Effects of cultivar and growing degree day accumulations on forage partitioning and nutritive value of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) on the Tibetan plateau.

BACKGROUND: The use of common vetch in grassland-livestock systems has expanded greatly within recent years, partly because of its value as a high-quality forage crop but also to improve the soil nitrogen availability. In-field estimation of forage yield potential and nutritional characteristics is required for providing management decision to farmers on how to optimize the management and use of common vetch forages. The aim of this work was to study changes in forage partitioning and nutritive value responses of a late-maturing and an early maturing cultivar of common vetch in a two-year study on the Tibetan Plateau. RESULTS: This study provided evidence for differential patterns of forage accumulation for common vetch with contrasting maturity over 2 years. The late-maturing cultivar exhibited greater forage yield and a lower proportion of pods, compared to the early maturing cultivar. There was a tendency towards lower forage nutritive value with the late-maturing cultivar. Regressions of nutritive value parameters of common vetch forages on growing degree days were explained by the cubic (P < 0.001) models, all with high coefficients of determination (R2 ≥ 0.792). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the late-maturing cultivar harvested at end of the pod-filling stage produces high forage yield, increasing the availability of high-quality forage for ruminants, thereby improving the self-sufficiency of farmers, in terms of forage yield and high-concentration protein. For early maturing cultivars, it may be better to harvest at the early flowering stage for better nutritive value and in part to enable a subsequent double crop of oat. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemical constituents from common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.

Vicia sativa L. (common vetch) is a potential food source for both human beings and animals because of its abundant nutritional composition. There is a lack of phytochemical study on the whole plant, and thus the objective of this study was to investigate the isolation of phytochemicals and evaluate their biological activities. A new flavanol, (2R,3S)-3,3'-dihydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavanol (1), together with nine known compounds, two flavones (2-3), one coumarin (4), and six oleanane triterpenoids (5-10), was obtained from Vicia sativa L.. The structure of the new compound 1 was determined via its NMR spectra, IR and CD data. Compound 3 displayed the potential of the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging effect in antioxidant test. In terms of cytotoxic activities, compound 3 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against three human tumor cells, especially HeLa cells.

Effect of Instant Controlled Pressure-Drop (DIC), Cooking and Germination on Non-Nutritional Factors of Common Vetch (Vicia sativa spp.).

Legumes are widely consumed by humans, being an important source of nutrients; however, they contain non-nutritional factors (NNFs), such as phytic acid (IP6), raffinose, stachyose, total phenolic compounds, condensed tannins, and flavonoids, that have negative effects on human health. Although vetches (Vicia sativa) are widely cultivated, they are not intended for human feeding due to their contents of NNF. Usually, the NNF are removed by cooking or germinating; however, germination is a process that requires extended time, and cooking may compromise the viability of some nutrients. To promote vetches for human consumption, the effect of the Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) process was studied as an alternative to cooking and germinating to decrease NNF contents. Results showed that compared to raw vetches, DIC treatment reduced total phenolic compounds (48%), condensed tannins (28%), flavonoids (65%), IP6 (92%), raffinose (77%), and stachyose (92%). These results are very similar to the ones achieved by traditional ways of removing NNF.

Determination of neurotoxic agents as markers of common vetch adulteration in lentil by LC-MS/MS.

Vicia sativa (common vetch), which contains ß-cyanoalanine (BCA) and γ-glutamyl ß-cyanoalanine (γGBCA) is used for adulteration of lentil and have neuro toxic effects on people and animals. Therefore the determination of BCA and γGBCA analytes in accurate and reliable manner has high importance for human and animal health. LC-IDMS/MS method has been developed and validated for quantitative analyses of ß-cyanoalanine and 13C labeled BCA is used as an internal standard in γGBCA analysis. In order to validate the method, linearity, recovery, precision (repeatability), intermediate precision, limit of detection, and limit of quantification parameters were investigated. The correlation coefficient was found to be greater than 0.99 for both analytes. The recoveriess were determined as 95.8% for BCA and 97.4% for γGBCA. The relative expanded measurement uncertainties of ß-cyanoalanine and γ-glutamyl-ß-cyanoalanine were obtained as 4.6% and 5.8%, respectively with the coverage factor, k, is 2 and at 95% confidence level.

