Search Results (12)

This study evaluated the effect of solid-state fermentation (SSF) using Aspergillus awamori on the nutritional, functional, antioxidant, structural, and protein-digestibility properties of black gram (Vigna mungo) flour and its application in wheat-based composite flour. Black gram was fermented for 0–12 days, and the 6-day fermented sample was selected for flour fortification based on improved nutritional and functional responses. SSF reduced tannin and phytic acid contents while increasing total phenolic content from 2.69 to 3.37 mg GAE/g, total flavonoid content from 0.83 to 1.65 mg QE/g, and DPPH radical-scavenging activity from 2.13 to 4.09 mg AAE/g by day 6. Protein content increased from 24.14% to 27.11%, and in vitro protein digestibility improved from 70.86% to 82.89%. Total amino acid content also increased from 88.71 to 98.24 g/100 g protein by day 6, followed by a decline during prolonged fermentation. Mineral contents, including iron, zinc, and calcium, were also improved after fermentation. Incorporation of 6-day fermented black gram flour into wheat flour enhanced the protein, crude fiber, water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, and in vitro protein digestibility of the composite flour. Overall, SSF with A. awamori improved the nutritional and functional quality of black gram and demonstrated its potential as a protein-rich ingredient for fortified cereal–legume composite flour development. Full article

The study explored the impact of Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) on the physicochemical, structural, functional, and antioxidant properties of protein concentrates from white pea (Lathyrus sativus), red gram (Cajanus cajan), and black gram (Vigna mungo). The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of MAE as a sustainable green extraction technique compared to the conventional method. Total amino acid content increased in MAE protein from 69.23 to 72.78 g/100 g powder in white pea protein (WPP), 69.41 to 72.39 g/100 g powder in red gram protein (RGP), and 65.56 to 70.30 g/100 g powder in black gram protein (BGP). Functionally, MAE significantly improved solubility and emulsifying capacity and water- and oil-holding capacities. Bioactive evaluation showed a significant increase in total phenolic and flavonoid contents, followed by improved DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activities. A reduction in tannins and phytic acid correlated with enhanced in vitro protein digestibility. These enhanced MAE-derived proteins further demonstrated superior performance when incorporated into wheat flour, improving its nutritional and functional properties. Overall, MAE protein demonstrated improved structural integrity, antioxidant potential, and digestibility, highlighting white pea protein as the most responsive legume to MAE, followed by red and black gram. Full article

Salinity is a major abiotic stress limiting black gram (Vigna mungo) productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Saline soils negatively impact plant growth, nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and yield. This study evaluated the efficacy of co-inoculating salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria Paenibacillus sp. SPR11 and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense PR3 on black gram performance under saline field conditions (EC: 8.87 dS m⁻¹; pH: 8.37) with low organic carbon (0.6%) and nutrient deficiencies. In vitro assays demonstrated the biocontrol potential of SPR11, inhibiting Fusarium oxysporum and Macrophomina phaseolina by 76% and 62%, respectively. Germination assays and net house experiments under 300 mM NaCl stress showed that co-inoculation significantly improved physiological traits, including germination rate, root length (61.39%), shoot biomass (59.95%), and nitrogen fixation (52.4%) in nitrogen-free media. Field trials further revealed enhanced stress tolerance markers: chlorophyll content increased by 54.74%, proline by 50.89%, and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, PAL) were significantly upregulated. Electrolyte leakage was reduced by 55.77%, indicating improved membrane stability. Agronomic performance also improved, with co-inoculated plants showing increased root length (7.19%), grain yield (15.55 q ha⁻¹; 77.04% over control), total biomass (26.73 q ha⁻¹; 57.06%), and straw yield (8.18 q ha⁻¹). Pod number, seed count, and seed weight were also enhanced. Nutrient analysis showed elevated uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and key micronutrients (Zn, Fe) in both grain and straw. To the best of our knowledge, this is the very first field-based report demonstrating the synergistic benefits of co-inoculating Paenibacillus sp. SPR11 and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense PR3 in black gram under saline, nutrient-poor conditions without external nitrogen inputs. The results highlight a sustainable strategy to enhance legume productivity and resilience in salt-affected soils. Full article

