Faba Research Articles

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

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

Valorisation of certain cultivated legumes using recent biotechnological approaches for the elaboration of new gluten-free products in Algeria

The aim of this study was to develop gluten-free food products, a biscuit (cookies) and a pasta (couscous) based on chickpea flour and fava bean flour, in order to improve and diversify food products for Algerian coeliac patients. The choice of raw material was based partly on the nutritional richness of these varieties, especially in terms of proteins and the balance of their amino acid profiles, and partly on their availability and low cost.The physico-chemical analyses carried out show that the raw materials and finished products produced are of good quality. The sensory analysis carried out shows that the cooked biscuits and couscous made are well appreciated by tasters and have better organoleptic characteristics. However, these results remain preliminary and should be followed up with further work to create a formula that meets the requirements of coeliac patients.

Elucidating the Response of Diverse Faba Bean Genotypes to Powdery Mildew Infection

Faba bean (Vicia faba) is a temperate grain legume of major importance for food and feed. Powdery mildews are an important group of diseases in many crops, although in faba bean, it is still considered to be of only minor and local relevance. Here, we report the occurrence of powdery mildew in southern Spain, which was identified through ITS sequencing as Erysiphe trifolii. Resistance screenings allowed the identification of a wide range of responses to the disease, with accessions BPL-710 and ILB-4708 outstanding due to their high levels of resistance. Histological studies showed that the mechanisms of resistance may involve the inhibition of germination and impairment of fungal development, as shown by a limited number of primary and secondary hyphae compared to those of the susceptible accessions. This work permitted a better understanding of the interaction of faba bean and powdery mildew, laying the ground for breeding programs for resistance if needed in the future.

Innovation in crop rotations for sustainable integrated crop-livestock systems: The case of a typical semi-arid Mediterranean area

Integrated organic crop-livestock systems represent a sustainability model on which many environmental, economic and social expectations have been placed, especially in some areas with limited availability of natural resources. In recent years, among the fodder crops in rotation on organic livestock farms, conditions have been created for the emergence of soya (Glycine hispida, M.), also due to the coupled aid granted by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A generalised spread of soybean, however, may generate unsustainable production patterns, especially in Mediterranean areas characterised by limited irrigation and weed management issues. With respect to the above, the research assessed the holistic sustainability of using field beans (Vicia faba, L.) in rotation for fodder purposes. To this end, a technical-economic and environmental analysis was carried out with economic balances and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), through which a number of synthetic efficiency indices were developed. The results demonstrate the validity of the agronomic choice in achieving environmental efficiency, but also the importance of soil management and reducing the livestock load per unit area in order to simultaneously maintain economic and social efficiency levels.

Replication-independent change in the frequencies of distinct genome segments of a multipartite virus during its transit within aphid vectors.

The genome of multipartite viruses is composed of several segments individually packaged into distinct viral particles. Each segment accumulates at a specific frequency that depends on the host plant species and regulates gene expression. Intriguingly, the relative frequencies of the genome segments also change when the octopartite faba bean necrotic stunt virus (FBNSV) is ingested by aphid vectors, despite the present view that this virus travels through the aphid gut and salivary glands without replicating. By monitoring the genomic composition of FBNSV populations during the transit in aphids, we demonstrate here that the changes take place extracellularly in the gut lumen and in the saliva. We further show that physicochemical factors induce differential degradation of viral particles depending on the encapsidated segment. We propose that the replication-independent changes within the insect vector are not adaptive and result from the differential stability of virus particles containing distinct segments according to environmental parameters.

Isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantitation-Based Proteomics Analysis Revealed Proteins Involved in Drought Response during the Germination Stage in Faba Bean.

The faba bean, a significant cool-season edible legume crop, is susceptible to drought during the germination stage. Research regarding the genetic regulation of drought tolerance throughout this stage in the faba bean is limited. The differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in faba beans between the drought-tolerant variety C105 and the drought-sensitive variant E1 during seed germination were identified in this work, accomplished through isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis. A total of 3827 proteins were identified in the two varieties of germinating seeds. Compared to those of variety E1, an increase in 108 DEPs and a decrease in 61 DEPs were observed in variety C105 under drought. Conversely, in the control group, variety C105 showed 108 significantly upregulated DEPs and 55 significantly downregulated DEPs. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the DEPs associated with glutathione metabolism and protein processing demonstrated significant increases in response to drought stress. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis unveiled three closely connected functional modules of protein translation, DNA replication, and post-translational modification, originating from 22 DEPs derived from the germination period of two varieties under drought stress. To verify the proteomic function, we selected three differentially expressed protein coding genes, which were overexpressed or silenced in tobacco, thereby enhancing the drought resistance of tobacco. This was accompanied via altered levels of superoxide dismutase or peroxidase in transgenic plants under drought stress. The possible mechanism for drought tolerance in germinating seeds of faba bean involves increasing protein translation, decreasing DNA replication, and modifying chromatin. These findings offer invaluable insights into the reaction mechanism in response to drought stress in faba beans. The identified DEPs could be utilized in faba bean breeding initiatives to manage drought.

