Constraints and Prospects of Improving Cowpea Productivity to Ensure Food, Nutritional Security and Environmental Sustainability

Improving soybean drought tolerance via silicon-induced changes in growth, physiological, biochemical, and root characteristics

Drought-induced osmotic stress is a significant constraint to soybean growth and yield, necessitating the development of effective mitigation strategies. Silicon acts as an important strategy to mitigate the negative stress effects of drought stress. The study was aimed to evaluate the potential of soil-applied silicon in alleviating drought stress in soybean. Two field capacities were tested: control (85% FC) and drought (50% FC), with four silicon application rates (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg ha-1) applied at sowing. Drought stress significantly affected the morphological parameters in soybean as plant height, leaf area, and water potential were reduced by 25%, 20%, and 36%, respectively, while root length increased as compared to control-85% FC. However, drought stress reduced root density, surface area, and biomass as compared to control-85% FC. Additionally, drought reduced photosynthetic rates, chlorophyll a and b levels, and stomatal conductance, while increasing malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. The natural plant defense system was upregulated, with increased activity of phenolics, soluble proteins, and antioxidant enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase. However, silicon applications, especially at 200 kg ha-1, significantly alleviated the negative effects of drought stress by improving morphophysiological and biochemical traits in soybeans. Compared to the control, Si200 increased plant height, root length, photosynthetic rate, and water potential by 22%, 39%, 23%, and 17%, respectively, as compared to control. Furthermore, silicon reduced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels by 21% and 10%, enhancing plant resilience. Silicon supplementation also boosted biochemical attributes, with total soluble proteins, phenolics, and antioxidant enzyme activities increasing by 30%, 55%, 19%, 24%, and 31%, respectively, under drought conditions. In crux, silicon at 200 kg ha-1 effectively mitigated the effects of drought stress in soybean, becoming a more sustainable approach to sustain crop yield and food security.

Foliar Silicon Alleviates Water Deficit in Cowpea by Enhancing Nutrient Uptake, Proline Accumulation, and Antioxidant Activity

Silicon has emerged as a beneficial element in mitigating water deficit in various crops, although the underlying mechanisms still require further investigation. This study evaluated the foliar content of nutrients (N, P, K, and Ca) and proline, antioxidant activity, growth, water use efficiency, and yield of cowpea cultivars subjected to two irrigation depths (50% and 100% of crop evapotranspiration) and a foliar application of silicon (orthosilicic acid). A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot scheme using the randomized block design with four replications in a semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. Silicon supplementation increased the foliar contents of N, P, and Ca; stimulated proline synthesis; and enhanced the activity of the SOD, CAT, and APX enzymes. These changes promoted growth, improved water use efficiency, and increased crop yield. The results indicate that foliar silicon application mitigates the effects of water deficit in cowpea plants while enhancing crop performance under full irrigation (100% of crop evapotranspiration), leading to higher yields even under favorable water conditions.

Genotype x environment interaction effect on grain yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in Deciduous forest and Sudan savanna ecologies of Ghana

Cowpea is deemed as a food security crop due to its ability to produce significant yields under conditions where other staples fail. Its resilience in harsh environments; such as drought, heat and marginal soils; along with its nitrogen-fixing capabilities and suitability as livestock feed make cowpea a preferred choice in many farming systems across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite its importance, Cowpea yields in farmers' fields remain suboptimal, primarily due to biotic and abiotic factors and the use of either unimproved varieties or improved varieties that are not well-suited to local conditions. Multi environment testing of genotypes is essential for recommending varieties suited for either specific or for wide cultivation. This study aimed, to identify and recommend cowpea breeding lines for wide or specific cultivation in the Sudan Savanna and Deciduous Forest zones of Ghana. The research utilized twenty early-maturing advance cowpea breeding lines and three check varieties (released varieties). The experiment was conducted in two locations: Bunso in the Deciduous Forest zone and Manga in the Sudan Savanna zone over 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 cropping seasons. Combined analysis of variance revealed a significant genotype-environment interaction (GEI) which accounted for 35.12% of the variation in yield. The environments were classified into three mega environments, with Bunso_2021 identified as the near-ideal environment where the genotypes exhibited their maximum genetic potentials. In terms of adaption, genotype UG_04 demonstrated broad adaption, showing high yield and stability across all test environments. Genotypes UG_01 and UG_02 performed particularly well in Bunso_2021 and Bunso_2022, while UG_04 and UG_14 excelled in Manga_2021. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting cowpea varieties that can enhance productivity and stability in diverse agro-ecological zones.

