Faba Research Articles

Evaluation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Genotypes for Yield and Disease Resistance at Werabe District, Central Ethiopia Region

Evaluation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Genotypes for Yield and Disease Resistance at Werabe District, Central Ethiopia Region

Evaluation of the performance of several cultivars of bean (Vicia faba L.) for yield and its components under three different cultivation distances

Evaluation of the performance of several cultivars of bean (Vicia faba L.) for yield and its components under three different cultivation distances

GREEN ROUTE SYNTHESIS OF COPPER OXIDE (CuO) NANOPARTICLES FOR THE DEGRADATION OF COMMERCIAL DYES USING VICIA FABA LEAF EXTRACT

The release of toxic dyes into water effluents by various industries has become a global concern. Therefore, developing novel, straightforward, and economically viable methods or materials for purifying these hazardous pigments is imperative. This study aims to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) through a green route using Vicia faba leaf extract. UV-Vis spectroscopy reveals an absorption band ranging from 200 nm to 300 nm, with a major absorption peak at 212 nm and an energy band gap of 5.29 eV. FTIR, SEM, EDX, and XRD techniques characterise the synthesised CuO nanoparticles. FTIR analysis identifies functional groups including hydroxyl (OH), aromatic C-H, C=C stretching, carbonyl (C=O), and Cu-O stretching vibrations. Scanning electron microscopy reveals flower-like particles, while EDX analysis confirms the formation of CuO nanoparticles. The XRD pattern indicates a crystalline structure with an average particle size of 27.44 nm. A plot of (αhν)² versus photon energy (hν) was generated to determine the energy band gap, yielding a value of 5.29 eV. Rhodamine-B and methylene blue (MB) dyes were employed to evaluate the photocatalytic degradation of the synthesized CuO-NPs, resulting in correlation coefficients of 0.7154and 0.9702, respectively. Furthermore, the rate constants of these dye reactions were found to be 0.0406min-¹ and0.0343 min-¹.

Effect of Treatment with Humic Acid on Some Growth Characteristics and Protein Content in Different Varieties Vicia faba L. Plant

An experiment was carried out using plastic pots in the 2023-2024 season to evaluate the method of treatment with humic acid in the growth characteristics and protein percentage of different varieties of faba bean plants. The study included two factors, the method of adding humic acid (without acid, spraying acid on the plant, adding acid to the soil). The second factor included four varieties of beans (local Iraqi, Netherland, Spanish, and French). The results showed: superiority of the treatment of adding Humic acid to the soil in terms of plant height, total chlorophyll percentage, number of leaves, and protein percentage by 13.25% and 7.59 mg g-1 wet weight. 6.78% and 8.75%, respectively Compared to the control treatment, the local variety was superior in the characteristics of plant height and number of leaves by 31.72 and 7.26% compared to the French variety, which was superior in the characteristics of number of leaves and protein percentage by 12.27 and 24.0%, respectively. The interaction also outperformed adding acid to the local variety in plant height. By 53.13%, the French variety with added acid exceeded the characteristics of number of leaves and protein percentage by 26.40 and 30.50%, respectively.

An Analysis of Agricultural Policy for Broad Beans in Egypt

An Analysis of Agricultural Policy for Broad Beans in Egypt

Techno‐Functional Properties of Dry and Wet Fractionated Pulse Protein Ingredients

ABSTRACTDry fractionation (DF) of pulses is proposed as a more sustainable process than wet fractionation (WF) to create protein ingredients for food applications. To facilitate the use of these ingredients by food manufacturers, it is important to understand the connection between their functional properties and processing methods. This study investigated protein ingredients from faba bean, mung bean, yellow pea and chickpea obtained via milling and air‐classification and commercial WF, comparing them with commercial soy protein concentrate. Functional properties of these ingredients were investigated, including overall solubility, protein solubility, water‐holding, oil‐holding, emulsifying, foaming and rheological properties. DF proteins exhibited higher protein solubility, higher emulsification and lighter colour, while WF proteins demonstrated higher water‐holding capacity. The pasting profiles varied significantly between the two processing methods, with DF proteins exhibiting lower pasting temperatures. However, the gels formed from DF and WF proteins exhibited similar abilities to withstand deformation and retain their structure. The findings highlight that the fractionation method significantly influences the functional properties of protein materials. Dry fractionation may produce materials with high solubility, offering significant potential in food applications.

