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.

Background: Bean common mosaic disease (BCMD) caused by Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) has been regarded as one of the most important seed-borne and aphid vector transmitted destructive disease of cowpea not only affecting its yield but also reducing its grain quality globally. Since the dawn of crop improvement, germplasm served as the source of resistance for various biotic stresses. Currently, host plant resistance is the best, reliable, economic and environmental friendly practice of virus disease management. The objective of this study was to assess the response of diverse cowpea germplasm against BCMV under natural and controlled conditions followed by serological and molecular detection. Methods: In this study, 85 cowpea germplasm accessions and one known BCMV susceptible (C152) and one resistant (CP55) varieties are evaluated for their response to the BCMD in augmented block design (ABD). The reaction of cowpea accessions were assessed using percent disease incidence (PDI). Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM), Direct Antigen Coating-Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAC-ELISA) and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) were used for confirming the BCMV. Result: Natural and controlled condition screening data analysis revealed a significant difference among diverse cowpea germplasm for BCMV diseases incidence. Based on field screening at Ranchi and New Delhi (2019 and 2020) and artificial confirmation. 24 out of 85 accessions were found to be immune and confirmed through DAC-ELISA and RT-PCR. As a consequence these accessions could be a potential new source of disease resistance for BCMV in breeding programs.Further, DAC ELISA of seed coat and Embryo revealed the presence of virus in 5% and 15% of samples tested. Accession IC418505 recorded highest disease incidence (40.0%).

Background: Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) which belongs to the genus Potyvirus and the family Potyviridae, causes significant yield losses in legumes across the globe. Traditional methods for BCMV detection and diagnosis, such as visual inspection and serological assays, are often time-consuming, labour-intensive and may lack the sensitivity required for early detection. Advances in molecular techniques have made RT-PCR a powerful tool for the accurate detection of BCMV-infected plants. Methods: Three pairs of specific primers that flank the BCMV coat protein and polyprotein gene were designed using the Primer 3web tool to amplify fragments approximately ranging from 191 to 205 bp. The RT-PCR protocol was then standardized, including the optimization of annealing temperatures for all three primers, followed by the sequencing of the amplified PCR products. The, specificity and sensitivity of primer pair BCMV2 were then established. Result: Three pairs of specific primers were designed and RT-PCR protocol was standardized. The sequenced PCR products showed 98.03% to 99.50 % nucleotide similarity with the corresponding sequences of BCMV isolates used in primer designing. Further, the BCMV2 primer pair specifically amplified the target amplicon (200 bp) from the suspected leaf sample and no amplicon was observed when tested against other pathotypes of potyvirus such as BCMNV, BYMV, CABMV, SMV and PeMoV. The designed primer was sensitive enough to detect 0.05% of target cDNA. Additionally, the RT-PCR protocol was validated using field samples collected from Hyderabad, India. ELISA in combination with RT-PCR using the developed specific BCMV primer pair will ensure a foolproof, sensitive and rapid, procedure for diagnosis of BCMV in the quarantine processing of imported germplasm.

Background: Bean common mosaic disease (BCMD) caused by Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) poses a significant threat to legume crops worldwide. BCMV, a monopartite potyvirus, has been a concern since its detection in 1917 due to its seed-borne nature. Symptoms include mosaic patterns, necrosis, stunting and yield reductions, leading to substantial economic losses in affected regions. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) offers a precise and efficient method for BCMV detection, necessitating the development of specific primers for accurate diagnosis. Methods: Specific primers (BCMV-polyp1, BCMV-coatp2 and BCMV-polyp3) were designed by aligning BCMV genome sequences and employing Primer3 software. RNA isolation from infected samples and cDNA synthesis were performed using standard protocols. RT-PCR was conducted with various annealing temperatures to optimize conditions. Primer specificity of BCMV-coatp2 primer set was confirmed via BLAST analysis and in vivo testing against closely related potyviruses. Sensitivity assays were carried out using serially diluted cDNA samples from infected tissue. Result: The designed primers demonstrated high specificity to BCMV, with no cross-reactivity observed against closely related potyviruses. Optimization of RT-PCR conditions revealed distinct bands at an annealing temperature of 51.9°C for all primer sets. Sequencing confirmed amplicon sizes (175 bp, 157 bp and 189 bp) and alignment with BCMV sequences. Sensitivity analysis showed the assay capable of detecting BCMV at concentrations as low as 0.14 ng/μl. Validation with field samples confirmed the effectiveness of the primers in identifying BCMV-infected plants.