This research recovered bioactive compounds from black gram husk (BGH, a by-product of sprout processing) using different ethanol concentrations and maceration times. Based on the results, the highest phenolic and saponin contents were recovered using an 80% ethanolic solution for 3 h, with the extract having both antioxidant and starch digestive enzyme inhibition effects. The major bioactive compounds present in the extract were gallic acid, gentisic acid, ferulic acid, and vitexin. The extract from BGH had an effective binding affinity to α-glucosidase, resulting in a potent ability of the extract to delay enzyme activity. Based on in vitro starch digestion using cooked rice as a model, adding the extract (10 mg/mL) increased the resistant starch content (from 53.9% to 55.9%) and lowered the estimated glucose index (from 83.1% to 81.0%) as compared to the control without the extract. Based on the overall results, the BGH extract could be promising as a functional ingredient with antioxidant activity and the ability to control postprandial blood glucose levels in the development of healthy food products. Full article

Black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) is a pulses crop with good digestible protein and a high carbohydrate content, so it is widely consumed as human food and animal feed. Trichomes are large, specialized epidermal cells that confer advantages on plants under biotic and abiotic stresses. Genes regulating the development of trichomes are well characterized in Arabidopsis and tomato. However, little is known about trichome development in black gram. In this study, a high-density map with 5734 bin markers using an F₂ population derived from a trichome-bearing and a glabrous cultivar of black gram was constructed, and a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) related to trichomes was identified. Six candidate genes were located in the mapped interval region. Fourteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or insertion/deletions (indels) were associated with those genes. One indel was located in the coding region of the gene designated as Scaffold_9372_HRSCAF_11447.164. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis demonstrated that only one candidate gene, Scaffold_9372_HRSCAF_11447.166, was differentially expressed in the stem between the two parental lines. These two candidate genes encoded the RNA polymerase-associated protein Rtf1 and Bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain protein 1A (BAZ1A). These results provide insights into the regulation of trichome development in black gram. The candidate genes may be useful for creating transgenic plants with improved stress resistance and for developing molecular markers for trichome selection in black gram breeding programs. Full article

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a condition triggered by environmental factors, particularly prevalent in humid conditions, leading to substantial yield losses in black gram. While the potential for genotypic PHS tolerance exists, it has not been thoroughly assessed in black gram. Hence, the present study aimed to delve into the genetic variation for PHS tolerance in diverse black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) germplasm, and also to comprehend the impact of various physical and physiological traits on PHS. A diverse set of 112 black gram accessions collected across the phytogeographical zones of India were examined for their seed and pod characteristics. Water absorption by pods and seeds and fresh-seed germination was calculated by following the standard procedure given by the International Seed Testing Association. The alpha-amylase activity was measured on dry seeds (0 h), 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after germination of each accession, using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer, and hard-seededness was measured using a texture analyzer machine. The results showed a wide range in PHS tolerance and FSG, and 13 accessions were found to be PHS-tolerant (PHS value < 10%). An indicator of PHS, seed germination in a pod, ranged from 2.75% in IC485641 (highly tolerant to PHS) to 95.85% in IC530501 (highly susceptible to PHS). Correlation and multivariate analysis revealed that PHS was positively correlated with water imbibition by pod and seed, fresh-seed germination and alpha-amylase activity. PHS-tolerant accessions showed a slow increase in alpha-amylase activity, in contrast to PHS-susceptible accessions. The utilization of alpha-amylase activity as a biochemical marker has the potential for evaluating PHS tolerance across various black gram accessions. The identified PHS-tolerant accessions can be used as donors in crop improvement programs aimed at developing PHS-tolerant black gram varieties. Full article

