Phaseolus Atropurpureus Research Articles

Lectotypification of Macroptilium atropurpureum (Leguminosae)

Macroptilium atropurpureum is an economically important forage species. The species is native to the Americas but it is widely cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics. There is no updated taxonomic revision of Macroptilium covering its full geographical range and historically there have been some nomenclatural vacillations regarding the rank of the name Macroptilium, and as a consequence a number of Macroptilium species are currently poorly defined. During the preparation of a taxonomic account of Macroptilium species occurring in Venezuela it became apparent that the species Macroptilium atropurpureum (≡ Phaseolus atropurpureus) had never been formally typified. In order to avoid any ambiguity regarding the application of the name M. atropurpureum, we here propose a lectotype for its basionym, Phaseolus atropurpureus. Some of the names included as synonyms are also lectotypified when clarification of application is necessary.

Characterization of indigenous rhizobia from wild legumes

Abstract Rhizobia isolated from root nodules of wild legumes (Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb, Phaseolus atropurpureus Moc ⇐p; Sesse DC, Clitoria ternatea L., and Crotalaria verrucosa L.) were examined for cultural, biochemical, serological and symbiotic characters. The strains were characterized by their colony morphology, growth rate, alkali production, tolerance to acid or alkali, type of flagella, temperature sensitivity, resistance to antibiotics, utilization of different carbon sources, serological relatedness and ability to nodulate other host species. All of the strains had cultural characters consistent with the slow growing rhizobia of the cowpea group. Serological relatedness examined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique showed that all of the 4 strains have antigenic homology to an isolate from a wild Arachis sp. and varying degrees of relatedness to cowpea rhizobia. All strains produced effective nodules on cowpeas and pigeonpeas but not on peanuts and kidney beans.

Characterization of indigenous rhizobia from wild legumes

Rhizobia isolated from root nodules of wild legumes (Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb, Phaseolus atropurpureus Moc & Sesse DC, Clitoria ternatea L., and Crotalaria verrucosa L.) were examined for cultural, biochemical, serological and symbiotic characters. The strains were characterized by their colony morphology, growth rate, alkali production, tolerance to acid or alkali, type of flagella, temperature sensitivity, resistance to antibiotics, utilization of different carbon sources, serological relatedness and ability to nodulate other host species. All of the strains had cultural characters consistent with the slow growing rhizobia of the cowpea group. Serological relatedness examined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique showed that all of the 4 strains have antigenic homology to an isolate from a wild Arachis sp. and varying degrees of relatedness to cowpea rhizobia. All strains produced effective nodules on cowpeas and pigeonpeas but not on peanuts and kidney beans.

Acremonium zonatum . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract A description is provided for Acremonium zonatum . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Known from leaves of Amaranthus gangeticus, Annona squamosa, Boehmeria nivea, Brillantaisia nitens , Calopogonium mucunoides, Coffea arabica, C. liberica-excelsa, C. robusta, Colocasia esculenta, Coridia dentata, Crotalaria anagyroides, Cucumis sativus, Eichhornia crassipes, Eranthemum nervosum, Erythrina senegalensis, Ficus carcia (var. celeste ), Hypoestes verticillaris, Kosteletzkya grantii, Lindackeria bahobensis, Litchi chinensis, Momordica foetida, Morus acidosa, Musa sapientum, Pachira insignia (syn. Bombax sessile ), Phaseolus atropurpureus, Plumeria alba, Solanum verbascifolium, Steriospermum bantharum and Vigna sinensis . DISEASE: Causal agent of 'fig zonate spot' and 'zonal leaf spot' of coffee but forming similar zonate leaf spots on a wide range of phanerogams (see above). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in tropical countries and known from Africa (Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Zaire), Asia (Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak), New Guinea, Taiwan, Western Samoa), West Indies (Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Windward Islands), Central America (Costa Rica), North America (USA, southern Louisiana), and South America (Peru, Venezuela). TRANSMISSION: Presumably mainly by rain splash but insects crawling over infected leaves could play some part. Old diseased foliage on the ground is probably the primary source of infection (28, 180). Inoculations by spraying spore suspensions and placing cultures on lower leaf surfaces successful (Tims & Olive, 1948).