Cowpea genetic diversity, population structure and genome-wide association studies in Malawi: insights for breeding programs

Introduction

This study focuses on cowpea, a vital crop for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Malawi. The research aimed to understand the genetic diversity and population structure of cowpea and to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify marker-trait associations (MTAs) for yield and related traits. These insights are intended to support varietal development and address agricultural challenges in Malawi.

Methods

A total of 306 cowpea genotypes were characterized using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and morphological traits. The study assessed the effects of genotype, location, and their interactions on morphological traits. The Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (FarmCPU) algorithm was used to identify significant MTAs.

Results

The morphological traits showed significant genotype, location, and interaction effects. Genotypes MWcp24, MWcp47, MWcp2232, and TVu-3524 yielded the highest values. Grain yield was positively correlated with peduncle length, seeds per pod, and pods per plant. Three distinct clusters were identified based on morphological traits. Genetic diversity analysis revealed an average minor allele frequency of 0.31, observed heterozygosity of 0.06, and gene diversity of 0.33. The average inbreeding coefficient was 0.82, indicating a high level of inbreeding. Most of the genetic variation (73.1%) was found among genotypes within populations. Nine groups and ancestral populations were identified, which did not entirely overlap with geographic origins. Sixteen significant MTAs were linked to six morphological traits.

Discussion

The validation of these identified MTAs, along with the observed genetic diversity, offers valuable opportunities for cowpea improvement through marker-assisted selection, to addresses the challenges faced by Malawian farmers. The identification of thirty cowpea lines as key founder lines for breeding programs in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania is a significant outcome. These efforts aim to develop more productive cowpea lines for the region, enhancing food security and agricultural sustainability.

Time of Application of Desiccant Herbicides Affects Photosynthetic Pigments, Physiological Indicators, and the Quality of Cowpea Seeds

Chemical desiccation is widely used in agriculture to anticipate harvest and mitigate the effects of adverse environmental conditions. It is applied to both grains and seeds. Although this practice is widely used, there are still significant gaps in understanding the effects of different herbicide application times on seed quality and plant physiological responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different herbicide application times on cowpea, focusing on seed quality, physiological responses, and biochemical composition, including chlorophylls, carotenoids, sugars, and proline, under nocturnal desiccation. In the first experiment, eight herbicides and two mixtures were applied at night: diquat, flumioxazin, diquat + flumioxazin, glufosinate ammonium, saflufenacil, carfentrazone, diquat + carfentrazone, atrazine, and glyphosate. All of the tested herbicides caused a reduction in normal seedling formation, with the diquat + carfentrazone combination resulting in 100% abnormal seedlings. A significant decrease in chlorophyll levels (chlorophyll a: 63.5%, chlorophyll b: 50.2%) was observed using diquat, which indicates damage to photosynthetic processes, while the carotenoid content increased. Total soluble sugars and proline were also negatively impacted, reflecting physiological stress and metabolic changes in seedlings. In the second experiment, three application times were tested with diquat, diquat + flumioxazin, and diquat + carfentrazone. Nocturnal application showed the most significant reduction in chlorophyll levels and increased carotenoid levels. Application at noon and late afternoon also significantly changed the soluble sugar and proline levels. These results indicate that the herbicide application time directly influences the seeds' physiological quality.

Salicylic acid improves cowpea productivity under water restriction in the field by modulating metabolism

Introduction

Salicylic acid has shown promise in alleviating water stress in cultivated plants. However, there is a lack of studies confirming its effectiveness in cowpea plants grown in field conditions. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the use of salicylic acid as a water stress mitigator in cowpea cultivars under different irrigation depths in field conditions.

Methods

Four cowpea cultivars (BRS Novaera, BRS Tapaihum, BRS Pujante, and BRS Pajeú) were subjected to different treatments: control (W100: 100% replacement of crop evapotranspiration - ETc), W50 (50% of ETc), W50+SA2 (50% of ETc + 276 mg L-1 of SA), and W50+SA4 (50% of ETc + 552 mg L-1 of SA). The treatments were combined in a 4×4 factorial scheme with three replications, arranged in a randomized block design.