Preparation of isolated guard cells, containing cell walls, from Vicia faba.

Stomatal movement, initiated by specialized epidermal cells known as guard cells (GCs), plays a pivotal role in plant gas exchange and water use efficiency. Despite protocols existing for isolating GCs through proplasting for carrying out biochemical, physiological, and molecular studies, protocals for isolating GCs with their cell walls still intact have been lacking in the literature. In this paper, we introduce a method for the isolation of complete GCs from Vicia faba and show their membrane to remain impermeable through propidium iodide staining. This methodology enables further in-depth analyses into the cell wall composition of GCs, facilitating our understanding of structure-function relationship governing reversible actuation within cells.

Effect on calf growth of accounting for early in vitro degradation kinetics when composing a calf starter ration

Degradation kinetics of concentrates were investigated in vitro and fed to calves to determine if weight gains reflected in vitro results. Five concentrate ingredients (steam dried sugar beet pulp, drum dried sugar beet pulp, toasted faba beans, untreated faba beans and soybean hulls) were fermented using the in vitro gas production technique in two 48 hour fermentations and degradation parameters were established. Two pairs of calf starter rations were formulated based on the in vitro degradation profiles of the individual concentrates and pelleted. The rations were balanced using NorFor – the Nordic feed evaluation system- to provide a similar net energy (MJ/day) but with differing in vitro degradation kinetics during the first 16 h of fermentation. Each pair consisted of rations made with concentrate ingredients that had an expected in vitro rapid (“Fast”) degradation and an expected in vitro slower (“Slow”) degradation relative to each other during the first 16 h of fermentation. The first pair (Fast_1 and Slow_1) consisted mainly of a single fast or slow in vitro degraded concentrate ingredient, either steam dried sugar beet pulp (48.5 % of dry matter) or drum dried sugar beet pulp (49.5 %), respectively. The second pair (Fast_2 and Slow_2) included two expected fast or slow in vitro degraded ingredients. The extra “Fast” concentrate ingredient, in addition to steam dried sugar beet pulp, was untreated faba beans, which brought the total fast concentrate ingredients in the Fast_2 ration to 64 % of DM. The second “Slow” concentrate ingredient was toasted faba beans, in addition to soybean hulls, which replaced the drum dried sugar beet pulp. The total “Slow” ingredients in the Slow_2 ration was 65.8 % of DM. The first pair of concentrate rations were each fed to 18 calves on a commercial dairy farm, while the second pair was fed to 59 calves each on a beef fattening station. The calves were fed for 8 weeks, and each calf was weighed weekly. The mean total weight gain of each calf after the trial was 68.5 kg and 68.6 for Fast_1 and Slow_1, respectively and 64.9 kg and 63.8 kg for Fast_2 and Slow_2, respectively. There was a tendency for Slow_1 to lead to increased growth compared to Fast_1 (P=0.052), when accounting for the initial weight of the calves, but there were no differences between Fast_2 and Slow_2. There was no significant effect on feed efficiency. The large differences in fermentation kinetics seen in the concentrate ingredients in vitro were not seen in the concentrate rations or the weight gain response of the growing calves.

