The role of amino acids in improvement in salt tolerance of crop plants

The present work has been performed to study the growth and metabolic activities of maize and broad bean plants which are shown to have a degree of sensitivity to salinity and to determine the role of amino acids proline or phenylalanine in increasing the salt tolerance of theses plants. Dry mass, water content, leaf area and photosynthetic pigment of maize and broad bean plants decreased with increasing salinity. These changes were accompanied with a drop in the contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins and amino acids. This was accompanied by a marked increase in the proline content. When maize and broad bean plants sprayed with proline or phenylalanine the opposite effect was occurred, saccharides as well as proteins progressively increased at all sanitization levels and proline concentration significantly declined. Salinity significantly increased the sodium content in both shoots and roots of maize and broad bean plants, while a decline in the accumulation of K+, Ca++, Mg++ and P was observed. Amino acids treatments markedlyaltered the selectivity of Na+, K+, Ca++ and P in both maize and broad bean plants. Spraying with any of either proline orphenylalanine restricted Na+ uptake and enhanced the uptake of K+, K+/Na+ ratio, Ca++ and P selectivity in maize and broad bean plants

Identifikasi Molekuler Broad Bean Wilt Virus 2 (Bbwv2) Dan Cymbidium Mosaic Virus (Cymmv) Asal Tanaman Nilam (Pogostemon Cablin Benth.)

Molecular identification Broad Bean Wilt Virus 2 (BBWV2) and Cymbidium Mosaic Virus (CymMV) from patchouli plant (Pogostemon cablin Benth.). Several viruses have been reported to be associated with mosaic disease on patchouli plant in Indonesia. This study aims to identify the two viruses in patchouli cultivation in West Java by studying the molecular characterization. Mosaic symptomatic leaf samples taken from patchouli cultivation in Manoko (Bandung Barat District, West Java Province). RNA extraction was performed using Xprep Plant RNA mini kit. RNA amplification with RT-PCR technique using primers for the cp gene region of BBWV2 and CymMV. The PCR product was sent to PT. Science Genetics Indonesia to do sequencing, then analyzed nucleotide sequences. Results of RT-PCR were performed successfully obtained DNA bands with size accordance with the predictions of the primer design for BBWV2 and CymMV cp region. Further, based on nucleotide and amino acid sequence analyses, the two virus isolates were confirmed as BBWV2 and CymMV respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that BBWV2 Manoko clustered with BBWV2 from Singapore (original host of Brazilian red-cloak), China (pepper) and South Korea (Chili). Whereas, CymMV Manoko become one cluster with CymMV from India (Phaius sp.), Indonesia (Dendrobium), China (vanilla), Thailand (Oncidium), Hawai (Dendrobium) and South Korea Cymbidium)

Markers linked to the bc-3 gene conditioning resistance to bean common mosaic potyviruses in common bean

Necrotic strains of bean common mosaic potyviruses are becoming increasingly problematic in bean growing areas of Africa and Europe. Pyramiding epistatic resistance genes provides the most effective long-term strategy for disease control against all known strains of the virus. Indirect selection using tightly linked markers should facilitate the breeding of desired epistatic resistance gene combinations. In common bean, the most effective strategy for broad spectrum control of the bean common mosaic potyviruses is to combine I and bc-3 genes. We describe the use of near-isogenic lines and segregating populations from different gene pools combined with bulked segregant analysis to identify markers tightly linked with the recessive bc-3 gene that conditions resistance to all strains of bean common mosaic necrosis virus. We identified a RAPD marker, OG6595, linked at 3.7 cM from the bc-3, and the marker was used to confirm the location of bc-3 gene on bean linkage group B6. A codominant AFLP marker, EACAMCGG-169/172was identified and linked at 3.5 cM from the bc-3 and the AFLP and OG6595 markers flanked the bc-3 gene. The AFLP marker was converted to the STS marker SEACAMCGG-134/137 which showed co-segregation with the original AFLP marker. The 134 bp fragment associated with resistance was linked with the bc-3 gene present in a diverse group of bean genotypes except in two kidney bean lines. The OG6595 marker mapped on B6 supported independence of bc-3 from the I gene located on B2, which provides the opportunity to readily combine both genes in a single bean cultivar for broad spectrum resistance to bean common mosaic potyviruses

Strohmulch gegen Blattläuse im Gemüsebau

One way to prevent the colonisation of crops by insect pests is to disrupt their host finding behaviour. As immigrating aphids alight on potential host plants using optical stimuli, this process can be manipulated by altering the contrast between plant and background. This study aims to test the aphid repelling properties of straw mulch in vegetables. We applied straw to broccoli, head lettuce, bush bean, vegetable broad bean and carrot. The trials were conducted in 2002 and 2003 at several locations in the area of Brunswick, North Germany. Numbers of aphids were insignificant in carrots but noticeably reduced in mulched broccoli, bush bean and broad bean (Brevicoryne brassicae and Aphis fabae respectively). However, this result was significant only in one of two growing locations. We could not observe any reduction of aphid numbers in mulched lettuce. This finding might relate to lettuce leaf colour. Natural antagonists of aphids as well as other vegetable pests such as lepidoptera and root flies were not affected by straw mulch. The influence of soil type, number of immigrating aphids and cropping environment on the effectiveness of straw mulch warrants further research

L'Antracnosi de la fava "(Vicia faba)"

Anthracnose is described as a new broad bean disease in Catalonia and Spain; techniques have been found for the multiplication and inoculation of the fungus Ascochyta pisi f. fabae, with the object of making a preliminary selection of the commercial broad bean varieties which are most appropriate to select the strains anthracnose-resistant. During these preliminary tests the conclusion was reached that the optimum density of the inoculum is from 5.000 to 6.000 cel/ml, and that the most interesting strains for the selection of the varieties most resistent to disease are the following: A-26, A-25, M-17, M-19, Italian and Dutch

Possible effects of climate change on the early development of pea, broad bean, maize and sunflower in Mediterranean areas.

