Nutrition, breeding and biotechnology of leguminous root crops for food security: Yam bean, African yam bean and Winged bean

Yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.), African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) are protein- and carbohydrate-rich leguminous root crops with significant potential for food security and industrial applications. Yam bean (P. erosus) has potential to yield storage root between 120 - 145 t/ha, with a starch content of 45-55 %, while its seeds contained 29.2 % - 32.1 % protein and 14.09 % - 18.91 % crude fat, making it a nutritionally valuable leguminous tuber crop​. Advances in its breeding included SSR markers for diversity assessment, rotenone-free cultivars and interspecific hybridization. African yam bean is cultivated across West and Central Africa, with storage root yields reaching up to 80 t/ha and seed yields ranging from 0.4 to 2.8 t/ha, while its tubers contained 16 % protein and 68 % carbohydrates and seeds provided 37 % protein and 64 % carbohydrates. Recent genetic improvements included early-maturing varieties (120 - 150 days), SNP markers for yield selection and enhanced disease resistance against anthracnose and rust. Winged bean produced tuber yields of 15.5 t/ha and seed yields up to 4.0 t/ha, with seeds containing 28 % - 45 % protein and 14 % - 20.4 % fat, while tubers offer 12.26 % - 19.07 % protein and served as a carbohydrate-rich food source. Genetic advancements in marker-assisted selection (MAS), QTL mapping (qPL1, qSS2, qFC3) and mutation breeding (gamma irradiation 100 - 400 Gy) had improved productivity. Additionally, the tissue culture protocol for winged bean seeds was optimized using MS media supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L NAA, resulting in 92 % shoot regeneration. Future research is recommended to focus on genome editing, polyploid breeding, post-harvest optimization and functional food applications to enhance crop utilization and sustainability

A Review on Abiotic Stress Caused by Industrial Effluents on Seed Quality

India is one of the top ten industrialized countries of global importance. But industries release waste products, which exert negative influences by causing toxicity to biotic organisms and environment. Liquid wastes of industries termed as effluents are characterized with possession of organic and inorganic compounds that evolve with varying levels of toxicity based on the type of industry and its bi-product. Recycling of treated effluent serves as an alternative to tie over water scarcity in sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, dilutions of industrial effluents serves as growth stimulants at an optimal concentration and influences the seed and seedling quality characters and aids in improving the productivity of crops. The safe levels of dilutions expressing the seed invigourative effect are reviewed hereunder, which could serve as a solution for disposal of effluent in agriculture in an effective manner.</jats:p