Biorefining of legume and grass biomasses: Technological properties and bioactivities of the green juice

Five legume species (fodder galega, green pea, faba bean, red clover, and white clover) and one grass (timothy) grown under field conditions were investigated as potential future foods. Technological characteristics, such as emulsifying and foaming properties and nitrogen solubility indices, were determined from the green juices pressed from the whole plants. Secondly, the juices were evaluated for their antioxidative, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Faba bean green juice showed the highest emulsion stability and capacity, 66.0 ± 3.3 % and 18.0 ± 2.7 g/mg respectively, and second highest emulsion activity (58.4 ± 0.92 %). Considering the foaming properties, the highest activity was shown by white clover (433 ± 0.0 %) and green pea juices (411 ± 19.2 %). At the same time, the foam stability was remarkable for green pea juice (1078 ± 181.9 min) when compared to the other juices studied. The juices showed nitrogen solubility indices of about 50 % at pH 8, which were rather similar to those shown for the seeds of the same species in the literature. The antioxidant activities correlated with the total phenolic content. The highest antioxidant activity was shown by faba bean green juice both in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. In addition, a weak positive correlation was observed between the total phenolic content and the antibacterial properties using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains, although mainly in the case of the latter strain, high inhibition readings were observed for all other plants than white clover. All juices showed some anti-inflammatory activity on human monocyte activation: the faba bean and red clover were the most efficient materials (IC50 concentrations 49 ± 41 and 206 ± 68 mg/L, respectively).- These results suggest that the green juices tested may provide novel health-promoting food and feed ingredients in the future.

Biochar addition and reduced irrigation modulates leaf morpho-physiology and biological nitrogen fixation in faba bean-ryegrass intercropping

Intercropping legume with grass has potential to increase biomass and protein yield via biological N2-fixation (BNF) benefits, whereas the joint effects of biochar (BC) coupled with deficit irrigation on intercropping systems remain elusive. A 15N isotope-labelled experiment was implemented to investigate morpho-physiological responses of faba bean-ryegrass intercrops on low- (550 °C, LTBC) or high-temperature BC (800 °C, HTBC) amended sandy-loam soil under full (FI), deficit (DI) and partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRD). LTBC and HTBC significantly reduced intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) by 12 and 14 %, and instantaneous WUE by 8 and 16 %, respectively, in faba bean leaves, despite improved photosynthetic (An) and transpiration rate (Tr), and stomatal conductance (gs). Compared to FI, DI and PRD lowered faba bean An, gs and Tr, but enhanced leaf-scale and time-integrated WUE as proxied by the diminished shoots Δ13C. PRD enhanced WUE as lower gs, Tr and guard cell length than DI-plants. Despite higher carbon ([C]) and N concentration ([N]) in faba bean shoots amended by BC, the aboveground C- and N-pool of faba bean were reduced, while these pools increased for ryegrass. The N-use efficiency (NUE) in faba bean shoots was reduced by 9 and 14 % for LTBC and HTBC, respectively, but not for ryegrass. Interestingly, ryegrass shoots had 52 % higher NUE than faba bean shoots. The N derived from atmosphere (% Ndfa) was increased by 2 and 9 % under LTBC and HTBC, respectively, while it decreased slightly by reduced irrigation. Quantity of BNF in faba bean aboveground biomass decreased with HTBC coupled with reduced irrigation, mainly towards decreased biomass and soil N uptake by faba bean. Therefore, HTBC might not be a feasible option to improve WUE and BNF in faba bean-ryegrass intercropping, but PRD is permissible as the clear trade-off between BC and PRD.

Residual Effect of the Insecticides Flonicamid and Spiromesifen against Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Persistence Dynamics in Faba Bean

Abstract Field efficacy trials determined that flonicamid was more effective than spiromesifen and the negative control compound acetamiprid against Aphis craccivora Koch on faba bean, Vicia faba L. Flonicamid and spiromesifen residues in bean tissue and in soil were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Using a spike level of 0.1–1 mg/kg, the recovery of flonicamid from bean tissue was 89.2% and from soil 81.4%. Spiromesifen recovery was 99.4% from bean and 90.3% from soil. The relative standard deviations ranged from 2.54 to 8.14%. According to the dissipation kinetics, the half-life of flonicamid residue in beans was 1.93 d and 1.96 d in soil, while that of spiromesifen in beans was 2.35 d and in 2.59 d in soil.

