Pea Seeds Research Articles

Zinc oxide nanoparticles at low dose mitigate lead toxicity in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds during germination by modulating metabolic and cellular defense systems

Addressing lead (Pb) pollution and contamination in soil and agriculture is urgent due to its widespread and long-lasting impacts on human health, food safety, and the environment. In the current study, we assessed the potential use of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in alleviating Pb toxicity in germinating seedlings. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings were exposed to Pb (83 mg/L) over a 7-day period, without and with ZnONPs amendment. Our results showed that the application of ZnONPs at 10 mg/L restored the morphological parameters affected by Pb, 34 %, 26 % and 23 %, for the length, fresh, and dry biomass of embryonic axis, respectively. ZnONPs decreased the activities of antioxidative enzymes of catalase (87.5 %), guaiacol peroxidase (60 %), and glutathione peroxidase (25 %), but increased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (60 %) and glutathione reductase (25 %). These changes were associated with the increase (7 %) in the thiol groups, and reductions in the malondialdehyde (23 %), hydrogen peroxide (33 %), and carbonyl group levels (78 %), in addition to the stimulation of the activities of ROS-associated enzymes, including glycolate oxidase (40 %) and NADPH oxidase (by 89 %). Consequently, cell viability was increased by 66 %, while cellular death was reduced by 10 %, with ZnONPs, relative to the Pb-stressed seedlings. These findings highlight the mechanisms surrounding the ability of nanosized ZnO to mitigate the harmful effects of Pb on the growth and physiology of plants. Further investigation is needed to understand the mitigating effects of ZnONPs on Pb on the molecular and genomic levels in seedlings and plants, and ensure the sustainability of agricultural practices and food safety. Besides, site and source-specific integrated approaches must be practiced to formulate suitable remediation strategies.

Impacts of Harvest Year and Cultivation Location on Off-Flavor Compounds and Functionality of Pea Protein Isolate

The impact of four different harvest years and two cultivation locations (CLs) of pea seeds on their protein wet fractionation yield, volatile and non-volatile beany flavors, and functionality were investigated. Both harvest years and CLs significantly affected protein recovery, but protein purity was primarily influenced by CLs. Seed age emerged as a dominant factor causing the reduction in linolenic/linoleic acid content and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity which surpassed the effect of harvest years in the seeds but not in their proteins. CL significantly affected fatty acid composition in both seeds and proteins, whereas its effect on LOX activity was discernible only in the proteins. Volatile beany compounds in the proteins were affected by both harvest years and CLs, correlating with their polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content and LOX activity. Both factors minimally impacted the emulsification capacity of the proteins but imposed a significant effect on their rheological properties. Altogether, the results revealed that seed crop years and especially locations affect pea protein quality, calling for proper adaptation strategies.

Versatile MXenzymes Scavenging ROS for Promotion of Seed Germination under Salt Stress.

Salinization is recognized as a global problem, restricting agricultural production and sustainability. Targeting the salinity-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant treatment represents a protective strategy to improve plant salt tolerance. Herein, we report a V4C3 MXene nanozyme (MXenzyme), which exhibits good biocompatibility and excellent reactive oxygen species scavenging activity to ameliorate the salt stress-induced inhibition of seed germination. V4C3 MXenzyme treatment can significantly relieve salinity-induced oxidative stress and restore the antioxidant system in pea seeds, thus improving the phenotypic traits during germination. The molecular mechanism by which antioxidant V4C3 MXenzymes augment salt tolerances is revealed through transcriptomics and metabolomics. V4C3 MXenzymes significantly regulate the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and molecule biosynthesis that correlate closely with hormone signal transduction genes and energy metabolism genes. With correlation and the combined analysis, redox homeostasis targeted by antioxidant V4C3 MXenzymes plays a critical role in promoting plant growth under salt stress.

