Impact of a daily legume-based meal on blood and anthropometric parameters in a group of omnivorous adults: A pilot study.

This pilot study aimed to assess the impact of substituting a traditional lunch for a vegetarian legume-based meal on blood and anthropometric parameters in a group of omnivorous adults. A one-group comparison, quasi-experimental dietary intervention was designed. A vegetarian legume-based meal was offered for 8 consecutive weeks (weekdays) to non-vegetarian individuals (n = 26), (28 years [P25 = 20.0, P75 = 35.5]; 21.9 kg/m2 [P25 = 21.3, P75 = 24.8]). Sociodemographic data, health status and lifestyle-related information were recorded. Three-day food records were used to collect food intake at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Anthropometric parameters were recorded and fasting blood analyses were performed following standard procedures. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical comparisons. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participants showed a median intake of 79.8 g of cooked legumes per meal, meaning 13 (50.0%) subjects met the Portuguese daily legume intake recommendations during the intervention days. There were no statistically significant differences in anthropometric parameters. Transferrin concentration increased after 8 weeks (+12.5 mg/dL; p = 0.001). Total cholesterol concentration reduced after 8 weeks (-6 mg/dL; p = 0.041), as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (-7 mg/dL; p = 0.003). Triglycerides (+9 mg/dL; p = 0.046), fasting glucose (+2 mg/dL; p = 0.037) and HbA1c (+0.1 mg/dL; p = 0.010) concentration increased after the 2-month legume-based trial. Results suggest a cholesterol-lowering potential of legume-rich diets. However, unfavourable results regarding the impact on glucose metabolism-related biomarkers and triglyceride levels were observed. The study's limitations in design and sample size emphasise the importance of conducting further research with larger cohorts to attain more conclusive findings.

More than a meat- or synthetic nitrogen fertiliser-substitute: a review of legume phytochemicals as drivers of 'One Health' via their influence on the functional diversity of soil- and gut-microbes.

Legumes are essential to healthy agroecosystems, with a rich phytochemical content that impacts overall human and animal well-being and environmental sustainability. While these phytochemicals can have both positive and negative effects, legumes have traditionally been bred to produce genotypes with lower levels of certain plant phytochemicals, specifically those commonly termed as 'antifeedants' including phenolic compounds, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). However, when incorporated into a balanced diet, such legume phytochemicals can offer health benefits for both humans and animals. They can positively influence the human gut microbiome by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, contributing to gut health, and demonstrating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Beyond their nutritional value, legume phytochemicals also play a vital role in soil health. The phytochemical containing residues from their shoots and roots usually remain in-field to positively affect soil nutrient status and microbiome diversity, so enhancing soil functions and benefiting performance and yield of following crops. This review explores the role of legume phytochemicals from a 'one health' perspective, examining their on soil- and gut-microbial ecology, bridging the gap between human nutrition and agroecological science.

Metabolic Evaluation of Lupin-Enriched Yogurt by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics.

Untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics was used to evaluate compositional changes during yogurt fermentation upon lupin enrichment compared to traditional conditions. Lupin significantly changed the sample metabolic profile and its time course dynamics, seemingly delaying microbial action. The levels of organic and amino acids were significantly altered, along with those of some sugars, nucleotides, and choline compounds. Lupin seemed to favor acetate and formate synthesis, compared to that of citrate and fumarate; a higher formate levels may suggest increased levels of Streptococcus thermophilus action, compared toLactobacillus bulgaricus. Lupin-yogurt was poorer in hippurate, lactose (and hence lactate), galactose, glucose-1-phosphate, and galactose-1-phosphate, containing higher orotate levels (possibly related to increased uridine derivatives), among other differences. Trigonelline was confirmed as a lupin marker, possibly together with glutamate and histidine. Other metabolite trajectories remained unchanged upon lupin addition, unveiling unaffected underlying processes. These results demonstrate the usefulness of untargeted NMR metabolomics to understand/develop new foodstuffs and their production processes, highlighting the identity of a variety of bioactive metabolites with importance for human health.

Effect of Acute and Cumulative Stress on Gene Expression in Mammary Tissue and Their Interactions with Physiological Responses and Milk Yield in Saanen Goats.