Changes in Nutritive Value of Siratro Forage with Age1

AbstractNutritive value characteristics are not as well documented for tropical legumes as for temperate legumes and grasses. ‘Siratro’ (Phaseolus atropurpureus D.C.), a tropical legume, was grown under field conditions in soil classified as a udertic haplustoll with adequate moisture, to determine its nutritive value as affected by plant age. Plant samples, harvested at the ground level every 2 weeks, beginning at the 4th week after establishment and continuing to 26 weeks of age, were separated into leaf, petiole, and stem fractions and analyzed for crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM). The nutritional value of Siratro was relatively high at all times, averaging 68% IVDDM for whole plants over a 26‐week period. During the first 18 weeks of growth, leaves averaged 75% IVDDM, ranging from 74 to 77%; stems averaged 61%, ranging from 59 to 63%; and petioles averaged 70%, ranging from 67 to 73%. Crude protein averaged 15% for whole plants and was highest during the first 8 weeks of growth. After the 16th week, CP content remained stable at about 13%. Leaves had the highest CP content, averaging 21% with values ranging from 15 to 23%. All three plant portions showed a declining pattern, with time, in percent of both CP and IVDDM, but the change was less than that found in perennial tropical grasses.

Yield Components and Quality of Siratro‐Kleingrass Association1

AbstractAn examination of the potential of a tropical legume to contribute improved forage production and quality as well as nitrogen (N) to a grass‐legume association was undertaken. ‘Siratro’ (Phaseolus atropurpureus D.C.) and ‘Kleingrass 75’ (Panicum coloratum L.) were chosen for study based on their reported performance. Siratro, introduced from Australia, was grown in association with Kleingrass 75, cut at different frequencies, and the contribution to dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) content and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) was determined. Yield increased with less frequent cutting the first year, but no residual effects of cutting frequency were evident in the second year when all plots were cut uniformly. The mixture exceeded either the grass or the legume alone in yield. Siratro and Kleingrass 75 contributed equally to the association at the 3 and 5‐week cutting frequencies but Siratro made up 58% of the sward at the 7‐week frequency. Siratro was consistently high in CP whereas the grass alone and grass components declined with age. Siratro and Kleingrass were equal in % IVDDM at the youngest age, but the IVDDM of the legume remained constant with age whereas IVDDM declined with age in grass. Thus, the forage mixture was higher in crude protein and digestibility than the grass alone.

Production of Six Tropical Legumes Each in Combination with Three Tropical Grasses in Florida1

AbstractSummer production of permanent grass pasture in southern Florida varies depending on the quantity of fertilizer N applied. Generally, commercial production is excessive even ,with minimum applications of N. Crude protein contents, however, are low because of rapid grass growth and concomitant dilution of the N. Because white clover (Trifolium repens L.) or other temperate legumes do not grow during the summer, an alternative possibility for increasing pasture quality is the inclusion of tropical legumes in permanent grass pastures.A small‐plot clipping experiment was designed to compare various tropical grass‐legume mixtures with grasses grown alone and receiving different rates of N fertilization. Comparisons were based on dry matter and crude protein yields and percentages.Each of the following legumes, Stylosanthes humilis HBK., Indigofera hirsuta Linn., ‘Hairy Indigo;’ Phaseolus atropurpureus DC., ‘Siratro;’ Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb., ‘Greenleaf;’ D. heterocarpen (Linn.) DC.; and Glycine wightii Willd., ‘Clarence,’ was grown in combination with Digitaria decumbens Stent., ‘Pangola’ digitgrass; Paspalum notatum Flugge., ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass; and Setaria anceps Stapf., ‘Nandi.’Yields and N contents are reported for a 2‐year period. Setaria‐legume combinations generally were inferior to those of other grass‐legume mixtures. D. intortum‐grass mixtures produced 12,430 kg/ha of dry matter annually compared with 9,400 for Pangola and 5,740 for bahiagrass growing alone and fertilized with 126 kg/ha per year. Crude protein contents of harvested mixtures were higher than those for grasses alone that received N at the rate of 126 kg/ha.Crude protein yields of D. intortum‐Pangola mixtures were about three and a half times those for Pangola and five times those for bahia alone with the 126 kg/ha N rate. Average dry matter yield of the S. humilis‐grass mixtures was equal to those for average Siratro‐ and D. heterocarpon‐pon‐grass mixtures, but crude protein yield of S. humilis mixtures was less. Dry matter and crude protein yields of I. hirsuta and G. wightii mixtures were consistently less than those of other legume mixtures.

Net mineralization of nitrogen in leaves and leaf litter of Desmodium intortum and Phaseolus atropurpureus mixed with soil

Leaves and leaf litter of Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf and Phaseolus atropurpureus cv. Siratro were incubated with soil at 24°C for periods up to 32 weeks. Nitrogen mineralization with D. intortum was less than with P. atropurpureus for both leaves and leaf litter. The differences in net nitrogen mineralization during 32 weeks incubation between soil with plant material and soil alone, expressed as percentages of the nitrogen in the added leaf materials, were + 3 % and + 46 % for leaves and −10 % and + 5 % for leaf litter of D. intortum and P. atropurpureus respectively. There was no difference in nitrogen mineralization between soils collected from below the litter layer under the two legumes. The leaf materials from the two species contained similar concentrations of nitrogen and lignin, but the concentration of polyphenols in D. intortum was twice that in P. atropurpureus. The significance of this difference in polyphenol concentration in relation to mineralization of leaf nitrogen is discussed.