Arsenic Uptake and Distribution in Green Pea Plants Under Arsenite and Arsenate Treatments

Soil arsenic (As) contamination is a global issue affecting regions worldwide. As in the soil is primarily present in inorganic forms, such as arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)]. As is a microelement that is toxic to plants grown in As-contaminated soil. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of increasing concentrations (0, 3, 10, 30, 90, and 270 mg kg−1) of As(III) and As(V) on the As content in green pea (Pisum sativum L.) and the distribution of As among different plant parts at four phenophases (the four-node stage, beginning of flowering, green ripening, and mature stage). Another aim was to determine the percentage of total soil As available to plants under different treatments. The results indicate that the developmental stage of the pea and treatment concentration significantly influence the distribution of As among plant organs. However, the differences between the effect of inorganic As forms were less pronounced. The amount of As absorbed by the whole test plant increased with higher treatment concentrations. In the case of As(III)-treatment, As amount in the whole plant increased from 0.170 µg to 7.31 µg (I. Phenophase); from 0.294 µg to 10.1 µg (II. Phenophase); from 0.435 µg to 31.6 µg (III. Phenophase); and from 0.697 µg to 36.1 µg (IV. Phenophase). As a result of As(V)-treatment, the whole plant’s As content increased from 0.170 µg to 8.94 µg (I. Phenophase); from 0.294 µg to 17.4 µg (II. Phenophase); from 0.435 µg to 29.7 µg (III. Phenophase); and from 0.697 µg to 58.5 µg (IV. Phenophase). The concentration of As accumulated by the plant also increased over time. The proportion of As absorbed by generative parts was much smaller than that absorbed by vegetative organs. The pea seeds generally accumulated less As (maximum 7%) than the pea pods (in some cases, this reached the 10%). As the total amount of As taken up by the plant increased, the proportion of As reaching the seeds generally decreased (from 5% to 0.3% in the case of As[III]-treatment, and from 5% to 0.1% in the case of As[V]-treatment). At treatment levels where the ability of the stem to retain As increased, a maximum of 1% of the total As absorbed by the plant was found in the seeds. Depending on the treatment, 3.82–5.69% [As(V)-treatments] and 3.9–6.07% [As(III)-treatments] of the total soil As were available to the plants. The difference in the ratio of the total As content to the soluble As content was more evident at higher treatment levels (≥30 mg kg−1). This value was typically lower for the As(V)-treatments.

Green Light Drives Embryonic Photosynthesis and Protein Accumulation in Cotyledons of Developing Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Seeds

Photosynthesis is a vital process for seed productivity. It occurs in the leaves and provides developing seeds with the necessary nutrients. Moreover, many crops require photochemical reactions inside the seeds for proper development. The present study aimed to investigate Pisum sativum L. seeds at the middle stage of maturation, which is characterized by the active synthesis of nutrient reserves. Embryonic photosynthesis represents a crucial process to produce cells’ NADP(H) and ATP, which are necessary to convert sucrose into reserve biopolymers. However, it remains unclear how the pea embryo, covered by a coat and pericarp, receives sufficient light to provide energy for photochemical reactions. Recent studies have demonstrated that the photosynthetically active radiation reaching the developing pea embryo has a high proportion of green light. In addition, green light can be utilized in foliar photosynthesis by plants cultivated in shaded conditions. Here, we addressed the role of green light in seed development. Pea plants were cultivated under red and blue (RB) LEDs or red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs. A Chl a fluorescence transient based on OJIP kinetics was detected at the periphery of the cotyledons isolated from developing seeds. Our findings showed that the addition of green light resulted in an increase in photochemical activity. Furthermore, the mature seeds that developed in the RGB module had a significantly higher weight and more storage proteins. Using a metabolomics approach, we also detected significant differences in the levels of organic acids, carbohydrates, nucleotide monophosphates, and nitrogenous substances between the RB and RGB conditions. Under RGB light, the cotyledons contained more ornithine, tryptophan, arginine, and aspartic acid. These changes indicate an impact of green light on the ornithine–urea cycle and polyamine biosynthesis. These results allow for a deeper understanding of the photochemical processes in embryos of developing seeds grown under a low light intensity. The photosynthetic system in the embryo cell adapts to the shade conditions by using green light.