Improvement of Vicia faba plant tolerance under salinity stress by the application of thiamine and pyridoxine vitamins

Enhancement of plant growth at early growth stages is usually associated with the stimulation of various metabolic activities, which is reflected on morphological features and yield quantity and quality. Vitamins is considered as anatural plant metabolites which makes it a safe and ecofriendly treatment when used in appropriate doses, for that this research aimed to study the effect of two different vitamin B forms (thiamine and pyridoxine) on Vicia faba plants as agrowth stimutator in addition to study it’s effect on plant as astrong antioxidant under salinity stress.Our findings demonstrated that both vitamin forms significantly increased seedling growth at germination and early growth stages, especially at 50 ppm for pyridoxine and 100 ppm for thiamine. Pyridoxine at 50 ppm increased seedling length by approximately 35% compared to control, while thiamine at 100 ppm significantly promoted seedling fresh and dry wt by 4.36 and 1.36 g, respectively, compared to control seedling fresh wt 2.17 g and dry weight 1.07 g. Irrigation with 100 mM NaCl had a negative impact on plant growth and processes as well as the uptake of several critical ions, such as K+ and Mg+2, increasing Na uptake in comparison to that in control plants. Compared to control plants irrigated with NaCl solution, the photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and total antioxidant capacity increased in the presence of pyridoxine and thiamine, both at 50 and 100 ppm salinity. The proline content increased in both treated and untreated plants subjected to salt stress compared to that in control plants. Thiamine, especially at 50 ppm, was more effective than pyridoxine at improving plant health under saline conditions. An increase in Vicia faba plant tolerance to salinity was established by enhancing antioxidant capacity via foliar application of vitamin B through direct and indirect scavenging methods, which protect cell macromolecules from damage by oxidative stress, the highest antioxidant capacity value 28.14% was recorded at 50 ppm thiamine under salinity stress.The provided results is aguide for more researches in plant physiology and molecular biology to explain plant response to vitamins application and the suggest the sequence by which vitamins work inside plant cell.

Morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses indicate that cell wall properties and antioxidant processes are potential targets for improving the aluminium tolerance of broad beans

Aluminium (Al) stress is the second-leading abiotic stress on crops. An improved understanding of the response mechanisms of plants to Al stress will provide scientific guidance for enhancing the crops’ tolerance to Al stress. In this study, Al stress (50–200 μM AlCl3) caused visible damage to broad bean (Vicia faba L.) roots rather than shoots, which was attributed to Al accumulation and distribution in different tissues. Root transcriptomic analysis revealed that Al stress altered cell wall properties by downregulating lignin synthesis and several xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase-, expansin- and peroxidase (POD)-encoding genes, which likely weakened cell extensibility to inhibit root growth. Additionally, Al stress impeded reactive oxygen species scavenging pathways involving POD activity and flavonoid biosynthesis, leading to oxidative damage characterised by malondialdehyde accumulation. These results indicate that optimising cell wall properties and/or enhancing antioxidant processes are crucial for alleviating Al toxicity to broad beans. Interestingly, exogenous application (500 and 1000 μM) of the flavonoid apigenin effectively alleviated Al toxicity in broad bean roots by partially improving the total antioxidant capacity of the roots. This study contributes to understanding the interaction between plants and Al and provides new strategies to alleviate Al toxicity in crops.

