Underutilized Crop Research Articles

Analyzing the variability parameters of the landraces and varieties of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult.)

Little millet is one of the underutilized crops among the cereals, which is being cultivated by farmers of tribal  agriculture. The landraces under cultivation possess excellent variability presenting good opportunities for selection. In view of this, the current study was carried out with 17 little millet landraces for 10 quantitative and nine qualitative traits. The study revealed the preponderance of additive gene action for all the 10 traits and hence effective selection could be done for their improvement. Higher to moderate ranges for PCV and GCV with minimum ECV for genetic variability for all the traits were observed. Among the nine qualitative traits, there were significant variations observed for inflorescence shape and panicle compactness. Hence, these traits could be utilized as major DUS descriptors in differentiating the little millet landraces in future. Further the PCA analysis exhibited three reliable principal components contributing to an overall variation of 74.54%. The traits such as days to 50% flowering, peduncle length and flag leaf length were the major positive contributors for variability across all the eigen vectors. These traits were found to exhibit a higher variability among the population and thus a rewarding selection and hybridization for improving these traits could be effected in future breeding programs. Among all the landraces, chitta samai, perunsamai, ATL 1, CO 4 (samai), paakulam karunjamai and vellai samai could be further identified as desirable donors for improving the yield parameters in little millet breeding programs in future. Keywords: Little millet, landraces, GCV, PCV, heritability, genetic advance, PCA

Distribution, transportation, and coordination in African indigenous vegetables value chains: A scoping review

Malnutrition continues to be a major problem with negative implications on economic and human development in many parts of the world, including in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Strengthening promising underutilized crops that are nutrient dense, climate resilient, and locally adaptable is an instrumental approach to enhancing dietary diversity. Due to their nutritional and economic benefits, African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) have the potential to contribute to livelihoods and address challenges of food and nutrition insecurity. Despite their importance but due to their perishability, AIVs tend to suffer from high post-harvest losses (PHLs). Effective distribution systems along the value chain have the potential to reduce PHLs for AIVs. We therefore conducted a scoping review on transport systems and coordination in AIVs value chains in SSA. The objectives of this review were to summarize and analyze the focus of research in AIVs transport, to analyze the extent to which the literature synthesizes interactions of sub-components of the chains, and to identify knowledge gaps in AIVs transport literature. Based on the research foci, we categorize the reviewed articles into seven themes. Our analyses indicate that distance to agricultural market is a fundamental aspect of AIVs transportation, as it interacts with transport costs, market participation, produce quality, and profit efficiency. Results show that collective action is instrumental in the coordination of AIVs transportation and that it contributes to cost reduction. Following light exploration of determinants of choice of means of transport, we recommend further research in this area for improvement of transportation in AIVs value chains.

The next era of crop domestication starts now

Current food systems are challenged by relying on a few input-intensive, staple crops. The prioritization of yield and the loss of diversity during the recent history of domestication has created contemporary crops and cropping systems that are ecologically unsustainable, vulnerable to climate change, nutrient poor, and socially inequitable. For decades, scientists have proposed diversity as a solution to address these challenges to global food security. Here, we outline the possibilities for a new era of crop domestication, focused on broadening the palette of crop diversity, that engages and benefits the three elements of domestication: crops, ecosystems, and humans. We explore how the suite of tools and technologies at hand can be applied to renew diversity in existing crops, improve underutilized crops, and domesticate new crops to bolster genetic, agroecosystem, and food system diversity. Implementing the new era of domestication requires that researchers, funders, and policymakers boldly invest in basic and translational research. Humans need more diverse food systems in the Anthropocene—the process of domestication can help build them.

Agro-climatic sensitivity analysis for sustainable crop diversification; the case of Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).

Current agricultural production depends on very limited species grown as monocultures that are highly vulnerable to climate change, presenting a threat to the sustainability of agri-food systems. However, many hundreds of neglected crop species have the potential to cater to the challenges of climate change by means of resilience to adverse climate conditions. Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), one of the underutilised minor millets grown as a rainfed subsistence crop, was selected in this study as an exemplary climate-resilient crop. Using a previously calibrated version of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM), the sensitivity of the crop to changes in temperature and precipitation was studied using the protocol of the Coordinated Climate Crop Modelling Project (C3MP). The future (2040-2069) production was simulated using bias-corrected climate data from 20 general circulation models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) under RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. According to the C3MP analysis, we found a 1°C increment of temperature decreased the yield by 5-10% at zero rainfall change. However, Proso millet yields increased by 5% within a restricted climate change space of up to 2°C of warming with increased rainfall. Simulated future climate yields were lower than the simulated yields under the baseline climate of the 1980-2009 period (mean 1707 kg ha-1) under both RCP4.5 (-7.3%) and RCP8.5 (-16.6%) though these changes were not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the baseline yields. Proso millet is currently cultivated in limited areas of Sri Lanka, but our yield mapping shows the potential for expansion of the crop to new areas under both current and future climates. The results of the study, indicating minor impacts from projected climate change, reveal that Proso millet is an excellent candidate for low-input farming systems under changing climate. More generally, through this study, a framework that can be used to assess the climate sensitivity of underutilized crops was also developed.

