Search Results (33)

Vicia unijuga, an important forage legume on China’s Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, exhibited dark-brown sunken lesions on their stems at the Qingyang Experimental Station of Lanzhou University. The fungus isolated from the diseased tissues was identified as Colletotrichum tofieldiae via a multi-locus phylogeny (ITS-ACT-Tub2-CHS-1-GADPH-HIS3). The pathogenicity was confirmed by Koch’s postulates. The inoculated plants showed significantly reduced (p < 0.05) growth parameters (height, root length, and biomass), photosynthetic indices (net rate, transpiration, and stomatal conductance), and nutritional quality (crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, and crude fiber) compared to the controls. C. tofieldiae additionally infected six legume species (V. sativa, Medicago sativa, Onobrychis viciifolia, Astragalus adsurgens, Trifolium pratense, and T. repens). Optimal in vitro growth occurred on oatmeal agar (mycelium) and cornmeal agar (spores), with D-sucrose and D-peptone as the best carbon and nitrogen sources. This first report of C. tofieldiae causing V. unijuga anthracnose advances the understanding of legume anthracnose pathogens. Full article

With the increasing severity of global climate change and soil salinization, the development of microorganisms that enhance crop salt tolerance has become a critical focus of agricultural research. In this study, we explored the potential of a novel Streptomyces species Qhu-G9 as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) under salt stress conditions, employing whole-genome sequencing and functional annotation. The genomic analysis revealed that Qhu-G9 harbors various genes related to plant growth promotion, including those involved in phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis, antioxidant activity, and nitrogen fixation. A total of 8528 coding genes were annotated in Qhu-G9, with a significant proportion related to cell metabolism, catalytic activity, and membrane transport, suggesting its broad growth-promoting potential. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Qhu-G9 exhibited strong iron siderophore production, IAA synthesis, phosphate solubilization, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, all of which correlate with its plant growth-promoting capacity. Further plant growth trials revealed that Qhu-G9 significantly enhances the growth of Avena sativa and Onobrychis viciifolia seedlings under salt stress conditions, improving key physiological parameters, such as chlorophyll content, relative water content, and photosynthetic efficiency. Under salt stress conditions, inoculation with Qhu-G9 resulted in notable increases in total biomass, root length, and plant height. Biochemical analyses further confirmed that Qhu-G9 alleviates the oxidative damage induced by salt stress by boosting antioxidant enzyme activities, reducing peroxide levels, and promoting the accumulation of osmotic regulators. These findings suggest that Qhu-G9 holds great promise as a PGPR that not only promotes plant growth, but also enhances plant tolerance to salt stress; thus, it has significant agricultural potential. Full article

Endogenous inhibitors can inhibit seed germination, and GA₃ can promote seed germination. Whether GA₃ can affect the changes in endogenous inhibitors has not been clarified. In order to study the effect of GA₃ on the endogenous inhibitors in sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) seeds, the systematic separation method and gas chromatography–mass pectrometry (GC-MS) method were used to determine the endogenous inhibitors using cabbage (Brassica rapa var. glabra Regel) as a bioassay model to validate the inhibitory activity in sainfoin seeds, and then the optimal concentration of GA₃ was determined to promote seed germination. The results showed that endogenous inhibitors existed in the pod coat, seed coat, and seed embryo of sainfoin seeds, with the methanol and ethyl acetate phases showing the highest degree of inhibition. The organic compounds were mainly organic acids, phenols, lipids, and alkanes. The levels of changes in germination indicators, storage substances, and antioxidant enzymes determined that 600 mg/L GA₃ was the optimum concentration to promote germination of sainfoin seed. It was also found that 600 mg/L GA₃ reduced the relative content of endogenous inhibitors and changed the content of endogenous hormones. In summary, the presence of endogenous inhibitors may be one of the reasons for the low germination rate of sainfoin seeds, with 3-methoxycatechol and 4-nitrosodiphenylamine playing a major role. GA₃ can reduce the relative content and types of endogenous inhibitors to promote the germination of sainfoin seeds. Our experimental results provide the basis for subsequent exploration of the mechanism of specific endogenous inhibitors and the identification of deeper molecular mechanisms. Full article