Bioaccessibility and potential bioactivity of fresh and mature fava bean flavonoids

The bioaccessibility of total flavonoids, catechin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, rutin, quercetin, isoquercetin, and kaempferol, and changes in antioxidant activities in fresh and mature fava bean seeds during simulating gastrointestinal conditions has been investigated. The portion of bioaccessible flavonoids potentially available for further uptake varies between pods. Flavonoids of mature and fresh seeds after the gastric phase, intestinal phase, and dialysable fraction, simulating bioaccessible flavonoids, were 6.62% and 1.78%, respectively, compared with no-digested pods. Total antioxidant capacities in the bioaccessible fractions were significantly lower than the control. Furthermore, potential bioactivity as a PPAR-gamma antagonist was evaluated, where epigallocatechin gallate presents at -9.50 Kcal/mol vs. -6.53 Kcal/mol, present in troglitazone. These results highlighted that gastrointestinal digestion may substantially affect the absorption of flavonoids in mature and green fava beans and present a potential bioactivity against obesity.

Environmentally Benign Green Approach for the Aynthesis of IONPs Using <i>Vicia Faba</i> Fruit Extract and Their Antioxidant Activities

Iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized from plant materials have garnered considerable attention due to their environmentally friendly nature and wide-ranging applications in various fields. These NPs possess unique attributes, including biocompatibility, low toxicity, catalytic capabilities, and intricate reaction mechanisms, making them highly desirable for diverse biomedical uses. This study presents an innovative green synthesis approach for utilizing the fruit extract of Vicia faba (V. faba). The synthesized NPs underwent comprehensive characterization using advanced techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Notably, the V. faba fruit extract served as an effective reducing agent, facilitating the synthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP) with well-defined structural and chemical properties. The size of Iron oxide nanoparticles falls between the range of 299.3-527.4 nm. Furthermore, the synthesized Iron oxide nanoparticles were evaluated for their antioxidant activity, revealing promising results against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl DPPH and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) ABTS radicals. These findings highlight the significance of V. faba fruit extract in producing IONPs endowed with valuable bioactive properties, offering considerable potential for applications in biomedicine and beyond.

Effects of Efficient Ethylene Remover on the Lignification of Fresh Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) during Storage.

Postharvest ethylene accumulation and lignification are significant issues affecting the storage quality of fresh faba beans, resulting in rapid quality decline. However, there is still a lack of effective preservation methods to preserve the quality of faba beans during storage. This study aimed to investigate the regulation of lignification in faba beans during storage using a high-efficiency ethylene remover (HEER), examining physiological responses, key enzyme activities, and transcriptomic changes. Results showed that the HEER treatment inhibited the lignification, reducing it by 45% and lowering the respiratory rate of fresh pods by 32.8% during storage. Additionally, the HEER treatment suppressed respiration rates and the activities of lignin synthesis-related enzymes, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (from 353.73 to 246.60 U/g), cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (from 635.86 to 125.00 U/g), 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (from 1008.57 to 516.52 U/g), and cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (from 129.42 to 37.12 U/g), thus slowing lignin accumulation. During storage, the hardness of fresh faba bean increased by 9.79% from the initial period, being 1.44 times higher than that of HEER. On days 8 and 16 of storage, the respiratory rate of the treated beans decreased by 24.38% and 4.12%, respectively. Physiological and enzyme activity analyses indicated that HEER treatment-induced increase in hardness was associated with the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway. Moreover, the HEER significantly down-regulated the expression of several key genes, namely FaPAL, FaC4H, and FaCAD. This study helps to deepen the understanding of the inhibition of lignification by HEER and provide new insights for the development of preservation technology of faba bean.