Seed pelleting to improve nodulation of tropical and subtropical legumes. 6. The effects of dilute sticker and of bauxite pelleting on nodulation of six legumes

In a field experiment at Beerwah, Queensland, bauxite pellet applied with 4 per cent methyl cellulose sticker and 1 per cent methyl cellulose as a simple sticker for the inoculant were compared with the standard treatments used successfully in a previous series of experiments. These were peat applied with 4 per cent methyl cellulose, and Florida rock phosphate pellet with 4 per cent methyl cellulose sticker. Legumes and Rhizobium strains tested were Desmodium uncinatum and D. intortum, inoculated with Rhizobium CB627, Lablab purpureus (formerly Dolichos lablab), Glycine wightii (three cvs. Clarence, Cooper and Tinaroo), and Macroptilium atropurpureum (formerly Phaseolus atropurpureus), all inoculated with Rhizobium CB756, and Lotononis bainesii inoculated with Rhizobium CB376. All were planted after 2-day and 28-day storage of inoculated seed. The effectiveness of the treatments was checked by nodule counting and by serologically identifying the strains in a random sample of nodules from each treatment. The majority of nodules formed came from the applied inoculants, but there were no differences between the inoculation treatments in nodulation criteria or effect on yield. The experiment confirmed that bauxite is a satisfactory pelleting material for tropical legumes, but the application of the inoculant peat with 1 per cent methyl cellulose leads to equally good nodulation.

Flavour differences in meat from lambs grazed on tropical legumes

SUMMARYDorset Horn × Merino and Corriedale wether lambs grazed one of four tropical legume species or the grass Panicum maximum for up to 4 months in the immediate pre-slaughter period. A laboratory taste panel compared the flavour of the meat from legume-fed lambs with that from corresponding grass-fed lambs.Lamb meat from animals grazed for up to 15 weeks on Siratro (Phaseolus atropurpureus) was not significantly different from the control meat in any flavour property, while showing a slight but insignificantly greater degree of acceptability of flavour.The meat from lambs grazed for up to 6 weeks on Silverleaf desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum) showed no significant difference from the control meat in flavour properties except for a slightly greater intensity (P < 0·05) of an uncharacterized aroma.The meat from lambs grazed on Dolichos axillaris for up to 4 months occasionally exhibited a characteristic and sometimes objectionable odour and flavour. However, this characteristic flavour had no significant influence on the acceptability of the meat.The meat from lambs grazed on Glycine wightii for up to 6 weeks exhibited a characteristic and objectionable odour and flavour (P < 0·001). After 4 months of grazing the intensity of this flavour was considerably reduced. A low intensity of this flavour was also found in a group grazed for 4 weeks in the previous year, indicating a variability in the tainting properties of this legume.

Arabinogalactan from Phaseolus atropurpureus leaves

Water-soluble polysaccharide material comprising d-galactose (53·0%), l-arabinose (33·2%) and d-glucuronic acid (13·8%) has been isolated from the leaves of Phaseolus atropurpureus. Acid hydrolysis, periodate oxidation and methylation have indicated a highly branched structure. The principal interglycosidic linkages have been tentatively identified as 1,3- and 1,6-linked d-galactopyranose and 1,3-linked l-arabinofuranose residues. In synthesising polysaccharide with these structural features, P. atropurpureus differs from other legumes such as soybean, lucerne and Centrosema.

Soil nitrogen changes under continuously grazed legume-grass pastures in subtropical coastal Queensland

Net changes in total soil nitrogen were measured in 1.2 to 2.4 hectare paddocks of legume-grass pastures at three sites. The sites and pastures were (a) Rodd's Bay-a pasture of Stylosanthes humilis and Heteropogon contortus, (b) Samford-a pasture of Phaseolus atropurpureus cv. Siratro, Digitaria didactyla, and Axonopus affinis and (c) Beerwah-a pasture of Desmodiam intorum cv. Greenleaf, D. uncinatum cv. Silverleaf, Lotononis bainesii, Trifolium repens, Digitaria decumbens, Chloris gayana, Paspalum dilatatum, and P. commersonii. At Rodd's Bay, the changes under pasture containing Stylosanthes humilis varied greatly according to seasonal conditions. During a period of 29 months that covered three successive growing seasons with below-average rainfall, short-term fluctuations in total soil nitrogen gave a net decrease of 70 kg ha-1 (0.95 confidence limits �30), an average of 29 (� 12) kg ha-1 year-1. In the following three-year period, which included two very wet growing seasons and one very dry one, soil nitrogen increased by an average of 30 � 10 kg ha-1 year-1. Over a period of four years, soil nitrogen increased by an average of 44 � 9 kg ha-1 year-1 under Phaseolus atropurpureus at Samford, and 81 � 10 kg ha-1 year -l under the mixture of legumes at Beerwah.