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a type of leguminous plant with high feeding value. It contains a high concentration of tannins at all growth stages, which can precipitate soluble proteins and form a large number of persistent foams in the rumen, so that ruminant livestock will not develop dilatation disease during green feeding and grazing. The germination rate of O. viciifolia seeds is very low under natural conditions. The preliminary experiment showed that 600 mg/L GA₃ treatment significantly improved the germination rate and seed vitality of sainfoin seeds. In comparison to CK, GA₃ significantly decreased the relative content of endogenous inhibitors, with the most notable reduction observed in 4-nitroso-N-phenyl-benzenamine. Therefore, we selected the dry seed stage (GZ), imbibition stage (XZ), split stage (LK), and radicle emergence stage (MF) of four different germination stages treated with GA₃ for transcriptome analysis. RNA-seq identified 1392, 2534 and 4284 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GZ vs. XZ, XZ vs. LK, and LK vs. MF, respectively. During seed germination, DEGs are mainly enriched in hormone signaling and phenylalanine biosynthesis pathways, and up-down-regulation of these DEGs may alter hormone and secondary metabolite levels to promote germination. The results of weighted gene co-expression network construction (WGCNA) also indicate that plant hormone signal transduction and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis play a dominant role in GA₃-induced seed germination. In conclusion, the combined analysis of transcriptomic and physiological indicators provided new insights into seed germination and a theoretical basis for further study of candidate genes. Full article

Mixed legume/grass grasslands are the most significant type of artificial grassland in rain-fed semi-arid regions. Understanding the contributions of legumes and grasses to grassland productivity, as well as the nitrogen-sharing mechanisms between them, is crucial to maintaining the sustainability, stability, and high yield of mixed grasslands. In this study, four commonly used cultivated species were selected: smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Combinations of two and three species of legumes and grasses were established, with monoculture serving as the control. The results revealed that in all the monocultures and mixed grasslands comprising two or three species, the average dry matter yield (DMY) of mowed grasslands in 2017 was significantly higher than in 2018, while the average DMY of grazed summer regrowth in 2018 surpassed that of 2016 and 2017. Over the period from 2016 to 2018, smooth bromegrass and sainfoin gradually dominated the mixed grasslands, while orchardgrass and red clover exhibited a declining abundance. Over time, the ratio and amount of nitrogen (N) fixation in legumes significantly increased in both the monoculture and mixed grasslands. Similarly, the amount of nitrogen (N) received by grasses also increased significantly in mixed grasslands. However, the proportion of nitrogen fixed by legumes remained below 10% in 2016, 20% in 2017, and 30% in 2018. In contrast, nitrogen transfer from legumes to smooth bromegrass was less than 10%, while in orchardgrass, it was even lower, at less than 2%. The interannual variability in dry matter yield (DMY) and nitrogen contribution in the mixed grasslands of rain-fed semi-arid areas is primarily influenced by forage adaptability and average annual precipitation. Increasing the proportion of grazed forage relative to hay in annual forage consumption should be considered, as more extensive grazing can reduce damage from field rodents and provide higher forage quality at lower costs and energy consumption. To maintain grassland productivity, targeted grazing should be carefully planned and implemented. Full article