Soil microbial community are more sensitive to ecological regions than cropping systems in alpine annual grassland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Modern agriculture emphasizes the design of cropping systems using ecological function and production services to achieve sustainability. The functional characteristics of plants (grasses vs. legumes) affect changes in soil microbial communities that drive agroecosystem services. Information on the relationship between legume-grass mixtures and soil microorganisms in different ecological zones guides decision-making toward eco-friendly and sustainable forage production. However, it is still poorly understood how cropping patterns affect soil microbial diversity in alpine grasslands and whether this effect varies with altitude. To fill this gap in knowledge, we conducted a field study to investigate the effects of growing oats (Avena sativa L.), forage peas (Pisum sativum L.), common cornflower (Vicia sativa L.), and fava beans (Vicia faba L.) in monocultures and mixtures on the soil microbial communities in three ecological zones of the high alpine zone. We found that the fungal and bacterial community structure differed among the cropping patterns, particularly the community structure of the legume mixed cropping pattern was very different from that of monocropped oats. In all ecological zones, mixed cropping significantly (p < 0.05) increased the α-diversity of the soil bacteria and fungi compared to oat monoculture. The α-diversity of the soil bacteria tended to increase with increasing elevation (MY [2,513 m] < HZ [2,661 m] < GN [3,203 m]), while the opposite was true for fungi (except for the Chao1 index in HZ, which was the lowest). Mixed cropping increased the abundance of soil fungi and bacteria across ecological zones, particularly the relative abundances of Nitrospira, Nitrososphaera, Phytophthora, and Acari. Factors affecting the bacterial community structure included the cropping pattern, the ecological zone, water content, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrate reductase, and soil capacity, whereas factors affecting fungal community structure included the cropping pattern, the ecological zone, water content, pH, microbial biomass nitrogen, and catalase. Our study highlights the variation in soil microbial communities among different in alpine ecological regions and their resilience to cropping systems. Our results also underscore that mixed legume planting is a sustainable and effective forage management practice for the Tibetan Plateau.

Prediction of antioxidant capacity in faba bean from individual phenolic constituents

The relationship between individual phytochemical constituents and overall antioxidant capacity or total phenolic content (TPC) is poorly understood in faba bean. This study used a range of linear and nonlinear regression techniques to investigate whether the antioxidant capacity and TPC of 60 faba bean samples (flour and methanolic extracts) could be predicted from 12 individual compounds (10 common polyphenols and 2 alkaloid glycosides) measured in the same samples. Nonlinear regression using machine learning with a Radial Basis Function showed the best performance for antioxidant and TPC prediction across all sample types, while multiple linear regression allowed moderately accurate predictions in most sample matrices. Improved performance metrics were seen for the methanolic extracts compared to the flour samples. The strongest predictors of antioxidant activity in the multiple linear regression models were protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid, suggesting that these compounds are particularly important contributors to the high antioxidant activity of faba bean. Understanding the relationship between individual constituents and the antioxidant capacity may help food technologists and plant breeders develop faba bean products with maximal health benefits.

Steps toward developing legume cover crop varieties: Study of biomass and nitrogen partitioning and within‐plant δ115N variation of faba bean at different growth stages

AbstractModern legumes are engineered to enhance nutrient allocation to grains and maximize harvest index (HI) and yield. Breeding legumes for cover crop requires optimizing source‐sink relationship to prolong nutrient allocation to vegetative organs, support post‐flowering nodule activity, and extend biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). We studied the variation of faba bean (Vicia faba) germplasm for biomass (DM) and nitrogen (N) allocation to plant organs at the lower and upper parts of the canopy. Three genotypes were established during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, and DM, N, and δ15N of upper and lower leaves, stems, pods, seeds, and pod shells were quantified at vegetative, first‐pod, and full‐pod stages. Of the three genotypes, PI 678631 displayed early vigor, allocated more DM and N in vegetative organs, and accumulated more total DM and N than Windsor and PI 655333 by first‐pod stage. The advantage of PI 678631 over the other two genotypes seemed to be associated with smaller allocation of DM and N in pods at early reproductive phase. These findings support existing variations within faba bean germplasm that can be used to improve its ecosystem service as cover crop. Within‐plant variation of δ15N was minimal, suggesting that under favorable soil N and moisture where N remobilization is low, vegetative organs can serve as proxies to estimate the entire plant %Ndfa (proportion of plant N derived from the atmosphere) prior to plant maturity. The δ15N of plant organs at vegetative and early‐pod stages were similar and consistent with the only whole plant δ15N measurement in 2020.

