Immature Pods Research Articles

Assessment of Genetic Variability in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The present study was carried out with thirty advanced breeding lines of groundnut for estimation of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for all the studied characters indicating that there is substantial variability among the genotypes for these traits. High estimates of GCV and PCV was observed for pod yield per plant, kernel yield per plant, dry haulm yield per plant and number of mature pods per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean were recorded for number of mature pods per plant, pod yield per plant, kernel yield per plant, dry haulm yield per plant, number of immature pods per plant, plant height, harvest index and hundred kernel weight indicating the preponderance of additive gene action in expression of these traits and hence simple phenotypic selection would be effective for improvement of these characters.

The Influence of Planting Density on the Flowering Pattern and Seed Yield in Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) Grown in the Northern Region of Japan

In peanut cultivation in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, Japan, it is essential to complete the harvest by early October to prevent frost damage. Therefore, cultivation methods that can accelerate the flowering period are necessary. It is understood that planting density can influence the timing of flowering, with crops often flowering earlier at higher densities. This study aimed to investigate whether growing peanuts at higher densities could advance the flowering period and, consequently, enhance yield. The Japanese peanut variety, Tachimasari, was cultivated in 2022 and 2023 at a conventional planting density of 5.8 plant m−2 (D5.8) and at density conditions of 8.7 plant m−2 (D8.7) and 11.6 plant m−2 (D11.6). The D8.7 and D11.6 plants reached the peak of flowering 2.8 and 5.1 days earlier, respectively, and the end of flowering 3.7 and 8.0 days earlier than the D5.8 plants. Although the total number of flowers was higher in D5.8, pod fertility was greater in D8.7 and D11.6, where plants were able to reduce the occurrence of ineffective flowers and immature pods. Consequently, higher seed yields were observed in D8.7 (2709 kg ha−1) and D11.6 (2754 kg ha−1), where lower individual productivity was offset by higher planting densities, compared to the conventional density condition of D5.8 (2169 kg ha−1).

Studies on Seasonal Influence on Yield and Quality of Dolichos Bean Genotypes

Background: Dolichos bean [Dolichos lablab (Roxb.) (L) Var. typicus] is one of the most important leguminous vegetable crops cultivated in tropical plains of India. The mature and immature pods are rich in protein, minerals and vitamins. Most of the pole types of dolichos beans are photosensitive in nature, suited for growing in specific season like kharif and not productive when grown in summer season. Different cultivars of Dolichos bean require different seasons for getting maximum yield. With this background, studies on seasonal influence on growth and yield of dolichos bean genotypes were carried out. Methods: An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of season and genotypes in Dolichos bean. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with nine treatment combinations and four replications. In this study, three genotypes of dolichos bean viz., CO 1, Dbp-3 and Dbp-4 were sown during kharif, rabi and winter seasons. Result: The main and interaction effects on genotypes and season of sowing had a significant influence on green pod yield, crude fibre, crude protein and total dry matter production. The genotype Dbp-3 sown during kharif season recorded the highest values for green pod yield (23.43 t.ha-1), crude protein (5.99%), dry matter production at various stages of growth (65.9, 254.3, 305.8, 359.2, 389.8 and 418.0 g.plant-1 at 30, 60,90,120,150,180 days after sowing respectively) and it was significantly different from all other treatments. The same treatment i.e., genotype Dbp-3 sown during kharif season was recorded the lowest amount of crude fibre content (1.53%).

Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) an in-depth review of its nutritional classification and therapeutic application

The nutritional and various medical benefits of Moringa oleifera have been recognized for ages in a variety of habitats and introduced areas. A common tree in many tropical and subtropical nations is the M. oleifera. It belongs to the family Moringaceae. Various plant parts, including the leaves, roots, seeds, fruit, bark, flowers, and immature pods, it is used as analgesic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, and antihypertensive properties both humans and animals can benefit from eating Moringa leaves. M. oleifera is a plant whose many components are used to make traditional human meals. Protein, vitamins A, B, and C, as well as minerals, are all abundant in Moringa leaves. Up to 25% of M. oleifera leaf is made up of crude protein. Various M. oleifera plant components, including leaves, fruits, immature pods, and flowers, are grown in many tropical and subtropical nations.