Assessment of the plant’s ability to take up mercury (Hg) from polluted soil was affected by location, plant family, and species in two former cinnabar mining areas in the Czech Republic. At each location, seven sampling points were marked out in the vicinity of former shafts and dumpsites connected to the mining activity, where representative soil samples and dicotyledonous plants were collected. The individual locations were characterized by specific plant communities, where, in most cases, different plant species were found within one family at both locations. The total Hg content in the soil, as well as gaseous elemental mercury (GEM_soil-air), confirmed elevated levels of this element in the mining-affected environment, with high variability of the data. The low Hg accumulation ability of plants, especially the low root–shoot translocation in most of the plant species, indicated the predominant occurrence of excluders. Among the families, the results showed the exceptional position of the Fabaceae family regarding soil Hg pollution, as the highest Hg content in both shoots and roots was determined for Onobrychis viciifolia. Therefore, the behavior of Fabaceae plants in polluted soil, the mechanisms of their tolerance to high Hg content, and their Hg accumulation ability deserve further research. Full article

While alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is widely used as forage because of its many positive attributes, there are concerns regarding bloat in grazing ruminants, but tannin-containing legumes, such as sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), are non-bloating. Based on interest elsewhere for growing alfalfa–sainfoin mixtures to address bloat concerns, the objectives of a study conducted at Tucumcari, NM, USA, were to compare an alfalfa–sainfoin mixture to the respective monocultures for stand persistence and dry matter yield over three production years in three randomized complete blocks. The onset of drought limited irrigation water availability shortly after the study’s initiation, which limited sainfoin persistence to the second year after seeding. The resulting percentage decline in forage mass in June from year 1 to year 2 was alfalfa > alfalfa–sainfoin > sainfoin. That said, the alfalfa mass was considerably greater than the sainfoin mass, and the June mass of both monocultures was consistent with that in previous studies in the region when fully irrigated (5.57 vs. 2.00 Mg ha⁻¹ for monoculture alfalfa and sainfoin, respectively; p < 0.0004). Alfalfa persistence was greater than that of sainfoin after 3 years. Alfalfa–sainfoin mixtures may have value in the Southern High Plains of the USA and similar semiarid environments when fully irrigated. Additional studies should evaluate mixture seeding ratios and stand performance under fully irrigated conditions with sainfoin reseeding. Full article

The environment significantly impacts the lives of bees and their feeding. This study aimed to investigate bee foraging using melissopalynological analysis and DNA metabarcoding in intensive farming, reserved, and urbanized areas. The highest alpha diversity was observed in the reserved and intensive farming areas. The urbanized area had less diversity. In the intensive farming area, Sinapis, Helianthus, and Fagopyrum predominated; in the reserved area, Melilotus, Helianthus, and Brassica predominated. In the urbanized area, garden plants, namely radish (Raphanus sativus) and cucumber (Cucumis hystrix), and agricultural plants, namely soybean (Glycine max) and melon (Cucumis melo), were often found. The most significant agreement was between the rbcL and the melissopalynological analysis. The ITS2 revealed equal matches with both rbcL and melissopalynology, but this marker missed or underestimated some genera. Trifolium pretense and Brassica nigra were identified simultaneously by the melissopalinology method and two genetic markers in DNA metabarcoding. The species Convolvulus arvensis, Melilotus officinalis, Echium vulgare, Brassica rapa, Helianthus divaricatus, and Onobrychis viciifolia were found in all ecological areas. Imperfect databases impose some limits in the identification of some taxa using metabarcoding. The further research and expansion of plant databases is needed. Studying the food preferences of bees in different environmental conditions and landscapes is necessary to develop measures to preserve their populations. Full article

This study is the first to report on the presence of oestrogenic compounds in different clover flower nectar samples, in bee-deposited nectars collected from hive combs (unripe honey) and in mature honeys harvested from the same hives. The clover species investigated were two red clover (Trifolium pratense) cultivars, bred specifically for high isoflavone content, alongside a sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and a purple clover (T. purpureum) cultivar. A total of eight isoflavones, four of them non-glycosidic (biochanin A, formononetin, genistein and daidzein) the others glycosidic (sissotrin, ononin, genistin and daidzin), were targeted for identification and quantification in this study using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Leaves and flower bracts of the clover samples were also investigated. Different isoflavone profiles were found across the four clover species and also in the different samples collected from each species indicating that, most likely due to the activity of honeybee (Apis mellifera) salivary enzymes, biochemical conversions take place when these bioactive compounds transition from flower nectar into ripe honey. Among the four investigated clover species, the two red clover cultivars, including their honeys, were found to contain higher levels of estrogenic compounds compared to other two cultivars. Full article

