Search Results (35)

Composite flours have been increasingly introduced in bakery products, aiming to enhance their nutritional value and reduce overdependence on imported wheat. Crackers are popular snack items, with potential to affect body weight and health status. This study aimed to examine the effects of different flour types, specifically pulses (chickpea, lupin, yellow split pea and cowpea), agricultural by-products (grape seeds and olive stones) and cereals (barley), on flour functionality, dough quality and final product characteristics compared with wheat flour (control) at various substitution levels. The functional properties of the composite flours were associated with the properties of dough and the characteristics of the crackers. Barley flour produced crackers with significantly higher hardness and lightness (L*) compared to the control, whereas chickpea flour had a similar but non-significant trend for both hardness and L* value. In contrast, high-level olive stone formulations yielded softer textures and the highest total color difference (ΔE), followed by grape seed crackers, which also exhibited high ΔE values and reduced hardness. The effects of composite flours on product texture were mediated by water absorption capacity and the compositional characteristics of the added flours. Crackers prepared with composite flours generally resulted in darker and diverse color profiles as well as low water activity and moisture values. Overall, the findings indicate that variations in composite flour type and substitution level influence product quality, allowing targeted modification of specific cracker attributes. Full article

The field experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen rates on accumulation of aboveground dry mass (AGDM), leaves area index (LAI), and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (iPAR) of pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomized block design consisting of three levels of the first factor (variety) and seven levels of the second factor (NPK fertilization treatments were used: (1) NPK 0:0:0 (control), (2) NPK 0:40:80, (3) NPK 15:40:80, (4) NPK 30:40:80, (5) NPK 45:40:80, (6) NPK 15 + 15:40:80, (7) NPK 60:40:80). The growth indicators (LAI and AGDM) and iPAR were assessed three times during the growing season. Nitrogen fertilization positively influenced LAI, but significant differences in LAI were found only under splitted N30 (N15 + N15), N45, and N60 applications, compared to the treatment N0 P40K80. In the dry 2015 and the optimal moisture 2016, N30, N45, and N60 rates significantly increased AGDM. The influence of fertilization on iPAR varied between experimental years, and it was strongest in the dry 2015, when applying N15 + 15 and N60 fertilization significantly increased iPAR, compared to the control. According to LAI and iPAR data, pea varieties were ranked in descending order: Simona, Ieva DS, and Respect. LAI significantly (p ≤ 0.01) correlated with AGDM and iPAR, but the relationship weakened as peas reached later growth stages. These results provide valuable knowledge, and it will be useful for researchers in developing new cultivation methodologies to achieve higher semi-leafless pea productivity by applying different combinations of nutrition and new varieties. Full article

Fermented pulses offer health benefits due to their antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. The objective was to optimize the fermentation conditions of black bean (BB), black eyed pea (BEP), green split pea (GSP), red lentil (RL), and pinto bean (PB), using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v), based on the antioxidant-scavenging capacity and the ability to modulate type-2 diabetes markers. Pulses were grounded, dispersed in water, hydrolyzed with α-amylase, and pasteurized and inoculated with Lp299v. Optimization was performed by using the Box–Behnken response surface methodology, with the fermentation time, bacterial concentration, and flour concentration as variables. The values of antioxidant capacity measured as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging of RL, BEP, PB, BB, and GSP were 57%, 68%, 71%, 72%, and 83%, respectively, under optimal conditions (8–9 h, 0.76–3.5 × 10⁹ a colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL, and 5.5–15 g flour/100 mL). These models demonstrated strong predictive power (p < 0.01) and a non-significant lack of fit (p ≥ 0.05). Additionally, fermentation increased the soluble protein content (3–10 mg/mL) and significantly inhibited dipeptidyl peptidase-IV and α-glucosidase activities by 40–70% and 30–60%, respectively. These results suggest that fermentation with Lp299v enhances the nutritional and functional quality of pulses, producing bioactive ingredients with antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. These functional ingredients may be used in the development of dietary interventions or as part of health-promoting foods, especially those targeted at the management of type-2 diabetes. Full article

