On-farm, toasting legume pulses in the harvested moist condition could be an alternative to regular drying, giving a dual-purpose of toasting. The objective in the current study was to investigate the effect of feeding moist-toasted fava beans (Vicia faba) in 2 forage regimens on lactational performance in dairy cows. Forty-eight Danish Holstein cows (24 primi- and 24 multiparous) were used in 12 4 × 4 Latin square designs (blocks) with 4 periods of 21 d. The 4 dietary treatments were organized in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 fava bean processing (untoasted vs. moist-toasted; 23.6% of diet DM) and 2 forage regimens (75:25 vs. 25:75 grass-clover-to-corn silage ratios in 60% diet forage DM). One batch of fava beans (dried in a continuous dryer with 80°C inlet air temperature) was subdivided into 2 of which one was rehydrated from 156 g/kg moisture content to 207 g/kg (soaking water in a vertical mixer for 30 min followed by 16-h floor storage) to simulate a typical harvest moisture content. After rehydration, fava beans were toasted (moist-toasted, flame tumble toaster; 3 min retention time and 125°C exit temperature). Subsequently, both types of fava beans were ground (3-mm screen). Cows were fed for ad libitum intake in automated feed bins, milked twice daily, and milk was sampled weekly. Data obtained in the last week of each period was averaged and used in data analysis. Dry matter intake did not differ between cows fed diets including moist-toasted fava beans and cows fed diets including untoasted fava beans (22.4 vs. 22.1 kg/d). The ECM yield was greater with moist-toasted than with untoasted fava beans (30.9 vs. 30.6 kg/d). Milk protein yield did not differ between moist-toasted or untoasted fava beans, due to lower protein content with moist-toasted fava beans (3.73 vs. 3.78%). Gross efficiency (ECM/DMI) and N efficiency (N in milk/N intake) were greater with moist-toasted compared with untoasted fava beans (1.41 vs. 1.37 kg/kg and 0.296 vs. 0.292 kg/kg, respectively). However, cows fed diets high in corn silage had greater N efficiency than those fed diets high in grass-clover silage. The lack of interaction with forage regimens for these variables indicate that the obtained effect of moist-toasting of fava beans was independent of high or low grass silage inclusion. In conclusion, when dietary MP level is limited, feeding moist-toasted compared with untoasted fava beans gave greater gross and N efficiency independent of forage regimen.
This study investigated the effects of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on the quality of red adzuki beans as well as the structural and physicochemical characteristics of starch isolated from the irradiated beans. The quality analysis of the beans indicated that EBI significantly lowered the cooking time, increased the soluble solids content, and decreased the hardness, while exerting only minimal effects on nutritional components and color. For the isolated starch, EBI did not alter the surface morphology of the starch granules, but induced changes in its molecular structure, as evidenced by starch depolymerization, decreased short- and long-range order, and reduced molecular weight. These changes consequently reduced the swelling power, pasting properties, and viscoelastic moduli (G' and G"), while enhancing the solubility and paste clarity. Correlation analysis suggested that the changes in the properties of isolated starch contributed to improving the textural and cooking properties of EBI-treated beans. This work, for the first time, established a cross-scale link between whole-bean quality and the properties of isolated starch from the macroscopic to the microscopic scale, providing theoretical support for applying EBI in legume processing.
Adequate protein intake is critical during childhood to support growth, development, and immune function. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of solid-state fermentation with Pleurotus ostreatus on protein digestibility, amino acid profile, and bioactivity (ACE and COX inhibition) in two local bean varieties. Fermentation enhanced gastric-phase protein digestibility; however, only Roget beans showed a notable increase after intestinal stage (67% in fermented vs. 57% autoclaved samples, representing a 17.5% relative increase). Additionally, bioaccessible amino acid profile improved significantly in fermented Roget beans, with increases in hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids. Correspondingly, DIAAR values for lysine, valine, and isoleucine rose, while sulfur amino acids decreased, whereas Herradura beans showed limited or negative changes. Fermentation preserved COX-2 inhibition while reducing COX-1 activity. Overall, fermented Roget beans showed enhanced digestion and functional properties, suggesting nutritional benefits for consumers of local legume-based foods, particularly in child-oriented formulations, pending in vivo validation.
