Common bean is an important legume crop having high quality protein, micronutrients, vitamins and antioxidants, which makes it a “grain of hope” for poor communities. Hence, a good number of breeding activities have been performed on the improvement of various key traits for years. However, recent advancements in molecular markers, sequencing technologies and the completion of the common bean genome sequence have opened numerous opportunities for fine mapping and gene characterization. The availability of these tools together with investigations of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes for key traits such as morpho-agronomic, iron and zinc contents, cooking and quality traits, antioxidant activity, biotic and abiotic stresses pave the way to the development of new strategies for common bean genetic improvement. As a food source, it can contribute to the reduction of food scarcity worldwide in the coming years. Therefore, it is very important to take synergic efforts to integrate common bean genetic and genomic resources in breeding activities to ensure food security and contribute significantly to improved livelihoods in developing countries. Moreover, Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) and CRISPR-Cas9 should be used to develop climate resilience common bean varieties. Here, we provide an overview of the evolution of common bean research by highlighting the past and recent advances in genomics, transgenics, transcriptomics and proteomics and also critically discuss the future prospects for further genetic improvement and better expansion of this crop.

Hidden hunger, characterized by micronutrient deficiencies despite adequate caloric intake, affects over 2 billion people globally, primarily due to deficits in iron, vitamin A, and iodine. This phenomenon underscores a critical paradox in global food security: the Green Revolution, which significantly increased crop production through high‐yielding varieties (HYVs) of staple crops, has simultaneously contributed to widespread nutritional deficiencies. This article examines the dual legacy of the Green Revolution, exploring how its emphasis on yield over nutritional quality has led to decreased concentrations of essential micronutrients in staple crops, exacerbating hidden hunger. The extensive use of synthetic fertilizers, while boosting crop yields, has resulted in environmental degradation and economic burdens for smallholder farmers. Additionally, the shift towards dietary monoculture has reduced agricultural biodiversity and increased the prevalence of diet‐related non‐communicable diseases. Through diverse case studies from India, Zambia, Guatemala, the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico, and Ethiopia, this article illustrates various strategies to combat hidden hunger, including biofortification, multisectoral approaches, and sustainable agricultural practices. This article highlights the necessity for a multifaceted approach that integrates improved agricultural practices, dietary diversity, and supportive policies to enhance food security and public health. By addressing both caloric and nutritional needs, this comprehensive strategy aims to build resilient food systems that ensure a sustainable agricultural future.

Salinity is one of the outstanding abiotic stress conditions that a significant part of the world faces. In recent years, beneficial microorganisms started to be utilized in plants to overcome several abiotic factors, including salinity. The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mixture on growth and enzymatic responses in basil under salt stress were investigated using saline doses of 0 mM (Control), 150 mM, and 300 mM. Results showed that AMF enhanced all growth parameters, but only the leaf number was statistically significant. However, antioxidant enzymes, such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX) by 25%, catalase (CAT) by 25%, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 5%, significantly enhanced. At the same time, the accumulation of oxidative enzymes, like hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA), was reduced, from 12.05 μmol g⁻¹ fw (control) to 11.17 μmol g⁻¹ fw (AMF) and from 14.29 μmol g⁻¹ fw to 10.74 μmol g⁻¹ fw, respectively. AMF also significantly alleviated the chlorophyll loss caused by increasing saline doses. Multivariate analyses revealed the co-occurrence of stress metabolism enzymes as well as the proximate effect of AMF inoculation on basil yield and enzymatic activity. As a result, AMF was considered an appropriate tool for increasing growth and reducing salt stress under both stress-free and saline conditions.

In this study, the effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and humic acid (HA) chelate applied to soils contaminated with heavy metals on the development, antioxidant defence system, and phytoremediation of forage turnip (Brassica rapa L.) were investigated for the first. Three doses of EDTA (E 1 : 5 mmol/kg, E 2 : 10 mmol/kg, E 3 : 15 mmol/kg) and three doses of HA (HA 1 : 500 mg/kg, HA 2 : 1 000 mg/kg, HA 3 : 2 000 mg/kg) were applied to soils contaminated with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cr) in the pot. According to experiment results, HA application as chelate to the polluted soil caused a significant increase in the growth of forage turnip. Phytoremediation values of the plant for Cd heavy metal were found to be BCF shoot , BCF root > 1, and translocation factor > 1. This result proved that forage turnip has Cd accumulating properties. Also, HA application caused a decrease in H 2 O 2 (46%) and malondialdehyde (6%) levels and antioxidative enzyme activity in polluted soil. It has been concluded that humic acid improves the oxidative stress conditions in the plant and is more effective in the development and growth of the plant than EDTA, so that it can be used effectively in phytoremediation studies.

MTP/CDF carriers, called metal ion transport proteins, act as substrates for the transmission of micronutrients such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) to membrane carriers in plants. In this study, genome-wide analysis of the MTP gene family in the common bean genome, expression analysis of the PvMTP4, PvMTP5, and PvMTP12 genes after Fe and Zn treatments, and the effects of Fe and Zn applications on iron and zinc content were investigated. This study used common bean genotypes assumed to have high or low Fe and Zn accumulation ability. PvMTP genes were defined as containing conserved catalytic domains with molecular weights and protein lengths ranging from 41.35 to 91.05 kDa and from 369 to 813 amino acids (aa), respectively. As a result of the phylogenetic analysis, three main clusters containing seven subgroups were formed. In this study, the first characterization of the MTP gene family of beans was performed, and the responses of three different PvMTP genes in the Zn-CDF group to Fe and Zn applications were revealed. The obtained findings are thought to constitute pioneering resources for future research on common bean biofortification studies, plant breeding related to Fe and Zn, and the functional characterization of the MTP gene family.

Rapeseed has been cultivated to produce non-edible and edible oil for thousands of years. It is known as the second-largest oilseed plant in the world with 24.6 million tons of oil production in 2021. The interventions that can be carried out during the cultivation of a plant with such a high production value are quite significant. Growth, enzymatic activities, and phytoremediation of rapeseed grown under heavy metal stress supported by humic acid (HA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) applications were investigated for the first time in this study. Three doses of EDTA (EDTA1:5 mmol/kg, EDTA2:10 mmol/kg, EDTA3:15 mmol/kg) and three doses of HA (HA1:500 mg/kg, HA2:1000 mg/kg, HA3:2000 mg/kg) were applied in heavy metal treated pots. According to experiment results, HA1 and HA2 applications increased plant dry and fresh weights, root dry and fresh weights. However, EDTA applications caused a decrease in shoot length, a number of leaves, shoot fresh and dry weights, root fresh and dry weights. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) values for Zn, Cr and Cd we found higher than in both shoots and roots of rapeseed. For all levels of EDTA, the values of BCF (shoot) and BCF (root), transfer factor (TF) and translocation factor (TLF) increased compared to HA applications. On the other hand, in comparison to heavy metal polluted soils alone (PS), all levels of HA resulted in significantly reduced APX and CAT enzyme activity, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. We concluded that humic substances exert a significant influence on plant growth and reduce heavy metal toxicity in polluted soils. At the same time, HA could be more effective than EDTA in terms of phytoremediation of Cr. HA can increase phytoremediation in polluted soils as it improves plant growth and oxidative stress due to its organic nature. The results provide remarkable information for rapeseed cultivation in polluted regions.