This study addresses the hypothesis that different acute stressors can cumulatively decrease milk yield. In fact, in a time of global warming, the impact of environmental stress and farm management practices on milk production remains unclear. In this context, our objective was to investigate the effect of acute and cumulative stress on gene expression in mammary tissue and their interactions with physiological responses and milk yield in Saanen goats. Thirty lactating goats were subjected to two treatments: (1) control (CT), in which goats were maintained following a habitual routine under comfort conditions; (2) stress (ST), in which the goats were subjected to different types of environmental stress: heat stress, adrenocorticotropic hormone administration, hoof care management, and exposure to rain. These stressors were performed sequentially, with one stress per day on four consecutive lactation days, to evaluate their effect on milk quality and milk yield. Our results showed that compared to CT goats, cumulative stress increased the gene expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in mammary tissue, which are indicators of cortisol action, inflammatory response, and antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the acute challenges imposed on ST goats changed their rectal temperature and respiratory frequency and increased cortisol, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein release in plasma when compared to CT goats. Although these physiological and metabolic responses restore homeostasis, ST goats showed lower milk yield and higher somatic cell count in milk than CT goats. In conclusion, the results confirmed our initial hypothesis that different acute stressors cumulatively decrease the milk yield in Saanen goats.

Difficulties in Establishing the Adverse Effects of ß-Casomorphin-7 Released from ß-Casein Variants-A Review.

ß-Casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is a peptide released through the proteolysis of ß-casein (ß-CN), which is considered a bioactive peptide displaying evidence of promoting the binding and activation of the µ-opioid receptor located in various body parts, such as the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system and potentially the central nervous system. The possible effects of BCM-7 on health are a theme rising in popularity due to evidence found in several studies on the modulation of gastrointestinal proinflammatory responses that can trigger digestive symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort. With the advancement of studies, the hypothesis that there is a correlation of the possible effects of BCM-7 with the microbiota-gut-brain axis has been established. However, some studies have suggested the possibility that these adverse effects are restricted to a portion of the population, and the topic is controversial due to the small number of in vivo studies, which makes it difficult to obtain more conclusive results. In addition, a threshold of exposure to BCM-7 has not yet been established to clarify the potential of this peptide to trigger physiological responses at gastrointestinal and systemic levels. The proportion of the population that can be considered more susceptible to the effects of BCM-7 are evidenced in the literature review. The challenges of establishing the adverse effects of BCM-7 are discussed, including the importance of quantifying the BCM-7 release in the different ß-CN genotypes. In summary, the reviewed literature provides plausible indications of the hypothesis of a relationship between ß-CN A1/BCM-7 and adverse health effects; however, there is need for further, especially in vivo studies, to better understand and confirm the physiological effects of this peptide.

Impact of soybean-associated plant growth-promoting bacteria on plant growth modulation under alkaline soil conditions.

Conventional strategies to manage iron (Fe) deficiency still present drawbacks, and more eco-sustainable solutions are needed. Knowledge on soybean-specific diversity and functional traits of their plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) potentiates their applicability as bioinoculants to foster soybean performance under calcareous soil conditions. This work aimed to assess the efficacy of PGPB, retrieved from soybean tissues/rhizosphere, in enhancing plant growth and development as well as crop yield under alkaline soil conditions. Seventy-six bacterial strains were isolated from shoots (18%), roots (53%), and rhizosphere (29%) of soybean. Twenty-nine genera were identified, with Bacillus and Microbacterium being the most predominant. Based on distinct plant growth-promoting traits, the endophyte Bacillus licheniformis P2.3 and the rhizobacteria Bacillus aerius S2.14 were selected as bioinoculants. In vivo tests showed that soybean photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll content, total fresh weight, and Fe concentrations were not significantly affected by bioinoculation. However, inoculation with B. licheniformis P2.3 increased pod number (33%) and the expression of Fe-related genes (FRO2, IRT1, F6'H1, bHLH38, and FER4), and decreased FC-R activity (45%). Moreover, bioinoculation significantly affected Mn, Zn, and Ca accumulation in plant tissues. Soybean harbors several bacterial strains in their tissues and in the rhizosphere with capacities related to Fe nutrition and plant growth promotion. The strain B. licheniformis P2.3 showed the best potential to be incorporated in bioinoculant formulations for enhancing soybean performance under alkaline soil conditions.

