Eye Bean Research Articles

Symbiotic N2 fixation in cowpea varieties is markedly enhanced by inoculation with elite Bradyrhizobium strains

Because of its excellent ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] makes a significant contribution to soil sustainability and productivity in the resource limited tropical regions. However, due to in part to ineffectiveness and limited availability of bio-inoculant, its symbiotic N contribution and yield remained low in the field. Therefore, this study examined the effect of elite cowpea infecting Bradyrhizobium strains (CP-24 and CP-37) on shoot biomass and symbiotic nitrogen contributions of four cowpea varieties (Keti, TVU, Black eye bean, and White wonderer trailing). For this a two-year field experiment was carried out at three sites using a factorial randomized complete block design with four replications. The natural abundance of the 15N technique was used to compute the symbiotic N contribution. Bradyrhizobium inoculation led to significantly higher nodule formation, % Ndfa, amounts of N fixed, and shoot biomass, demonstrating the effectiveness and ability of the strains to enhance soil fertility. Inoculating cowpea with CP-24 strain increased shoot N content, % Ndfa and N fixed by 40%, 15%, and 41%, respectively, in comparison to the un-inoculated control. Furthermore, the inoculant by variety interaction had a significant effect on nodule number, nodule dry weight, and amount of N fixed, with TVU and White Wonderer trailing in combination with CP-24 exhibiting the most outstanding performance. There was also a strong positive correlation between biomass accumulation and N fixed, as well as N fixed and seed yield. Therefore, Bradyrhizobium inoculation on cowpea varieties TVU and White Wonderer trailing with CP-24 strain is recommended at all three tested sites and similar agro-ecologies for improved symbiotic N contribution and associated yield advantage of cowpea. This study highlights that, the use of elite and crop specific Bradyrhizobium strains can boost symbiotic nitrogen contribution, soil fertility, and the yield performance of legumes. Thus, it helps resource-poor farmers who are suffering from rising mineral fertilizer cost to achieve food security while reducing climate change risks.

YIELD AND YIELD RELATED PERFORMANCE OF COWPEA (Vignia unguiculata L.) VARIETIES TESTED AT DIFFERENT FERTILIZER USE UNDER IRRIGATION, CENTRAL GONDAR ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Inadequate quantity and quality feeds is the major constraints to livestock production in majority of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This necessitates the need to follow economically viable forage production. A study was conducted to evaluate the yield and yield related performance of cowpea (Vignia unguiculata L.) varieties under irrigation in 2017 and 2018 years. The experiment was laid down in a split plot design with randomized complete block design (RCBD) arrangement in four replications. There were two main plots of which one was planted with fertilizer and the other one without fertilizer for comparison and the sub plot treatments were eight varieties of Cowpea (Vignia unguiculata) (ILRI 9333, ILRI 9334, ILRI 11114, ILRI 12688, ILRI 12713, Kenkety, Black eye bean and IT92KD258-9). The data collected consisted of plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, forage biomass yield (t ha<sup<-1</sup<), dry matter yield (t ha<sup<-1</sup<), leaf to stem ratio, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, grain yield (kg ha<sup<-1</sup<), thousand seed weight (g) and haulm yield (t ha<sup<-1</sup<). All data were subjected to analysis of variance procedures, with significance test at p<0.05. The results revealed that highest dry biomass yield (t ha<sup<-1</sup<) was recorded when Cowpea varieties ILRI 9334, ILRI 11114, ILRI 12688 and IT92KD258-9 planted with fertilizer. The highest haulm yield was obtained from Cowpea varieties ILRI 9334, ILRI 11114 and ILRI 12713 when planted with fertilizer and when ILRI 9334, ILRI 12688, ILRI 12713 and IT92KD258-9 Cowpea varities planted with out fertilizer. Cowpea varieties Kenkety and IT92KD258-9 produced higher grain yield compared to other varieties. Cowpea varieties ILRI 9333, ILRI 11114, ILRI 12688, ILRI 12713 and IT92KD258-9 when planted with and with out fertilizer; when variety ILRI- 9334 and Kenkety planted only with fertilizer and also variety Black eye bean when planted with out fertilizer was found economically profitable. Therefore, based on the study results, planting Cowpea varieties ILRI 9334, ILRI 11114, ILRI 12688 and IT92KD258-9 with 100 kg ha<sup<-1</sup< NPS fertilizer appears to be more preferable regarding biomass yield and were found potentially profitable.