Peanut maturity detection assessment using cross-layer multi-perception neural network based on hyperspectral sensory image feature observation

Artificial intelligence has played a significant role in the expansion of the agriculture industry in recent times by evaluating data and making recommendations for better production. An automated method for determining significant information in seed quality analysis is the peanut maturity analysis in image processing through sensory images. The majority of the time, changes in picture intensity result in feature independence and precise maturity level determination. Therefore, agricultural precision in identifying essential features is low. To address this issue, we suggest employing a Cross-Layer Multi-Perception Neural Network (CLMPNN) for hyperspectral sensory image feature observation in order to determine the optimal assessment of peanut maturity in agriculture. The sensing unit first determines the angular cascade projection’s (ACP) structural dependencies for the peanut pod structure. With the aid of color-intensive saturation, the entity projection of pod growth is found using the Slicing Fragment Segmentation (SFS) technique. This generates the various entity variations by integrating relational maturity and non-maturity findings with spectral values. Next, cross-layer multi-perception neural networks are trained with hyperspectral values optimized by LSTM to distinguish between mature and immature pods. In comparison to the other system, this one does exceptionally well in precision agriculture, with a 98.6 well recall rate, a 97.3% classification accuracy, and a 98.9% production accuracy.

Effect of micronutrients, rhizobium, salicylic acid, and effective microorganisms in plant growth and yield characteristics of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] in Rupandehi, Nepal

Nepal has a very diverse topography and ecosystem, with mountains in the north and lush plains in the south. Despite the diverse ecology, the production of green gram is still in its minority. This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of micronutrients (Zn, B, Mo, Co, and Mn), rhizobium, effective micro-organisms, and salicylic acid in plant growth, yield, and yield attributes of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] in Rupandehi district of Nepal in March 2021. Pratikshya variety of green gram was used as a test crop. Different levels of ZnSO4 and Borax, Ammonium Molybdate, Cobalt Nitrate, MnSO4, effective microorganism, Mixture, Salicylic acid, and Rhizobia along with control constituted treatments. Various application methods were used for applying treatments including soil incorporation, seed priming, inoculation, and foliar application. The results revealed that leaf area index, number of branches, number of pods per plant, and yield were significantly different (P < 0.05). Among various treatments, the mixture was found most effective in the case of grain yield (1048.1 kg ha−1), stover yield (2472.7 kg ha−1), biological yield (3520.8 kg ha−1), harvest index (31.2%), and the number of primary branches (4.9). Likewise, the number of secondary branches (6.86) was better with Borax@10 kg ha−1. There was no significant difference in the plant height, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod weight, number of grains per pod, and test weight between different treatments. ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha−1 was found to have an impact on the number of mature, immature, and total pods per plant. Overall, the study concluded that the mixture of all micronutrients performed better in terms of grain yield while zinc sulphate had great potential for plant growth parameters which could improve the farmers’ livelihood. It is recommended to conduct multi-location trials in a larger domain.

Moringa pod derived antioxidant dietary fibre as a quality enhancer in goat meat nuggets

This study revealed significant phytochemical compounds in immature moringa pods, including cinnamic acid, 3-hydroxy-benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid, phthalic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and catechin.

Genome-wide Association Study Identifies Candidate Loci with Major Contributions to the Genetic Control of Pod Morphological Traits in Snap Bean

Snap beans are cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) that are cultivated for their fleshy immature pods that exhibit a wide diversity of pod shapes and sizes. The genetic basis of the snap bean pod shape is complex and involves the interaction of multiple genes. This study used a snap bean diversity panel composed of heirloom and improved cultivars used in North America and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to investigate the genetic basis of pod morphological characteristics, including length, width, height, width/height ratio, and coefficients of variation (CVs). The GWAS detected multiple genomic regions associated with each pod trait, with a total of 20 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for pod length, 9 for pod width, 14 for pod height, and 10 for pod width/height ratio. Regarding the CV of each pod trait, genome-wide association analyses detected six QTL for length CVs, five for width CVs, 15 for height CVs, and six for width/height ratio CVs. Thirteen regions in seven chromosomes were associated with two or more pod traits. Eighteen QTLs for pod traits in this study colocated with previously reported QTLs for pod and seed traits. The QTL intervals encompass gene models with homologues in other species that are involved in the control of developmental processes. These results capture the complex nature of the genetic control of snap bean pod traits and confirm the significance of genomic regions harboring overlapping QTLs identified in this and other studies. The phenotypic expression of pod traits in snap bean appears to be under the control of a few genomic regions with a strong effect with additional contributions of multiple small-effect regions. Validation of the function of the candidate genes identified in associated regions will contribute to our understanding of legume pod development.