The impact of different agronomic practices on pea adaptability to terminal drought conditions can provide increased knowledge on optimizing pea yield, biomass, and environmental footprints. Two field experiments in the layout of the split–split plot and a 3-factor (fertilizer × sowing date × seeding rate) design were carried out on pea crops in 2021 and 2022 in Kazakhstan’s dry steppe and steppe zones. The objective was to evaluate the significance of these factors and their interactions on biomass and yield based on 12 treatments in the dry steppe and 18 treatments in the steppe. In both zones, fertilizer effect on biomass and yield was significant (p < 0.05) and resulted in a biomass increase of 17% and a yield increase of 16% in the dry steppe and 19% and 17.9%, respectively, in the steppe. The sowing date’s effect on biomass and yield in both zones was also significant, with maximum yield with late sowing (20 May) and biomass increased by 10% compared to the earliest sowing date (10 May) and yield increase of 9.2% in the dry steppe, and 15.7%, and 30%, respectively, in the steppe. Seeding rate and none of the first- and second-order interactions between these three factors on biomass and yield were significant in either zone. The relationship between factors and final biomass and yield showed that fertilizer application was dominant. Our research also showed that yield was highly correlated (r = 0.8–1.0, p < 0.05) with biometric indicators of plants, such as the weight of seeds per 1 m² and the weight of seeds per plant. The findings from this study indicate that adaptive crop production to increase the yield of peas can be used for environmental conditions of dry steppe and steppe based on the development of new agronomic practices, especially those that include fertilizer application with a combination of sowing dates. Full article

Reclamation and management of saline soil in arid regions fundamentally require more consideration to attain sustainable agriculture. Experiments were conducted at Abo-Kalam Farm, South Sinai, Egypt. Split-split-plot design experiments were carried out to study the effect of treatments on saline soil hydrophysical properties, sorghum, and cv. ‘Dorado’ plants during the summer season. Pea cv. ‘Entsar 3’ plants were cultivated during the winter season for the residual effect of treatments. Organo–mineral amendment (rice straw compost + mineral sulfur at different rates) was assigned as the main factor, natural rock or artificial fertilizers were assigned as subfactors, and humic acid at different rates was the sub-subfactor. Results showed that organo–mineral amendments improved the hydrophysical properties of the soil, plant nutrient uptake, crop yield, and crop water productivity; however, it diminished by 10 tons/fed (4200 m²) of compost plus 700 kg/fed of mineral sulfur. Therefore, it is recommended that economically using the combination of applying organic–mineral amendments of 4 tons/fed of compost plus 400 kg/fed of mineral sulfur and 5 kg/fed of humic acid plus natural rock fertilizer is the best safe management for reclamation and improvement of saline soils using partially treated saline irrigation water and natural resources. Full article

Despite the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses, their incorporation into bakery products has been impeded by their characteristic off-flavour. This study characterizes five pulses (faba bean, chickpea, whole lentil, split pea and pinto bean) in a cake application with a 40% wheat flour substitution, alongside a control cake. Physicochemical analysis and sensory analysis using a consumer panel (n = 124) and instrumental analysis (GC E-nose) were conducted. The liking scores for the pulse-containing cakes were significantly lower compared to the control cake, but half of the participants preferred a pulse-containing cake, indicating their market potential. Both instrumental analysis and sensory evaluation identified the chickpea and faba bean cakes as most similar to the control, while the pea cake was the most divergent. This cake was described as beany and grassy by consumers, negatively affecting the overall acceptance. Consumers in the sensory study had difficulties in distinguishing between the chickpea and faba bean cakes. Similarly, based on the volatile profiles, the chickpea and faba bean cakes demonstrated the closest relationship. The alignment between sensory data and E-nose results supports the added value of instrumental techniques such as the GC E-nose in sensory research. Full article