Flowering biology and fruiting phenology study in white cross-berry (Grewia tenax (Forssk.)) Fiori.

Current emphasis on food supply, market value, and therapeutic use of underutilised crops makes Grewia tenax suitable for commercial production. Therefore, flowering biology and fruiting phenology study were carried out on field-established G. tenax plants in Kachchh, Gujarat, from February - March 2018. Flowers are scented and cream-white with yellow stamens and composed of 5 petals and sepals, an ovary and a style, 2 anther lobes and many anthers (66.33 ± 7.51). Bud initiation started in the last week of February and anthesis was observed after 6.40 ± 0.18 days of bud initiation. Flower anthesis start at 1130 h and is completed at 1330 h, with peak anthesis during 1215-1230 h in February. On an average, 15.55±0.98 and 19.55±0.98 days are required for fruit maturity and ripening. The study revealed that the fruit traits of the white cross berries, including fruit length and diameter, varied within the ranges of 4.93-6.69 mm and 4.06-5.91 mm, respectively. As there is limited information available on this species, these findings provide a foundation for further genetic research on white cross berries. This study can serve as a valuable resource for future investigations aiming to enhance our understanding of the genetic makeup of this species and potentially improve its fruit traits through breeding programs.

Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal influence on growth of cancer bush (Sutherlandia frutescens) and alleviation of saline stress

Lack of arable land on a global scale, agricultural malpractices and high soil salinity have prompted the development of alternative eco-friendly ways to increase crop production. The usage of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) has been reported to positively improve crop production under harsh soil conditions but no such effort has fixated on traditional underutilized crops such as cancer bush (Sutherlandia frutescens). Given its significance as a versatile remedial crop, it is critical to cultivate this plant and regulate the agronomic necessities for its effective cultivation. Therefore, two separate experiments were conducted at the University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa in 2021 and 2022, with an objective to investigate whether VAM will improve growth of cancer bush under saline soil conditions. Three weeks old cancer bush seedlings were planted in pots under microplot conditions. The in a 4 x 4 factorial treatmentarrangement in a randomized complete block design. The seedlings were grown in four geometric series of NaCl : CaCl2 (3 : 1) of artificial chloride salinity levels: 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 ds/m and four levels of VAM: 0,10, 20, and 30 g/pot, with four replications in the two successive years. At 60 days after initiation of treatments, dry root mass and number of branches were significantly affected by treatments in Experiment 1, with total treatment variation (TTV) of 11-17 and 9-34%, respectively of the variables. Dry shoot mass was significantly affected by treatments in Experiment 2, with TTV of 26-32%. In both the experiments, treatments had significant effects on soil EC, contributing 26-42% in TTV in Experiment 1, whereas in Experiment 2 the treatments contributed 4-76% in TTV of the respective variable. In conclusion, findings in the current study demonstrated that VAM in presence of salinity improved growth relative to plants under saline stress.

Underutilized Vegetable Crops in the Mediterranean Region: A Literature Review of Their Requirements and the Ecosystem Services Provided

By 2050, the increasing demand for food will put additional pressure on natural resources. Underutilized crops, such as wild vegetables, are an essential component of the Mediterranean diet and are widely correlated with the traditional cuisine of Mediterranean countries. They could be widely associated with resistance to abiotic stress and enhanced genetic diversity, and could provide various ecosystem services. Their cultivation could support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN and the current EU policies related to environmentally friendly agriculture. Based on an extensive literature review, the aim of this paper is to summarize the environmental and ecological requirements of specific Mediterranean underutilized vegetables, the provisioning and regulating ecosystem services that could be derived from their cultivation, and their potential use. It is concluded that thorough planning of underutilized crop cultivation could enhance the provisioning and regulating ecosystem services that positively affect Mediterranean agriculture. However, further research should be carried out regarding their environmental and economic impact in order to assess the environmental and socio-economic effects of underutilized crops cultivation. This could lead to designing future policies that support underutilized crop cultivation and consumption.