THE STUDY OF GENETIC VARIABILITY WITHIN THE COLLECTION OF PEANUTS GROWN ON THE SANDY SOILS OF SOUTHERN OLTENIA

The experiment studied the genetic variability of production and some productivity elements in peanuts grown on sandy soils at Research Development Station Plant Culture Sands Dabuleni during 2018-2020. Several genotypes of local and foreign peanuts were studied. The highest coefficient of variation was recorded at number of secondary branches per plant, number of immature pods, number of mature pods, number of gynophores forming pods, pod production and grain weight per plant. Pod yield per plant showed a highly significant and positive correlation with number of pod-forming gynophores, number of mature pods per plant, grains weight per plant, and days to 50 percent flowering. The number of mature pods per plant was positively correlated with pod yield per plant. Therefore, the number of branches per plant, the height of the main stem, the number of pods per plant, the weight of pods per plant, the number of days to 50 percent flowering, the percentage of shelling and the number of days to maturity are the most important characters that would could be used in selection to increase production.

Regulating flowering pattern to improve assimilate translocation efficiency and pod yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is an indeterminate crop wherein vegetative and reproductive phases overlap, resulting in immature pods and poor pod yield. Field experiment was conducted to reduce later formed flowers and pod yield. The results of experiment revealed that foliar spray of late formed flower arresting formulation significantly reduced late formed flowers and recorded higher groundnut pod yield.

Immature carob pods extract and its fractions prevent lipid metabolism disorders and lipoprotein-rich plasma oxidation in mice: A phytochemical and pharmacological study

Ethnopharmacological relevance: In Morocco carob fruits are used traditionally to treat hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and related diseases. Aims: This study was designed to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of Ceratonia siliqua green pods extract and its fractions in Triton WR-1339 and high fat/cholesterol diet (HFCD) induced hyperlipidemia mice, as well as their ability to prevent lipoproteins oxidation in vitro. Materials and methods: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to determine the phenolic composition of the immature carob pods extract (HWCE). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging test as well as MDA measurement in oxidized lipoprotein rich plasma. Plasma lipids, glucose and biliary total cholesterol, as well as lipids level in liver and feces, were analyzed. The acute oral toxicity was performed in mice single dosed with the HWCE at 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. Results: HPLC analysis shows that gallic acid is the main phenolic compound in the HWCE. The acute oral toxicity assessment revealed that the HWCE is not toxic (LD50 is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight). In the acute hypolipidemic study, mice treated with the HWCE and its fractions exhibited a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Importantly, immature carob aqueous extract was more effective in lowering mice hypercholesterolemia than its fractions. Indeed, mice fed the HFCD for 12 weeks showed a significant raise in plasma TC, TG and LDL-C, as well as in hepatic and fecal TC and TG levels. The HWCE at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (P < 0.001) reversed the plasmatic levels of these lipid parameters, increased plasma HDL-C level, reduced hepatic lipids accumulation, but increased cholesterol level in the bile and fecal lipids excretion. The HWCE decreased also the atherogenic index, the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and plasma glucose level after 12 weeks’ experiment. On the other hand, the HWCE was more effective in preventing mice lipoprotein-rich plasma oxidation than its fractions, with a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: C. siliqua green fruits extract could be effective in preventing atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular complications through the inhibition of lipoprotein oxidation and cholesterol clearance.