Results

Water restriction had a negative impact on the water status, growth, gas exchange, and production of the cultivars while also leading to changes in the antioxidant metabolism and osmolyte concentration. The application of SA enhanced antioxidant activity and the synthesis of osmotic adjusters under stress conditions. The most effective concentration was 276 mg L-1 in stage R2 and 552 mg L-1 in stage V7, respectively. The BRS Pujante cultivar showed increased productivity under water restriction with SA application, while the BRS Tapaihum was the most tolerant among the cultivars studied.

Discussion

In summary, our findings underscore the importance of using SA to mitigate the effects of water restriction on cowpea cultivation. These discoveries are crucial for the sustainability of cowpea production in regions susceptible to drought, which can contribute to food security. We further add that the adoption of new agricultural practices can enhance the resilience and productivity of cowpea as an essential and sustainable food source for vulnerable populations in various parts of the world.

The Kirkhouse Trust: Successes and Challenges in Twenty Years of Supporting Independent, Contemporary Grain Legume Breeding Projects in India and African Countries

This manuscript reviews two decades of projects funded by the Kirkhouse Trust (KT), a charity registered in the UK. KT was established to improve the productivity of legume crops important in African countries and in India. KT's requirements for support are: (1) the research must be conducted by national scientists in their home institution, either a publicly funded agricultural research institute or a university; (2) the projects need to include a molecular biology component, which to date has mostly comprised the use of molecular markers for the selection of one or more target traits in a crop improvement programme; (3) the projects funded are included in consortia, to foster the creation of scientific communities and the sharing of knowledge and breeding resources. This account relates to the key achievements and challenges, reflects on the lessons learned and outlines future research priorities.

Promoting sustainable agriculture by exploiting plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to improve maize and cowpea crops

Maize and cowpea are among the staple foods most consumed by most of the African population, and are of significant importance in food security, crop diversification, biodiversity preservation, and livelihoods. In order to satisfy the growing demand for agricultural products, fertilizers and pesticides have been extensively used to increase yields and protect plants against pathogens. However, the excessive use of these chemicals has harmful consequences on the environment and also on public health. These include soil acidification, loss of biodiversity, groundwater pollution, reduced soil fertility, contamination of crops by heavy metals, etc. Therefore, essential to find alternatives to promote sustainable agriculture and ensure the food and well-being of the people. Among these alternatives, agricultural techniques that offer sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions that reduce or eliminate the excessive use of agricultural inputs are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers. One such alternative is the use of beneficial soil microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR provides a variety of ecological services and can play an essential role as crop yield enhancers and biological control agents. They can promote root development in plants, increasing their capacity to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, increase stress tolerance, reduce disease and promote root development. Previous research has highlighted the benefits of using PGPRs to increase agricultural productivity. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms of action of PGPRs and their exploitation as biofertilizers would present a promising prospect for increasing agricultural production, particularly in maize and cowpea, and for ensuring sustainable and prosperous agriculture, while contributing to food security and reducing the impact of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on the environment. Looking ahead, PGPR research should continue to deepen our understanding of these microorganisms and their impact on crops, with a view to constantly improving sustainable agricultural practices. On the other hand, farmers and agricultural industry players need to be made aware of the benefits of PGPRs and encouraged to adopt them to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Multivariate Analysis of Biochemical Properties Reveals Diversity among Yardlong Beans of Different Origins

This study analyzed the nutrient levels, secondary metabolite contents, and antioxidant activities of 35 yardlong bean accessions from China, Korea, Myanmar, and Thailand, along with their key agronomic traits. Significant variations were found in all the parameters analyzed (p < 0.05). The crude fiber (CFC), dietary fiber (DFC), total protein, and total fat contents varied from 4.10 to 6.51%, 16.71 to 23.49%, 22.45 to 28.11%, and 0.59 to 2.00%, respectively. HPLC analysis showed more than a 10-fold difference in vitamin C level (0.23 to 3.04 mg/g), whereas GC-FID analysis revealed the dominance of palmitic acid and linoleic acid. All accessions had high levels of total unsaturated fatty acids, which could help in preventing cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, total phenolic, tannin, and saponin contents ranged between 3.78 and 9.13 mg GAE/g, 31.20 and 778.34 mg CE/g, and 25.79 and 82.55 mg DE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities like DPPH• scavenging, ABTS•+ scavenging, and reducing power (RP) ranged between 1.63 and 9.95 mg AAE/g, 6.51 and 21.21 mg TE/g, and 2.02, and 15.58 mg AAE/g, respectively. Days to flowering, total fat, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and TPC were significantly influenced by origin and genotype differences, while seeds per pod, one-hundred seeds weight, CFC, DFC, vitamin C, RP, and TSC were not affected by these factors. Multivariate analysis categorized the accessions into four clusters showing significant variations in most of the analyzed parameters. Correlation analysis also revealed significant relationships between several noteworthy parameters. Overall, this comprehensive analysis of biochemical factors revealed diversity among the different yardlong bean varieties. These findings could have practical applications in industries, breeding programs, and conservation efforts.