Value Chain Map and Economic Performance of Potentially Important Underutilized Crops in Southeastern Sri Lanka

Value Chain Map and Economic Performance of Potentially Important Underutilized Crops in Southeastern Sri Lanka

Exploiting Underutilised crops

Exploiting Underutilised crops

First report of aeroponically grown Bambara groundnut, an African indigenous hypogeal legume: Implications for climate adaptation

Global agricultural production is currently limited by negative climate-related hazards such as drought, uneven rainfall and rising temperatures. Many efforts have been put in place by government and non-government agencies to mitigate the challenges of climate change in the sector. However, the approaches do not seem feasible due to the growing demand for food. With these challenges, climate-smart agricultural technologies such as aeroponics and underutilised crops have been projected as the future of agriculture in developing African countries to reduce the risk of food insecurity. In this paper, we present the cultivation of an underutilised indigenous African legume crop, Bambara groundnut, in an aeroponics system. Seventy Bambara groundnut landraces were cultivated in a low-cost climate-smart aeroponics system and in sawdust media. The results showed that Bambara groundnut landraces cultivated in aeroponics performed better than those cultivated in a traditional hydroponics (sawdust/drip irrigation) technique in terms of plant height and chlorophyll content, where the landraces cultivated in sawdust had a higher number of leaves than those cultivated in aeroponics. This study also demonstrated the feasibility of introducing a generic Internet of Things platform for climate-smart agriculture in developing countries. The proof-of-concept and the successful cultivation of a hypogeal crop in aeroponics can be useful for cost-effective adaptation and mitigation plans for climate change, particularly for food security in rural African agricultural sectors.

Influence of blend proportion and baking conditions on the quality attributes of wheat, orange-fleshed sweet potato and pumpkin composite flour dough and bread: optimization of processing factors

Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and pumpkin fruit are underutilized crops with great potential for the production of high-quality bread with health-enhancing properties. However, the incorporation of nonconventional flour in bread formula may influence the dough and bread quality properties. This study investigated the effect of partial substitution of wheat flour with OFSP (10–50%) and pumpkin flour (10–40%), baking temperature (150–200 °C) and baking time (15–25 min) on the quality properties of the composite dough and bread using response surface methodology (RSM). Dough rheological, bread physical and textural properties were analyzed, modelled and optimized using RSM. Satisfactory regression models were developed for the dough and bread quality attributes (R2 > 0.98). The dough development time, crust redness, hardness, and chewiness values increased while optimum water absorption of dough, specific volume, lightness, springiness, and resilience of bread decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing incorporation of OFSP and pumpkin flour in the bread formula. Additionally, the specific volume, crust redness, crumb hardness, and chewiness of the composite bread increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing baking temperature from 150 to 180 °C but reduced at higher baking temperatures (≥ 190 °C). The staling rate declined with increased OFSP and pumpkin flour whereas increasing the baking temperature and time increased the bread staling rate. The optimized formula for the composite bread was 78.5% wheat flour, 11.5% OFSP flour, 10.0% pumpkin flour, and baking conditions of 160 °C for 20 min. The result of the study has potential applications in the bakery industry for the development of functional bread.Graphical

Genetic manipulation of anti-nutritional factors in major crops for a sustainable diet in future.

The consumption of healthy food, in order to strengthen the immune system, is now a major focus of people worldwide and is essential to tackle the emerging pandemic concerns. Moreover, research in this area paves the way for diversification of human diets by incorporating underutilized crops which are highly nutritious and climate-resilient in nature. However, although the consumption of healthy foods increases nutritional uptake, the bioavailability of nutrients and their absorption from foods also play an essential role in curbing malnutrition in developing countries. This has led to a focus on anti-nutrients that interfere with the digestion and absorption of nutrients and proteins from foods. Anti-nutritional factors in crops, such as phytic acid, gossypol, goitrogens, glucosinolates, lectins, oxalic acid, saponins, raffinose, tannins, enzyme inhibitors, alkaloids, β-N-oxalyl amino alanine (BOAA), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), are synthesized in crop metabolic pathways and are interconnected with other essential growth regulation factors. Hence, breeding with the aim of completely eliminating anti-nutrition factors tends to compromise desirable features such as yield and seed size. However, advanced techniques, such as integrated multi-omics, RNAi, gene editing, and genomics-assisted breeding, aim to breed crops in which negative traits are minimized and to provide new strategies to handle these traits in crop improvement programs. There is also a need to emphasize individual crop-based approaches in upcoming research programs to achieve smart foods with minimum constraints in future. This review focuses on progress in molecular breeding and prospects for additional approaches to improve nutrient bioavailability in major crops.