Impact of a daily legume-based meal on dietary and nutritional intake in a group of omnivorous adults.

Adopting eco-friendly diets will demand the consumption of more plant-based protein food sources such as legumes. However, assessing the impact of such a dietary shift on the dietary and nutritional intake of traditionally omnivorous populations is needed. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of substituting a traditional omnivorous-based lunch for a vegetarian, legume-based meal on the daily dietary and nutritional intake in a group of omnivorous adults in the city of Porto, Portugal. Nineteen, non-vegetarian, healthy young adults consumed a vegetarian, legume-based meal from Monday to Friday, for 8 consecutive weeks. Socio-demographic data, health status, lifestyle-related information and anthropometric parameters were recorded. Three-day food records were used to collect food intake at baseline and week 8. European Food Safety Authority and World Health Organization reference values were used to assess nutritional inadequacies. Variables were described as medians (P25 and P75 ). Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical comparisons. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participants consumed 38.0 (P25 = 35.0; P75 = 40.0) meals, resulting in an intake of 84.5 g (P25 = 74.9; P75 = 98.4) of cooked legumes per meal, meaning 11 subjects (57.9%) met the Portuguese guidelines for legume consumption (≥80 g/day of legumes). The current dietary intervention did not seem to aggravate the prevalence of nutritional inadequacies for the macro- and micronutrients tested, except for the case of vitamin B12 (52.6% [95% CI: 28.9-75.6] vs. 78.9% [95% CI: 54.4-94.0]). This could be linked to the reduction of dietary sources of this vitamin which is an expected consequence of vegetarian meals. Dietary changes towards grain legume-based diets are desirable yet need to be carefully implemented to prevent exacerbating potential nutrient inadequacies, especially of vitamin B12 .

Young Tomato Plants Respond Differently under Single or Combined Mild Nitrogen and Water Deficit: An Insight into Morphophysiological Responses and Primary Metabolism.

This study aimed to understand the morphophysiological responses and primary metabolism of tomato seedlings subjected to mild levels of nitrogen and/or water deficit (50% N and/or 50% W). After 16 days of exposure, plants grown under the combined deficit showed similar behavior to the one found upon exposure to single N deficit. Both N deficit treatments resulted in a significantly lower dry weight, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and N accumulation but in a higher N use efficiency when compared to control (CTR) plants. Moreover, concerning plant metabolism, at the shoot level, these two treatments also responded in a similar way, inducing higher C/N ratio, nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, expression of RuBisCO encoding genes as well as a downregulation of GS2.1 and GS2.2 transcripts. Interestingly, plant metabolic responses at the root level did not follow the same pattern, with plants under combined deficit behaving similarly to W deficit plants, resulting in enhanced nitrate and proline concentrations, NR activity, and an upregulation of GS1 and NR genes than in CTR plants. Overall, our data suggest that the N remobilization and osmoregulation strategies play a relevant role in plant acclimation to these abiotic stresses and highlight the complexity of plant responses under a combined N+W deficit.

Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Responses of Young Tomato Plants (cv. Micro-Tom) to Single and Combined Mild Nitrogen and Water Deficit: Not the Sum of the Parts.

This study aims to perform a broad analysis of the antioxidant (AOX) responses of young tomato plants exposed to single and combined mild nitrogen (N) and water deficits through the evaluation of oxidative biomarkers, non-enzymatic and enzymatic AOX components. 'Micro-Tom' seedlings were subjected to four treatments: control (CTR; 100%N + 100%W), N deficit (N; 50%N), water deficit (W; 50%W), and combined deficits (N + W; 50%N + 50%W). An enhancement of several non-enzymatic and enzymatic components was found in plants subjected to N + W deficit, which presented higher anthocyanins accumulation (up to 103%) as well as higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) transcripts at root level and of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) transcripts at shoot level. This increase in the gene expression was also translated in augmented SOD (up to 202%), APX (up to 155%) and CAT (up to 108%) activity compared to CTR plants and the single deficits. Overall, tomato plants were able to employ defense strategies to cope with this combined deficit, as demonstrated by the higher total AOX capacity (up to 87%) compared to the single deficits, which contributed to the maintenance of their redox homeostasis, with unchanged values of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide compared with CTR plants.

Scientific and technological advances in the development of sustainable disease management tools: a case study on kiwifruit bacterial canker.