Evaluating a new intercrop model for capturing mixture effects with an extensive intercrop dataset

Cereal-legume intercrops have numerous advantages over monocultures. However, the intercrop’s performance depends on the plant genotypes, management, and environment. Process-based agro-ecosystem models are important tools to evaluate the performance of intercrop systems as field experiments are limited in the number of treatments. The objective of this study was to calibrate and evaluate a new process-based intercrop model using an extensive experimental data set and to test whether the model is suitable for comparing intercrop management strategies. The data set includes all combinations of 12 different spring wheat entries (SW, Triticum aestivum L.) with two faba bean (FB, Vicia faba L.) cultivars, at two sowing densities, in three different environments. The results show that the intercrop model was capable of simulating the absolute mixture (intercrop) effects (AME) for grain yield, above-ground biomass, and topsoil root biomass, for both crops. However, the intercrop model does not perform better than a benchmark that ignores the intercrop effects when simulating plant height, fraction of intercepted radiation, volumetric soil water content, and subsoil root biomass. The intercrop model predicted reasonably well the differences between species and between SW cultivars for grain yield and aboveground plant biomass. Overall, the tested process-based model can be a useful tool for designing and pre-evaluation multiple combinations of crop management, species, and cultivars suitable for intercropping in diverse conditions.

Spatial spread of Ditylenchus gigas and its interaction with Botrytis fabae on Vicia faba

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

A qPCR assay for specific detection of Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis.

Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis is a gram-negative bacterium that causes bacterial leaf blight in Brassica crops, an important disease that could bring severe damage to the host plants. The aim of this study was to develop a tool that can reliably and accurately quantify P. cannabina pv. alisalensis and distinguish it from other closely related bacterial pathogens. Two species and six pathovars of Pseudomonas were tested: three pathovars, P. syringae pv. coriandricola, P. syringae pv. philadelphi, and P. syringae strains from Vicia faba were found or confirmed to be members of P. cannabina based on the multi-locus sequence analysis and rep-PCR results. The qPCR assay was evaluated for specificity and examined for detection limit in pure bacterial cells and bacteria-spiked plant samples. The assay was applied in monitoring the quantities of the P. cannabina pv. alisalensis DNA over time in inoculated turnip green leaves. As results, the newly developed qPCR assay detected the target DNA in P. cannabina pv. alisalensis suspension as low as 100 CFU/ml and did not detect any of the nontarget bacteria. The qPCR assay detected P. cannabina pv. alisalensis in all the inoculated samples at least 5 days before the symptoms became visible; bacterial quantity increased significantly in the first three days after inoculation but slowed down afterwards. The new qPCR assay for P. cannabina pv. alisalensis detection will facilitate early detection and disease diagnosis, assist research to provide epidemiological insights for the pathogen, and guide implementation of strategies to manage disease and prevent its spread.

Targeted metabolomics of muscle amino acid profles and hepatic transcriptomics analyses in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fed with broad beans

While tissue amino acid compositions reflect that of the dietary protein source, and the liver orchestrates amino acid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the muscle amino acid profiles in ordinary and crisp grass carp. The 22 amino acids were measured, and seventeen showed significant concentration differences. To understand the molecular mechanisms behind changes, we analyzed the liver transcriptome, and the 2519 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 1156 up-regulated and 1363 down-regulated genes. DEGs were enriched in ribosome-related biological processes. KEGG pathway analysis showed enrichment in tryptophan metabolism, lysine degradation, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, galactose metabolism, and glutathione metabolism with up-regulated genes, arginine and proline metabolism, arginine biosynthesis and alanine, aspartate, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, N-Glycan biosynthesis and glutamate metabolism with down-regulated genes. A protein-protein interaction network with 260 nodes and 249 edges was constructed, and 3 modules were extracted. The top 10 hub genes with close connections to other nodes were ITM1, STT3B, SEL1L, UGGT1, MLEC, IL1B, ALG5, KRTCAP2, NFKB2, and IRAK3. In summary, this study identified candidate genes and focused on amino acid and glycan metabolism pathways, providing a reference for further investigation into liver amino acid metabolism in grass carp fed with broad beans.

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.