Effects of applying molasses, lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production of total mixed ration silage prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop on the Tibetan Plateau.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of molasses, lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production of total mixed ration (TMR) silage prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop on the Tibetan plateau. TMR (436 g kg(-1) dry matter (DM)) was ensiled with six experimental treatments: (1) no additives (control); (2) molasses (M); (3) an inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum) (L); (4) propionic acid (P); (5) molasses + propionic acid (MP); (6) inoculant + propionic acid (LP). RESULT: All silages were well preserved with low pH (< 4.19) and NH3-N contents, and high lactic acid contents after ensiling for 45 days. L and PL silages underwent a more efficient fermentation than silages without L. P and MP silages inhibited lactic acid production. Under aerobic conditions, M and L silage reduced aerobic stability for 15 and 74 h, respectively. All silages that had propionic acid in their treatments markedly (P < 0.05) improved the aerobic stability. After 72 h incubation, all additives treatments increased (P < 0.05) the 72 h cumulative gas production and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) as compared with the control. L treatment decreased (P < 0.05) in vitro neutral detergent fibre degradability. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that TMR prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop can be well preserved. Although propionic acid is compatible with lactic acid bacteria, and when used together, they had minor effects on fermentation, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of TMR silage prepared with oat-common vetch intercrop.

Fatty acid, amino acid, and mineral composition of four common vetch seeds on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

The chemical composition of four common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) seeds was investigated to determine their nutrition value. The result shows that the seeds are low in lipid (1.55-2.74% of dry weight), and high in the unsaturated fatty acid (74.51-77.36% of total fatty acid). The ratio of essential amino acid to non-essential amino acid (0.62-0.69) is even higher than the amount (0.38) recommended by World Health Organization. Besides, the seeds are also found rich in Mg, Mn and Cu, but with a low ratio of Ca to P (0.24-0.73), which may increase the risk of the mineral element toxicity. The results indicate that the four common vetch seeds could be taken as an alternative food source, but the possible toxic effect should be taken into consideration.

Response to copper bromide exposure in Vicia sativa L. seeds: analysis of genotoxicity, nucleolar activity and mineral profile.

Copper bromide (CuBr2) effects on seed germination and plantlet development of Vicia sativa L. are evaluated through mitotic index, chromosome aberrations, nucleolar activity and mineral profile. CuBr2 induces a significant presence of micronuclei, sticky and c-metaphases, anaphase bridges and chromosome breaks. Increased number of nucleoli and scattering of AgNOR proteins from the nucleolus in the nuclear surface at CuBr2 1mM and in the cytoplasm at CuBr2 5mM, goes along with the decrease of root growth. In V. sativa embryo the content of many macro and micronutrients increases up to copper 1mM in agreement with reserve mobilization while at CuBr2 5mM some elements are present in lower amount. We hypothesize that inhibitory effects observed at 5mM are due either to a nutrient shortage or to a direct influence of copper on root cell division, evidenced by low mitotic index, high occurrence of chromosome aberrations and loss of material from the nucleolus.

Detection of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) in Lentil (Lens culinaris L.) using unique chemical fingerprint markers.

Detection of adulteration of split red lentil (Lens culinaris L.) seeds with low level addition of split common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is hampered by a lack of reliable detection methods. An analytical method was developed using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) based on two unique chemical markers found in common vetch: ß-cyanoalanine (BCA) and γ-glutamyl-ß-cyanoalanine (GCA). These two markers were present in samples of common vetch seed grown in Canada and Serbia. Authentic lentil samples grown in Canada, Australia, USA, Turkey, Syria, and Morocco had no detectable levels of these chemical markers. Commercial lentil samples for export from lentil processing plants in Saskatchewan, Canada, also had no detectable levels of GCA and BCA. The presence of vetch in intentionally adulterated lentil samples could be determined via chemical markers with a detection limit of 5% (w/w). The proposed method is a simple sample extraction and rapid HPLC analysis that could be widely used to detect intentional adulteration of lentils with common vetch.

Texture of cellulose microfibrils of root hair cell walls of Arabidopsis thaliana, Medicago truncatula, and Vicia sativa.

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth, and has qualities that make it suitable for biofuel. There are new tools for the visualisation of the cellulose synthase complexes in living cells, but those do not show their product, the cellulose microfibrils (CMFs). In this study we report the characteristics of cell wall textures, i.e. the architectures of the CMFs in the wall, of root hairs of Arabidopsis thaliana, Medicago truncatula and Vicia sativa and compare the different techniques we used to study them. Root hairs of these species have a random primary cell wall deposited at the root hair tip, which covers the outside of the growing and fully grown hair. The secondary wall starts between 10 (Arabidopsis) and 40 (Vicia) µm from the hair tip and the CMFs make a small angle, Z as well as S direction, with the long axis of the root hair. CMFs are 3-4 nm wide in thin sections, indicating that single cellulose synthase complexes make them. Thin sections after extraction of cell wall matrix, leaving only the CMFs, reveal the type of wall texture and the orientation and width of CMFs, but CMF density within a lamella cannot be quantified, and CMF length is always underestimated by this technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and surface preparations for transmission electron microscopy reveal the type of wall texture and the orientation of individual CMFs. Only when the orientation of CMFs in subsequent deposited lamellae is different, their density per lamella can be determined. It is impossible to measure CMF length with any of the EM techniques.

Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) germplasm: correlations of crude protein and mineral content to seed traits.

In order to increase knowledge of seed nutritive value and to demonstrate its relationship in common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) germplasm, 388 common vetch accessions were grown under field conditions in 2008-2009 growing season in Bursa province of Turkey. Seeds were analyzed for seed minerals (Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, P, S, Zn and K) and crude protein (CP) content. The accessions were grouped according to testa and cotyledon color and seed size, and the results were evaluated by analysis of variance to determine relationships between minerals and CP content, testa and cotyledon colors, and seed weight. In general, there was no significant difference between testa colors or cotyledon colors in minerals and CP content. However, seed weight was closely associated with minerals and CP contents in this study. Analysis of variance and correlation analysis showed that seed weight was closely associated with some minerals and CP content. The small seeds had significantly higher Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, S, Zn and CP contents than medium and large seeds.

Soyasapogenol B and trans-22-dehydrocam- pesterol from common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) root exudates stimulate broomrape seed germination.

BACKGROUND: Orobanche and Phelipanche species (the broomrapes) are root parasitic plants, some of which represent serious weed problems causing severe yield losses on important crops. Control strategies have largely focused on agronomic practices, resistant crop varieties and herbicides, albeit with marginal success. An alternative control method is the induction of suicidal seed germination with natural substances isolated from root exudates of host and non-host plants. RESULTS: Soyasapogenol B [olean-12-ene-3,22,24-triol(3ß,4ß,22ß)] and trans-22-dehydrocampesterol [(ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol, (3ß,22E,24S)] were isolated from Vicia sativa root exudates. They were identified by comparing their spectroscopic and optical properties with those reported in the literature. Soyasapogenol B was very specific, stimulating the germination of O. minor seeds only, whereas trans-22-dehydrocampesterol stimulated P. aegyptiaca, O. crenata, O. foetida and O. minor. CONCLUSION: Soyasapogenol B and trans-22-deydrocampesterol were isolated for the first time from Vicia sativa root exudates, and their biological activity as stimulants of Orobanche or Phelipanche sp. seed germination was reported.

Effect of silage from ryegrass intercropped with winter or common vetch for grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy systems in Mexico.

The objective was to determine the effect of including silages of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) intercropped with winter vetch (Vicia villosa) (ARG-VV) or with common vetch (Vicia sativa) (ARG-VS) compared with maize silage (MS) on milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows grazing cultivated perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures with supplemented concentrate during the dry season. Six Holstein dairy cows with a mean yield of 19.0 kg/cow/day at the beginning of the experiment were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 repeated Latin square. Treatments were: 8 h/day intensive grazing, 3.6 kg of dry matter (DM) per cow per day of concentrate plus MS, and ARG-VV or ARG-VS ad libitum at a stocking rate of 3.0 cows/ha for three experimental periods of 3 weeks each. Milk yield (MY) and milk composition, live weight and body condition score as well as silage and concentrate intakes were recorded during the third week of each experimental period, and pasture intake was estimated indirectly from utilised metabolisable energy. Economic analysis was obtained by preparing partial budgets. There were no statistical differences (P > 0.10) in MY, milk fat or protein content nor for live weight, but there was significant difference (P < 0.10) in body condition score. There were non-statistical differences in silage DM intake (P < 0.11); however, significant differences (P < 0.10) were obtained for estimated grazed herbage intake whilst no differences for total DM intake. Slightly higher economic returns (10%) were obtained with ARG-VS over MS, and this was 7% higher than ARG-VV. It is concluded that ARG-VS could be an option for complementing grazing for small-scale dairy production systems in the dry season as it is comparable to MS in animal performance and slightly better in economic terms.

The influence of plant polyphenols on lipolysis and biohydrogenation in dried forages at different phenological stages: in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: It is known that forage legumes show a higher transfer efficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to ruminant dairy products in comparison with grasses. Legumes are usually characterised by moderate levels of plant secondary metabolites, which can have an effect on lipolysis and biohydrogenation in the rumen. An in vitro study was carried out to compare two species with different plant phenol compositions, Vicia sativa (VS, common vetch, cv. Jose) and Trifolium incarnatum (TI, crimson clover, cv. Viterbo) cut at the vegetative (Veg) and reproductive (Rep) stages, on lipolysis and PUFA biohydrogenation in the rumen. RESULTS: The study showed that forage species and phenological stage affected the levels of bound phenols (BP) and tannic polyphenols (TP). VS was characterised by a higher level of TP than TI at both Veg and Rep stages, whereas BP levels were low in both forages. BP and TP had a negative effect on lipolysis and biohydrogenation, but TP showed a greater negative correlation than BP for both forages. CONCLUSION: These results showed that lipolysis and biohydrogenation of PUFA could be affected by plant phenols, particularly TP.