In Vitro Gastrointestinal Bioaccessibility, Bioactivities and Colonic Fermentation of Phenolic Compounds in Different Vigna Beans.

Beans are widely consumed throughout the world, rich in non-nutrient phenolic compounds and other bioactive constituents, including alkaloids, lectins, and others. However, research about in vitro digestion impacts on the changes of bioactive compounds' release and related antioxidant potential in different Vigna beans is limited. This research aimed to assess the modifications that occur in the content and bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds in four Vigna samples (adzuki bean, black urid whole, black eye bean, and mung bean), their antioxidant properties, and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production through static in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation. Adzuki bean exhibited relatively higher total phenolic content (TPC; 4.76 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activities after in vitro digestion. The black eye beans' total flavonoid content (0.74 mg QE/g) and total condensed tannins (10.43 mg CE/g) displayed higher tendencies. For colonic fermentation, the greatest TPC value of entire samples was detected through a 2-h reaction. In most selected beans, phenolic compounds were comparably more bioaccessible during the oral phase. Acetic acid showed the highest level through SCFAs production, and the total SCFAs in adzuki beans was the greatest (0.021 mmol/L) after 16-h fermentation. Adzuki beans may be more beneficial to gut health and possess a stronger antioxidant potential after consumption.

Adaptability study of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] varieties in Pastoral areas of South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Field experiments were conducted on pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of South Omo Zone at Dasenech, Hammer and Gynagatom woredas of South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia on four cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] varieties in 2019 under irrigation. The objective of the study was to select the best performing cowpea varieties in the target areas. The cowpea varieties included in the field experiment were (Black eye bean, Bole, TVU, and Kankeit). The experiments were carried out using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The combined analysis of variance results depicted that there were significant differences among the varieties for all the studied parameters except the number of seeds per pod. The mean values for plant height ranged from 84.89 (cm) for the variety Bole to 120.67 (cm) for TVU. The mean values for the number of pods per plant ranged from 24.33 for the variety Bole to 46.90 for TVU. The mean value for 100 seeds weight was maximum (21.11g) for the cowpea variety black eye bean and, while it was minimum (17.11 g) for the variety TVU. The highest overall mean grain yield of 2457.0 kg ha-1 was recorded for the variety Kankeit while the minimum 1695.3 kg ha-1 was noted for the cowpea variety black eye bean. Therefore, the variety Kankeit and TVU could be recommended for the study areas however further research should be done to put the recommendation on a strong basis. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 12(1): 137-140, June 2022

The Impact of Dehulling and Germination on the Physiochemical, Protein Solubility and Water and Oil Holding Capacities of Yellow Eye Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Protein Concentrates