The increasing frequency of castor bean or ricin-induced intoxication or terror events threatens public safety and national security, making the tracing of castor bean origins critical for law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts. Chemical attribution signatures (CAS) could address this issue by providing inherent and forensic links between ricin-containing samples and their geographical origins; however, practical implementations of this approach remain scarce. Omics data sets offer substantial potential to generate comprehensive biological insights and high-dimensional data for provenance attribution, where transcriptomics and proteomics profiling are better suited to castor beans than traditional genomics and metabolomics, regarding that castor beans exhibit low genetic diversity but high phenotypic polymorphism. In this work, toward castor bean samples from 14 provinces or autonomous regions in China and three international locations, including Ethiopia, Pakistan, and South Sudan, we proposed an integrated local-global data-mining strategy by systematically integrating RNA-seq transcriptomics and data-independent acquisition quantitative proteomics, and developed a straightforward feature-screening pipeline to prioritize 59 signature peptides as provenance-related CAS with distinct interregional and international expression patterns. A subsequent machine learning model trained on these CAS achieved 93.7% classification accuracy, identifying robust discriminative patterns among samples from different global regions, as well as fine-scale differences across altitude gradients and north-south divisions in China, in which the attribution index of altitude and latitude is reported for the first time. Finally, after validation by parallel reaction monitoring in nanoLC-HRMS/MS, we confirmed a minimum signature panel of 24 peptides as molecular CAS markers for the origin attribution of castor beans.
Identification of Rk candidate gene and diagnostic markers enabled precise introduction of the slow‑darkening (SD) allele into pink beans, producing stable SD phenotypes and expanding breeding utility across market classes. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a globally important and nutritious crop with diverse market classes. Multiple genes control the seed coat color and patterns that characterize these market classes. Therefore, understanding the genetic control of seed coat color is critical for breeding purposes, especially when making crosses among different market classes. One such gene is Rk, the "red kidney" color gene. The recessive rkp allele controls the characteristic color expression of the pink market class. Through GWAS analysis, sequencing candidate genes across multiple market classes, genetic mapping, and phylogenetic analysis, we determined the gene model PvUI111.02G213800, which encodes anthocyanidin reductase, is the most likely candidate for the Rk gene. Pink beans, along with several other market classes, suffer from postharvest seed coat darkening, a quality issue that causes significant economic losses and reduces consumer appeal and nutritional value. The recessive Psd allele present in some pinto genotypes imparts a "slow-darkening" (SD) phenotype. To introduce the Psd allele into the pink market class, crosses were made between three pink beans and the SD pinto cultivar ND Palomino. Among 2240 F2 plants screened using PACE markers targeting multiple genes (Psd, rkp, and pi) controlling pink color and slow-darkening, 32 individuals exhibited the desired alleles and SD pink genotype. The SD phenotype was verified via ultra-violet (UV) testing (λ = 254 nm), and field trials of F5 generation lines demonstrated their phenotypic stability. Parallel efforts are underway to incorporate the SD trait into light red kidney and cranberry beans, broadening its utility across market classes.