In Mediterranean-type climates crop yield depends strongly on the early development of individual plants. Extreme variations of soil temperature close to the surface of bare soils and fast changes of soil water content due to irregular rainfall and high evaporative demand reduce the success of germination, emergence and early leaf production, reducing crop productivity. According to IPCC Fourth Assesment report, climate change in Southern Europe “is projected to worsen hygrometric and thermal conditions (high temperature and drought) and to reduce water availability” and, consequently, to decrease general crop productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermal conditions in the top soil layer under different climate change scenarios, and their effects on the early development of some representative crops of Mediterranean agriculture (pea, broad bean, maize and sunflower). For this purpose, soil temperatures near the surface of a Luvisol and a Vertisol during the usual sowing season of winter (October) and summer crops (April) were compared to those recorded in the air above ground, to forecast future values. The impact of simulations on the speed, size and dispersion of germination, emergence and early leaf production was estimated using values of bioclimatic parameters of the crops (cardinal temperatures and thermal times for different phases of establishment) found in the literature. In both seasons, monthly mean temperatures at soil top layer were significantly greater (*P<0.05) than those found in the air above ground. However, the relationships between air and top soil temperatures were different in both soils and in both seasons. Summer crops seem to be less affected by an increase in temperature than winter crops. Otherwise, the former seem to be more affected by a decrease in soil water availability than the later. In addition, final emergence, speed of emergence and leaf production of the different species will be more affected by global warming than the dispersion around the most likely thermal times. The magnitude of these effects depends also on the magnitude of warming

Magnetic flux pinning in superconductors with hyperbolic-tesselation arrays of pinning sites

We study magnetic flux interacting with arrays of pinning sites (APS) placed on vertices of hyperbolic tesselations (HT). We show that, due to the gradient in the density of pinning sites, HT APS are capable of trapping vortices for a broad range of applied magnetic fluxes. Thus, the penetration of magnetic field in HT APS is essentially different from the usual scenario predicted by the Bean model. We demonstrate that, due to the enhanced asymmetry of the surface barrier for vortex entry and exit, this HT APS could be used as a "capacitor" to store magnetic flux.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Eliminating vicine and convicine, the main anti-nutritional factors restricting faba bean usage

Background Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seeds are an excellent source of plant-based protein. In spite of the vast nutritional and environmental benefits provided by faba bean cultivation, its use as a food crop has been restricted, primarily due to the presence of the pyrimidine glycosides vicine and convicine (v-c). Ingestion of v-c can cause favism in individuals with a genetically inherited deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). In monogastric animals, v-c can cause decreased feeding efficiency. The elimination of these glucosides is a goal of most faba bean breeding programs worldwide. Scope and approach Our review focuses on the current genetic, molecular and biochemical knowledge surrounding the accumulation of v-c in faba beans. The gap between the current knowledge and what remains unknown is discussed. This review also explores historical and obscure information on v-c in faba bean. Key findings and conclusions A low-v-c faba bean line was identified in the 1980s and this trait has been introduced into several modern cultivars. It has been shown that low-v-c faba beans are safe for G6PD-deficient individuals. A robust molecular marker is now available for marker-assisted breeding to reduce levels of v-c. The biosynthetic pathway of v-c is not yet understood and is currently under investigation. An international coordinated effort, led by the authors of this paper, is making progress towards full elucidation of the pathway. Further efforts in this direction could lead to lower levels of these compounds than the current low v-c genotypes offer, perhaps even complete elimination

Environment, Culture and Diffusion : The Broad Bean in Québec

La fève des marais ou gourgane (Vicia faba), une plante cultivée depuis la Haute Antiquité en Europe, ht partie de l'inventaire agricole transporté en Amérique du Nord tôt au XVIIe siècle. Ce légume n'y a pas généralement réussi, faute de climat convenable et d'un intérêt suffisant. À titre d'exception, la gourgane s'est intégrée dans la tradition potagère et le régime alimentaire de la frange périphérique au Québec, en particulier celle de la région du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean. La diffusion de la gourgane n'y signifie pourtant pas une persistance archaïque des variétés et usages français. Si le transfert intercontinental des plantes cultivées dépend d'une adaptation écologique, son approbation dans un système agraire ne sera assurée que par un mélange des facteurs économiques et culturels.An ancient Old World domesticate, broad bean [Vicia faba) was carried from Europe to North America early in the seventeenth century. Competition and unfavorable growing conditions marginalized it over most of the United States and Canada. The major exception was the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region where gourgane acquired a horticultural and culinary role. However, its cultivation there is not an archaic survival of old French varieties and usages. This study poses larger questions about the interplay of agro-ecological fit and cultural factors in the intercontinental transfer of crops