Investigating plasma activated water as a sustainable treatment for improving growth and nutrient uptake in maize and pea plant

In this study, an atmospheric pressure air plasma jet (APAPJ) was employed to generate plasma-activated water (PAW), which was applied to treat maize (monocot) and pea (dicot) seeds for evaluating its influence. This research explored APAPJ diagnostics by varying the air feed rate as 1, 2, and 3 liter per minute (Lpm) through current-voltage characterization, optical emission spectroscopy, electron temperature and density, nitrogen metastable state density, and rotational and vibrational temperature of the plasma. Additionally, various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) formed and physicochemical properties of PAW were analyzed by varying plasma treatment time from 0 to 8 min. Furthermore, the water uptake of maize (Zea mays) and pea (Pisum sativum) seeds were examined by the measurement of the contact angle. Results indicated that APAPJ has the capacity of fostering germination, growth, chlorophyll, phosphorus, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium ion and leaf area in plants significantly with an optimized 6 min treated PAW for maize and 2 min treated PAW for peas. Among various categories, seeds soaked in PAW and irrigated with PAW exhibited the most outstanding result in germination and plant growth. Non-thermal plasma showed promising green methods for enhancing plant growth and boosting nutrient content.

Влияние биоорганического удобрения на урожай гороха посевного

Biological activity of bioorganic fertilizer of different concentrations on pea seedlings of Batrak variety was investigated. Bioorganic fertilizer in concentration of 10-5% is shown to be the most effective. Soaking seeds in solutions of bioorganic fertilizer showed the activation of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and a decrease in catalase activity, this shows that plants increase immunity during treatment and become more resistant to various environmental factors. Bioorganic fertilizer at a concentration of 10-5% helps to reduce infection of pea seeds with pathogenic microflora and increases yield by 10-15%. Keywords: PEAS, PEROXIDASE, CATALASE, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE, FIELD STUDIES, BIOORGANIC FERTILIZER, BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Metabolic profiling of pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars in changing environments: Implications for nutritional quality in animal feed

Field pea seeds have long been recognized as valuable feed ingredients for animal diets, due to their high-quality protein and starch digestibility. However, the chemical composition of pea cultivars can vary across different growing locations, consequently impacting their nutrient profiles. This study employs untargeted metabolomics in conjunction with the quantification of fatty acids and amino acids to explore the influence of three different growing locations in Spain (namely Andalusia, Aragon and Asturias), on the nutritional characteristics of seeds of various pea cultivars. Significant interactions between cultivar and environment were observed, with 121 metabolites distinguishing pea profiles. Lipids, lipid-like molecules, phenylpropanoids, polyketides, carbohydrates, and amino acids were the most affected metabolites. Fatty acid profiles varied across locations, with higher C16:0, C18:0, and 18:1 n-9 concentration in Aragón, while C18:2 n-6 predominated in Asturias and C18:3 n-3 in Andalusia. Amino acid content was also location-dependent, with higher levels in Asturias. These findings underscore the impact of environmental factors on pea metabolite profiles and emphasize the importance of selecting pea cultivars based on specific locations and animal requirements. Enhanced collaboration between research and industry is crucial for optimizing pea cultivation for animal feed production.

Influence of germination time on free amino acids, phenolic compounds and γ-aminobutyric acid in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth) seeds

This research studied the influence of phytochemical compounds on the germination time of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth). Over the 72 hours germination period, the contents of total and most individual free amino acids, particularly histidine, showed substantial increases. The content of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was also greatly increased, from 0.24 µg/g to 2.7 µg/g, representing a nearly ninefold increase. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were positively related with germination time, with TPC highest at 62.49 mg GAE/100 g DW at 72 h, and TFC increased from 18.87 mg RE/100 g DW to 30.05 mg RE/100g.DW at 72 hours. The contents of individual phenolic acids and flavonoids, such as, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and rutin, experienced noticeable increases. However, vanillic and catechin were only detectable at 72 hours, respectively. Antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH and FRAP assays increased from 102.30 to 128.95 mgTE/100g DW and 694.13 to 836.93 mg FeSO4/100g DW mmol/g, respectively, and therefore highlighting the enhanced antioxidant potential of germinated pigeon pea. The results from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) supported these findings. The study emphasizes the potential of germination to enhance the phytochemical compounds of pigeon pea seeds.

Synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility of hybrid hydrogels based on alginate, κ-carrageenan, and chitosan filled with montmorillonite clay

New hybrid hydrogel composites based on a mixture of natural polysaccharides (sodium alginate, κ-carrageenan, and chitosan) filled with the clay mineral of natural origin, montmorillonite (MMT), were studied. The structure of intercalated/flocculated MMT distribution in the interpenetrating network of polysaccharide matrix was characterized using FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and SEM techniques. Swelling kinetics was investigated using the weight analysis, whereas the phase transition of water in the composition of hybrid hydrogels, by DSC method. Their biosafety was estimated using the Nelyubov method, germination test on cress (L. sativum) seeds, and metabolic fingerprinting of microbial communities and dehydrogenase assay. The obtained results indicated promising water-retaining properties of the synthesized materials. The hydrogels had a good sorption affinity for cadmium (Cd) ions confining bioavailability of the selected toxic heavy metal. They were safe for soil microorganisms and did not generate metabolic stress for them. Moreover, they did not reduce the viability of pea seeds. Thus, the development of biosafe hybrid hydrogel composites with a comprehensive, good effect on the environment could be considered as successful.

Pea Seed Priming with Pluronic P85-Grafted Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Affects Photosynthetic Gas Exchange but Not Photosynthetic Light Reactions.

Nanotechnology is rapidly advancing towards the development of applications for sustainable plant growth and photosynthesis optimization. The nanomaterial/plant interaction has been intensively investigated; however, there is still a gap in knowledge regarding their effect on crop seed development and photosynthetic performance. In the present work, we apply a priming procedure with 10 and 50 mg/L Pluronic-P85-grafted single-walled carbon nanotubes (P85-SWCNT) on garden pea seeds and examine the germination, development, and photosynthetic activity of young seedlings grown on soil substrate. The applied treatments result in a distorted topology of the seed surface and suppressed (by 10-19%) shoot emergence. No priming-induced alterations in the structural and functional features of the photosynthetic apparatus in 14-day-old plants are found. However, photosynthetic gas exchange measurements reveal reduced stomatal conductance (by up to 15%) and increased intrinsic water use efficiency (by 12-15%), as compared to hydro-primed variants, suggesting the better ability of plants to cope with drought stress-an assumption that needs further verification. Our study prompts further research on the stomatal behavior and dark reactions of photosynthesis in order to gain new insights into the effect of carbon nanotubes on plant performance.

A Preliminary Evaluation of Faba Bean as a Green Shell Bean in Virginia, USA

Even though faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important food crop on worldwide basis, its use as a vegetable i.e. use of green seeds as food is limited. We were interested in characterizing production and food quality traits of faba bean grown in eastern USA. Our main objective is to develop faba bean as a winter alternative crop for this region to diversify cropping system that currently mainly depends upon cereal grain crops. This necessitates existence of winter-hardy faba bean varieties. We conducted a preliminary experiment with two winter-hardy faba bean breeding lines to record production and seed composition traits. Two faba bean lines (VSX-BL and VSX-BH) were planted in the field in November 2022 and green pods were harvested in June 2023 at physiological maturity. Values of most of the traits under study were statistically similar between the two lines except for concentration of phosphorus. Results demonstrated that faba bean green pod and green seeds yields could be approximately 5700 and 2100 kg ha-1. The shelling percent in green faba bean pods was approximately 37 whereas seed number per pod was approximately 2.6. Concentrations (g 100 g-1) of fructose, glucose, and sucrose were 0.245, 0.668, 2.9021, respectively whereas concentrations of Fe and Zn (mg kg-1) were 103.7 and 69.7, respectively. Green faba bean seeds contained small amounts of RFO carbohydrates. Seed composition traits of green faba bean seeds compare well with green seeds of pea, soybean, and white lupin. Our results provide a positive proof of concept that production of green faba bean as an alternate winter food legume crop in eastern USA is possible.