Pulse varieties including Yellow Eye (YE) beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a rich source of protein (~26.5%) that can be utilized to create value-added protein concentrates. Pre-treatments including dehulling and germination have been shown to be effective at improving the nutritional and functional properties of extracted protein concentrates. However, the composition and functionality of these protein concentrates can vary depending on the pre-treatments and the method of extraction used (salt vs. alkaline). Furthermore, little is known about the impact of combining these different processing methods on the properties of YE bean protein concentrates. The objective of this study was to evaluate how germination and dehulling pre-treatments individually and when combined influence protein extraction efficiency, physiochemical properties (surface hydrophobicity and intrinsic fluorescence), and the functionality (solubility, oil and water holding capacities) of salt and alkaline extracted protein concentrates. Compared to the salt extracted concentrates, the alkaline protein concentrates exhibited higher protein recovery yields (16–23% vs. 43–56%) respectively. Conversely, the salt extracted protein concentrates exhibited superior functional properties as observed by improved water holding capacities and less variation in their solubilities at different pH values (4 to 10). When the pre-treatments were combined, the salt extracted concentrates exhibited improved extraction efficiencies and improved hydrophobicity and intrinsic fluorescence, whereas the opposite trend was observed in the alkaline protein concentrates. These observations were attributed to differences in the protein content and composition of the salt vs. alkaline protein concentrates. Overall, these findings suggest that dehulling and germination are potential processing methods that may be used to improve the physiochemical characteristics of salt extracted protein concentrates from yellow eye beans. Future research may investigate the potential application of these ingredients in different food formulations.

Leaf growth, gas exchange and assimilation performance of cowpea varieties in response to Bradyrhizobium inoculation

Supplying nitrogen to crops through selecting high N fixing legumes and effective inoculant is one of the key strategies to improve crop productivity. However, studies related to the effect of Bradyrhizobial inoculation on leaf growth, its functioning in relation to photosynthesis, and transpiration efficiency (WUE) of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] varieties in the tropics were inadequate. A two-year field experiment was conducted at three sites to evaluate the effect of inoculation on leaf growth, gas exchanges and photosynthetic efficiency of cowpea varieties. The study treatments were composed of four varieties, Keti (IT99K-1122), TVU, Black eye bean, and White wonderer trailing and three levels of inoculation (non-inoculated or inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strains CP-24 or CP-37). Gas exchange was measured on live plants at 67–77 days after sowing, between 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 14:00 to 16:00 p.m. Leaf growth parameters (leaf number and leaf area) were measured by destructive sampling, and the yield data was determined by harvesting plants in the three central rows at physiological maturity. Variety TVU performed best in terms of leaf number, photosynthesis rate, and WUE. Whereas, Black eye bean revealed superior performances for leaf area, leaf area index, and stomatal conductance compared with the rest two varieties. The effect of inoculation was significant with 14.0, 23.8, 13.7, and 11.0% advantage in leaf area, leaf area index, net photosynthesis, and WUE, respectively. Moreover, the performance of cowpea of the 2018 cropping season showed a relative advantage over 2019 in terms of leaf number, leaf area, leaf area index, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance. Therefore, inoculating cowpea varieties with effective Bradyrhizobium strain can be a viable alternative to enhance growth, gas exchange, photosynthetic efficiency, and grain yield.

Comparative Analysis of the Effect of Carbon- and Titanium-Ions Irradiation on Morpho-Anatomical and Biochemical Traits of Dolichos melanophthalmus DC. Seedlings Aimed to Space Exploration.

The realization of manned missions for space exploration requires the development of Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSSs) to make human colonies self-sufficient in terms of resources. Indeed, in these systems, plants contribute to resource regeneration and food production. However, the cultivation of plants in space is influenced by ionizing radiation which can have positive, null, or negative effects on plant growth depending on intrinsic and environmental/cultivation factors. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of high-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) ionizing radiation on seed germination and seedling development in eye bean. Dry seeds of Dolichos melanophthalmus DC. (eye bean) were irradiated with two doses (1 and 10 Gy) of C- and Ti-ions. Seedlings from irradiated seeds were compared with non-irradiated controls in terms of morpho-anatomical and biochemical traits. Results showed that the responses of eye bean plants to radiation are dose-specific and dependent on the type of ion. The information obtained from this study will be useful for evaluating the radio-resistance of eye bean seedlings, for their possible cultivation and utilization as food supplement in space environments.