Plant disease outbreaks are increasing in a world facing climate change and globalized markets, representing a serious threat to food security. Kiwifruit Bacterial Canker (KBC), caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), was selected as a case study for being an example of a pandemic disease that severely impacted crop production, leading to huge economic losses, and for the effort that has been made to control this disease. This review provides an in-depth and critical analysis on the scientific progress made for developing alternative tools for sustainable KBC management. Their status in terms of technological maturity is discussed and a set of opportunities and threats are also presented. The gradual replacement of susceptible kiwifruit cultivars, with more tolerant ones, significantly reduced KBC incidence and was a major milestone for Psa containment - which highlights the importance of plant breeding. Nonetheless, this is a very laborious process. Moreover, the potential threat of Psa evolving to more virulent biovars, or resistant lineages to existing control methods, strengthens the need of keep on exploring effective and more environmentally friendly tools for KBC management. Currently, plant elicitors and beneficial fungi and bacteria are already being used in the field with some degree of success. Precision agriculture technologies, for improving early disease detection and preventing pathogen dispersal, are also being developed and optimized. These include hyperspectral technologies and forecast models for Psa risk assessment, with the latter being slightly more advanced in terms of technological maturity. Additionally, plant protection products based on innovative formulations with molecules with antibacterial activity against Psa (e.g., essential oils, phages and antimicrobial peptides) have been validated primarily in laboratory trials and with few compounds already reaching field application. The lessons learned with this pandemic disease, and the acquired scientific and technological knowledge, can be of importance for sustainably managing other plant diseases and handling future pandemic outbreaks.

Effect of the Interaction between Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Iron Limitation on Proteomic Profiling of Soybean.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) and iron (Fe) availability are important factors affecting plant growth that may impact the proteomic profile of crop plants. In this study, soybean plants treated under Fe-limited (0.5 mM) and Fe-sufficient (20 mM) conditions were grown at ambient (400 µmol mol-1) and eCO2 (800 µmol mol-1) in hydroponic solutions. Elevated CO2 increased biomass from 2.14 to 3.14 g plant-1 and from 1.18 to 2.91 g plant-1 under Fe-sufficient and Fe-limited conditions, respectively, but did not affect leaf photosynthesis. Sugar concentration increased from 10.92 to 26.17 µmol g FW-1 in roots of Fe-sufficient plants and from 8.75 to 19.89 µmol g FW-1 of Fe-limited plants after exposure to eCO2. In leaves, sugar concentration increased from 33.62 to 52.22 µmol g FW-1 and from 34.80 to 46.70 µmol g FW-1 in Fe-sufficient and Fe-limited conditions, respectively, under eCO2. However, Fe-limitation decreases photosynthesis and biomass. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that cell wall organization, glutathione metabolism, photosynthesis, stress-related proteins, and biosynthesis of secondary compounds changed in root tissues to cope with Fe-stress. Moreover, under eCO2, at sufficient or limited Fe supply, it was shown an increase in the abundance of proteins involved in glycolysis, starch and sucrose metabolism, biosynthesis of plant hormones gibberellins, and decreased levels of protein biosynthesis. Our results revealed that proteins and metabolic pathways related to Fe-limitation changed the effects of eCO2 and negatively impacted soybean production.

Effect of alkaline and deep eutectic solvents pretreatments on the recovery of lignin with antioxidant activity from grape stalks.

Grape stalks are lignocellulosic residues that can be valorized through the extraction of lignin - an underutilized biopolymer with high potential. Two lignin extraction methods, alkaline and deep eutectic solvents (DES), were studied, and experimental designs were carried out to obtain the best extraction conditions. The defined parameters for alkaline extraction allowed the recovery of ~48 % of lignin with low purity that was further improved with an autohydrolysis pretreatment (~79 % purity; ~32 % yield). Optimum parameters of DES method rendered high purity lignin (~90 %) without the need of a pretreatment and with a better yield (50.2 % (±2.3)) than the alkaline method. Both lignin fractions presented high antioxidant activities, being close to the antioxidant capacity of BHT for DPPH scavenging. Structural analysis proved the presence of lignin in both alkaline and DES samples with similar morphology. Overall, DES method was more efficient in the extraction of lignin from grape stalks besides its greener and sustainable nature. This work uses DES to extract lignin from this biomass while comparing it with a commonly classical method, proving that grape stalks can be used to extract lignin with a sustainable and efficient method rendering a final ingredient with value-added properties.

