Zinc biofortification potential of diverse mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] genotypes under field conditions.

Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient for crop plants and essential for human health. The Zn-deficiency is an important malnutrition problem known globally. Biofortified foods could overcome Zn deficiency in humans. Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is an important, pulse crop frequently grown in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Mungbean could provide essential micronutrients, including Zn to humans. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the impact of Zn fertilization on the yield and grain biofortification of mungbean. Twelve mungbean genotypes (i.e., NM-28, NM-2011, NM-13-1, NM-2006, NM-51, NM-54, NM-19-19, NM-92, NM-121-25, NM-20-21, 7006, 7008) were assessed for their genetic diversity followed by Zn-biofortification, growth and yield under control (0 kg ha-1) and Zn-fertilized (10 kg ha-1) conditions. Data relating to allometric traits, yield components, grain yield and grain Zn contents were recorded. Zinc fertilization improved entire allometric and yield-related traits. Grain yield of different genotypes ranged from 439 to 904 kg ha-1 under control and 536 to 1462 kg ha-1 under Zn-fertilization. Zinc concentration in the grains varied from 15.50 to 45.60 mg kg-1 under control and 18.53 to 64.23 mg kg-1 under Zn-fertilized conditions. The tested genotypes differed in their Zn-biofortification potential. The highest and the lowest grain Zn contents were noted for genotypes NM-28 and NM-121-25, respectively. Significant variation in yield and Zn-biofortification indicated the potential for improvement in mungbean yield and grain Zn-biofortification. The genotypes NM-28 and NM-2006 could be used in breeding programs for improvement in grain Zn concentration due to their high Zn uptake potential. Nonetheless, all available genotypes in the country should be screened for their Zn-biofortification potential.

VigSatDB: genome-wide microsatellite DNA marker database of three species of Vigna for germplasm characterization and improvement.

Genus Vigna represented by more than 100 species is a source of nutritious edible seeds and sprouts that are rich sources of protein and dietary supplements. It is further valuable because of therapeutic attributes due to its antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. A highly diverse and an extremely ecological niche of different species can be valuable genomic resources for productivity enhancement. It is one of the most underutilized crops for food security and animal feeds. In spite of huge species diversity, only three species of Vigna have been sequenced; thus, there is a need for molecular markers for the remaining species. Computational approach of microsatellite marker discovery along with evaluation of polymorphism utilizing available genomic data of different genotypes can be a quick and an economical approach for genomic resource development. Cross-species transferability by e-PCR over available genomes can further prioritize the potential SSR markers, which could be used for genetic diversity and population differentiation of the remaining species saving cost and time. We present VigSatDB-the world's first comprehensive microsatellite database of genus Vigna, containing >875 K putative microsatellite markers with 772 354 simple and 103 865 compound markers mined from six genome assemblies of three Vigna species, namely, Vigna radiata (Mung bean), Vigna angularis (Adzuki bean) and Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea). It also contains 1976 validated published markers. Markers can be selected on the basis of chromosomes/location specificity, and primers can be generated using Primer3core tool integrated at backend. Efficacy of VigSatDB for microsatellite loci genotyping has been evaluated by 15 markers over a panel of 10 diverse genotype of V. radiata. Our web genomic resources can be used in diversity analysis, population and varietal differentiation, discovery of quantitative trait loci/genes, marker-assisted varietal improvement in endeavor of Vigna crop productivity and management.

Cowpea fresh pods - a new legume for the market: assessment of their quality and dietary characteristics of 37 cowpea accessions grown in southern Europe.