Chocolate spot, caused by the ascomycete fungus Botrytis fabae, is a devastating foliar disease and a major constraint on the quality and yield of faba beans (Vicia faba). Monoterpenes, such as carvone, cineole, and linalool, are often considered natural-identical alternatives to synthetic chemicals. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the antifungal activity of some eco-friendly control agents (carvone, cineole, and linalool) against B. fabae, the causative agent of chocolate spot disease in faba beans, through growth inhibition assays in vitro. Furthermore, the efficacy of the tested monoterpenes for reducing the severity of chocolate spot disease in faba beans was evaluated under field conditions. Moreover, these eco-friendly control agents activate plant defense enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase) as a self-defense mechanism against pathogen attacks of faba bean plants were investigated. Moreover, the impact of the tested monoterpenes on growth and yield characters of faba bean was evaluated. The results indicated a significant decrease in B. fabae growth following a treatment with the tested compounds compared to untreated controls. In field trials, treated faba bean plants exhibited a notable reduction in disease severity. Additionally, the application of monoterpenes enhanced the activity of defense enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase), which are integral to plant defense mechanisms. Treatments also resulted in significant improvement growth and yield characters of faba bean. These findings suggest that the tested monoterpenes could serve as a control strategy for managing B. fabae, offering an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional fungicides.
Kopi Luwak (civet coffee), produced from coffee beans recovered from the feces of the Asian palm civet, is among the most expensive specialty coffees worldwide for its unique sensory characteristics. In this study, a multi-omics strategy was employed to elucidate the impact of drying on the microbial community structure and metabolic profiles of Typica Kopi Luwak beans. Drying induced pronounced shifts in the microbial composition, with a significant enrichment of Sphingobacterium and depletion of Streptococcus at the genus level. Concurrently, drying resulted in substantial metabolic remodeling, characterized by increased levels of prenol lipids, fatty acyls, carboxylic acids and derivatives, steroids and steroid derivatives, and organooxygen compounds, accompanied by a marked reduction in flavonoids. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that both altered microbial taxa and metabolites were associated with lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. Correlation network analysis further revealed the associations between key microbial genera and specific classes of differential metabolites. Collectively, these findings suggest the potential role of post-excretion sun-drying in shaping the microbiome and metabolome of Typica Kopi Luwak beans, offering a scientific basis for controlled or in vitro fermentation strategies to produce coffees with reproducible quality attributes.
In the present study, cluster beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) were processed by irradiation, cooking and autoclaving followed by inoculation with food spoilage fungi (Aspergillus and Mucor species) and incubated at 28 ± 2 °C. The cooked, autoclaved, irradiated and control samples spoiled in the order 3, 3, 7 and 11 days respectively as indicated by visible fungal growth. Quantitative analysis of phytochemicals showed increased presence of saponins, flavonoids and terpenoids in the irradiated samples. Cooking showed least amounts of saponins, phenols, terpenoids and tannins. Irradiated samples showed highest antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis could identify 10 phenolic compounds. Gallocatechin increased significantly (p < 0.05) on processing while, protocatechuic acid and quercetin were absent in control and autoclaved samples respectively. GC-MS analysis showed presence of squalene in irradiated sample. Thus, irradiation showed least degradation of the phytochemicals as compared to thermal treatments and is a better method for preservation of cluster beans.
Yunnan is a major coffee region in China. This study explores mineral sources and bioavailability to identify geochemical indicators for origin traceability. We analyzed 85 soil, 52 coffee beans, and 4 bedrock samples from Pu'er and Baoshan, Yunnan. Eleven elements (Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Pb, Mo, As) were measured by coupled plasma mass spectrometry, along with soil pH and organic matter. Enrichment factors, bioconcentration factors, principal component analysis, and partial least squares regression were applied to assess elemental mobility, sources, and traceability. K, Ca, Mg, Cu, and Mo showed high bioavailability with greater uptake in Pu'er. Lead, As, Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cu accumulated more in Pu'er beans, while Cr was enriched in Baoshan. Chromium, Mo, and As derived from human activities, whereas Mg, Ca, and K from weathering rock. Elemental sources in Pu'er involved weathering, industry, and agriculture; in Baoshan, coal combustion, mining, and agriculture dominated. Three latent variables were extracted, with higher explanatory power in Pu'er (Xp = 78.07%, Yp = 38.69%) than Baoshan (Xb = 46.26%, Yb = 29.49%). The LV1 axis clearly distinguished origins, identifying Cr, Cu, Ca, and Mg as key soil indicators for coffee traceability. All toxic elements were below safety limits. Pu'er showed higher Pb and As accumulation, while Baoshan had more Zn and Mn. Natural weathering mainly contributed to Mg, Ca, and K; human activities influenced Cr, Mo, and As. Partial least squares regression effectively distinguished origins, highlighting Cr, Cu, Ca, and Mg as effective markers for distinguishing coffee origins.
Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, is a major threat to dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), causing significant yield losses worldwide. Despite considerable progress in breeding resistant varieties using traditional methods such as phenotypic selection and crossbreeding, the ongoing challenges posed by the pathogen's genetic diversity and environmental variability call for more sustainable solutions. Traditional breeding methods have made notable advancements, but with the increasing pressure of climate change and evolving disease dynamics, there is a growing need to complement these approaches with modern computational tools. The integration of genomics, phenomics, and bioinformatics has introduced new possibilities in disease resistance breeding. Techniques such as high-throughput sequencing, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and marker-assisted selection have accelerated the identification of resistance genes, while machine learning and multi-omics approaches provide a deeper understanding of host-pathogen-environment interactions. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the historical development of anthracnose resistance breeding, highlighting the role of traditional methods and the transition toward computational strategies. It emphasizes how combining both approaches can enhance the development of durable, high-yielding, anthracnose-resistant dry beans, offering more effective solutions to global production challenges.
The soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) poses a significant constraint on the production of red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Shanxi Province, China. To elucidate its epidemiological dynamics and population genetics within this cropping system, we conducted field surveys from 2020 to 2022 across 11 counties in the primary red kidney bean-producing cities of Taiyuan, Xinzhou, and Lvliang. Our results revealed that H. glycines was detected in all surveyed counties, with cysts identified in 98.8% of the 164 field samples collected. Population densities ranged from 74.6 cysts per 100 g of soil in Kelan County (an epidemic hotspot) to 8.0 cysts per 100 g of soil in Yuanping County (baseline levels). Analysis of ITS rRNA gene sequences indicated that genetic variation predominantly occurred within populations (Fst = 0.12499; Nm = 1.7502), whereas significant genetic divergence was associated with different host plants (Fst = 0.25217; Nm = 0.7414). Phylogenetic and haplotype analyses further indicated that populations infecting red kidney beans formed a distinct cluster separate from those associated with other hosts. These findings highlight host adaptation as a key evolutionary driver and provide a critical foundation for targeted management strategies against H. glycines in red kidney bean production systems.
Common bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabales: Fabaceae) is a major source of dietary protein in Latin America. However, its productivity and postharvest quality are often limited by abiotic stresses and biotic pressures, particularly infestations by the bruchid weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus Boh. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). This study investigates the effects of foliar applications of salicylic acid (SA) and chitosan (Ch) during the pod formation stage on bean resistance to storage damage caused by Z. subfasciatus, as well as their influence on yield, bromatological composition, and secondary metabolite content. The application of SA (1.0 mM) and Ch (1.0 and 5.0 μM) significantly enhanced the phenolic compounds of common bean seeds, increasing total flavonoids to up to 5 mg catechin equivalents/g and bound phenolic compounds to up to 40 mg gallic acid equivalents/g. Notable fold changes were observed in key compounds: gallic acid increased by 4.88- and 4.62-fold, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid by 4.62- and 5.22-fold, and quercetin by 14- and 12-fold under 1.0 mM SA and 5.0 μM Ch treatments, respectively. Ch increased insect mortality by 23.5%. Additionally, the 1.0 mM SA and 5.0 μM Ch treatments reduced seed weight loss by 52% and 56%, decreased seed damage by 23% and 43%, and lowered insect emergence by 68% and 64%, respectively, in response to Zabrotes subfasciatus infestation. Importantly, these treatments did not affect the proximate composition of the beans, thereby preserving their nutritional quality. Our results demonstrate that eliciting common bean plants with 1 mM SA and 5.0 μM Ch increases flavonoid and bound phenolic content, while significantly reducing Z. subfasciatus emergence, oviposition, and seed damage. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
Blanching is a critical step in the industrial production of frozen vegetables, primarily intended to inactivate enzymes and preserve quality during storage. Residual enzyme activity can cause undesirable changes in texture, flavor, and appearance. However, excessive blanching may also impair product quality. Therefore, understanding enzyme inactivation and its relation to quality deterioration under specific blanching conditions is essential. This study developed models for the inactivation of selected enzymes during blanching of green beans prior to freezing. Additionally, if combined a heat-transfer the model can link the enzyme activity to texture development. Model validation was fitted using literature data and validated by new blanching experiments, measuring the activities of pectin methylesterase (PME), lipoxygenase (LOX), and peroxidase (POD). Furthermore, it is shown that POD inactivation functions as a practical time-temperature integrator for blanching intensity, but LOX is even a more sensitive indicator of overall quality. Nevertheless, the equivalent-blanching-time correlated to POD activity, texture loss, and leaching metrics, suggesting it is a practical tool for blanching optimization.
