (TGase) on the structure-function relationships of plant protein bioinks from fava bean, mung bean, pea, and soybean. TNBS assays showed a dose-dependent increase in crosslinking (27.46-64.57%), with soybean and pea proteins exhibiting the highest reactivity (p < 0.05). 1H-NMR confirmed protein-specific ε-(γ-glutamyl)lysine bond formation, and synchrotron FTIR revealed TGase-induced α-helix reduction and β-sheet enrichment, indicative of network formation across all proteins. SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated TGase-mediated polymerization with high-molecular-weight aggregates, particularly pronounced in soybean, while SEM images revealed denser, more continuous protein networks compared to untreated samples. Rheological characterization showed enhanced viscoelasticity and shear-thinning behavior in all bioinks, supporting extrusion and post-printing stability. Textural analysis indicated improvements in hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness across all proteins, with soybean and fava showing the most pronounced increases. These results demonstrate that TGase is a versatile tool for reinforcing plant protein networks, improving printability, structural integrity, and texture in 3D-printed foods, while highlighting protein-specific differences in response.

A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore whether feeding inclusion procyanidin-rich grape seed powders (GSPs) affected the faba bean-induced muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp. The procyanidin content in the prepared GSP was 10.40 g/100 g. Additionally, one thousand 1-year-old grass carp with an initial weight of 27 g and an initial length of 12 cm were divided into five groups, including the blank control (basal diet); the positive control (faba bean diet); and the low (faba bean diet supplemented 100 mg/kg GSP), middle (faba bean diet supplemented 500 mg/kg GSP), and high (faba bean diet supplemented 1000 mg/kg GSP) GSP-supplemented groups. After feeding for 60 days, the weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and condition factor were elevated in the high-GSP-supplemented group in comparison with the blank control (p < 0.05), accompanied by a significant decrease in the feeding coefficient (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, a significant increase in muscle ROS content, shear force, gumminess, and chewiness was determined in the high-GSP-supplemented group when compared with the positive group, suggesting that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP facilitated muscle crispness. Moreover, the composition of intestine microbiota was significantly varied between groups with the daily addition of GSP (p < 0.05). Among them, Lactococcus chungangensis was identified as the key biomarker of the high-GSP-supplemented group, which was closely related to the increased muscle ROS content, the modifications in muscle nutritional metabolites (Met, C20:2n6, C20:3n6, C20:4n6, and C22:4n6), and the alterations in muscle texture (gumminess, chewiness, shear force, hardness, and adhesiveness). Based on these results, we believe that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP (1000 mg/kg) facilitated muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp.

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effects of legume crop rotation on the rhizosphere microbiota and its potential to improve potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) productivity and tuber quality. We specifically focus on the microbial functional potential revealed through metagenomic sequencing under different legume rotation systems in the intensive agricultural region of the Chinese Loess Plateau.MethodsA five-year field experiment (2018–2022) was conducted to establish three cropping systems: (1) continuous potato monocropping for 5 years (CK), (2) continuous potato cropping for 3 years followed by one-year pea rotation and one-year potato cropping (T1), and (3) continuous potato cropping for 3 years followed by one-year faba bean rotation and one-year potato cropping (T2). The impacts of these rotation regimes on potato yield formation, tuber quality, and rhizosphere microbial communities were systematically evaluated, with a focus on microbial diversity and functional potential, using metagenomic sequencing and network analysis.ResultsMetagenomic analysis demonstrated that legume rotation, particularly the T2 system, significantly enriched the relative abundances of Actinobacteria (38.31%) and Proteobacteria (28.40%) in the potato rhizosphere while reducing Acidobacteria (10.03%). Functional annotation further revealed that T2 promoted the expression of microbial genes involved in carbon fixation (K00626, K01895, etc.), nitrogen assimilation (narB, narA, etc.), and sulfur metabolism (cysNC, cysN, etc.), enhanced potential for nutrient cycling. Co-occurrence networks revealed Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria as keystone taxa forming robust interaction modules potentially linked to soil ecological stability. Compared to CK, T2 increased the commercial tuber rate by 85.82%, overall tuber yield by 28.38%, starch content by 34.85%, and vitamin C content by 30.79%, while reducing sugar levels decreased by 9.35%.ConclusionFaba bean-potato rotation (T2) effectively mitigated the adverse impacts caused by continuous potato cropping by altering the rhizosphere microbial structure and enhancing microbial functional pathways related to nutrient cycling. This study provides a detailed metagenomic perspective on the microbial mechanisms underlying the benefits of crop rotation and offers a theoretical basis for developing microbiome-informed ecological management strategies to mitigate continuous cropping obstacles in potato production on the Loess Plateau.