Enhancing the nutritional and bioactive benefits of faba bean flour by combining preprocessing and thermoplastic extrusion: A comprehensive study on digestion-resistant peptides

This research assessed how three preprocessing techniques [soaking (S), soaking and reconstitution (SR), and soaking and dehulling (SD)] impact the protein digestibility and bioactivity of faba bean flours when combined with thermoplastic extrusion. Samples were compared against a control (C) of extruded faba bean flour without preprocessing. Applying preprocessing techniques followed by extrusion diminished antinutrient levels while enhancing protein hydrolysis and in vitro bioactivity in higher extent compared to C. Specifically, SD combined with extrusion was the most effective, achieving an 80% rate of protein hydrolysis and uniquely promoting the release of gastric digestion-resistant proteins (50-70 kDa). It also resulted in the highest release of small peptides (<3kDa, 22.51%) and free amino acids (15.50%) during intestinal digestion. Moreover, while all preprocessing techniques increased antioxidant (ABTS radical-scavenging), antidiabetic, and anti-hypertensive activities, SD extruded flour displayed the highest levels of dipeptidyl peptidase inhibition (DPP-IVi, IC50=13.20 µg/mL), pancreatic α-amylase inhibition (IC50=8.59 mg/mL), and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi, IC50=1.71 mg protein/mL). As a result, it was selected for further peptide and in silico bioactive analysis. A total of 24 bioactive peptides were identified in intestinal digests from SD extruded flour, all with potential DPP-IVi and ACEi activities, and six were also predicted as antioxidant peptides. VIPAGYPVAIK and GLTETWNPNHPEL were highlighted as resistant bioactive peptides with the highest antidiabetic and antioxidant potential. Our findings demonstrated that combining preprocessing (particularly SD) and thermoplastic extrusion enhances protein digestibility in faba beans and promotes the release of beneficial bioactive peptides in the intestine.

Genome Comparisons between Botrytis fabae and the Closely Related Gray Mold Fungus Botrytis cinerea Reveal Possible Explanations for Their Contrasting Host Ranges.

While Botrytis cinerea causes gray mold on many plants, its close relative, Botrytis fabae, is host-specifically infecting predominantly faba bean plants. To explore the basis for its narrow host range, a gapless genome sequence of B. fabae strain G12 (BfabG12) was generated. The BfabG12 genome encompasses 45.0 Mb, with 16 chromosomal telomere-to-telomere contigs that show high synteny and sequence similarity to the corresponding B. cinerea B05.10 (BcB0510) chromosomes. Compared to BcB0510, it is 6% larger, due to many AT-rich regions containing remnants of transposable elements, but encodes fewer genes (11,420 vs. 11,707), due to losses of chromosomal segments with up to 20 genes. The coding capacity of BfabG12 is further reduced by nearly 400 genes that had been inactivated by mutations leading to truncations compared to their BcB0510 orthologues. Several species-specific gene clusters for secondary metabolite biosynthesis with stage-specific expression were identified. Comparison of the proteins secreted during infection revealed high similarities, including 17 phytotoxic proteins that were detected in both species. Our data indicate that evolution of the host-specific B. fabae occurred from an ancestral pathogen with wide host range similar to B. cinerea and was accompanied by losses and degeneration of genes, thereby reducing its pathogenic flexibility.

Genome-wide association study for yield-related traits in faba bean (Vicia faba L.).

Yield is the most complex trait to improve crop production, and identifying the genetic determinants for high yield is a major issue in breeding new varieties. In faba bean (Vicia faba L.), quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have previously been detected in studies of biparental mapping populations, but the genes controlling the main trait components remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated for the first time the genetic control of six faba bean yield-related traits: shattering (SH), pods per plant (PP), seeds per pod (SP), seeds per plant (SPL), 100-seed weight (HSW), and plot yield (PY), using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on a worldwide collection of 352 homozygous faba bean accessions with the aim of identifying markers associated with them. Phenotyping was carried out in field trials at three locations (Spain, United Kingdom, and Serbia) over 2 years. The faba bean panel was genotyped with the Affymetrix faba bean SNP-chip yielding 22,867 SNP markers. The GWAS analysis identified 112 marker-trait associations (MTAs) in 97 candidate genes, distributed over the six faba bean chromosomes. Eight MTAs were detected in at least two environments, and five were associated with multiple traits. The next step will be to validate these candidates in different genetic backgrounds to provide resources for marker-assisted breeding of faba bean yield.

