Optimization of LED-based phototreatments for enhancing antioxidant potential and marketable traits in microgreens

Isolation and identification of plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria from Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. and its metagenomic evidence through functional annotation

Natural peptides from Vigna radiata protein hydrolysates suppress protein glycation via radical scavenging and targeted interactions.

Correlative analysis of Chlorella vulgaris growth and biochemical composition for biofertilizer application in mung bean

• Plant protein powder particles were assessed in conditions relevant to liquid foods • The trend between instrumental particle size and its sensory perception is non-linear • Particle surface morphology was quantified using visual assessment of SEM images • Surface morphology determines the sensory perception for particles <200 µm (D90) • These results are valuable for developing plant-based liquid dairy alternatives Plant protein powders are used in liquid dairy alternatives, but their low solubility may cause gritty texture defects. We investigated the factors influencing the sensory perception of particle size in 18 commercial plant protein powders—chickpea, fava bean, mung bean, oat, pea, soy, and wheat—in heat-treated water dispersions at native pH or pH 4.5, conditions relevant to end applications. We measured particle size distribution using laser diffraction and compared it with a sensory assessment. We also used scanning electron microscopy to visualize particles and developed a unique method to quantify surface morphology attributes by visually grading images with a sensory panel, obtaining particle angularity, surface roughness, and heterogeneity characteristics. The results showed that sample preparation significantly influenced particle size distribution and there was no correlation between instrumental results in the dry and liquid state. Particle sizes (D90) in water dispersions at native pH ranged 75–375 μm, which increased to 73–493 µm at pH 4.5; soy and wheat particles formed large clumps of 1–2 mm. We observed a linear relationship between D90 and sensorially perceived particle size for particles over 200 μm. For smaller particles, the perceived sensory size was instead explained by particle angularity and surface roughness. Small, round, and smooth particles were imperceptible, while rough and angular particles of the same size were detected by the sensory panel. These findings emphasize the importance of both particle size and surface morphology in causing gritty textures, offering insights for improving plant-based dairy alternatives.

The PGPR Acinetobacter sp. SK2 enhances plant growth by solubilizing mineral phosphate via gluconate production. The presence of preferred carbon source-succinate, causes CCR of MPS. This study aimed to investigate the role of global regulator Hfq in succinate mediated catabolite repression of MPS in Acinetobacter sp. SK2. Insertional inactivation mutants of hfq were generated and the phenotypic analysis revealed altered growth pattern, ~70% derepression of MPS and ~19.7 mM gluconate production under repression condition compared to wild type strain. Complementation of the mutant with functional hfq gene restored the wild type phenotype indicating crucial role of Hfq in SMCR. These results demonstrate that Hfq likely mediates repression through post-transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in glucose utilization. The genes gdhA and gdhB , encoding glucose dehydrogenase enzymes mGDH and sGDH, respectively, were downregulated in glucose+succinate grown wild type, whereas the expression of these genes in hfq – strain was comparable to WT–G. The hfq – strain showed significant difference in mGDH (and sGDH) activity under repression condition as compared to WT viz. hfq – –GS mGDH activity was ~80% that of WT–G. The WT and mutant strains were studied for other PGP traits such as production of ammonia, HCN, Siderophore, IAA, etc., solubilization of Zn, K, and Organic P solubilization (via phytase). The WT and mutant strains were applied to plants Vigna radiata and Cicer aeriatinum in pot experiment set-up, where the inoculated plants showed better growth w.r.t. uninoculated and growth parameters of plants inoculated with hfq – were overall superior. • Hfq inactivation leads to derepressed MPS and gluconate production. • Hfq might be causing post-transcriptional regulation of mGDH and sGDH. • Hfq complementation reverted the mutant strain to WT phenotype of SMCR. • First study showing regulatory influence of Hfq on MPS in Acinetobacter sp. SK2.

The legume pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is one of the pervasive and destructive pests of legume crops, causing significant yield losses. In this study, we evaluated the nutritional performance and digestive enzyme activities of H. armigera when fed on ten mung bean varieties, including Baghmalek, India, Veys, Omrani, Parto, Simite1, Simite2, VC6371, VC3960, and VC6368. Additionally, biochemical profiling of these mung bean varieties, assessing starch, protein, anthocyanin, total phenolic and flavonoid content, was conducted to explore potential correlations with the nutritional physiology of H. armigera. The findings indicated that the larvae fed on Parto had lowest approximate digestibility, efficiency of conversion of ingested food, and relative growth rate, while those fed on VC6371 had the highest values. The values of efficiency of conversion of digested food were lower on Baghmalek and Parto and higher on VC6368 and VC6371. The lowest value of larval gain weight was on Parto. The highest proteolytic and amylolytic activities of larvae were observed on Veys and India, respectively; while the lowest enzyme activities were recorded on Parto. Our findings indicate that the low protein content combined with high levels of anthocyanin, total phenolics, and flavonoids may contribute to the potential tolerance of mung bean varieties against H. armigera. Cluster analysis revealed that VC6368 and VC6371 were the most suitablevarieties for H. armigera development, whereas Baghmalek and Parto were nutritionally less suitableand may severe as promising candidates for breeding or cultivation to minimise damage caused by this pest.