Construction of a high-density genetic map for yardlong bean and identification of ANT1 as a regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Because its long, tender pods supply essential proteins, vitamins, and fibers to humans, yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis) is a commonly consumed vegetable, especially in Southeast Asia. To provide insights into the genetic bases of key agricultural traits in yardlong bean, we here created a high-density bin-map with 2084 bin markers using 514 227 SNPs from a recombinant-inbred line (RIL) population. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was carried out to identify loci associated with anthocyanin content (ANT), vitamin E content (VE), total soluble protein content (TSP), pod length (PL), hundred-seed weight (HSW), seed length and width (SL and SW, respectively), and seed coat color (SCC). In total, 20 related QTLs were isolated, explaining 7.58-56.03% of the phenotypic variation. Of these, five major QTLs (qANT5, qTSP11, qVE7, qPL3, and qSCC9) were detected in 2020, 2021, and the combined environment, explaining 11.96-56.03% of the phenotypic variation. VuANT1 was identified as a causal gene for the QTL qANT5, which regulated anthocyanin content; VuANT1 was highly expressed in immature purple pods but barely detectable in white pods. VuANT1 overexpression in tobacco leaves and yardlong bean hairy roots resulted in purple coloration as a result of anthocyanin accumulation. These findings suggested that VuANT1 was a key regulator of anthocyanin accumulation in yardlong bean. Our results lay a firm foundation for target agricultural trait improvement and clarification of the genetic mechanisms underlying agricultural traits in yardlong bean.

The Effects of UV Light and Methyl Salicylate on Phytochemical Constituents and Nutritional Traits in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Background: Mutagenesis has also been used to improve many desirable traits such as earliness, darkness, resistance or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, seed yield and oil quality. There are numerous mutagen agents, both chemical and physical, available to create and obtain valuable mutations in crop plants. Methods: The experiment was done at the laboratory of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University in Vietnam from September 2021 to December 2022. This study examined the effects of ultraviolet B-light (UV-B) and methyl salicylate (MeSA) treatment on phytochemical constituents (total phenols and flavonoids) and nutritional characteristics (protein and fat content) in a common bean cultivar, GRIS2. Result: The results show that UV irradiation for 3 hours increased the phenolic content in M1 seeds when compared to the control and other treatments. Furthermore, compared to the control and other treatments, UV-B irradiation for up to 5 hours increased the phenolic, protein and lipid content in the pod (in the immature pod, mature pod and seed). Alternatively, treatment with MeSA considerably decreased the levels of these same compounds. Treating the seed with 0.05 mM MeSA did increase the flavonoid content. These findings demonstrate the potential of UV-B treatment for improving bean nutritional quality. On the other hand, the negative general implications of the higher MeSA treatment suggest exogenous treatments should be kept at lower concentrations to ensure the minimization of nutritional losses.

Antioxidants and nutritional counters of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) germplasm under rainfed semi-arid region

Drumstick (Moringa oleifera L.) is a tropical plant with wider adaptability to drought and different agro-climatic conditions. The different plant parts including leaves, fruits, flowers and immature pods are used throughout the world for various purposes due to their high nutritive value. The 34 genetic resources of drumstick along with Thar Harsha variety were investigated in this study during 2019–2021 on quality parameters at ICAR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Panchmahals, Vadodara, Gujarat. Results showed that the percentage of dry matter and moisture content ranged from 10.86 to 17.98 and 83.08 to 89.14 (pod), 8.16 to 14.80 and 83.40 to 93.38 (pulp), 16.00 to 22.80 and 72.20 to 84.00 (skin) and 24.62 to 30.54 and 69.46 to 75.38 (leaves), respectively. The total phenolic (TP) content (mg GAE/100 g) in pod (26.36– 39.90), pulp (151.54–232.70), rind (73.37–169.06) and leaves (448.21–970.16) were recorded. The pod, pulp and leaf of CHES D-40 accession recorded the highest TP content. While, the rind of CHES D-42 accession recorded the maximum TP content. Similarly, leaves and pods of CHES D-40 showed the highest vitamin C. In 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay, the antioxidant activity of M. oleifera accessions leaves varied from 14.83 to 31.29 µmol TE/g. In all nutrient contents of the M. oleifera accession dry leaf powder was quantified with wide variation. The accession CHES D-40 recorded the highest N, K, Ca, S, and Fe in leaves, whereas, P and Cu in CHES D-42, Mg and Zn in CHES D-34 leaves. The protein varied from 21.58 to 29.87 g/100 g in leaves, while in pod, 13.00 to 18.00 g/100 g. These results revealed that the potentiality of M. oleifera leaves in context to antioxidants and nutrients can be included in diets to supplement our daily nutrient needs.