Crop Landraces and Indigenous Varieties: A Valuable Source of Genes for Plant Breeding

Landraces and indigenous varieties comprise valuable sources of crop species diversity. Their utilization in plant breeding may lead to increased yield and enhanced quality traits, as well as resilience to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Recently, new approaches based on the rapid advancement of genomic technologies such as deciphering of pangenomes, multi-omics tools, marker-assisted selection (MAS), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing greatly facilitated the exploitation of landraces in modern plant breeding. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the implementation of new genomic technologies and highlight their importance in pinpointing the genetic basis of desirable traits in landraces and indigenous varieties of annual, perennial herbaceous, and woody crop species cultivated in the Mediterranean region. The need for further employment of advanced -omic technologies to unravel the full potential of landraces and indigenous varieties underutilized genetic diversity is also indicated. Ultimately, the large amount of genomic data emerging from the investigation of landraces and indigenous varieties reveals their potential as a source of valuable genes and traits for breeding. The role of landraces and indigenous varieties in mitigating the ongoing risks posed by climate change in agriculture and food security is also highlighted.

From bytes to bites: Advancing the food industry with three-dimensional food printing

The rapid advancement of three-dimensional (3D) printing (i.e., a type of additive manufacturing) technology has brought about significant advances in various industries, including the food industry. Among its many potential benefits, 3D food printing offers a promising solution to deliver products meeting the unique nutritional needs of diverse populations while also promoting sustainability within the food system. However, this is an emerging field, and there are several aspects to consider when planning for use of 3D food printing for large-scale food production. This comprehensive review explores the importance of food safety when using 3D printing to produce food products, including pathogens of concern, machine hygiene, and cleanability, as well as the role of macronutrients and storage conditions in microbial risks. Furthermore, postprocessing factors such as packaging, transportation, and dispensing of 3D-printed foods are discussed. Finally, this review delves into barriers of implementation of 3D food printers and presents both the limitations and opportunities of 3D food printing technology.

Nutritional Potential of Adzuki Bean Germplasm and Mining Nutri-Dense Accessions through Multivariate Analysis

The adzuki bean (Vigna angularis), known for its rich nutritional composition, holds significant promise in addressing food and nutritional security, particularly for low socioeconomic classes and the predominantly vegetarian and vegan populations worldwide. In this study, we assessed a total of 100 diverse adzuki bean accessions, analyzing essential nutritional compounds using AOAC's official analysis procedures and other widely accepted standard techniques. Our analysis of variance revealed significant genotype variations for all the traits studied. The variability range among different traits was as follows: moisture: 7.5-13.3 g/100 g, ash: 1.8-4.2 g/100 g, protein: 18.0-23.9 g/100 g, starch: 31.0-43.9 g/100 g, total soluble sugar: 3.0-8.2 g/100 g, phytic acid: 0.65-1.43 g/100 g, phenol: 0.01-0.59 g/100 g, antioxidant: 11.4-19.7 mg/100 g GAE. Noteworthy accessions included IC341955 and EC15256, exhibiting very high protein content, while IC341957 and IC341955 showed increased antioxidant activity. To understand intertrait relationships, we computed correlation coefficients between the traits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the first four principal components contributed to 63.6% of the variation. Further, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) identified nutri-dense accessions, such as IC360533, characterized by high ash (>4.2 g/100 g) and protein (>23.4 g/100 g) content and low phytic acid (0.652 g/100 g). These promising compositions provide practical support for the development of high-value food and feed varieties using effective breeding strategies, ultimately contributing to improved global food security.