Mung bean sour liquid (MBSL) is a traditional fermented food, yet the microbial-metabolic basis of its antioxidant capacity is unclear. This study employed integrated metagenomics and metabolomics to elucidate the dynamic formation of antioxidant biomarkers during fermentation. The mid-fermentation stage (6-12 h) was critical for antioxidant development, marked by peak accumulation of key biomarkers such as phenyllactic acid, epigallocatechin and catechin. Antioxidant activity [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl/2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] (DPPH/ABTS) significantly increased during this period, reaching 77.4% and 74.5% by 24 h. These changes were directly correlated with specific Lactobacillus spp. (e.g. Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus mudanjiangensis). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed stage-specific metabolic reprogramming, from early activation of amino acid/lipid metabolism to late-phase downregulation of central carbon metabolism. Correlation networks further linked these Lactobacilli to key carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy), such as glycoside hydrolases. This study decipheedr the microbial-driven metabolomic remodeling that governs antioxidant capacity in MBSL, demonstrating a clear temporal alignment between key metabolite accumulation and functional enhancement. This work decodes the scientific basis of its traditional value and establishes a robust foundation for its targeted optimization and development as a health-promoting functional beverage. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dual regulatory strategy for improving the textural properties of mung bean protein isolate gels: Synergistic effects of Naematelia aurantialba polysaccharides and microbial transglutaminase.

Biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) vs. commercially available NPs: Protecting mung bean against wilt and web blight

Cold plasma treatment induces protein oxidation and nitration, but enhances protein digestibility.

Physicochemical properties and digestibility of starches isolated from ungerminated and germinated mung bean flour under heat-moisture treatment at different conditions

Time-resolved effects of selected processing methods on the biochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and techno-functional properties of mung bean flour

Multiprotein blends-regulated high-moisture extruded seafood analogs: texture, structure, and flavor profile.

The influence of kappa-carrageenan, gellan gum, and konjac glucomannan on the structure and physical stability of emulsified gel systems formulated with potato, soy and mung bean proteins

The study aimed to develop and apply different plant proteins and various polyphenols conjugate as novel antioxidant emulsifiers. Faba bean protein isolate (FBPI) and mung bean protein isolate (MBPI) were conjugated with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) or quercetin using free radical grafting method by varying concentrations (50 to 300 mg/g). Antioxidant activities of the conjugates were evaluated, and the selected samples were determined for their structures by spectrofluorometer, FTIR, NMR and gel electrophoresis. FBPI/MBPI conjugated with quercetin (FQ/MQ) at 200 mg/g exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to EGCG-based conjugates (p<0.05). The conjugation of selected protein and quercetin conjugates was confirmed by decreasing fluorescence intensity as well as changes in FTIR peak intensities and appearance of quercetin-specific NMR signals. Furthermore, protein pattern revealed structural modifications through reduced band intensity and persistence under reducing conditions, confirming covalent/non-covalent interactions in protein-quercetin conjugates. The selected conjugates were then applied to stabilize shrimp oil Pickering emulsions (SOPE) at various levels (0.5-3.0%) with and without ultrasonication. Ultrasonication improved emulsion properties, especially at 0.5% conjugate concentration. SOPE emulsion stabilized with MQ, assisted by ultrasonication, showed higher zeta potential, smaller oil droplets, as well as lower flocculation and coalescence. After 15 days of storage, SOPE containing MQ had significantly lower peroxide and TBARS values than FQ (p<0.05). Confocal microscopy revealed homogeneous oil droplets with slight droplet size increase after 15 days of storage. Overall, polyphenol-protein conjugates, particularly MBPI-quercetin, as effective functional emulsifiers for enhancing food emulsion stability and antioxidant capacity.

This investigation revealed that the application of specific microbial inoculants could facilitate the effective biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics collected from urban garbage sites, resulting in non-toxic end products. We employed Azotobacter chroococcum (MTCC 3853), Rhizobium leguminosarum (MTCC 9766), Azospirillum brasilense (MTCC 4036), and Trichoderma viride (MTCC 9681) for PET microplastics degradation and assessed their degradation efficacy through a series of controlled in vitro batch experiments. The study encompassed quantitative analysis of PET weight loss, detailed chemical profiling of degradation intermediates and products, biofilm formation assessment, microbial growth monitoring, and measurement of plastic-degrading enzyme induction. To comprehensively evaluate environmental safety, phytotoxicity assays were performed on Vigna mungo and Vigna radiata, while zebrafish embryos and adults were subjected to acute and embryonic toxicity tests. A. chroococcum (MTCC 3853) was identified as the most efficient strain, showing the greatest reduction in PET mass, enhanced biofilm formation, sustained microbial growth, and peak enzymatic activity, with no detrimental effects on plant or aquatic models, confirming the safety of the biodegradation process. These results underscore the potential of A. chroococcum (MTCC 3853) as a powerful and environmentally friendly solution for microplastic remediation in urban environments.