Ramularia sphaeroidea was primarily identified based on the characteristics of its conidia and several sequences. The fungus causes severe leaf spot disease on hairy vetch (Vicia villosa var. glabrescens) in Yunnan Province in China. The growth, sporulation, fungicide efficacy, and host range of the pathogen were evaluated to aid in disease management. Different types of culture media and carbon and nitrogen sources were used to evaluate the growth of R. sphaeroidea. Oatmeal, maltose, and potassium nitrate agar had a higher amount of sporulation. Difenoconazole (10%) was the most effective fungicide against the leaf disease caused by R. sphaeroidea. In addition, foliar inoculation sprays were used to assess the host range of R. sphaeroidea in six different plant species, including alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), erect milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens Pall.), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). R. sphaeroidea successfully infected these plants, indicating that it has a wider host range than hairy vetches. Full article

The influences of legume diversification on soil carbon (C) pools and sequestration, particularly in Himalayan pastureland, remain poorly understood. Moreover, the impact of legume diversification activities and the stoichiometry of soil enzymes in C biogeochemistry at the ecosystem level remains largely overlooked. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of legume diversification on activities and the stoichiometry of soil enzymes and their control of C sequestration in pasturelands. Four experimental fertilized species combinations, namely, SG (50% Festuca arundinacea + 50% Dactylis glomerata), SGL1 (25% Festuca arundinacea + 25% Dactylis glomerata + 50% Onobrychis viciifolia), SGL2 (25% Festuca arundinacea + 25% Dactylis glomerata + 50% Trifolium pratense), SGL12 (25% Festuca arundinacea + 25% Dactylis glomerata + 25% Onobrychis viciifolia + 25% Trifolium pratense), and natural pasture (NG) were compared. Soils under SGL1, SGL2, and SG12 had ~18, 36, and 22% greater soil C than SG, respectively. Among the pastures with fertilization, the C mineralization was suppressed by legume diversification. C sequestration under SGL1, SGL2, and SG12 was ~27, 22, and 38% higher than SG, respectively, at the 0–30 cm soil layer. The ratios of DHA are as follows: for PhOX and DHA, PerOX significantly decreased with an increasing grass–legume mixture, suggesting greater C sequestration. PCA analysis revealed that C sequestration under legume diversification and enzymatic stoichiometry had an indirect but substantial impact on C sequestration. The increasing C sequestration under SGL12 was complemented by higher productivity. Data suggested that increasing legumes in pastureland might greatly enhance ecosystem functions such as soil C storage, productivity, ecorestoration efficiency, and biological activity in Indian Himalayan pastureland. Full article

Legume-based livestock forage systems are widespread and socially relevant agroecosystems that are essential for delivering high-quality forage. Therefore, it is critical to determine how climate change and management might affect the functioning of forage agroecosystems. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of sainfoin swards under different management regimes by combining results from an experiment on species diversity effects on yield developed under extreme climatic conditions and a survey of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) swards and nutritive value in mountain regions in Catalonia, Western Mediterranean. Our results show that 12–59% of the variability in forage nutritive value parameters was accounted for by management. Young cattle-grazed swards showed higher nutrition quality that decreased faster than sheep-grazed or only mown swards. Mixing sainfoin with orchardgrass increased fiber content (e.g., +22% neutral detergent fiber) and decreased protein (−26%) and lignin (−11%) compared to sainfoin monocultures. However, under the extreme climatic conditions of the last three years, the only diversity effect found on yield was the identity of the species present. We propose that a combination of different sainfoin management regimes might be beneficial regionally for both quality forage production and overall biodiversity conservation, whereas traditional systems may be vulnerable to changing climatic conditions. Full article