Soil salinity results in reduced productivity in field peas, making soil salinity tolerance a critical breeding objective. In this study, four pot experiments were carried out in semi-controlled environments over four consecutive years to assess the contribution of seedling vigour to salinity tolerance at the seedling stage. Split-plot designs were used to assess the effect of salt stress (sodium chloride solution at 16 dSm⁻¹) and control conditions. Extensive sets of advanced breeding lines were used in 2018–2020 to assess growth differences in relation to the treatment, with elemental analysis used on a subset of 15 lines in 2021. A salt tolerance index (STI) was defined as a proportion of shoot biomass under salt stress (DWstress) relative to the shoot dry weight under control (DWctrl). Visual scores of salt stress were recorded on a 1–10 scale (1 = tolerant, 10 = susceptible) from salt stress treatments. The consistent positive and significant correlations (p < 0.01) between shoot DWctrl and DWstress indicated that vigorous genotypes maintained higher shoot DWstress. Both the shoot DWctrl and shoot DWstress had negative and significant (p < 0.01) correlations with visual scores of salt stress. Shoot DWstress showed strong positive correlations with STI (p < 0.01). Both the shoot DWctrl and Shoot DWstress had negative correlations (p < 0.01) with shoot Na⁺ whereas shoot DWstress had a positive correlation (p < 0.05) with root Na⁺ concentration. The results indicated that seedling vigour (measured as shoot DWctrl) contributed to salinity tolerance by maintaining improved shoot DWstress, limiting Na⁺ deposition in shoot and enduring less tissue damage in field pea seedlings. Additional field evaluations are required to establish the correlations of tolerance at seedling stage with yield under saline conditions. The insights obtained from this study may assist field pea breeders in identifying salt-tolerant parent plants, offspring, and breeding lines during the initial growth phases. Full article

A well-designed tree-based culture provides multiple benefits, aiding in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially SDG1 (no poverty), SDG2 (zero hunger), SDG13 (climate action), and SDG15 (life on land). A split-plot field experiment near Solan, Himachal Pradesh, tested the following Grewia optiva tree spacings as main plots: S₁ 10 m × 1 m, S₂ 10 m × 2 m, S₃ 10 m × 3 m, and sole cropping (S₀—Open) of pea (Pisum sativum L.). Pea cultivation included the following six fertilizer treatments as subplots: control (no application), farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), Jeevamrut, FYM + VC, and the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDFs), each replicated three times. The results indicated that the leaves, branches, total biomass, carbon density, and carbon sequestration rate of G. optiva alleys at 10 m × 1 m were greater than those at the other spacings. However, peas intercropped at 10 m × 3 m produced the highest yield (5.72 t ha⁻¹). Compared with monocropping, G. optiva-based agroforestry significantly improved soil properties. Among fertilizers, FYM had the highest yield (6.04 t ha⁻¹) and improved soil health. The most lucrative practice was the use of peas under a 10 m × 1 m spacing with FYM, with economic gains of 2046.1 USD ha⁻¹. This study suggests integrating pea intercropping with G. optiva at broader spacing (10 m × 3 m) and using FYM for optimal carbon sequestration, soil health, and economic returns, and this approach is recommended for the region’s agroecosystems. Full article

Crop diversification and the reduction of nitrogen (N) inputs are key issues in the EU for more sustainable agriculture. An experiment was set up in a semiarid rainfed Mediterranean system. Our hypothesis was that these challenges could be addressed by introducing new crops and using pig slurries (PSs). The experimental factors were N fertilization at sowing (with or without PS) combined (according to a split-block design) with N fertilization as topdressing (the control, two N mineral rates, and two N rates from PS). Barley, rapeseed, and pea performances were evaluated in two different crop sequences: (i) barley–rapeseed or rapeseed–barley after a fallow season, and (ii) barley–pea or pea–barley after a fallow season followed by a non-fertilized barley crop. The results of the four-year study demonstrated that under a spring drought risk, barley performed better than peas in terms of relative crop yield maintenance. After fallow, N can be saved while maintaining the yields and total biomass of barley and rapeseed. In the second crop sequence, maximum pea and barley yields were associated with a minimum topdressing of 60 or 120 kg mineral N ha⁻¹, respectively. However, slurry fertilization at sowing also allowed the highest yields for barley. Rapeseed and peas can be introduced to reduce N fertilization inputs. However, the obtained yield plateau for pea and rapeseed (3 and 4 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively) and the effect of a yield spring drought on pea yields (50% reduction) might be a constraint for the success of EU policies on crop diversification. Full article