Exploring the Impact of Solid-State Fermentation on Fava Bean Flour: A Comparative Study of Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oligosporus.

Fava bean (Vicia faba L.) is a protein-rich pulse with high nutritional value, but its functional and sensory characteristics limit its application in foods. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) can modify the composition of plant proteins, modulate its functionality, and enhance the sensory aspects. In this study, fava bean flour (FB) was fermented with Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oligosporus to produce FBA and FBR, respectively, ingredients with distinct nutritional, functional, and aroma characteristics. The protein content increased by 20% in FBA and 8% in FBR, while fat levels rose more significantly in FBR (+40%). The overall content of fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) decreased by 47% (FBA) and 57% (FBR), although polyol production by A. oryzae was observed. SSF improved the nutritional profile of FBA and FBR, with a notable increase in the concentration of essential amino acids observed, and a reduction in most antinutrients, with the exception of trypsin inhibitors. SSF resulted in the formation of aggregates, which increased the particle size and reduced protein solubility. Emulsions prepared with the fermented ingredients separated faster, and the foaming capacity of both FBA and FBR was decreased, but an increase in water-holding capacity was observed. SSF resulted in the production of predominantly savoury-associated aroma compounds, with compounds characteristic of metallic and mouldy aromas reduced. These results indicate the potential of SSF to transform FB with enhanced nutritional value and improved sensory and functional properties.

Genetic gain in yield of Australian faba bean since 1980 and associated shifts in the phenotype: Growth, partitioning, phenology, and resistance to lodging and disease

ContextFeeding a growing human population with limited arable land requires greater crop yield that is, in turn, driven by improved agronomy, better varieties, and their synergy. Here we focus on faba bean, Vicia faba L., an under-researched grain legume for which on-farm yield in Australia has increased at 0.8 % y−1 since 1990. ObjectiveWe aimed to quantify genetic gain in seed yield of Australian faba bean varieties released since 1980, and to identify associated shifts in physiological and agronomic traits. MethodsWe combined three studies: the complete historical collection of Australian faba bean varieties was grown in 1) a vintage experiment of three field trials; and 2) a pot experiment inoculated with old and new strains of Ascochyta fabae. Since most varieties were grown in a national network of trials, we 3) estimated genetic gain in seed yield and individual seed weight in 129 environments. ResultsIn the vintage experiment, genetic gain in seed yield varied from 0.4 % y−1 to almost zero; low rates of genetic gain were also apparent in the national network of trials. Biomass, harvest index, and crop growth rate in the critical period had low rates of genetic change, and there were strong trade-offs between yield components and in their responses to selection. Breeding increased seed size at 0.5 % y−1. Visual lodging scores decreased at 4.9 % y−1. There was breakdown in resistance to Ascochyta blight, but it was restored in new varieties. ConclusionsAustralian faba bean breeding contributed to on-farm yield and profitability through improved agronomic traits and seed quality. Low genetic gain in yield can be partially attributed to physiological trade-offs between traits, economic trade-offs between multiple breeding targets, and genotype-by-environment interaction. ImplicationUnder-researched crops require greater investment to match the genetic gain in yield of major crops.

244 Comparative crude protein solubilization in yellow pea and fava bean protein concentrates in a simulated porcine gastric and intestinal digestion model