Selection of Soybean and Cowpea Cultivars with Superior Performance under Drought Using Growth and Biochemical Aspects

Identifying cultivars of leguminous crops exhibiting drought resistance has become crucial in addressing water scarcity issues. This investigative study aimed to select soybean and cowpea cultivars with enhanced potential to grow under water restriction during the vegetative stage. Two parallel trials were conducted using seven soybean (AS3810IPRO, M8644IPRO, TMG1180RR, NS 8338IPRO, BMX81I81IPRO, M8808IPRO, and BÔNUS8579IPRO) and cowpea cultivars (Aracê, Novaera, Pajeú, Pitiúba, Tumucumaque, TVU, and Xique-xique) under four water levels (75, 60, 45, and 30% field capacity-FC) over 21 days. Growth, water content, membrane damage, photosynthetic pigments, organic compounds, and proline levels were analyzed. Drought stress significantly impacted the growth of both crops, particularly at 45 and 30% FC for soybean and 60 and 45% FC for cowpea plants. The BÔNUS8579IPRO and TMG1180RR soybean cultivars demonstrated the highest performance under drought, a response attributed to increased amino acids and proline contents, which likely help to mitigate membrane damage. For cowpea, the superior performance of the drought-stressed Xique-xique cultivar was associated with the maintenance of water content and elevated photosynthetic pigments, which contributed to the preservation of the photosynthetic efficiency and carbohydrate levels. Our findings clearly indicate promising leguminous cultivars that grow under water restriction, serving as viable alternatives for cultivating in water-limited environments.

Cowpea Constraints and Breeding in Europe

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a legume with a constant rate of cultivation in Southern European countries. Consumer demand for cowpea worldwide is rising due to its nutritional content, while Europe is constantly attempting to reduce the deficit in the production of pulses and invest in new, healthy food market products. Although the climatic conditions that prevail in Europe are not so harsh in terms of heat and drought as in the tropical climates where cowpea is mainly cultivated, cowpea confronts with a plethora of abiotic and biotic stresses and yield-limiting factors in Southern European countries. In this paper, we summarize the main constraints for cowpea cultivation in Europe and the breeding methods that have been or can be used. A special mention is made of the availability plant genetic resources (PGRs) and their potential for breeding purposes, aiming to promote more sustainable cropping systems as climatic shifts become more frequent and fiercer, and environmental degradation expands worldwide.

Surveillance of Landraces' Seed Health in South Italy and New Evidence on Crop Diseases

During the last three years, more than 300 landraces belonging to different plant species have been the main focus of an Italian valorization research project (AgroBiodiversità Campana, ABC) aiming at analyzing, recovering, preserving, and collecting local biodiversity. In this context, phytosanitary investigation plays a key role in identifying potential threats to the preservation of healthy seeds in gene banks and the successful cultivation of landraces. The surveillance carried out in this study, in addition to highlighting the expected presence of common species-specific pathogens such as Ascochyta pisi in peas, Ascochyta fabae in broad beans, and Macrophomina phaseolina, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, and Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. fuscans in beans, pointed to the presence of novel microorganisms never detected before in the seeds of some hosts (Apiospora arundinis in common beans or Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Stemphylium vesicarium in broad beans). These novel seedborne pathogens were fully characterized by (i) studying their morphology, (ii) identifying them by molecular methods, and (iii) studying their impact on adult crop plants. For the first time, this study provides key information about three novel seedborne pathogens that can be used to correctly diagnose their presence in seed lots, helping prevent the outbreaks of new diseases in the field.

Resilience of soybean cultivars to drought stress during flowering and early-seed setting stages

Drought stress during the reproductive stage and declining soybean yield potential raise concerns about yield loss and economic return. In this study, ten cultivars were characterized for 20 traits to identify reproductive stage (R1-R6) drought-tolerant soybean. Drought stress resulted in a marked reduction (17%) in pollen germination. The reduced stomatal conductance coupled with high canopy temperature resulted in reduced seed number (45%) and seed weight (35%). Drought stress followed by rehydration increased the hundred seed weight at the compensation of seed number. Further, soybean oil decreased, protein increased, and cultivars responded differently under drought compared to control. In general, cultivars with high tolerance scores for yield displayed lower tolerance scores for quality content and vice versa. Among ten cultivars, LS5009XS and G4620RX showed maximum stress tolerance scores for seed number and seed weight. The observed variability in leaf reflectance properties and their relationship with physiological or yield components suggested that leaf-level sensing information can be used for differentiating drought-sensitive soybean cultivars from tolerant ones. The study led to the identification of drought-resilient cultivars/promising traits which can be exploited in breeding to develop multi-stress tolerant cultivars.