Pulses—comprising the dry, edible seeds of leguminous plants—have long been lauded for their culinary flexibility and substantial nutritional advantages. This scoping review aimed to map the evidence on how pulses contribute to overall human health. Four electronic databases were searched for clinical and observational studies in English. We identified 30 articles (3 cross-sectional studies, 1 federated meta-analysis, 8 prospective cohort studies, 1 before-and-after study, and 17 randomized controlled trials) that met our inclusion criteria. Predominant among the pulses studied were lentils, chickpeas, common bean varieties (e.g., pinto, black, navy, red, kidney), black-eyed peas, cowpeas, and split peas. Consumption modalities varied; most studies examined mixed pulses, while five isolated individual types. In intervention studies, pulses were incorporated into diets by allotting a fixed pulse serving on top of a regular diet or by substituting red meat with pulses, offering a comparative analysis of dietary effects. The health outcomes evaluated were multifaceted, ranging from lipid profiles to blood pressure, cardiovascular disease risk and mortality, type 2 diabetes and glycemic control, metabolic syndrome indicators, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress biomarkers, and hormonal profiles. The most frequently assessed study outcomes included changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, waist circumference, and C-reactive protein or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. This review should serve as a call to action for the scientific community to build upon the existing evidence, enriching our understanding of the nutritional and health-promoting attributes of pulses. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different NPK rates and N application methods and seed inoculation with a microbial preparation on selected elements of plant growth and the productivity parameters seed yield, protein content in seeds and the yield of protein. The research hypothesis suggested that seed inoculation and a split rate of N application with an optimal supply of plants with PK could improve the nutritional status and increase the efficiency of nutrient use in peas. The studies included two factors: the application of NPK at doses of N₀P₀K₀ (control), N₁₅P₁₅K₁₅ (pre-sowing), N₁₅P₃₀K₃₀ + N₁₅ (pre-sowing + N₁₅ at BBCH 22–23), N₃₀P₃₀K₃₀ (pre-sowing), N₃₀P₄₅K₄₅ + N₁₅ (pre-sowing + N₁₅ at BBCH 22–23) and N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅ (pre-sowing), and seed inoculation with the microbial preparation Rhizogumin. The results of the study showed significant effects of seed inoculation and mineral fertilization on pea plant growth and the productivity parameters seed yield, protein content and protein yield. It was concluded that among the studied combinations, seed inoculation and the application of mineral fertilizers with fractional nitrogen fertilization with N₃₀P₄₅K₄₅ + N₁₅ were the most effective. This combination significantly increased seed yield, protein content and protein yield compared to the control treatment (by 26.2%, 11.1% and 43,5%, respectively). Full article

In the context of food and agro-ecological transitions, the development of food applications based on legume flours and plant proteins requires a mastery of grain milling. While wheat grain milling has been extensively studied and is well-mastered, legume grinding and its underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. The aim of this work is to contribute to the study of the fragmentation mechanisms of pea grains during grinding. Experiments were carried out on hulled yellow pea grains (Kameleon variety) ground under different conditions using a ball mill (MM400, Retsch^®, Haan, Germany) or a micro-cylinder mill. The results showed that the grinding of pea grains, regardless of the type of mill, produced powders characterized by particle size distribution curves with a multimodal shape. The curve analysis was performed according to a simplified deconvolution approach, taking into account different particle populations without diameter overlap. Four particle populations of different sizes were identified and correlated with specific mechanisms governing the grinding of yellow split peas. The physical and biochemical properties of the resulting powders were determined. Taking into account the proportions of the four populations within the powders, the results showed a positive correlation between the volume proportions of very fine (0–10 µm) and fine (10–55 µm) particles within the powders and the starch damage rate and the specific surface area developed, irrespective of the type of mill. Full article