Pea Albumin Extracted from Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Seeds Ameliorates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Regulating Lipogenesis and Lipolysis Pathways.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now recognized as the most prevalent liver disease globally. Pea albumin (PA) has demonstrated positive impacts on reducing obesity and improving glucose metabolism. In this research, a mouse model of NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) was employed to examine the impact of PA on NAFLD and explore its potential mechanisms. The findings revealed that mice subjected to a HFD developed pronounced fatty liver alterations. The intervention with PA significantly lowered serum TC by 26.81%, TG by 43.55%, and LDL-C by 57.79%. It also elevated HDL-C levels by 1.2 fold and reduced serum ALT by 37.94% and AST by 31.21% in mice fed a HFD. These changes contributed to the reduction in hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation. Additionally, PA improved insulin resistance and inhibited hepatic oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Mechanistic studies revealed that PA alleviated lipid accumulation in HFD-induced NAFLD by activating the phosphorylation of AMPKα and ACC, inhibiting the expression of SREBF1 and FASN to reduce hepatic lipogenesis, and increasing the expression of ATGL, PPARα, and PPARγ to promote lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. These results indicate that PA could serve as a dietary supplement for alleviating NAFLD, offering a theoretical foundation for the rational intake of PA in NAFLD intervention.

The Effect of Grass Juices on The Agricultural Properties of Legumes Grown in Different Root Media

The consumption of grass juices obtained from cereals for health purposes is increasing day by day. For this purpose, research on different plant solutions has gained momentum. In our study, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) grass juices grown in hydroponic conditions were used. Obtained grass juices were applied to pea and lupine seeds in 100% soil (control), 100% pumice, 100% perlite, 100% tea waste and 100% cocopeat substrate. Germination percentage, germination rate, average daily germination, peak value, germination value, root dry and fresh weight, stem dry and fresh weight, root and stem length, plant yield, grass yield, plant yield seed rate, macro and micro (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) mineral substance contents were investigated pea and lupine. Grass juices were obtained by mowing barley and oat seeds sown in 30 × 50 × 7 cm plastic tubs in ten days and passing them through a juicer. Pea and lupine 25 seeds, which were placed in each pot, were grown in different root media (100% soil, 100% cocopeat, 100% pumice, 100% perlite, and 100% tea waste) under in vitro conditions. 150 ml of water (control), barley grass juice, oat grass juice and barley + oat grass juice were applied to the seeds according to their subjects. The experiment was carried out in 400 pots with 10 replications x 2 species x 4 treatments x 5 media, according to the factorial fully randomised design. As a result of the research, germination physiology (germination percentage, germination rate, average daily germination, peak value and germination value), mineral substance content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn), growth and yield parameters at (root dry and wet weight, stem dry and wet weight, root and stem length, plant yield, grass yield, plant yield seed rate) barley grass juice application was found to be more effective than other applications after control. In all parameters examined in the research, it was determined that the five different medias used as growing media followed the order of soil>cocopeat>pumice>perlite>tea waste, and after the control and the best growing medium was cocopeat.

Molecular mechanisms of neutron radiation dose effects on M1 generation peas

The dose effect of radiation has long been a topic of concern, but the molecular mechanism behind it is still unclear. In this study, dried pea seeds were irradiated with 252Cf fission neutron source. Through analyzing the transcriptome and proteome of M1 generation pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaves, we studied the molecular rule and mechanism of neutron dose effect. Our results showed three important rules of global gene expression in the studied dose range. The rule closely related to the neutron absorbed dose at the transcription and translation levels is: the greater the difference in neutron absorbed dose between two radiation treatment groups, the greater the difference in differential expression between the two groups and the control group. We also obtained important sensitive metabolic pathways of neutron radiation, as well as related key genes. Furthermore, the overall molecular regulation mechanism of dose effect was revealed based on the main functional items obtained. Our research results can be applied to appropriate radiation dose estimation and agricultural production practice.

The exposure of lead nitrate on germination and vigor processes of Helianthus (sunflower) and Lathyrus (pea) seeds