This study tracks how carbohydrate polymers evolve along the coffee process chain from green coffee beans to roasted coffee and spent coffee grounds (SCG), with a focus on how process history shapes the mannan-rich residue that remains after brewing. Complementary analyses by acid methanolysis, total hydrolysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and solution-state and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to distinguish losses of labile carbohydrates from structural reorganization within the residual polymer matrix. Roasting and brewing progressively depleted sucrose and other accessible low-molecular-weight or weakly ordered carbohydrate fractions, whereas mannan remained the dominant carbohydrate polymer. Total hydrolysis showed that SCG contained approximately 51% mannan and 17% cellulose. At the same time, XRD, TGA, and solid-state 13C NMR indicated increasing structural order and higher thermal resistance in the spent residue, consistent with selective retention of recalcitrant mannan-rich domains and partial reorganization of cellulose and mannan. These results show that SCGs should not be viewed as a generic cellulose-rich feedstock. Instead, their process-dependent, mannan-dominant polymer structure should guide valorization strategies in food, fiber, and composite applications.
Chemical pesticides are indispensable for protecting crops from pests and supporting a stable food supply; however, their environmental impacts have raised growing concerns. This has driven efforts to develop alternative, lower-impact pesticides and technologies for sustainable agriculture. Vinegar, a natural and eco-friendly option, has been used to protect plants from pests and diseases. Here, we investigated the effects of acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, on host selection by spider mites using a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)-two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) system. The results indicated that spider mites avoided acetic acid-treated plants, with plant volatiles influencing their preference. Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis revealed that acetic acid treatment altered VOC composition. Although changes in the levels of compounds such as (E)-2-hexenal and 1-octen-3-one contributed to this shift, individual testing showed that unrealistically high concentrations were required to repel spider mites. This suggests that the effect of acetic acid treatment is not primarily due to the induction of specific VOCs, but rather to an overall alteration of VOC composition. These findings highlight the potential of vinegar as an eco-friendly pest management strategy, although further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term efficacy and impact on crop protection under field conditions.