Mungbean is a key warm-season legume crop in South and Southeast Asia, but its low productivity, driven by limited genetic diversity, necessitates dissecting the phenotypic diversity and genetic basis of yield-related traits to develop stable, high-yielding varieties. In this study, 296 mungbean germplasm from the World Vegetable Center mini-core collection were evaluated in Bangladesh. Of these, 206 genotypes produced flowers and seeds, and these were subsequently evaluated over three years. These genotypes exhibited significant variation in phenological and yield-related traits: flowering time, maturity, plant height, pods per plant, 100 seeds weight and seed yield. Moderate to high broad-sense heritability was found for all phenotypic traits. The significant environmental (year) effects and genotype × year interaction, and comparatively lower heritability for the combined multi-year (MET) analysis compared to single-year analysis for most of the traits highlighted strong environmental influences. Using MET data, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 4,307 high quality SNPs obtained from DArT sequencing identified 18 significant SNPs located in 16 genomic regions across the six mungbean chromosomes (1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8) associated with the six traits. Further, we identified five genotypes (G91, G106, G107, G125, and G130) with a higher number of favorable alleles and superior yield performance. We also employed genomic prediction models and found moderate prediction accuracies (> 30%) for 100 seeds weight and seed yield. This study has identified a few promising genotypes and several novel genomic regions and putative candidate genes. These results will assist in incorporating important alleles into elite mungbean germplasm through marker-assisted breeding and/or genomic prediction to improve mungbean yield. Future studies should validate these loci and genotypes across diverse environments and breeding populations to ensure their stability and practical usefulness in cultivar development.

Chitin synthase (CHS) enables the construction of fungi cell wall and insect skeleton by catalyzing the formation of chitin. CHS inhibitor (CHSI) disrupts the integrity of these structural barriers, leading to fungal cell lysis. Notably, CHSIs are considered non-toxic to vertebrates, making CHS a promising target for the development of novel antifungal agents. Thirty-three novel uridine-based derivatives (UDs) were designed and synthesized through fragment-based drug design (FBDD) to discover potential CHSIs. Bioassays demonstrated that most of the synthesized compounds exhibited excellent fungicidal activity against Alternaria alternata and Botrytis cinerea, with inhibition rates exceeding 80% at 100 μg mL-1. Specifically, compound 5a showed significantly stronger fungicidal activity (EC50 = 0.78 μg mL-1) than the commercial CHSI fungicide polyoxin B (EC50 = 46.56 μg mL-1). In vivo antifungal assays revealed that compound 5a effectively suppressed the infection of Alternaria alternata and Botrytis cinerea, outperforming the positive control. SEM and TEM analyses indicated that compound 5a disrupted the fungal cell wall and membrane. Enzyme inhibition assays confirmed that compound 5a exhibited superior CHS inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.47 μg mL-1) compared to polyoxin B (IC50 = 1.84 μg mL-1), and molecular docking simulations demonstrated a stronger binding affinity of compound 5a to CHS relative to polyoxin B. A 3D-QSAR model was established to elucidate the structure-activity relationships (SARs) and provide guidance for further structural optimization. Toxicity tests showed that compound 5a had no significant inhibitory effect on mung bean seed germination and exhibited low toxicity to zebrafish. Compound 5a is a promising antifungal agent with a unique mechanism of action by targeting fungal CHS. This study discovered a series of novel CHSIs with excellent fungicidal activities, offering valuable candidates for fungicide development. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Kiwifruit soft rot is a devastating post-harvest disease that leads to significant economic losses in the kiwifruit industry. Although chemical pesticides can effectively inhibit pathogenic fungi, their conventional formulations still have disadvantages such as poor stability, low utilization rate, and high environmental risks. Therefore, developing environmentally friendly and multifunctional smart pesticide delivery system (PDS) is key to achieving sustainable plant disease control. In this study, we developed a multifunctional PDS by using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as a nanocarrier for prochloraz (Pro) delivery. The nanopesticide (Pro-MSN-β-CD) exhibited high loading efficiency (68.74%) and demonstrated pH- and α-amylase-responsive controlled release behavior. In addition, it also exhibited enhanced foliar adhesion and rain erosion resistance performance. In vitro antifungal assays showed 100% inhibition of Botryosphaeria dothidea at 1 μg mL-1. Post-harvest trials on kiwifruit revealed superior protective (67.50%) and curative (58.59%) efficacy against soft rot. Biosafety assessments confirmed minimal phytotoxicity in mung bean germination tests. The Pro-MSN-β-CD nanopesticide offered an efficient, biosafe, and environmentally friendly solution for controlling kiwifruit soft rot. Its stimuli responsive release and enhanced targeting performance provided a sustainable strategy for post-harvest disease management, contributing to the advancement of precision agriculture. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.