BACKGROUND: Cowpea is traditionally cultivated in some regions of southern Europe for its dried seeds; however, there is a scarcity of information on the quality and dietary characteristics of fresh pods, which are occasionally used in folk diets. This paper aims at covering this gap in knowledge, thereby contributing to the dissemination of fresh cowpea pods as a novel product for the market. The quality and dietary characteristics of pods from 37 accessions (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata and ssp. sesquipedalis) grown in southern Europe were assessed in an attempt to provide information on pod quality and nutritional properties and to identify relationships between quality traits and accession origin. RESULTS: Pods from the sesquipedalis accessions were heavier and larger, and reached commercial maturity 2 days later, than those from the unguiculata accessions. There were also large differences in the quality and dietary characteristics of the accessions. The pods of most accessions were rich in proteins, chlorophylls, carotenoids and phenolics, and showed high antioxidant activity and low concentrations of nitrates and raffinose-family oligosaccharides. Cluster analysis based on quality, dietary or antinutritional traits did not reveal any apparent grouping among the accessions. All the quality characteristics were independent of accession origin and subspecies. CONCLUSION: Most of the accessions produced fresh pods of good quality and high dietary value, suitable for introduction in the market and/or for use as valuable genetic material for the development of new improved varieties. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Incidência de fungos e germinação de sementes de feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp) tratadas com óleo de nim (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) / Incidence of fungi and germination of cowpea seeds (Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp) treated with neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)

Neste trabalho avaliou-se o efeito do óleo de nim no controle de fungos associados às sementes de feijão caupi e a influência deste produto na germinação de três cultivares (Serrinha, BR 17, e Maranhão). Foram preparadas diluições de 0,5; 1,0; 2,0; 4,0 g dm 3-do óleo de nim em água destilada e testemunha, só com água. Os fungos foram identificados pelo método do papel de filtro e a germinação das sementes foi avaliada considerando as informações das Regras para Análise de Sementes. Foram utilizadas sementes de três cultivares de feijão-caupi: a cultivar Serrinha, proveniente da cidade de Timon-MA, a cultivar Maranhão, da cidade de Viana - MA, e a cultivar BR 17, obtida junto à Embrapa Meio Norte, na cidade de Teresina-PI. O crescimento de Fusarium sp. nas cultivares Maranhão e Serrinha foi reduzido em 52 e 53%, respectivamente e o índice de redução de Aspergillus sp. foi de 14 e 20% nas mesmas cultivares. Em relação aos fungos M. phaseolina e Phoma sp., observa-se que não foram inibidos em nenhuma das três cultivares. No que se refere à germinação das sementes nota-se que na cultivar Maranhão houve aumento no índice da germinação de 13 e 17,5% em relação à testemunha e, na cultivar Serrinha, somente a concentração 0,5% diferiu da testemunha com redução no índice de germinação de 6,49%. Conclui-se que o óleo de nim reduz a incidência de Fusarium sp. e Aspergillus sp. e é indiferente na redução de M. phaseolina e Phoma sp. O índice de germinação aumentou na cultivar Maranhão e diminuiu na cultivar Serrinha.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of neem oil on germination and fungi incidence on the seeds of three cowpea cultivars (Serrinha, BR 17 and Maranhão). Dilutions of 0.5; 1.0; 2.0, 4.0 g dm-3 of neem oil were prepared in water. The fungi incidence was evaluated by the filter paper test, and the germination was evaluated according to the Rules for Seeds Testing ("Regras para Análise de Sementes," in Portuguese). Seeds of three cowpea cultivars were used: Serrinha and Maranhão, from the cities of Timon and Viana, respectively, state of Maranhão, Brazil, and BR 17, from Embrapa Meio Norte (Terezina, state of Piaí, Brazil). The growth of Fusarium sp. on the seed of the Maranhão and Serrinha cultivars was reduced in 52 and 53%, respectively, and the reduction rate of Aspergillus sp. was 14 and 20%, on the same cultivars. However, the neem oil did not inhibit the growth of the fungi Macrophomina phaseolina and Phoma sp. in any of the three cultivars. With regard to the seed germination, an increase of 13 and 17.5% was observed in the Maranhão cultivar compared to control, while for the Serrinha cultivar, only the 0.5% concentration differed from the control, reducing the germination rate by 6.49%. We conclude that the neem oil was effective in controlling Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. On the other hand, it was ineffective against Phoma sp. and M. phaseolina. The germination increased in the Maranhão cultivar and decreased in the Serrinha cultivar.