Moringa Oleifera: Phytochemistry, pharmacology

The retrospective research on the Moringa Oleifera at the molecular level are reviewed in this study. The family Moringaceae includes roughly thirteen different species of moringa trees. The most well-known species of moringa is Moringa Oleifera Lam are used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of illnesses. Many tropical and subtropical nations support the growth of the Moringa Oleifera Lam. tree. Commercial cultivation occurs in regions including South and Central America, Africa, India, Hawaii, Mexico, and Asia. M. oleifera's seeds, leaves, roots, and flowers are frequently employed in traditional medicine, while the immature pods, leaves, and seed are utilised as food ingredients for human consumption. M. oleifera leaf extracts are essential for animal safety investigations and antioxidant activities. No negative impacts on humans have been reported thus far. Studies utilising powdered M. oleifera leaf preparations have shown anti-dyslipidemic and anti-diabetic effects. Leaf extracts and powders were used on animals to confirm these actions. Alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, and phenolic acids are the compounds responsible for the effects. This study's objective was to examine M. oleifera as a potential miracle tree and place more emphasis on its applications. Therefore, it is necessary to research the standardised M. oleifera leaf extracts that have a wide variety of applications. Future research would use this study's findings as a backdrop. They also have antitumor, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Morphological responses in peanut pod development to intercropping and nitrogen application rates

Short species in intercropping likely suffer from yield losses due to shading, but this can be mitigated through morphological changes and nitrogen (N) fertilization. However, little is known of the role of morphological responses to N supply and intercropping in peanut pod development. A two-year field experiment compared maize/peanut intercropping with single species cultivation at five N rates. Growth of branch and peg were measured at four growth stages for sole cropped and intercropped peanuts. Intercropped peanut promoted canopy elongation, which impeded the development of peanut pegs to the pods. Mature intercropped peanut plants increased the main stem height and the first pair of lateral branch length by 6.8% and 4.4%, respectively, but it decreased the total branch number, the node number of the main stem and the leaf area index by 4.6%, 5.9% and 12.7%, respectively. From anthesis to maturity, the peg biomass of the intercropped peanut firstly increased from 0.5 g to 1.0 g and then decreased to 0.6 g, which was much lower than that of sole cropping at corresponding phase (0.9, 1.8 and 1.6). The number of peg per plant was on average 49.0 in the mono cropping and 30.8 in the intercropping. Intercropping had negative effects on numbers of full pod, immature pod and total pod, but had no impact on the percentage of the full pod. N fertilization had little impact on aboveground morphological changes but significantly increased the full and total pod number of intercrops. Increasing N fertilizer from 0 to 270 kg ha−1 increased the full pod number of intercropped peanuts from 6.3 to 9.5 pods per plant, but the number decreased to 6.9 pods per plant when N was applied at 360 kg ha−1, while the total pod number was increased with N input from 9.4 per plant at N0 to 12.1 per plant at N270 and then decreased to 11.2 per plant at N360. The effect of N input on peg biomass was only significant at the pod setting stage. In general, the positive elongation in the intercropping could not compensate the failure in peanut pod development, but N fertilization could be considered as an effective compensatory measure which could promote pod setting and filling. This study provides a strategy for proper N fertilization beneficial for peanut’s pod development in intercropping.

Morpho-Diversification Study on Cluster Bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. (Taub)] Using Distinctiveness (D), Uniformity (U) and Stability (S) Descriptors

The present investigation was conducted in the month of January to April, 2022 in Poothurai village of Villupuram district to assess, evaluate and identify the morphological variations in cluster bean accessions. One hundred and two genotypes, collected from different geographic locations of the country were utilised for the study. The cataloguing of qualitative and quantitative descriptors was done based on the Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability standards provided by PPV &amp; FRA, 2001. Twenty-two descriptors with sub-groups were taken for the study. The qualitative trait includes; plant type, leaf pubescence, leaf serration, leaf shape, petiole length, terminal leaflet length, leaf color, flower color, immature pod color, seed shape and seed coat color. The quantitative trait comprises of plant height, number of primary branches, days to maturity, days to 50 % flowering, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, pod length, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, seed size and gum content. The genotypes were scored according to their characteristic feature in each of the sub-groups and their frequency of occurrence was recorded. The present study clearly indicates the utilization of DUS standards and their importance in conservation, maintenance and protection of accessions in order to ensure their use in development of novel varieties.