It is hereby studied the exposure of lead ions on germination and growth viability of helianthus and lathyrus seeds in laboratory conditions. Certain tendencies have been revealed showing the impact of different doses of the lead ions on germination of helianthus and lathyrus as well as on the length of the root and sprout in germinating the seed. Furthermore, a particular decrease (P<0.99) in the helianthus seed germination was observed under the lead exposure at the concentration of 5×10–3 mol/L. Whereas, at the lead ions concentration in their amount from 5×10–6 mol/L to 5×10–4 mol/L, no considerable influence on helianthus and lathyrus seed germination was noticed. However, the helianthus and lathyrus root length has been exposed by the lead ions more significantly. It was noticed that the helianthus root had significantly decreased in length at the lead ions concentration of 5×10–3 mol/L, 5×10–4 mol/L, 5×10–5 mol/L and 5×10–6 mol/L (P<0.999, P<0.999, P<0.99 and P<0.999, respectively). The difference in terms of the lathyrus root length at 5×10–3 mol/L, 5×10–4 mol/L, 5×10–5 mol/L and 5×10–6 mol/L concentration of lead ions was found significant (P<0.955, P<0.99, P<0.95 and P<0.99, respectively). The study results with regard to the exposure of different doses of the lead nitrate on the average length of the helianthus sprout showed an significant difference rate (P<0.999) in these values at the lead ions concentration in the solution of 5×10–3 mol/L, 5×10–5 mol/L and 5×10–6 mol/L. There was no significant difference between the lathyrus sprout length under the lead ions exposure between 5×10–6 mol/L and 5×10–3 mol/L. Thus, as far as the research results are concerned, there has been highlighted a significant lead nitrate exposure on economically useful indicators of the helianthus and lathyrus growing. A clear tendency of the lead nitrate impact on the helianthus and lathyrus seed germination and on their root and sprout length was revealed.

Cell wall permeability in relation to in vitro starch digestion of pea cotyledon cells

The role of cell wall permeability and rate of starch digestibility in intact cotyledon cells from four different varieties of pea seeds was studied. Pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG NMR) coupled with light and confocal microscopy were employed to evaluate the cotyledon cells' diffusion coefficients and cell wall permeability. The cotyledon cells' diffusion coefficients and cell wall permeability followed a decreasing trend: White/yellow pea > Marrowfat pea > Maple pea > Blue pea. The varying size of internal cavities in the microstructure in the cotyledon cells, as observed by the light and confocal micrographs, may be responsible for this trend. The extent of starch hydrolysis recorded from the cotyledon cells followed the same trend of the cell wall permeability except for Blue pea cotyledon cells. Thus, indicating that the more permeable the cotyledon cell to the starch-degrading enzymes, the higher the extent of intracellular starch hydrolysis. The microstructure changes in the cotyledon cells during digestion also confirmed this observation.

The influence of pre-sowing treatment of seeds with molybdenum on the yield of pea grain in the conditions of the Republic of Bashkortostan

Relevance. Molybdenum is an essential micronutrient element necessary for plant growth and development. In addition to the fact that molybdenum is part of hormones and enzymes, in legumes it improves nitrogen fixation and nitrogen nutrition, increases the efficiency of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, thereby increasing productivity.The purpose of this work is to assess the effect of pre–sowing seed treatment with various doses of molybdenum on the yield of pea grain.The experiments were carried out in 2019–2023 in the conditions of the Cis-Ural steppe of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The material for the study was the pea cultivar Pamyati Popova.Methods. An ammonium molybdate solution at a dose of 10, 25, 40, 55 g of molybdenum per 1 kg of seeds was used for pre-sowing treatment. Phenological observations, determination of the completeness of germination and plant height, analysis of the yield structure were carried out in accordance with the methodology of the state cultivar testing of agricultural crops.Results. It was found that pre-sowing treatment of pea seeds of the cultivar Pamyati Popova with molybdenum at a dose of 40 and 55 g/c compared to the control resulted in a reliable (p ≤ 0.05) increase in field germination, safety of plants for harvesting, the number of nodules on 10 plants and their weight. As a result of processing pea seeds with molybdenum at doses of 25, 40 and 55 g/c, the number of beans per plant increased by 5.7–11.4%, the number of seeds per plant – by 13.2–19.5%, grain yield – by 7.3–10.7% compared with the control. Thus, in our experiments, pre-sowing treatment of seeds with molybdenum at a dose of 25–40 g/c was optimal for increasing the value of pea grain yield.