Two of the main issues related to cured meat products are castration to avoid boar taint and the hefty reliance on soybean meal to feed pigs. However, data on the effects of immunocastration in pigs and alternative crop protein feeds on the sensory traits and consumers’ acceptance of dry-cured loin are still limited. A preliminary study was conducted on the effect of sex type (surgical castrated male pigs and immunocastrated male and female pigs, at approximately 140 kg in weight and 7 months of age) and animal diet (pea vs. soya) on dry-cured loins. The study involved a sensory evaluation of six treatments, with a 3 × 2 factorial design, conducted by trained panellists and untrained consumers in Spain (n = 126) and Portugal (n = 80). The consumers were also checked for their skatole sensitivity using a pure substance. The results showed that the pea-based diet was significantly different (p < 0.001) from the soy-based diet, as determined by a trained panel of surgically castrated male pigs, although the immunocastration treatments were not split. Dry-cured loin from immunocastrated male pigs fed with peas was considered tenderer and juicier (p < 0.05) than those fed soya-based diets. The untrained consumer panel scored higher on the sensory traits (flavour, juiciness, and overall liking) from the loin samples of surgically castrated male pigs fed a pea diet. All consumers scored similarly in boar taint detection. This study demonstrates the applicability of the pea-based diet for the feeding of pigs destined for cured meat and highlights immunocastration as a tool that does not compromise the skatole detection score. Full article

Basalt fiber-reinforced pea gravel concrete (BFRPGC) has remarkable potential for use as the retrofitting covers for masonry walls. However, a quantitative understanding of the mechanical properties of the BFRPGC material is still a perceived gap in the current literature. In this study, the role of basalt fibers in pea gravel concrete was evaluated by a comprehensive experimental investigation involving compressive strength tests and splitting tensile tests. Fiber length and volume fraction were selected as the key parameters. Two fiber lengths of 6 mm and 12 mm were considered, while the volume fraction corresponding to each of the fiber lengths was increased from 0.3% to 0.8%, with a step of 0.1%. The measured strengths were not simply proportional to the fiber volume fraction. The reason behind this phenomenon, i.e., the coupling effect of the bridging role of basalt fibers on concrete microcracks and the fiber agglomeration in concrete, was analyzed. The best performance of the BFRPGC material was achieved by incorporating 12-millimeter-length fibers with a volume fraction of 0.4%. Compared to that of the reference pea gravel concrete, a significant increase of up to 44.5% in compressive strength was recorded in this case. Furthermore, the failure mechanism of basalt fibers in pea gravel concrete was disclosed via the scanning electron microscope observations. In addition, the uniaxial compressive stress–strain model of the BFRPGC material was established. Full article

Early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) relies on clinical evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Reliable biomarkers are needed to differentiate MS from other neurological conditions and to define the underlying pathogenesis. This study aimed to comprehensively profile immune activation biomarkers in the CSF of individuals with MS and explore distinct signatures between MS with and without oligoclonal bands (OCB). A total of 118 subjects, including relapsing–remitting MS with OCB (MS OCB+) (n = 58), without OCB (MS OCB−) (n = 24), and controls with other neurological diseases (OND) (n = 36), were included. CSF samples were analyzed by means of proximity extension assay (PEA) for quantifying 92 immune-related proteins. Neurofilament light chain (NfL), a marker of axonal damage, was also measured. Machine learning techniques were employed to identify biomarker panels differentiating MS with and without OCB from controls. Analyses were performed by splitting the cohort into a training and a validation set. CSF CD5 and IL-12B exhibited the highest discriminatory power in differentiating MS from controls. CSF MIP-1-alpha, CD5, CXCL10, CCL23 and CXCL9 were positively correlated with NfL. Multivariate models were developed to distinguish MS OCB+ and MS OCB− from controls. The model for MS OCB+ included IL-12B, CD5, CX3CL1, FGF-19, CST5, MCP-1 (91% sensitivity and 94% specificity in the training set, 81% sensitivity, and 94% specificity in the validation set). The model for MS OCB− included CX3CL1, CD5, NfL, CCL4 and OPG (87% sensitivity and 80% specificity in the training set, 56% sensitivity and 48% specificity in the validation set). Comprehensive immune profiling of CSF biomarkers in MS revealed distinct pathophysiological signatures associated with OCB status. The identified biomarker panels, enriched in T cell activation markers and immune mediators, hold promise for improved diagnostic accuracy and insights into MS pathogenesis. Full article