OMICS in Fodder Crops: Applications, Challenges, and Prospects

Biomass yield and quality are the primary targets in forage crop improvement programs worldwide. Low-quality fodder reduces the quality of dairy products and affects cattle's health. In multipurpose crops, such as maize, sorghum, cowpea, alfalfa, and oat, a plethora of morphological and biochemical/nutritional quality studies have been conducted. However, the overall growth in fodder quality improvement is not on par with cereals or major food crops. The use of advanced technologies, such as multi-omics, has increased crop improvement programs manyfold. Traits such as stay-green, the number of tillers per plant, total biomass, and tolerance to biotic and/or abiotic stresses can be targeted in fodder crop improvement programs. Omic technologies, namely genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics, provide an efficient way to develop better cultivars. There is an abundance of scope for fodder quality improvement by improving the forage nutrition quality, edible quality, and digestibility. The present review includes a brief description of the established omics technologies for five major fodder crops, i.e., sorghum, cowpea, maize, oats, and alfalfa. Additionally, current improvements and future perspectives have been highlighted.

Draft Genome Sequence of Priestia sp. Strain TSO9, a Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Associated with Wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico

Strain TSO9 was isolated from a commercial field of wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) located in the Yaqui, Valley, Mexico. Here, the genome of this strain was sequenced, obtaining a total of 5,248,515 bp; 38.0% G + C content; 1,186,514 bp N50; and 2 L50. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, strain TSO9 was affiliated with the genus Priestia. The genome annotation of Priestia sp. TSO9 contains a total of 147 RNAs, 128 tRNAs, 1 tmRNA, and 5512 coding DNA sequences (CDS) distributed into 332 subsystems, where CDS associated with agricultural purposes were identified, such as (i) virulence, disease, and defense (57 CDS) (i.e., resistance to antibiotics and toxic compounds (34 CDS), invasion and intracellular resistance (12 CDS), and bacteriocins and ribosomally synthesized antibacterial peptides (10 CDS)), (ii) iron acquisition and metabolism (36 CDS), and (iii) secondary metabolism (4 CDS), i.e., auxin biosynthesis. In addition, subsystems related to the viability of an active ingredient for agricultural bioproducts were identified, such as (i) stress response (65 CDS). These genomic traits are correlated with the metabolic background of this strain, and its positive effects on wheat growth regulation reported in this work. Thus, further investigations of Priestia sp. TSO9 are necessary to complement findings regarding its application in agroecosystems to increase wheat yield sustainably.

Breeding of Vegetable Cowpea for Nutrition and Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges

Currently, the world population is increasing, and humanity is facing food and nutritional scarcity. Climate change and variability are a major threat to global food and nutritional security, reducing crop productivity in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Cowpea has the potential to make a significant contribution to global food and nutritional security. In addition, it can be part of a sustainable food system, being a genetic resource for future crop improvement, contributing to resilience and improving agricultural sustainability under climate change conditions. In malnutrition prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, cowpea has become a strategic dryland legume crop for addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. Therefore, this review aims to assess the contribution of cowpea to SSA countries as a climate-resilient crop and the existing production challenges and perspectives. Cowpea leaves and immature pods are rich in diverse nutrients, with high levels of protein, vitamins, macro and micronutrients, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates compared to its grain. In addition, cowpea is truly a multifunctional crop for maintaining good health and for reducing non-communicable human diseases. However, as a leafy vegetable, cowpea has not been researched and promoted sufficiently because it has not been promoted as a food security crop due to its low yield potential, susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses, quality assurance issues, policy regulation, and cultural beliefs (it is considered a livestock feed). The development of superior cowpea as a leafy vegetable can be approached in different ways, such as conventional breeding and gene stacking, speed breeding, mutation breeding, space breeding, demand-led breeding, a pan-omics approach, and local government policies. The successful breeding of cowpea genotypes that are high-yielding with a good nutritional value as well as having resistance to biotics and tolerant to abiotic stress could also be used to address food security and malnutrition-related challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.