Common agronomic adaptation strategies to climate change may increase soil greenhouse gas emission in Northern Europe

Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture, highlighting the need for adaptation strategies to reduce its impacts. Agronomic adaptation strategies, such as changes in planting dates, fertilization, and irrigation, might sustain crop yield. However, their impact on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is unknown under future climate scenarios. Using the LandscapeDNDC model, we assessed the effect of agronomic adaptation strategies (early sowing, increased fertilization dose, and increased irrigation amount) on soil GHG emission, yield, and yield-scaled GHG emission. A diversified crop rotation (potato – winter wheat – spring barley – faba bean) of a long-term experiment in Denmark was used for model validation. The adaptation practices to climate change were implemented for two representative concentration pathways (RCPs; 4.5 and 8.5) and five coupled global circulation and regional climate models. The adaptation scenarios were contrasted against a baseline scenario under current management practices. Soil-related variables showed better model fit (refined index of agreement ≥ 0.38) and lower errors (mean absolute error ≤ 8.18) than crop-based outputs for model validation. A total yield of ∼29 (± 3) t DW ha−1, and soil GHG emission of ∼3.02 (± 1.39) t CO2e ha−1 (RCP8.5) were obtained for the crop rotation system under the baseline for 2071–2100. Early sowing and its combination with increased fertilization decreased the yield compared to the baseline by 6.1 and 4.8 %, respectively (RCP8.5). Conversely, early sowing with increased irrigation, and early sowing with increased fertilization and irrigation, produced higher yields by 2.3 and 4.0 %, respectively (RCP8.5). All the agronomic adaptation strategies increased soil GHG emissions (ranging from 4.1 to 17.8 %) as well as yield-scaled GHG emissions (varying from 3.0 to 12.9 %) (RCP8.5). The highest soil GHG emission was simulated for early sowing in combination with increased fertilization and irrigation. Our study indicates that soil GHG emission will increase in the coming decades and that the agronomic adaptation strategies needed to sustain food production may further exacerbate this emission.

Distribution of Vicine, Convicine and Levodopa in Faba Bean Plant Tissues Determined by UltraHigh Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Faba bean is an emerging pulse crop for the Canada Prairies and is becoming an increasingly important source of plant sourced protein. It also has a high content of levodopa (up to 0.1 % of the dry seed weight), a nutraceutical compound for treating Parkinson's Disease (PD). The presence of pyrimidine glycosides, vicine and convicine, however, restricts the use of faba due to their potential to cause favism in susceptible individuals. For the rapid separation and quantification of levodopa, vicine and convicine, a 5-min ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method (UHPLC-ESI MS) was developed. This method provided a wide linear range of quantification (4.8 nM to 60 µM for vicine, and 6.0 nM to 24 µM for convicine and levodopa), and low limit of detection (1.2 to 3.0 nM). The method was applied in the analysis of diverse faba bean samples, from dehulled mature faba bean and seed coat, to fresh plant tissues such as flowers, leaves, stems, roots and pods. The results indicated that fresh faba bean plant tissues, such as leaves and flowers, had the highest concentration of levodopa and low level of VC, which makes them an alternative source of plant-based l-DOPA with potential as a food-based treatment for Parkinson's Disease.

Antioxidant and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Faba Bean-Derived Peptides After In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion: Insight into Their Mechanism of Action.

Faba bean flour, after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, showed important antioxidant and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities. In the present study, 11 faba bean- derived peptides were synthesized to confirm their bioactivities and provide a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action. The results revealed that 7 peptides were potent antioxidants, namely, NYDEGSEPR, TETWNPNHPEL, TETWNPNHPE, VIPTEPPH, VIPTEPPHA, VVIPTEPPHA, and VVIPTEPPH. Among them, TETWNPNHPEL had the highest activity in the ABTS (EC50 = 0.5 ± 0.2 mM) and DPPH (EC50 = 2.1 ± 0.1 mM) assays (p < 0.05), whereas TETWNPNHPE had the highest activity (p < 0.05) in the ORAC assay (2.84 ± 0.08 mM Trolox equivalent/mM). Synergistic and/or additive effects were found when selected peptides (TETWNPNHPEL, NYDEGSEPR, and VVIPTEPPHA) were combined. Four peptides were potent ACE inhibitors, where VVIPTEPPH (IC50 = 43 ± 1 μM) and VVIPTEPPHA (IC50 = 50 ± 5 μM) had the highest activity (p < 0.05), followed by VIPTEPPH (IC50 = 90 ± 10 μM) and then VIPTEPPHA (IC50 = 123 ± 5 μM) (p < 0.05). These peptides were noncompetitive inhibitors, as supported by kinetic studies and a molecular docking investigation. This study demonstrated that peptides derived from faba beans have multifunctional bioactivities, making them a promising food-functional and nutraceutical ingredient.