Green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a vegetable species characterized by its short postharvest storage life. This study investigated the effects of different doses of salicylic acid (SA; 1 and 3 mM), passive modified atmosphere packaging (passive MAP), and the combined applications of SA and passive MAP (hereafter SA + MAP) on postharvest physiological and biochemical changes in the 'Gina' and 'Gevaş' bean cultivars. Pods were stored at 7ºC and 80 ± 5% relative humidity, and changes in respiration rate, external ethylene production, headspace gas composition (O2 and CO2), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and APX), MDA content, and organic acids (oxalic, citric, malic, succinic, fumaric, and tartaric acids) were examined. The study revealed significant physiological and biochemical differences between the 'Gina' and 'Gevaş' cultivars. In 'Gina', 1 mM SA + MAP was the most effective treatment for suppressing respiration, reducing it by 49% relative to the control, while external ethylene production under this treatment decreased by 30%. In 'Gevaş', 3 mM SA + MAP was the most effective treatment, reducing respiration and external ethylene production by 64% and 75%, respectively, compared with the control. Under these most effective treatment conditions, 'Gina' showed enhanced acid accumulation, with significantly higher oxalic (149%), succinic (55%), citric (40%), and fumaric acid levels (21%) than the control. Conversely, 'Gevaş' exhibited more pronounced changes in organic acid profiles, with greater depletion of fumaric (73%), succinic (79%), and tartaric acids (62%), while oxalic (97%) and malic acid levels (5%) remained above the control, and citric acid was maintained at a level comparable to the control. Furthermore, enhanced antioxidant defense effectively suppressed lipid peroxidation, reducing MDA levels by 41.8% and 69.4% relative to the control, respectively. Collectively, these findings indicate that the combined application of SA and passive MAP is an effective cultivar-specific strategy for maintaining postharvest quality during 25 days of storage in green beans.
Soil salinization constrains faba bean (Vicia faba L.) production across North Africa and the Near East. Three Egyptian cultivars, Nubaria 1, Giza 716, and Sakha 5, were subjected to 0, 150, and 200 mM NaCl under controlled greenhouse conditions. Twenty morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits were quantified, along with quantitative RT-PCR profiling of 11 salt-responsive genes. Two-way ANOVA detected significant effects of cultivar, NaCl treatment, and their interaction for a subset of traits, including root length, leaf K⁺ concentration, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂, and three epicuticular wax fractions, indicating that these traits responded differently to salinity across genotypes. For a separate subset branch number, root dry weight, root-to-shoot ratio, and leaf nitrogen, only the cultivar term was significant, with no detectable effect of treatment or interaction. Nubaria 1 showed the smallest reductions in shoot dry weight (14% at 200 mM NaCl), maintained leaf K⁺ concentration across all salinity levels (13.3-13.6 g kg⁻¹), and retained the highest pod number at 200 mM NaCl (1.78 pods per plant). It also showed the lowest fold induction across all 11 genes at both stress levels. Sakha 5 showed the largest increase in root length under stress, from 3,577 cm in the control to 8,664 cm at 200 mM NaCl (+ 142%), the highest fold-induction across all gene categories, and produced zero pods at 200 mM NaCl in all replicates. Giza 716 had the highest net photosynthetic rate under control conditions (10.33 µmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹) and was intermediate for most traits across treatment levels. In all three cultivars, net photosynthesis declined, and intercellular CO₂ rose simultaneously with increasing NaCl, from 327 to 364 µmol mol⁻¹ under control to 378-413 µmol mol⁻¹ at 200 mM NaCl. Total epicuticular wax reached its maximum at 150 mM NaCl in all cultivars and declined at 200 mM NaCl in Sakha 5 and Giza 716, despite continued CER1 induction in Sakha 5. Principal component analysis explained 70.7% of total variance across two components (PC1: 39.5%; PC2: 31.2%), with cultivar samples remaining separated along PC1 across all treatment levels. Leaf K⁺ concentration and net photosynthesis under stress showed the most consistent differences among cultivars and are identified as practical traits for early-stage phenotyping in salt-tolerance screening programs.
Determination of complex pesticide residues in food matrices poses a considerable analytical challenge, primarily because the analytes exhibit diverse physicochemical properties. Monitoring pesticides across a wide range is essential to meet all regulatory requirements and safeguard consumer health. One of the most promising analytical approaches is the hydrolysis of compounds, particularly acidic hydrolysis, which enables the identification of a broad range of substances that pose significant analytical challenges. In addition, pesticide residues may interact with food matrix components, leading to the formation of conjugated forms such as ester- or glycoside-bound compounds. Therefore, the development of appropriate analytical strategies, including hydrolytic steps, is essential to release these bound residues and enable the determination of complex residue definitions comprising multiple related compounds. Furthermore, this study compares different hydrolysis strategies, including enzymatic, acidic, and alkaline hydrolysis, in order to assess their suitability for the determination of complex pesticide residue definitions using a QuEChERS-based (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) extraction approach. The given methodology meets all criteria listed in the Document SANTE 11312/2021 v2026. The procedure allows for good measurement precision relative standard deviation (RSD < 20%), and recovery in the scope ranging from 55.6% to 107.8% acidic hydrolysis and 51.7% to 100.8% for alkaline hydrolysis and 35.1-108.9% for enzymatic hydrolysis depending on the experimental variant, and limit of quantification (LOQ) as low as 10 to 100 µg/kg for the determination of ten complex definitions of pesticides with the use of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analytical methods.
Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) is a phytozoophagous crop pest. While the effects of plant-based diets on its development and reproduction have been extensively studied, the combined effects of plant- and prey-based diets on these traits remain poorly understood. This study systematically evaluated the effects of plant-only, prey-only, and mixed plant-prey diets on A. lucorum nymphal survival and development, as well as adult longevity and fecundity, under controlled laboratory conditions. The results demonstrate that diet composition significantly affected nymphal survival and developmental progression. Nymphs fed exclusively on prey (Aphis gossypii Glover or Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) nymphs) failed to complete juvenile development. Although a diet of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) eggs alone enabled some individuals to reach adulthood, survival rates were significantly lower than those in mixed-diet treatments. Mixed feeding markedly improved nymphal survival, with the highest rates observed in groups fed green beans + H. armigera eggs and cotton leaves + B. tabaci nymph combinations (both 64.45%). The developmental duration was also influenced. Mixed diets, particularly green beans + H. armigera eggs, significantly shortened each instar and the total developmental time (11.04 ± 0.17 d), whereas a diet of cotton leaves alone prolonged development (19.45 ± 0.24 d). Adult longevity and reproductive output were likewise diet-dependent. The longest lifespans were recorded in adults fed green beans alone or green beans + H. armigera eggs, while the shortest lifespan was observed for those fed only cotton leaves. Successful oviposition was only achieved following four dietary treatments: green beans alone, green beans + H. armigera eggs, H. armigera eggs alone, and cotton leaves + H. armigera eggs. Among these, the green bean + H. armigera egg diet yielded the best reproductive performance, featuring the shortest pre-oviposition period (5.82 ± 0.60 d), the longest oviposition period (19.41 ± 1.68 d), and the highest mean fecundity per female (238.35 ± 25.51 eggs). This underscores the reproductive advantage of a mixed plant-prey diet. This study clarifies how dietary conditions shape the survival, development, and reproduction of A. lucorum, highlighting its strong reliance on nutritional quality for key life-history traits. These findings offer valuable insights into the ecological adaptations underlying the feeding behavior of this insect.
In this study, mung beans were processed using four distinct thermal treatments: roasting, heat moisture treatment (HMT), microwave treatment (MW), and stir-frying treatment. The effects of these thermally treated mung beans on the quality of mung bean-oat dried noodles were investigated by evaluating their cooking quality, textural properties, and in vitro digestive characteristics. All four heat treatments improved the quality of mung bean-oat dried noodles to varying degrees. Among these, noodles prepared from hydrothermally treated (HMT) mung beans exhibited the best overall performance. Specifically, their eGI decreased from 60.75 in the control group to 54.98, together with the optimal thermal behavior, the strongest intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, and a more ordered molecular arrangement of starch-protein complexes. However, hydrothermal treatment also resulted in an increased breakage rate of the noodles. In addition, the noodles prepared by microwave treatment (MW) exhibited excellent overall quality, with the breakage rate reduced from 2.22% in the control group to 0.00%, and had the most desirable textural properties among all the treatments. Thermal processing of mung beans is an effective approach to enhance the quality of mung bean-oat dried noodles. Among the four tested treatments, HMT and MW are the most promising options: HMT demonstrates advantages in optimizing digestion resistance and the molecular structure of noodles, while MW excels in reducing the noodle breakage rate and improving textural characteristics.