Evaluation of plant elicitation with methyl-jasmonate, salicylic acid and benzo (1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid-S-methyl ester for the sustainable management of the pine wilt disease.

Treatment with plant elicitors can be a promising method to induce Pinus pinaster tolerance against the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, by promoting plant antioxidant system, micronutrient accumulation and by modulating plant-associated bacterial populations. To test this hypothesis, plants were sprayed with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA) or benzo (1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid-S-methyl ester (BTH), and evaluated until 35 days after-inoculation (dai) for: i) extent of foliar symptoms; ii) nematode density inside stem tissues; iii) proxies for oxidative damage and antioxidant activity, iv) micronutrient concentration and v) bacterial diversity. Compared with non-elicited plants, plant elicitation, particularly with BTH, significantly decreased nematodes density inside stem tissues (by 0.63-fold). Concordantly, without elicitation plant mortality reached 12.5% while no mortality was observed in elicited plants. BTH-elicited plants had significantly higher concentrations of anthocyanins and carotenoids at the end of the assay than SA-elicited and MeJA-elicited plants, which possibly contributed to the lower PWN colonization and degree of foliar symptoms observed. Accordingly, MeJA and SA led to increased lipid peroxidation at 28 dai (by 2.64- and 2.52-fold, respectively) in comparison with BTH (by 1.10-fold), corroborating its higher potential in increasing plant antioxidative response during infection. Moreover, carotenoids showed a negative correlation with nematode migration, whereas polyphenols showed a positive correlation. Elicitors also induced changes in the bacterial community of infected P. pinaster plants, increasing the diversity of specific populations. Finally, elicitors induced significant changes in micronutrients accumulation in plant tissues, namely a decrease in the concentration of B, Mn and Ni in plants treated with BTH compared to those treated with the other elicitors. Altogether, results suggest that elicitation with MeJA, SA and, particularly, BTH, increases tolerance against B. xylophilus by promoting plant antioxidant system, changing the accumulation of essential micronutrients and modulating plant-associated bacterial diversity.

Systematic review on lignin valorization in the agro-food system: From sources to applications.

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable resource on earth and currently most of this biomass is considered a low-value waste. Specifically, lignin is an underrated bioresource that is mostly burned for energy production and few value-added products have been created. Since the agro-food industry produces large amounts of wastes that can be potential sources of high-quality lignin, scientific efforts should be directed to this industry. Thus, this review provides a systematic overview of the trends and evolution of research on agro-food system-derived lignin (from 2010 to 2020), including the extraction of lignin from various agro-food sources and emergent applications of lignin in the agro-food chain. Crops with the highest average production/year (n = 26) were selected as potential lignin sources. The extraction process efficiency (yield) and lignin purity were used as indicators of the raw material potential. Overall, it is notable that research interest on agro-food lignin has increased exponentially over the years, both as source (567%) and application (128%). Wheat, sugarcane, and maize are the most studied sources and are the ones that render the highest lignin yields. As for the extraction methods used, alkaline and organosolv methods are the most employed (∼50%). The main reported applications are related to lignin incorporation in polymers (∼55%) and as antioxidant (∼24%). Studies on agro-food system-derived lignin is of most importance since there are numerous possible sources that are yet to be fully valorized and many promising applications that need to be further developed.

Widening the Perspectives for Legume Consumption: The Case of Bioactive Non-nutrients.

Legume grains have provided essential nutrients in human diets for centuries, being excellent sources of proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and fibers. They also contain several non-nutrients that historically have been connotated as toxic but that in recent years have been shown to have interesting bioactive properties. The discussion on the role of bioactive non-nutrients is becoming more important due to increasing science-based evidence on their potential antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anticarcinogenic properties. At a time when legume-based products consumption is being strongly promoted by national governments and health authorities, there is a need to clearly define the recommended levels of such non-nutrients in human diets. However, there is insufficient data determining the ideal amount of non-nutrients in legume grains, which will exert the most positive health benefits. This is aligned with insufficient studies that clearly demonstrate if the positive health effects are due to the presence of specific non-nutrients or a result of a dietary balance. In fact, rather than looking directly at the individual food components, most nutritional epidemiology studies relate disease risk with the food and dietary patterns. The purpose of this perspective paper is to explore different types of non-nutrients present in legume grains, discuss the current evidence on their health benefits, and provide awareness for the need for more studies to define a recommended amount of each compound to identify the best approaches, either to enhance or reduce their levels.

