Biology and Life Sciences Forum, Volume 50, 2025

The VII ValSe-Food Congress (Ibero-American Congress of Valuable Seeds) and the IV CICLA Congress (International Congress on Cereals, Legumes, and Related Crops) were jointly held at the Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Quito, Ecuador, from Oct...

One of the main uses of carob pods ‘algarroba’ (Neltuma spp.) is flour for direct human consumption in indigenous and rural populations of the Gran Chaco. The flour contains antioxidant compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonoids and alkal...

The mezquite “algarroba” fruit, produced by species of the Neltuma genus in the Gran Chaco Americano region, has historically been used by indigenous communities to produce flour. In Paraguay, the value chain surrounding it is still in it...

Andean maize (Zea mays), originating from its wild ancestor, teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) in Mexico, has been crucial to the development of diverse civilizations. There are no records of wild maize in northwestern Argentina; the earliest are...

Moringa oleifera is a plant species well known for its high nutritional and functional value, whose seeds are a source of oil rich in Unsaturated Fatty Acids (UFAs), especially oleic acid. The quality of this oil can be influenced by agroecological c...

In Paraguay, the genus Manihot is represented by sixteen taxa, six of which are endemic. The study of wild relatives of Manihot has focused on the search for species related to the cultivated variety, with potential for genetic improvement. Manihot t...

The Plinia genus comprises an underestimated group of fruit trees native to the neotropics of South and Central America. One such species is Plinia peruviana (Poir.) Govaerts, commonly known as ‘Yvapurú’, which belongs to the Myrta...

Microbial growth in food represents a public health problem that requires immediate attention. In Ecuador, 8924 cases of foodborne illness (FBD) were reported in 2020, most of them caused by bacteria. It is estimated that Escherichia coli causes 2,80...

Legumes are recognized for their high nutritional value, affordability, wide availability, and multiple health benefits. In Paraguay, nearly 200 varieties of creole beans are preserved. Despite their cultural and agronomic importance, there is little...

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the third highest-yielding source of carbohydrates among the world’s crops. In Paraguay, it is a staple food in the Paraguayan diet and the second source of starch after corn, with high demand. In this stud...

Waterlogging is an increasing constraint to crop productivity under climate change, yet information on quinoa’s sensitivity to excess water remains limited. This study aimed to identify the most vulnerable phenological stage of quinoa to waterl...

This study evaluated the effect of two cooking methods on food quality indicators in eight varieties of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.), a species that in its raw state is characterized by high hardness and elevated levels of antinutritional compoun...

The residual cake obtained after extracting oil from Moringa oleifera seeds is a promising source of plant-based proteins due to its high content of proteins, dietary fibre and essential minerals. However, its food applications are limited by a stron...

The increasing incidence of metabolic disorders, including diabetes, as well as diseases related to gluten sensitivity, has increased the demand for healthier foods, particularly those with both a low glycemic index and that are gluten-free. However,...