Abstract Pulses are valuable protein ingredients but unique characteristics among them are known to influence protein quality and utilization. We determined crude protein solubilization (CPS) in yellow pea (YP) and fava bean (FB) protein concentrates using simulated porcine gastric and intestinal model (Table 1). For each ingredient, 500 mg CP equivalent was incubated in triplicate with pepsin at either pH 3.5 or 4.5 for 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 h at 39°C and 200 r.p.m. for gastric CPS. For intestinal CPS, gastric samples (derived at pH 3.5 for 1.5 h) were incubated with pancreatin and bile extract at pH 6.8 for 0, 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 h. Intestinal CPS was categorized as CPfast, CPslow and CPresistant corresponding to CPS within the first 0.5 h, 0.5 to 4 h, and undigested after 4 h, respectively (Table 2). The concentration of CP in the supernatant was equated to CPS. Data were subjected to Proc GLIMIXX of SAS while Gompertz equation was used to describe the gastric and intestinal solubilization kinetics (A-maximum solubilized CP, Wo- initial CP solubility, Ku- solubilization rate, Ti- time to inflection). The model for gastric CPS had fixed effects of protein, incubation time, stomach pH and their interaction at 1.5 h and while fixed effects of protein was evaluated in intestinal CPS kinetics. The analyzed CP in FB and YP were 712.7 and 599.1, g/kg DM, with 3 and 4% of CP bound to NDF, respectively. Gastric CPS in FB was not influenced (P > 0.05) by pH and incubation time; however, at 1.5 h gastric CPS in FB was 40.9 and 28.44% at pH 3.5 and 4.5, respectively. Gastric CPS in YP was influenced by incubation time (P < 0.05) with increase at pH 3.5 after 1 h and at pH 4.5 after 0.5 h compared with 0 h. After 1.5 h, gastric CPS in YP was 50.0% at pH 3.5 and 33.2% at pH 4.5. Whereas YP gastric CPS at pH 3.5 and 1.5h was greater compared with FB, there were no differences (P > 0.05) between the FB and TP at pH 4.5. However, intestinal CPS tended (P < 0.10) to be greater for FB (91.7%) compared with YP (89.4%). The FP was solubilized faster (Ku; P < 0.05) than YP, supported by a (P < 0.05) higher CPfast of FB (87.8%) compared with YP (75.9%). CPresistent was found to be greater (P < 0.05) for YP (12.0%) than for FB (6.6%; Figure 1). In conclusion, fava, and pea protein concentrates had gastric protein solubilization that was dependent on pH. The less resistant protein in FB suggested a greater nutritive value than YP. Further research should determine ileal amino acids digestibility and the impact of incorporation in practical diets to characterize animal performance, health, and environment impact.

Residues of Symbiont Cover Crops Improving Corn Growth and Soil-Dependent Health Parameters

Cover crops have emerged as a crucial tool in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving soil quality and soil–plant health. This study investigates the impact of single cover crop plants each with varying fungal and/or bacterial symbiosis capacities in a pot experiment. The growth of non-symbiont Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata), the associative bacterium symbiont black oat (Avena strigosa) and the double (fungus–bacterium) endosymbiont broad bean (Vicia faba) was studied on three distinct soil types, namely a less-fertile sandy soil (Arenosol), an average value of loam soil (Luvisol) and a more productive chernozem soil (Chernozem). Beside the biomass production, nitrogen content and frequency of AM fungi symbiosis (MYCO%) of cover crops, the main soil health characteristics of electrical conductivity (EC), labile carbon (POXC) and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activity (FDA) were assessed and evaluated by detailed statistical analysis. Among the used soil types, the greatest biomass production was found on Chernozem soil with the relatively highest soil organic matter (2.81%) content and productivity. Double symbiotic activity, assessed by soil nitrogen content and mycorrhiza frequency (MYCO%), were significantly improved on the lowest-quality Arenosols (SOM 1.16%). In that slightly humous sandy soil, MYCO% was enhanced by 45%, indicating that symbiosis was crucial for plant growth in the less-fertile soil investigated. After the initial cover crop phase, the accumulated biomass was incorporated into the Luvisol (SOM 1.64%) soil, followed by the cultivation of corn (Zea mays, DK 3972) as the main crop. The results indicate that incorporating cover crop residues enhanced labile carbon (POXC) by 20% and significantly increased the FDA microbial activity in the soil, which positively correlated with the nutrient availability and growth of the maize crop. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable cover crops based on their symbiotic characteristics to improve soil quality and enhance soil–plant health in sustainable agricultural systems.