The potential interactions of rhizobium bacteria in enhancing nodulation, nitrogen (N) fixation for boosting N availability, and the yield of black gram under a temperate environment continue to remain unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of black gram cultivars, their yield comparisons, and shoot–grain–soil N dynamics in a prevalently rainfed farming system. Two black gram cultivars, NARC Mash-I and NARC Mash-II, were subjected to rhizobia inoculation combined with different N doses (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 kg ha⁻¹). The response variables included root nodulation, agronomic yield attributes, grain yield, shoot–grain and soil N dynamics, and biological productivity. Black gram cultivar NARC Mash-II showed the maximum nodule formation (41 per plant), while each nodule obtained 0.69 g weight in response to RI combined with 25 kg N ha⁻¹. Additionally, this combination showed the highest pods per plant and thousand grain weight, which maximized the grain yield (1777 kg ha⁻¹) and biological productivity (3007 kg ha⁻¹). In contrast, NARC Mash-I under 50 kg N recorded the highest shoot N content, while the same cultivar under 100 kg N exhibited the maximum soil N content. The correlation analyses indicated a significantly robust association among the nodule numbers, grain weight, and N contents in different plant organs. These results give mechanistic insights into plant–microbe interactions based on the eco-friendly, sustainable, and smart agricultural practice of black gram production in a temperate environment. Full article

Black gram is one of the most indispensable components of the world food basket and the growth and health of the crop get influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. Beneficial phyto-microbes are one among them that influence the crop growth, more particularly the seed borne microbes are comparatively beneficial, that they pass from generation to generation and are associated with the plants from establishment to development. In the present study, twenty seed-borne yeasts were characterized and tested for growth promotion of black gram and their antagonism against black gram phytopathogens. Two yeasts, Pichia kudriavzevii POY5 and Issatchenkia terricola GRY4, produced indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACCD), and plant defense enzymes. They solubilized phosphate and zinc and fixed atmospheric nitrogen. Inoculation of these two yeast isolates and Rhizobium BMBS1 improved the seed germination, physiological parameters and yield of black gram. Inoculation of Rhizoctonia solani-challenged plants with plant growth-promoting yeasts, resulted in the synthesis of defense-related enzymes such as peroxidases (POD), chitinases, catalase (CAT), and polyphenol oxidases (PPO). Thus, the seed-borne yeasts, Pichia kudriavzevii POY5 and Issatchenkia terricola GRY4, could be used as plant probiotics for black gram. Full article

Heat and soil moisture stress account for serious abiotic constraint in black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) production during spring–summer under Gangetic plains of Eastern India. Concurrence of these two can bring about early completion of phenophases that hampers normal metabolism of legumes by disrupting their defense mechanism, leading to poor seed set. The field experiment was conducted with two different sowing dates as the main plot, soil application of cobalt (Co) as subplots and foliar sprays of potassium (K) and boron (B) either alone or in combination as sub–sub plot treatment in a split–split plot design during spring–summer seasons of 2020 and 2021 with black gram (variety: Pant U 31). The study was aimed at evaluating the impact of sowing time and nutrients application alleviating adversities of abiotic stress during reproductive development of black gram. The March first week sown crop took significantly higher days to complete its life cycle compared to March third week sown one (82.0 vs. 78.2 and 81.8 vs. 78.8). This in turn relatively allowed a broader window for leaf area expansion, flowering, and seed filling in the first crop compared to the second one leading to the attainment of superior yield in the normal sown crop during the consecutive years. Crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), pod number per plant, seed yield, and harvest index were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) with soil Co @ 4 kg ha⁻¹ and foliar 1.25% K + 0.2% B applications through stress mitigation by stimulating chlorophyll biosynthesis, nitrate reductase activity, proline accumulation, and cell membrane stability, irrespective of the years. Fluctuations in per plant pod number explained about 96 and 94% variations in seed yield through linear regressions in respective years. Optimum sowing date along with soil Co application combined with foliar K+B sprays manifested immense potential to achieve higher black gram production. In addition, this nutrient schedule proved to be efficient enough to promote satisfactory growth and optimum seed yield of late sown blackgram through relief of stress during the spring–summer season. Full article