Breeding Lines Influence on Growth, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Cutleaf Groundcherry (Physalis angulata L.)

Background: Physalis angulata L. or Cutleaf groundcherry is underutilized crop that has not been widely cultivated and is often considered weeds. Cutleaf groundcherry is rich in nutritional and phytochemical contents, which is beneficial for human health. Information on the growth, yield and quality content of cutleaf groundcherry lines is essential for future development. The objective of this experiment was to determine the variation among the lines of cutleaf groundcherry in growth, yield and fruits quality. Methods: A greenhouse study was conducted in August to December, 2021. Nine lines of cutleaf groundcherry were tested in randomized block design by following the recommended agronomic practcies. Result: The results show that nine lines of cutleaf groundcherry were varied with significant differences in growth, yield and quality characteristics. The line PA-06 was superior to other lines in vegetative growth and total dry weight, yield characteristics, namely fruit weight fruit-1, fruit diameter and fruit weight plant-1. The nine lines had the same as total soluble solids and ascorbic acid, but differences in β-carotene and antioxidant.

Causes and Conditions for Reduced Cultivation and Consumption of Underutilized Crops: Is There a Solution?

Underutilized crops are described as plant species that were once popular but have since been neglected by mainstream agriculture for several reasons. A widespread monoculture agricultural revolution and a tendency toward more high-yielding varieties were the main reasons for the underutilization of certain crops. Remarkably, underutilized crops have endured even without formal support, which indicates that besides their exceptional nutritional value and beneficial effects on human health they contain desirable traits that could be useful for building resilience and adaptation to climate-changing environments. As such, the re-establishment of these plants to the global food system is desired. To find solutions for overcoming the obstacles for the reintroduction of these crops and to bring the neglected species back to cultivation and utilization, a comprehensive understanding of the potential reasons for the reduced cultivation of these crops is necessary. In this article, potential reasons, causes, and conditions for the decreased cultivation and consumption of certain crops are discussed with a presentation of case studies of the following species: buckwheat, lentils, green leafy vegetables, sow thistle, grass pea, cucumber melon, and eggplant. Finally, potential solutions for overcoming the identified obstacles associated with both the cultivation and consumption of certain underutilized crops and neglected species are provided. Documented benefits of the production of various crops in agricultural production systems and the beneficial effects of increased consumption of these crops for human health should stimulate and encourage people from various disciplines, i.e., farmers, researchers, agronomists, nutritionists, and policymakers to join the efforts to bring neglected species back to cultivation and consumption.

From salt pan to saucepan: Salicornia, a halophytic vegetable with an array of potential health benefits

AbstractDomestication of novel crops from the wild is a key process that ensures food security by addressing adaptability to changing environments. These wild plants offer broader and unique health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Salinization resulted in a drastic reduction of arable land and freshwater intended for cultivation. Thus, the global food production is currently under a risk of meeting the demands. Salt‐tolerant plants (i.e., halophytes) are potential food candidates that can be used to increase the productivity of salinized land and also to enhance the diversification of food production. Salicornia can survive under hypersaline and extreme climatic conditions and deliver tender shoots and dried seeds that can be used as a food with a unique taste, texture, and therapeutic benefits. Although Salicornia is not equally popular among all the food cultures globally, it has been consumed over centuries, and it is now making its way to the shelves of supermarkets in some countries such as the United States, UAE, South Korea, and Mexico. Despite being an underutilized crop, Salicornia possesses an array of chemical compounds or basic derivatives that can enhance antioxidant, anti‐obesity, antidiabetes, anti‐inflammatory, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties of human nutrition. The presence of considerable amounts of nutritional elements and various functional bioactive phytochemicals have opened up avenues of using Salicornia as a functional food. The present paper reviews the recognition of Salicornia as a functional food and a potential cash crop in saline agriculture to enhance agricultural productivity and also to diversify the current food supply chain.