Unpicking the changes in content, structural properties and in vitro digestibility of pigeon pea seed proteins as influenced by imbibition and heating in sodium bicarbonate

BackgroundPigeon pea proteins are underutilised mainly because of the long cooking time of the legume seeds. Traditionally, this is mitigated by cooking pigeon pea seeds in sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). This study investigated whether, and to what degree, directly cooking pigeon pea seeds in water (CS0W) or NaHCO3 (CS0N), soaking in water or NaHCO3 for 4 h (CS4W and CS4N, respectively) or for 24 h (CS24W and CS24N, respectively) before cooking in water or NaHCO3 influenced the protein content, structural property and in vitro digestibility. ResultsIn vitro protein digestibility of pigeon pea seed flour was lowest in the raw seeds and increased with CS0W<CS4W<S24CW and CS0N<CS4N<S24CN. The α-helix content of the samples also decreased in the same order. SDS-PAGE showed ∼90% decrease in the 7S vicilin subunits (65 and 47 kDa) in CS24N and a corresponding 4-fold increase in protein bands at 10–15 kDa compared to raw seeds. NaHCO3 treatments decreased the protein isolate yields due to protein losses (up to 7.5-folds) in the cooking fluids. ConclusionThe findings showed that NaHCO3 improved protein digestibility by degrading the higher molecular weight proteins, but also increased protein diffusion into the cooking fluid. Therefore, the traditional method of cooking pigeon pea seeds needs optimization to maximize the protein accessibility.

Effect of Germination and Fermentation on the Nutrient Contents, Functional and Antioxidant Activities of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) Flour

Effect of germination and fermentation on the nutrient contents, functional and antioxidant activities of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) flour were investigated. The pigeon pea seeds were sorted, cleaned and processed into germinated, fermented and raw flours. The flour samples obtained were analyzed for proximate composition, mineral contents, antinutrient contents, functional properties and antioxidant/free radical scavenging properties using standard methods. The results of the proximate composition showed that the moisture content within the range of 9.62±0.02-9.96±0.01, crude protein content 16.63±0.01-24.17±0.01, crude fibre content 1.41±0.01-2.59±0.01, lipid 4.33±0.01-5.61±0.01, ash content 1.62±0.01-2.17±0.01, carbohydrate 56.80±0.02 - 62.47±0.01 and energy values 366.91 - 374.40kcal/100g. The result of elemental mineral analysis showed magnesium as the major mineral element in the sample (91.32±0.02 to 123.75±0.04mg/g), calcium (96.02 ± 0.02 - 110.14 ± 0.003mg/g), phosphorus (39.11 ± 0.02 - 46.12 ± 0.03mg/g), sodium (8.63 ± 0.02 - 12.61 ± 0.001mg/g), Iron (3.08 ± 0.02 - 4.11 ± 0.001mg/g) and zinc (2.04 ± 0.01 - 3.17mg/g) respectively. The result of the functional properties showed optimal gelatinization temperature ranged from 73.610C - 89.410C, emulsion capacity, 11.88 - 43.42%, foam stability,28.22 to 65.81%, foaming capacity,15.83 to 21.11%, bulk density,0.53 - 0.71g/ml, water absorption capacity, 1.11 and 1.51ml/g while oil absorption capacity,0.84 - 1.14ml/g. The sensory properties of the moi-moi from the processed flours showed that the colour test, (6.33 -7.53), flavour (7.63 to 7.75), taste (5.13 to 5.53), mouth-feel (7.25 to 7.36), overall acceptability (6.93±0.04 - 8.83±0.04). The results of the phenolic content ranged from 20.13mg\GAE, 53.43mg\GAE and 42.64mg\GAE for raw processed, malted and fermented samples respectively. The results of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts showed IC50values of 0.810, 1.177 and 1.014mg\ml for the raw, malted and fermented seed extracts respectively. The moisture, crude protein and fibre contents was significantly increased (p&gt;0.05) during germination and fermentation whereas lipid, carbohydrate, ash and energy values were significantly (p&lt;0.05) decreased by the processing techniques. Germination increased the emulsion capacity, foaming capacity whereas fermentation reduced the foaming capacity of pigeon pea flour. Malting and fermentation significantly (p&gt;0.05) increased the % scavenging properties of pigeon pea extract though that of germination was higher. Malting and fermentation significantly (p&lt;0.05) decreased the sensory properties of moi-moi produced. Based on the result obtained, regular consumption of pigeon pea will be a proactive measure against heart diseases and other related disorders in the human body.