The interest in under-utilized crops as a functional food for animals and humans has been increasing recently with advancing research and the need for crop improvement. Canadian forage crops including alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) are marketed in various forms due to their traditionally known health benefits. Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is another forage crop with potential health benefits containing beneficial nutraceuticals. In this study, we assessed selected bioactive phenolic compounds and fatty acids in seeds and seedlings of Canadian-grown alfalfa, sainfoin, and fenugreek. Various phenolic compounds were detected in all three forage crop seeds and seedlings. In general, Sainfoin seeds were high in phenolic compounds relative to that of alfalfa and fenugreek. Chlorogenic acid, epigallo catechin, and gallic acid were at high concentrations at 56.6, 86.8, and 64.7 µg.g⁻¹, respectively, compared to other phenolic compounds in sainfoin seeds. The fatty acids content (%) was significantly affected by the seedling stage and crop type. Some of the bioactive compounds present in seeds were not detected in seedling stages. The comparative bioactive phenolic compounds and fatty acid assessments of these forage legumes could potentially be used as biomarkers for the selection and development of favorable cultivars for animal and human nutrition. In addition, these crops could be used for isolating these bioactive compounds, and thus increasing their agri-food value. Full article

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) is a limiting health factor for dairy goats, and the integration of the diet with fodder containing condensed tannins (CT) is becoming increasingly important to control GINs. To preliminary evaluate their potential role as part of GIN control in goat breeding, the in vitro anthelmintic efficacy of the CTs of Silvafeed BYPRO (SBP), Silvafeed Q powder (SQ), and sainfoin hay (SH) was evaluated, and the untargeted metabolomics profiling of the selected formulations was performed. CTs were extracted in water and in ethanol, their concentration was determined, and their chemical characterization was conducted using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) platform. The in vitro anthelmintic activity of the extracts was evaluated using the Eggs Hatch Test (EHT) and the Larval Migration Inhibition Test (LMIT) using different extract concentrations (150, 300, 600, and 1200 μg/mL). The metabolomic profile of the ethanol extract showed a high number of flavonoids, while the water extract showed higher levels of hydrolysable tannins. The ethanol extracts were effective on both eggs hatching and larvae migration at low concentrations (150 μg/mL) for the three analyzed samples, while the water extracts showed more varied results: SH showed the greatest ovicidal efficacy (concentration 150 μg/mL, %IH = 40.9), while SBP and SQ were more effective against the larvae migration (concentration 600 μg/mL, %LMI = 69.7% and 88%), respectively. The integration of CT-rich fodder into the diet may be considered for the control of GIN infection in goats. Full article

Internal parasites are one of the main causes of health threats in livestock production, especially in extensive livestock farming. Despite the environmental toxic effects (loss of dung beetles, biodiversity, and other issues) and resistance phenomenon derived from their prolonged use, anti-parasitic chemical pharmaceuticals are frequently used, even in organic farming. Such a situation within the context of climate change requires urgent exploration of alternative compounds to solve these problems and apparent conflicts between organic farming objectives regarding the environment, public health, and animal health. This review is focused on some plants (Artemisia spp., Cichorium intybus L., Ericaceae family, Hedysarum coronarium L., Lotus spp., Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) that are well known for their antiparasitic effect, are voluntarily grazed and ingested, and can be spontaneously found or cultivated in southern Europe and other regions with a Mediterranean climate. The differences found between effectiveness, parasite species affected, in vitro/in vivo experiments, and active compounds are explored. A total of 87 papers where antiparasitic activity of those plants have been studied are included in this review; 75% studied the effect on ruminant parasites, where gastrointestinal nematodes were the parasite group most studied (70%), and these included natural (31%) and experimental (37%) infections. Full article