Yield response of field‐grown cowpea varieties to Bradyrhizobium inoculation

AbstractCowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a widely cultivated crop for food and animal feed, with a high potential for alleviation of climate change effects on crop production due to its biological nitrogen fixing ability. However, its yields are low in Ethiopia partly due to poor agronomic practices such as lack of improved varieties, low soil fertility, and limited input use including bio‐inoculants. Field experiments were conducted in the cropping seasons 2018 and 2019 at three climate change and food insecurity vulnerable sites in Ethiopia (Boricha, Dore, and Hawassa) to determine yield responses of cowpea varieties to Bradyrhizobium inoculation. Four cowpea varieties, Keti (IT99K‐1122), TVU, Black eye bean, and White wonderer trailing in combination with three inoculation levels (un‐inoculated or inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strains CP‐24 or CP‐37) were used in a factorial randomized complete block design with four replications. Results revealed significant varietal differences in crop yield and yield components over years and across sites. Averaged over the seasons, seed yield of TVU was higher by 52% compared to the low‐yielding Black eye bean variety. On average of the three sites, inoculation of cowpea with strain CP‐24 significantly increased seed yield (21%), pod number (16%), and 100‐seed weight (13%) relative to the control. Furthermore, the interaction between variety and inoculant resulted in a significant increase in seed yield and number of pods per plant of TVU × CP‐24 by 60 and 68%, respectively, as compared to the un‐inoculated treatment. Overall, inoculation of the cowpea varieties TVU and White wonderer trailing with Bradyrhizobium strains CP‐24 is recommended at all the three tested sites and similar agro‐ecological environments for improved productivity of cowpea.

Food Neophobia and Consumer Choices within Vietnamese Menu in a Polish Cohort Study.

One of the factors influencing consumer food choices is food neophobia (FN), described as a reluctance to try novel or unknown food products. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of FN on food choices in young Polish respondents through a web-based choice experiment with Vietnamese restaurant menu. The choice experiment was conducted using a Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method in a sample of 601 young adults, while using a developed Vietnamese restaurant menu. For the dishes, neophobic potential for a Polish population was defined, based on content of ingredients not typical for Polish diet. The FN was assessed using the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS) by Pliner and Hobden. The neophobic potential was the determinant of choice of dishes (p < 0.05). The participants characterized by a high FN level less commonly than others chosen dishes characterized by neophobic potential as: starter (Nem quõn—non-fried spring rolls with shrimps) (p = 0.0003), soup (Mién gà—soup with cellophane noodles and nam huong mushrooms) (p < 0.0001), main course (Phở xào bò—rice noodles with soy sauce and fish sauce) (p < 0.0001) and dessert (Chè thập cãm—dessert of golden gram, black eye beans, Azuki beans and tapioca) than other options (p = 0.0007). It was stated that FN in young respondents may reduce the frequency of choosing dishes containing unfamiliar ingredients and, as a result, it may cause lower diversity of consumed dishes. Taking into account that not properly balanced diets resulting from rejecting some types of products are becoming a growing problem, the FN should be taken into account in the general public health policy.

Exploring New Sources of Viral Resistance in Cowpea Germplasm and Its Elaboration through Multivariate Analysis

Background: Cowpea is a major food legume rich in protein but its production has been dwindling by several factors including viral infection due to various virus strains in all agro-ecological zones.Methods: Sixty eight cowpea genotypes were screened against qualitative traits (leaf shape, seed surface, twinning tendency, anthocynin pigment, plant type, fodder type and cream color) and four seed borne viruses viz. cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), cowpea aphid borne mosaic virus (CABMV), black eye cowpea mosaic virus (BlCMV) and bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) under both in situ and laboratory conditions using DAC-ELISA.Result: Based on in situ screening, 16 genotypes were found resistant to all the four viruses, whereas for ELISA, 13 genotypes (27005, 27041, 27075, 27141, 27145, 27146, 27147, 27158, 27160, 27167, 27172, IT85F-1380 and IT86D-719) were found resistant to all. Twelve clusters were obtained from UPGMA based on disease severity. Genotype 27008 (Pakistan) was present in cluster VI and was susceptible to all antisera CMV, CABMV, BICMV and BCMV. Whereas 13 genotypes were present in cluster VIII which were found resistant to all the four antisera applied. Therefore, 13 genotypes suggested for safe use in any breeding program at developing resistant cultivars. First two factors obtained through PCA with eigen-values greater than 1 contributed greater than 80 per cent variability. Twelve distinct groups were observed and these were in coordination with cluster analysis.