A Review on the Potential Food Application of Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.), an Underutilized Crop

The world is facing the global challenges of insecurity, poverty and climate change, which can impede food availability, production and nutritional security. Due to these factors, the production and availability of crop species such as legumes, pulses and cereals are declining, while some are gradually becoming extinct, which affects consumption. To meet global food demands, efforts should be geared towards promoting the cultivation and utilization of underexploited and neglected crops, which have the potential to improve food and nutrition security. However, the exploitation and utilization of crops mostly depend on existing knowledge. Therefore, this review gives an overview of the current knowledge regarding lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.), an underutilized legume that can serve as a promising potential food crop. While there are some studies on lima beans, they cannot compare to the abundance of studies on other legumes. It is essential to exploit the nutritional and health properties of this crop, as well as to explore processing techniques such as cooking, soaking, fermentation and germination for transforming them into other food forms. Despite the dearth of information on this crop compared to other legumes, there is a case for the promotion of lima beans, especially where there are incessant food shortages, as they will allow for dietary diversity. This is vital considering the vulnerability of world food systems, coupled with an ever-growing population, necessitating a focus on other neglected crops to improve food security.

Evaluation of Indonesian Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) Using Stability Analysis and Sustainability Index

Yield and yield attributes are important components in genotypic evaluation. The butterfly pea is a native plant of Indonesia, and it is considered an underutilized crop. The goals of this study were to evaluate genotypes using environment (year) interactions (GEIs) with yield and yield attributes, and evaluate butterfly pea genotypes based on stability measurements and sustainability index (SI). The study was conducted at the Ciparanje Experimental Field, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran using 35 butterfly pea genotypes in a randomized complete block design with two replications. The field trial was conducted over three years (2018–2020). The results showed that the yield and yield attributes were influenced by GEIs. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) selected 11 stable genotypes (31.43%); genotype plus genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot, AMMI stability value (ASV), and genotype stability index (GSI), each selected six genotypes (17.14%) that were stable and high-yielding, and SI selected 18 genotypes (51.43%) that were stable and high-yielding. There were three genotypes identified by all measurements, namely G2, G14, and G16. These three genotypes can be selected as the superior genotypes of the butterfly pea for flower production, and can be used as material for crosses in plant-breeding prog.

Causes and Conditions for Reduced Cultivation and Consumption of Underutilized Crops: Is There a Solution?

Causes and Conditions for Reduced Cultivation and Consumption of Underutilized Crops: Is There a Solution?

Effects of jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) non-starch polysaccharides with different molecular weights on structural and physicochemical properties of jicama starch

Jicama, Pachyrhizus erosus L., is a kind of widely cultivated but underutilized crop across the world. It contains considerable amounts of starch and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), which have not been well studied. As the key characteristics for the processing, physicochemical and rheological properties of starch-based systems can be affected by the blending of NSPs. In the current study, jicama NSPs (named as PEP) were firstly fractionated to two sub-fractions (PEP-3P and PEP-6P) using gradient ethanol precipitation method. The three fractions showed differences in molecular weight (Mw) and monosaccharide compositions. Then, the three jicama NSPs were introduced into the jicama starch (PES) system to explore their effects on PES. Results showed that jicama NSPs with larger Mw promoted the leaching of amylose from PES, formed a denser and more uniform gel network structure. The pasting, thermal, and rheological tests indicated that the blending starch systems with jicama NSPs had lower viscosity, weaker thermal stability, and gel strength compared with the pure PES system. In addition, PEP-6P and PES blending systems had the strongest gel strength, which may be due to the narrower distribution of Mw. In the in vitro system, the content of resistant starch of the complexes decreased after jicama NSPs were added. Analysis of the interaction force showed that the PES/PEP-6P complex had stronger hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. These results provided new knowledge on underlying interaction mechanism between natural starch and NSPs.

Comparison of Chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.) Accessions from Mexico, Japan, and Myanmar Using Reproductive Characters and Microsatellite Markers.

Promoting neglected and underutilized crop species is a possible solution to deal with the complex challenges of global food security. Chayote is a Neglected and Underutilized Cucurbit Species (NUCuS), which is recognized as a fruit vegetable in Latin America and is widely grown in Asia and Africa. However, basic biological knowledge about the crop is insufficient in scientific sources, especially outside of its center of origin. In this study, limited observations on reproductive characters were conducted, differentiating accessions from Mexico, Japan, and Myanmar. Cytological evaluation among Mexican and Japanese accessions showed that the relative nuclear DNA content is 1.55 ± 0.05 pg, the estimated genome size is 1511 at 2C/Mbp, and the observed mitotic chromosomal number is 2n = 28. The genetic diversity of 21 chayote accessions was also examined using six microsatellite markers. A global low genetic heterozygosity (Ho = 0.286 and He = 0.408) and three genetic groups were detected. The results established the basis to provide insights into chayote arrival history in Asia by looking at the crop's reproductive morphology, cytology, and genetic diversity status outside its origin center. This could help in developing sustainable utilization and conservation programs for chayote.