The thermal environment of a crop is one of the prime factors enhancing growth and production by regulating its physiological processes at different phenophases. To study the impact of thermal regime on spring–summer-grown black gram (variety Pant Urd 31), an experiment was conducted with different sowing dates (from the first to the third week of March), soil application of cobalt (Co) and foliar sprays of potassium (K) and boron (B) in various combinations in the split–split plot design during 2020 and 2021. The first-week-of-March-sown crop recorded more accumulated growing degree-days (GDD), photothermal units (PTU) and heliothermal units (HTU) with a longer duration than the later sown crop. Higher daily mean temperature during the reproductive stage of the later sown crop compelled it to complete the phenophases earlier than the normally sown crop, leading to yield reduction. Soil application of Co at 4 kg ha⁻¹ and foliar sprays of K at 1.25% and B at 0.2% mitigated the adversities of excess heat irrespective of sowing dates. Variations in GDD and HTU, respectively, explained variations of about 75.8% and 87.3% in the final dry matter accumulation and of 72.9% and 84.8% in seed yield through polynomial regressions in the respective years. The maximum mean thermal use efficiency (TUE) for biomass production (0.24 g m⁻²/°C/day⁻¹) and seed yield (0.11 g m⁻²/°C/day⁻¹) were observed with Co soil application and combined foliar sprays of K and B due to higher dry matter production or seed yield with lower heat units accumulation in the first sown crop. Full article

The legumes (Fabaceae family) are the second most important agricultural crop, both in terms of harvested area and total production. They are an important source of vegetable proteins and oils for human consumption. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) treatment is a new and effective method in surface microbial inactivation and seed stimulation useable in the agricultural and food industries. This review summarizes current information about characteristics of legume seeds and adult plants after NTP treatment in relation to the seed germination and seedling initial growth, surface microbial decontamination, seed wettability and metabolic activity in different plant growth stages. The information about 19 plant species in relation to the NTP treatment is summarized. Some important plant species as soybean (Glycine max), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), mung bean (Vigna radiata), black gram (V. mungo), pea (Pisum sativum), lentil (Lens culinaris), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and chickpea (Cicer aruetinum) are discussed. Likevise, some less common plant species i.g. blue lupine (Lupinus angustifolius), Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and mimosa (Mimosa pudica, M. caesalpiniafolia) are mentioned too. Possible promising trends in the use of plasma as a seed pre-packaging technique, a reduction in phytotoxic diseases transmitted by seeds and the effect on reducing dormancy of hard seeds are also pointed out. Full article

Salinity is a major abiotic stress which limits crop production, especially under rainfed conditions. Selenium (Se), as an important micronutrient, plays a vital role in mitigating detrimental effects of different abiotic stresses. The objective of this research was to examine the effect of Se fertilization on black gram (Vigna mungo) under salt stress. Our results showed that salt stress (100 mM NaCl) in leaves significantly induced oxidative damage and caused a decline in relative water content, chlorophyll (Chl), stomatal conductance (gs), photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), sucrose, and reducing sugars. A low dose of Se (1.5 ppm) significantly reduced hydrogen peroxide content, malondialdehyde formation, cell membrane damage, and also improved antioxidative enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase under salt stress. Se-treated plants exhibited higher Chl, gs, Fv/Fm, sucrose, and reducing sugars than untreated plants in response to salt stress. In addition, Se application enhanced Se uptake and reduced Na⁺ uptake, but Cl⁻ remained unaffected. Our results indicated that a low dose of Se effectively alleviated salt damage via inhibition of Na⁺ uptake and enhanced antioxidant defense resulting in a significant decrease in oxidative damage, and maintained gaseous exchange and PS II function for sucrose and reducing sugars accumulation in black gram. Full article