Agro-morphological Characterization of Eight (08) Cowpea Accessions [(&lt;i&gt;Vigna unguiculata&lt;/i&gt; (L.) Walp.)] from Benin and Ghana Introduced in Center-Benin

The present study allowed to characterize at agro-morphological level, eight (08) traditional cowpea accessions from Benin and Ghana in order to identify the best performing ones. The test was installed in a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design with four (04) repetitions in a station in Savè in Center-Benin. The parameters studied are the date of flowering and maturation, the numbers of stems and leaflets per plant, the height of plants, the port of the stem, the lengths of pods and petiole, the weights of pods, tops, seeds and of 100 seeds, the seed yield, the colors of flowers, pods and seeds, the shapes of leaflets and of seeds, the size and the appearance of seeds. Xlsat version 2018.6 software was used for multi-component analysis to categorize accessions by their significant variables. SAS 9.2 software was used for the analysis of variance and the comparison of the means of variables. The number of branches, the length of the petiole, the height of the plants, the number of leaves, the length of the pods, the weights of the pods and of the tops had a positive influence on the cowpea seeds yield. The accessions were classified into three groups. The first group is made up of three (03) high-performance accessions, Nketewade, Mung bean lens and Songotra, with a short cycle of 61 to 62 days and a high yield of between 1050 kg/ha and 1300 kg/ha. The second group is that of the Djetoko and black eye bean accessions of long-cycle from 80 to 88 days, with a yield of between 620 kg/ha and 800 kg/ha. The third group is made up of false Cassoulet, Ennepa and Nsroma accessions with a short cycle of 62 to 65 days and a low yield of between 175 kg/ha and 230 kg/ha. Multilocal tests and genetic molecular characterization must be considered for a good valuation of these cowpea accessions.

Agar with embedded channels to study root growth

Agar have long been used as a growth media for plants. Here, we made agar media with embedded fluidic channels to study the effect of exposure to nutrient solution on root growth and pull-out force. Black Eye bean (Vigna Unguiculata) and Mung bean (Vigna Radiata) were used in this study due to their rapid root development. Agar media were fabricated using casting process with removable cores to form channels which were subsequently filled with nutrient solution. Upon germination, beans were transplanted onto the agar media and allowed to grow. Pull-out force was determined at 96, 120 and 144 h after germination by applying a force on the hypocotyl above the gel surface. The effect of nutrients was investigated by comparing corresponding data obtained from control plants which have not been exposed to nutrient solution. Pull-out force of Black Eye bean plantlets grown in agar with nutrient solution in channels was greater than those grown in gel without nutrients and was 110% greater after 144 h of germination. Pull-out force of Mung bean plantlets grown in agar with and without nutrient solution was similar. Tap root lengths of Black Eye bean and Mung Bean plantlets grown in agar with nutrient solution are shorter than those grown without nutrient.

Sustainability Perspectives of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Cultivation under No Tillage and Water Stress Conditions.