Notes on the adaptability of several tropical legumes to different environments in natal

Abstract An account is given of the performance and potential of various tropical legumes when grown in different sub‐tropical environments in Natal and Zululand. The legumes Stylo (Stylosanthes guyanensis) and Siratro (Phaseolus atropurpureus) are well adapted to ecological conditions in the sub‐tropical coastal region. Under favourable typically tropical conditions greenleaf desmodium (D. intortum) was the most successful legume. In less tropical climates the two Desmodiums, greenleaf (D. intortum) and silverleaf (D. uncinatum) outyielded the other species tested.

Oligosaccharides from Phaseolus atropurpureus

Three reducing oligosaccharides, I, 11, and 111, have been isolated in yields of 0.01-0.02% from the leaves of Phaseolus atropurpureus (cv. Siratro). Oligosaccharide I was identified as a tetrasaccharide comprising D-galactose and D-glucose (1 : 1). Compounds 11 and 111 proved to be disaccharides, the former comprising D-galactose and D-glucose and the latter L-arabinopyranose and D-glucose. The interglycosidic linkages have been assigned as follows: I, O-D-Galp 1-6 O-D- Galp 1-4 O-D- Gp 1-6 D-Gp or O-D- Galp 1-4 O-D-Gp, 1-6 O-D-Galp 1-6 D-Gp; 11, O-β-D-Galp 1-6 D-Gp; 111, O-L-Arap 1-6 D-Gp.

Reactions of lines of Phaseolus atropurpureus to four species of root-knot nematode

In each of two years the reactions of 36 lines of Phaseolus atropurpureus to the four root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne arenaria, M. hapla, M. incognita, and M. javanica were studied. Seven of the experimental lines were common to the two years. Two known susceptible species, Phaseolus lathyroides and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato cv. Grosse Lisse), were used as controls. Four macroscopic and four microscopic reactions were recorded on each occasion, and the results analysed. Resistance to the four nematodes was present in all lines of P. atropurpureus. There was also evidence of differential resistance between lines; some showed increased resistance to all nematodes except M. hapla, and others showed both increased susceptibility to M. hapla and increased resistance to M. javanica. The severity of attack on thc controls was significantly less in the second ycar. Several explanations for this are advanced.

Pasture improvement in Malawi: The introduction of legumes into various soil‐climate‐management ecosystems

Malawi is a tropical country with a strongly seasonal rainfall distribution pattern. The major livestock nutrition problem is the dry season (May to November) protein deficit which results in liveweight losses of up to 40 kg per beast. An attempt is being made to improve the protein nutrition using tropical pasture legumes. The national pasture research programme is based on a policy of finding productive pasture legumes to fit into the present edaphic and managerial environments with a minimum amount of modification to either. A range of proven pasture legumes has been introduced and screened over a range of climatic and edaphic environments. The following legumes exhibit high biological potential for well drained soils: Stylosanthes guyanensis cv. Schofield, S. humilis cv. Queensland Grown, S. humilis cv. Costal Early, S. humilis (BPI 404), Glycine wightii, Phaseolus atropurpureus cv. Siratro, Desmodium uncinatum and Leucaena leucocephala cv. Peru. The following legumes exhibit high potential for poorly drained dambo soils; S. guyanensis cv. Schofield, S. humilis cv. Queensland Grown, S. humilis cv. Costal Early, S. humilis (BPI 404) and Lotononis bainessi cv. Miles. Eleven principles of legume introduction into grazing systems are discussed.Keywords: pasture management|pasture development|legumes|soils|climates|management|ecosystems|seasonal rainfall|livestock|nutritional constraints|dry seasons|weight losses|proteins|nutrients|pastures|biological properties

Comparative nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and growth of Glycine wightii cv. Cooper and Phaseolus atropurpureus cv. Siratro seedlings

The growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation of Glycine wightii cv. Cooper (Glycine) and Phaseolus atropurpureus cv. Siratro (Siratro) were compared in a glasshouse, sand culture techniques being used in a series of trials encompassing a full range of seasonal environments. Plants were inoculated with the commercial Rhizobium strain (CB756) for both species either at germination or 12 days later when seed reserves were virtually exhausted. In both early and late inoculation treatments, Siratro nodulated and established nitrogen fixation more rapidly than did Glycine. This difference between the species was not directly associated with the marked difference in seed size. When active nitrogen fixation was fully established, the disadvantage shown by Glycine in the early nodulation phase was not evident, and the treatments were similar in the rate of growth and nitrogen accumulation, proportion of nodule weight to whole plant weight, proportion of pigmented nodules, efficiency of nitrogen fixation, and concentration of nitrogen in the whole plant. The relatively slow initial nodule development in Glycine is probably one of the important factors hindering the field establishment of seedlings, but in subsequent growth the symbiosis appears fully effective.

Flavonoids from Phaseolus atropurpureus

Two glycosides of kaempferol have been isolated from the leaves of Phaseolus atropurpureus. Their structures have been shown to be most probably kaempferol-7- l-rhamnofuranoside and kaempferol-7-(0- l-rhamnofuranosyl-(1 → 5)- l-rhamnofuranoside)-3- l-rhamnofuranoside in which the major glycosidic linkages are α.

Effects and interaction of lucerne and subtropical legumes in a Sorghum almum pasture

An experiment was carried out at Lawes in south-east Queensland to examine the behaviour of subtropical legumes (mixture of Glycine wightii and Phaseolus atropurpureus), of lucerne, and of all three legumes together in a Sorghum almum pasture. Two grazing regimes were imposed, both averaging almost one beast an acre a year, but one involving longer breaks between grazings. A final year of common grazing was used to obtain a better assessment of treatment effects. There was no evidence of any difference in persistence between the Nunbank and Crooble cultivars of S. almum. Initial growth of legumes was poor due to strong competition from S. almum, but in the second year they made a substantial contribution to total yield of dry matter and nitrogen, and in the following two years they also increased significantly the yield of S. almum. In general the sub-tropical legumes yielded more than lucerne, and were also more effective in increasing S. almum yields. There were only minor effects on the nitrogen content of S. almum. Lucerne and subtropical legumes were strongly competitive when sown together, in that each yielded less and had a smaller effect on S. almum than in separate mixtures with the grass ; the effects of lucerne were particularly marked. These competitive effects were less pronounced with less frequent grazing. Soil nitrogen in the 0-12 inch soil layer declined during the first two years of the pasture but increased during the following two, the accumulation occurring mainly in the surface 3 inches of plots containing legumes. Over the total pasture phase (four years), there was a small nett loss of nitrogen from the 0-12 inch layer. Volunteer species associated with a follow-up crop of Sorghum vulgare showed positive responses to residual nitrogen from lucerne but no response to subtropical legumes. It is suggested that this was associated with a slower turnover of nitrogen from lucerne root systems. There was no response in the crop itself.

Production and composition of milk from cows grazing Siratro (Phaseolus atropurpursu) and greenleaf Desmodium (Desmodium intortus)

The production and composition of milk were measured from 20 Jersey cows grazing unsupplemented pure stands of the tropical legumes Siratro (Phaseolus atropurpureus) and greenleaf Desmodium (Desmodium intortum) using a three period switch-back design. An abundance of feed was available for grazing so that herbage quality was evaluated in terms of production per cow. Preliminary and post-grazing on Pangola (Digitaria decubens) grass pasture allowed some comparison of production with grass swards to be made. A second experiment, of similar design, investigated the effects of feeding 4 kg of sorghum grain daily to cows grazing Siratro. Milk production from cows grazing Siratro and Desmodium was low, averaging 7.7 kg per cow per day. Milk production did not differ between the two legume treatments. The solids-not-fat percentage of milk produced on the Siratro pasture was lower than that produced on Desmodium, resulting in a lower production of solids corrected milk from cows grazing Siratro. Decreases in the yield and solid-not-fat content of milk and an increase in fat content were measured when cows grazed unsupplemented Siratro and Desmodium compared with their production on supplementd and unsupplemented Pangola. The mean casein : fat ratio of milk produced on Siratro swards was 0.47 : 1 compared with a mean ratio of 0.73 : 1 on Pangola pasture together with a 3 kg per cow per day of a balanced concentrate feed. Chemical composition, dry matter digestibility, and gross energy were poor indicators of potential milk production from Siratro and Desmodium pastures. Intake of digestible energy was considered to be the major factor limiting milk production. The addition of 4 kg per cow per day of sorghum grain increased daily milk yield, the S.N.F. content and the casein : fat ratio of milk produced on Siratro pasture.