Electropenetrography study of Euschistus heros (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) nymphs feeding at different sites of the soybean pod.

This study aimed to characterize and correlate the stylet penetration behaviors of nymphs of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), on immature soybean pods. Waveforms were obtained using electropenetrography (EPG). The findings revealed that the nymphs exploited the xylem vessels and the seed tegument or endosperm. Primarily 4 phases were characterized: nonfeeding, pathway, salivation, and ingestion. The waveforms of each phase were similar in appearance across instars. The biological meanings of waveforms were based on visual observations, comparison with waveforms of adults, and histological studies. Np represents the insect resting or walking on soybean pod surface. Eh1 represents the first contact between the mouthparts (stylets) and plant tissue. Eh2 represents xylem sap ingestion, and Eh3 represents seed activities (including tegument and endosperm). The number of waveform events did not differ among instars for all waveforms. However, for Eh3, fifth instars performed more activities than other instars. The second instars had the smallest value, and third and fourth instars had intermediate values. For total duration, all waveforms differed among instars. Np duration was shorter for third compared with second and fourth instars and intermediate for fifth instar. For Eh1, second and third instars had the longest duration (1.5× to 2× greater) compared with fourth and fifth instars. For Eh2 and Eh3, the second-instar showed the longest (~2× greater) and shortest durations, respectively. Overall, this study provides important insights into the feeding behavior of E. heros nymphs so that effective pest management programs can be developed to contain this pest.

Impact of pod and seed photosynthesis on seed filling and canopy carbon gain in soybean.

There is a limited understanding of the carbon assimilation capacity of nonfoliar green tissues and its impact on yield and seed quality since most photosynthesis research focuses on leaf photosynthesis. In this study, we investigate the photosynthetic efficiency of soybean (Glycine max) pods and seeds in a field setting and evaluate its effect on mature seed weight and composition. We demonstrate that soybean pod and seed photosynthesis contributes 13% to 14% of the mature seed weight. Carbon assimilation by soybean pod and seed photosynthesis can compensate for 81% of carbon loss through the respiration of the same tissues, and our model predicts that soybean pod and seed photosynthesis contributes up to 9% of the total daily carbon gain of the canopy. Chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) shows that the operating efficiency of photosystem II in immature soybean seeds peaks at the 10 to 100 mg seed weight stage, while that of immature pods peaks at the 75 to 100 mg stage. This study provides quantitative information about the efficiency of soybean pod and seed photosynthesis during tissue development and its impact on yield.

Incorporation of Moringa oleifera pods onto breads improves nutrient contents, phytochemicals bioaccessibility and reduces the predicted glycemic index

This work aimed to evaluate Moringa oleifera immature pod flour’s effect on the nutritional content and bioaccessibility of phytochemicals in partially substituted wheat flour breads. Different bread preparations were made and the most accepted formulation by panelists was chosen for this study. The composition of macro-components, the content of polyphenolic compounds, and the antioxidant capacity of the samples were measured. The bioaccessibility of polyphenolic compounds associated with dietary fiber was also analyzed. Finally, an in vitro kinetics on the release of the polyphenolic compounds was conducted. Breads containing 13% of flour from M. oleifera immature pods presented the highest acceptance among the substituted breads; meantime, its dietary fiber content was three times higher than white breads. Also, the content of polyphenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity was higher in the substituted bread, compared to the white ones. Soluble fiber correlated with the increase of polyphenolic compound concentrations in both substituted and white breads. The most significant in vitro release of phenolic compounds was shown in those prepared with M. oleifera. Taken together, the results demonstrated that breads partially substituted with M. oleifera pod flour exhibited the highest nutrient and phytochemical content along with a better bioaccessibility.&#x0D; Keywords: Dietary fiber; Functional food; Non-conventional food; Wheat-based bread; Polyphenolic compounds