Evaluation and Multivariate Analysis of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Germplasm for Selected Nutrients—Mining for Nutri-Dense Accessions

A total of 120 highly diverse cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] genotypes, including indigenous and exotic lines, were evaluated for different biochemical traits using AOAC official methods of analysis and other standard methods. The results exhibited wide variability in the content of proteins (ranging from 19.4 to 27.9%), starch (from 27.5 to 42.7 g 100 g−1), amylose (from 9.65 to 21.7 g 100 g−1), TDF (from 13.7 to 21.1 g 100 g−1), and TSS (from 1.30 to 8.73 g 100 g−1). The concentration of anti-nutritional compounds like phenols and phytic acid ranged from 0.026 to 0.832 g 100 g−1 and 0.690 to 1.88 g 100 g−1, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the traits was calculated to understand the inter-trait relationship. Multivariate analysis (PCA and HCA) was performed to identify the major traits contributing to variability and group accessions with a similar profile. The first three principal components, i.e., PC1, PC2, and PC3, contributed to 62.7% of the variation, where maximum loadings were from starch, followed by protein, phytic acid, and dietary fiber. HCA formed six distinct clusters at a squared Euclidean distance of 5. Accessions in cluster I had high TDF and low TSS content, while cluster II was characterized by low amylose content. Accessions in cluster III had high starch, low protein, and phytic acid, whereas accessions in cluster IV contained high TSS, phenol, and low phytic acid. Cluster V was characterized by high protein, phytic acid, TSS, and phenol content and low starch content, and cluster VI had a high amount of amylose and low phenol content. Some nutri-dense accessions were identified from the above-mentioned clusters, such as EC170579 and EC201086 with high protein (&gt;27%), TSS, amylose, and TDF content. These compositions are promising to provide practical support for developing high-value food and feed varieties using effective breeding strategies with a higher economic value.

Performance of Cowpea under Different Water Regimes in Amazonian Conditions

Water availability is a crucial factor in the final productivity of cowpea. The objective of this work was to evaluate the production and productivity components of cowpea under different irrigation depths in Amazonian conditions. The experiment was carried out at the School Farm of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia, in the municipality of Castanhal-PA, using the cultivar BR3 Tracuateua, from September to November 2014, 2015, and 2016. The experimental design was conducted on six blocks and four treatments, where the four irrigation depths of 0, 25, 50, and 100% of crop evapotranspiration were tested. The productivity analysis was performed when 90% of the plants were in the phenological stage R9. The evaluated production components were pod length, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, mass of one hundred grains, and harvest index. There was a statistical difference among all treatments for the components of production and among productivities. An average reduction of 827 kg ha−1 in cowpea productivity was observed during the three years of study, when the treatment without irrigation was compared with the treatment irrigated with 100% of the crop’s water demand. It was found in this research that the simple fulfillment of the nutritional and phytosanitary demands of the crop, associated with an adequate planning of when to plant in the region, would already help in the improvement of local production when choosing times where the water deficit in the reproductive phase is less than 33 mm.

Screening of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) genotypes for waterlogging tolerance using morpho-physiological traits at early growth stage

The majority of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) produced in the U.S. is planted shortly after the summer rains and subsequently depends on rain or artificial irrigation. Therefore, excessive precipitation and poor soil drainage will cause cowpea plants to suffer temporary waterlogging, reducing the submerged tissue's oxygen level. Although cowpea is sensitive to waterlogging, excessive moisture can induce several morpho-physiological changes with adverse impacts on yield in its early stages of development. The current study subjected 30 cowpea genotypes to 10-days of waterlogging at the seedling stage under a controlled environment. The dynamic changes of 24 morpho-physiological parameters under waterlogging and optimal water conditions were analyzed to understand cowpea's response to waterlogging. Significant waterlogging treatment, cowpea genotypes, and their interactions (P < 0.001) were observed for most of the measured parameters. The results indicated that plant height (PH), leaf area (LA), fresh (FW) and dry weight (DW) of cowpea genotypes were significantly decreased under waterlogging compared to the control treatments. Similar results were obtained for net photosynthesis (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), and transpiration rate (E). However, the water use efficiency (WUE) and adventitious roots (ARs) increased linearly under waterlogging conditions. Waterlogging also declined chlorophyll fluorescence parameters except non-photochemical quenching (qN), which increased with excess soil moisture. In addition, waterlogging tolerance coefficient (WTC) and multivariate analysis (MCA) methods were used to characterize cowpea genotypes for waterlogging tolerance. Accordingly, the cowpea genotype Dagupan Pangasinan, UCR 369, and Negro were classified as waterlogging tolerant, while EpicSelect.4 and ICARDA 140071, as the most waterlogging sensitive. The cowpea genotypes and morpho-physiological traits determined from this study may be useful for genetic engineering and breeding programs that integrate cowpea waterlogging tolerance.