Defence-related pathways, phytohormones and primary metabolism are key players in kiwifruit plant tolerance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae.

The reasons underlying the differential tolerance of Actinidia spp. to the pandemic pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) have not yet been elucidated. We hypothesized that differential plant-defence strategies linked to transcriptome regulation, phytohormones and primary metabolism might be key and that Actinidia chinensis susceptibility results from an inefficient activation of defensive mechanisms and metabolic impairments shortly following infection. Here, 48 h postinoculation bacterial density was 10-fold higher in A. chinensis var. deliciosa than in Actinidia arguta, accompanied by significant increases in glutamine, ornithine, jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) (up to 3.2-fold). Actinidia arguta showed decreased abscisic acid (ABA) (0.7-fold), no changes in primary metabolites, and 20 defence-related genes that were only differentially expressed in this species. These include GLOX1, FOX1, SN2 and RBOHA, which may contribute to its higher tolerance. Results suggest that A. chinensis' higher susceptibility to Psa is due to an inefficient activation of plant defences, with the involvement of ABA, JA and SA, leading to impairments in primary metabolism, particularly the ammonia assimilation cycle. A schematic overview on the interaction between Psa and genotypes with distinct tolerance is provided, highlighting the key transcriptomic and metabolomic aspects contributing to the different plant phenotypes after infection.

Mitigation of climate change and environmental hazards in plants: Potential role of the beneficial metalloid silicon.

In the last decades, the concentration of atmospheric CO2 and the average temperature have been increasing, and this trend is expected to become more severe in the near future. Additionally, environmental stresses including drought, salinity, UV-radiation, heavy metals, and toxic elements exposure represent a threat for ecosystems and agriculture. Climate and environmental changes negatively affect plant growth, biomass and yield production, and also enhance plant susceptibility to pests and diseases. Silicon (Si), as a beneficial element for plants, is involved in plant tolerance and/or resistance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. The beneficial role of Si has been shown in various plant species and its accumulation relies on the root's uptake capacity. However, Si uptake in plants depends on many biogeochemical factors that may be substantially altered in the future, affecting its functional role in plant protection. At present, it is not clear whether Si accumulation in plants will be positively or negatively affected by changing climate and environmental conditions. In this review, we focused on Si interaction with the most important factors of global change and environmental hazards in plants, discussing the potential role of its application as an alleviation strategy for climate and environmental hazards based on current knowledge.

The INCREASE project: Intelligent Collections of food-legume genetic resources for European agrofood systems.

Food legumes are crucial for all agriculture-related societal challenges, including climate change mitigation, agrobiodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, food security and human health. The transition to plant-based diets, largely based on food legumes, could present major opportunities for adaptation and mitigation, generating significant co-benefits for human health. The characterization, maintenance and exploitation of food-legume genetic resources, to date largely unexploited, form the core development of both sustainable agriculture and a healthy food system. INCREASE will implement, on chickpea (Cicer arietinum), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), lentil (Lens culinaris) and lupin (Lupinus albus and L. mutabilis), a new approach to conserve, manage and characterize genetic resources. Intelligent Collections, consisting of nested core collections composed of single-seed descent-purified accessions (i.e., inbred lines), will be developed, exploiting germplasm available both from genebanks and on-farm and subjected to different levels of genotypic and phenotypic characterization. Phenotyping and gene discovery activities will meet, via a participatory approach, the needs of various actors, including breeders, scientists, farmers and agri-food and non-food industries, exploiting also the power of massive metabolomics and transcriptomics and of artificial intelligence and smart tools. Moreover, INCREASE will test, with a citizen science experiment, an innovative system of conservation and use of genetic resources based on a decentralized approach for data management and dynamic conservation. By promoting the use of food legumes, improving their quality, adaptation and yield and boosting the competitiveness of the agriculture and food sector, the INCREASE strategy will have a major impact on economy and society and represents a case study of integrative and participatory approaches towards conservation and exploitation of crop genetic resources.