Nowadays, agriculture is facing the great challenge of climate change which puts the productivity of the crops in peril due to unpredictable rain patterns and water shortages, especially in the developing world. Besides productivity, nutritional values of the yields of these crops may also be affected, especially under low mechanization and the low water availability conditions of the developing world. Conservation agriculture (CA) is a topic of emerging interest due to the provision of adequate yields and reduced environmental impact, such as greenhouse gas emissions, by being based on three main principles: minimum soil disturbance (reduced or no tillage), cover crop maintenance, and crop rotation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of CA management on the growth performance and the nutritional profile of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), a pulse of African origin, commonly known as black eye bean under field conditions. A field experiment was designed to assess the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) combined with the usage of a set of cover crops, coupled to normal and deficient water regimes. Cowpea was revealed to be able to grow and yield comparably at each level of the treatment tested, with a better ability to face water exhaustion under CA management. After a faster initial growth phase in CT plots, the level of adaptability of this legume to NT was such that growth performances improved significantly with respect to CT plots. The flowering rate was higher and earlier in CT conditions, while in NT it was slower but longer-lasting. The leafy photosynthetic rate and the nutritional profile of beans were slightly influenced by tillage management: only total starch content was negatively affected in NT and watered plots while proteins and aminoacids did not show any significant variation. Furthermore, significantly higher carbon and nitrogen concentration occurred in NT soils especially at the topmost (0–5 cm) soil horizon. These findings confirm the capability of CA to enrich soil superficial horizons and highlight that cowpea is a suitable crop to be grown under sustainable CA management. This practice could be pivotal to preserve soils and to save agronomical costs without losing a panel of nutrients that are important to the human diet. Due to its great protein and aminoacidic composition, V. unguiculata is a good candidate for further cultivation in regions of the word facing deficiencies in the intake of such nutrients, such as the Mediterranean basins and Sub-Saharan countries.

EFFECT OF NEEM COMPARED WITH PSEUDOMONAS FLUORESCENS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF COWPEA ROOT ROT DISEASE

Cowpea also known as 'black eye beans' (Vigna ungiculata L.) is an important leguminous and hay crop in tropical and subtropical regions. In recent years root rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina causes significant losses in cowpea. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the bio-potential of neem cake with Pseudomonas fluorescens on the management of cowpea root rot disease. In this study, P. fluorescens as seed and soil application (@ 10 gm/kg and 2.5 kg/ha) with neem oil cake as soil application @ 0.25 t/ha (T6) significantly reduced the root rot disease incidence with a maximum per cent disease reduction and increased the biometrics of cowpea plant under both pot and field trials. Keywords: Macrophomina phaseolina, cowpea, neem, in-vivo.

Determination of ascorbic acid and its influence on the bioavailability of iron, zinc and calcium in Fijian food samples

The total content of ascorbic acid (AA) determined in selected Fijian foods from different food groups of cereals [long grain rice, brown rice, white bread, wholemeal bread, weet-Bix, oats and flours], pulses [yellow split, black eye beans, chickpea, green gram/moong whole, bengal gram/chana dal, spilt red gram/toor dal, blue peas, red kidney beans], poultry/meat products [chicken breast, lamb chops, fish and egg] and dairy products [milk powders and cheese] was in the range 24.54±1.37 to 1.87±0.69mg/100g. Further, the influence of AA on the bioavailability of Fe, Zn and Ca was determined using in vitro gastrointestinal digestion method by addition of (5 or 10mg) AA in 2g food sample. Pulses showed low content of AA whereas green leafy vegetables showed high content but AA was not detected in cereals, poultry/meat and dairy products. Our study confirmed that AA in chickpea reduced Fe bioavailability from 38.69 to 22.77% but increased in red kidney beans from 1.04 to 11.57%, in green gram (whole moong) 1.79 to 6.48% and wholemeal bread 2.44 to 8.76% whereas bioavailability of Zn and Ca was increased.

Investigative Study of the Structure and Mechanical Behaviour of Horse Eye Bean Seed Shell Ash Reinforced Aluminium Alloy Matrix Composite

Investigative Study of the Structure and Mechanical Behaviour of Horse Eye Bean Seed Shell Ash Reinforced Aluminium Alloy Matrix Composite

Neurobehioural Effects of Chronic Consumption of Uncooked Black Eye Beans on Spatial Learning and Memory in Mice

Neurobehioural Effects of Chronic Consumption of Uncooked Black Eye Beans on Spatial Learning and Memory in Mice

Physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of legume starches

The physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of starches from different cultivars (genus) of legumes, namely, black eye bean, baby lima bean, lentil, chick pea, small red bean, and mung bean, were analyzed. All legume starches had oval and spherical granules, with an average diameter of 18.6–27.8 μm. Baby lima bean starch, with high amylose content, high molecular weight (Mw) of amylopection, and low short amylopection branch chains (DP 6–12), showed high gelatinization temperature, gelatinization enthalpy (△H), final viscosity, setback viscosity, and pasting temperature. By contrast, chick pea starch, with low amylose content and Mw of amylopection as well as high short amylopection branch chains, exhibited low gelatinization temperature, △H, peak viscosity, breakdown viscosity, and pasting temperature. Baby lima bean starch was highly resistant to enzyme digestion. The contents of slowly digestible and resistant starches of cooked small red bean were significantly higher than those of other cooked starches.

Feeding value of processed horse eye bean (&lt;i&gt;Mucuna urens&lt;/i&gt;) meal as alternative protein source in pullet chicks’ diets

The study was designed to evaluate the performance of pullet chicks fed graded levels of processed horse eye bean meal (HEBM) as partial replacement for soybean meal. The cracked beans were subjected to three processing methods viz: soaking in plain water for 48 hours, cooking for 90 minutes, and toasting on open fire at 100 o C after sundrying for seven (7) days. The processed beans were milled to pass through a four(4) mm mesh and used for diet formulation. Six experimental diets were formulated each at brooding and rearing phases, with diet 1 as control, while soybean meal in the control diets were replaced with the horse eye bean meal (HEBM) at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75% in diets 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Three hundred and sixty (360) one day-old Lohman black pullet chicks were used at brooding phase, while two hundred and seventy (270), 56 days old chicks were used during the rearing phase of the experiment. Chicks were divided into six (6) groups on weight equalization bases and groups randomly placed on one of the six diets. The feeding trials lasted for eight weeks at brooding stage and twelve weeks during rearing period. Data generated were statistically analysed using analyses of variance procedures. The results revealed that level of HEBM in the diet did not significantly influence the average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Cost of feed consumed and cost per kg weight gain were significantly reduced with the inclusion of HEBM in pullet chicks’ diets. It was concluded that 45 per cent of the soybean meal could be replaced by the HEBM in diets of pullets at the chick phase while HEBM can replace 60% of the soybean meal in the pullets’ diet at rearing phase. KEYWORDS : Horse eye bean, anti-nutrients, processing techniques, pullet chicks, brooding and rearing phases.

Adaptation and Yield Performance of Different Cowpea (&lt;em&gt;Vigna unguiculata&lt;/em&gt; L.) Varieties in Western Gojjam, Ethiopia

Field experiment was conducted during 2013/14 rainy season in two selected districts of north western Ethiopia with the objective of evaluate the adaptability and yield performance of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) varieties under sole cropping. Treatments consisted of seven cowpea (TVU, Bekur, 9333, 9334, 12688, Kenkety and Black eye bean) varieties in randomized complete block design with three replication per district. Variety showed highly significance difference in their Dry Matter Yield (DMY) and the value ranged 2.07 to 4.19 t/ha. Cowpea variety 9334 showed highly significance (4.19) difference in its DMY as compared to12688 (3.09), black eye bean (2.85), TVU (2.79) and bekur (2.07t/ha). Seed yield also showed highly significance difference by variety and district. Cowpea variety 9333 gave significantly higher (1235.4kg/ha) seed yield compared to TVU (733.3), 9334 (722.9), black eye bean (511.8) and bekur 487.5 kg/ha. There was also significant variation between the number of seeds per pod obtained from kenkety and 12688 with that of most cowpea varieties. Black eye bean significantly differed from all cowpea varieties evaluated in its thousand seed weight. Based on yield data kenkety 9333 and 9334 recommended as alternative legume forage crops from cowpea varieties evaluated under sole cropping for Jabitehnan and South Achefer areas.