Antioxidative and radical scavenging effects of phenolics from Vicia sativum.

An acetone extract of Vicia sativum seeds and fractions, comprising low molecular-weight phenolics and tannins, displayed good antioxidant activity.

Natural microbial polysaccharide sulphoethyl glucan as antigenotoxic and cancer preventing agent.

Naturally occurring polysaccharides isolated from the yeasts are the substances with versatile intriguing biomodulatory activities. One of the novel derivatives prepared from the (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan isolated from the cell walls of baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is sulfoethyl glucan (SEG). Its DNA-protective, antimutagenic, anticlastogenic and cytotoxic/cytostatic enhancing effect was evaluated using five eukaryotic systems. SEG showed bioprotective effect in recombination- repair-deficient strain of alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii against methyl methanesulfonate-induced genotoxicity, antimutagenic effect against ofloxacin-induced genetic changes in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae assay and anticlastogenic activity in plants Vicia sativa and Vicia faba assays against maleic hydrazide-induced clastogenicity. In the combined application with cytostatic drug vumon, SEG exerted enhancement of the drug's cytotoxic/cytostatic effect in the cell revitalization assay using mouse leukemia cells. The study sheds light on the possible mechanisms of actions and utilization of this microbial polysaccharide derivative in the cancer prevention and therapy.

Characterization of globulins from common vetch (Vicia sativa L.).

The proteins from Vicia sativa L. (common vetch) seeds were investigated. Protein comprises approximately 11.4% of the seed fresh weight, >50.8% of which is composed by globulins and 43.6% by albumins. The globulins may be fractionated into two main components, which were named alpha-vicinin (comprising 73% of the total globulin fraction, and hence >37% of the total seed protein) and beta-vicinin. Two minor globulin components are also present, gamma-vicinin and delta-vicinin. alpha-Vicinin, the legumin-like globulin, with a sedimentation coefficient of 10.6 S, is a nonglycosylated, disulfide-bond-containing globulin, composed of a group of subunits with molecular masses ranging from 50 to 78 kDa. Upon reduction, each of these subunits releases a heavy polypeptide chain (34-66 kDa) and a light polypeptide chain (21-23 kDa). beta-Vicinin, the vicilin-like globulin, with a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 S, is a nonglycosylated globulin that contains no disulfide bonds and consists of two major polypeptides with molecular masses of 58 and 66 kDa. gamma-Vicinin is a minor, glycosylated, disulfide-bond-containing globulin. In the reduced form, it comprises six polypeptide chains with molecular masses of 12, 19, 21, 22, 23, and 31 kDa. Finally, delta-vicinin is a minor, highly glycosylated globulin that exhibits hemagglutinating activity. It is composed of a major 47 kDa polypeptide and two minor (33 and 38 kDa) polypeptides. N-terminal sequencing of the delta-vicinin 47 kDa polypeptide revealed no homology to any other known storage protein.

Vicine and convicine in common vetch (Vicia sativa) seeds enhance beta-cyanoalanine toxicity in male broiler chicks.

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding raw and water-soaked vetch seeds to male broiler chicks on performance, organ weights, and blood parameters. Intact and ground vetch seeds were soaked in water (1:5) at room temperature for 24 hours (study 1), and (1:10) at 40 degrees C for 24, 48, and 72 hours, with water change every 12 hours (study 2). In study 1, untreated vetch contained, on dry matter basis, 0.530%, 0.731%, and 0.081% total beta-cyanoalanine (BCA), vicine, and convicine, respectively. Toxins were not appreciably reduced in soaked intact and ground vetch. Diets containing untreated, soaked intact, and soaked ground vetch, each at 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%, were fed to 7-day-old male broilers until onset of neurotoxicity symptoms. Survival time was not only decreased by BCA level but also by those of vicine and convicine (p <.05). In study 2, 60% of untreated or treated vetch seeds were incorporated in chick diets. Although untreated vetch used in this study contained 32% less BCA but 8% and 81% more vicine and convicine, respectively, yet, the chicks on 60% untreated vetch showed toxicity symptoms earlier than those of study 1. Soaking ground vetch for 48 hours or more reduced BCA and totally removed vicine and convicine. Consequently, birds on 60% ground vetch soaked for 48 and 72 hours survived through the starter period and had mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and organ weights comparable to those of control at 4 days post trial. The results indicated that "high levels" of vicine or convicine or both might have shortened the birds' survival time by enhancing the neurotoxicity induced by "lower levels" of BCA.