Jute mallow is a traditional leaf vegetable that is an important part of daily diet for the majority of people in rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Here we employed quantitative and qualitative phenotypic traits to assess the morphological diversity of 90 accessions using univariate and multivariate analyses. Field experiments were conducted for two seasons to identify accessions suitable for leaf yield. The accessions were significantly variable in all traits. Highest variability among accessions was found in harvest index, biomass yield, and weight of 1000 seeds. The traits that significantly correlated with biomass yield include plant height (r=0.448), petiole length (r=0.237), primary branches (r=0.319), and number of leaves per plant (r=0.333). Principal component analysis showed that the first five PCs with eigenvalues ≥1 explained 72.9% of the total variability in the accessions. Pods per plant, primary branches, secondary branches, and number of leaves per plant accounted for highest variability in PC1. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into five major clusters mainly based on their origin. Thus, the collection displayed high variation in morphological traits, particularly those related to leaf yield. These accessions are therefore useful in breeding for the improvement of the crop and germplasm management.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a staple legume crop for the Balkan Peninsula, mainly used for food. A large range of landraces well adapted to the local climate are maintained by farmers. The aim of this study was to estimate in field conditions the variability in morphology and seed biochemical composition of fourteen local common bean genotypes. Sixteen morphological and three biological characteristics were evaluated. Considerable morphological variation was found among genotypes. Thirteen genotypes possessed a determinate growth habit, and one of them an indeterminate one. Plant weight without pods, total weight, and the number and weight of pods per plant displayed the highest variation coefficient (CV%) with 54.5, 44.2, 45, and 37.6%, respectively. According to the seed shape, the variation was among kidney, cuboid, and oval. Seed energy value varied from 339 to 347 kcal/100 g, the amount of protein from 21.8 to 27%, lipids content from 1.6 to 2.5%, carbohydrates from 54 to 60%, ash from 4.6 to 5.4%, dietary fibers from 3.3 to 5.9%, tannins from 14 to 21%, phenols from 1.3 to 17.2 mg/g, and antitrypsin activity from 1.2 to 3.1 units/mg FW. Genotypes were classified according to the earliness, plant and seed characteristics, and yield. Genetic material was discerned useful for future research and breeding purposes.

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia L. Willd.) is an ancient Mediterranean legume, well adapted to dry climates, that has recently gained attention for its potential in organic farming and as a suitable source of bioactive compounds. This study analyzed the agrobiological variability of 12 bitter vetch accessions from the IPGR-Sadovo genebank in two-year field trials. Yield-related traits were recorded, and grains were assessed for protein, sugar, starch, free amino acids, phenols, and antitrypsin content. Statistical analyses included variance, correlation, cluster, principal component, and path-coefficient methods. Significant variation was observed in plant branching, pod and grain numbers, and grain weight per plant. Grain yield correlated strongly with pod number (r = 0.910**), grains per pod (r = 0.867**) and per plant (r = 0.965**), and pod size. Positive direct effects on grain yield had the traits germination−50% flowering, number of seeds per plant, height to first pod, and harvest index. An indirect impact was found for the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and seed starch content. Accessions formed four main clusters. BGR6207, B9E0168, and C3000003 showed high yield potential. C3000001, C3000003, C3000007, and C3000006 exhibited early maturity. C3E0118, C3000007, and C3000003 seeds had lower amounts of phenols. BGR13526 presented lower protein and antitrypsin but higher carbohydrate and phenol levels. Tolerance to moderate osmotic stress (150 mM NaCl or 10% Polyethylene glycol 6000) varied. BGR3052, BGR13526, and A3BM0178 were found to be resistant to both stressors, while accessions C3000001 and C3000007 were identified as sensitive to both adversities. C3000006 was determined as sensitive to salinity but resistant to drought, and BGR3051and C3000003 were relatively sensitive to drought but resistant to salinity. Root elongation and thinning were observed in half of the accessions as adaptive responses to stress. These findings highlight some of the advantages of the evaluated bitter vetch accessions for breeding and reintroduction into sustainable agricultural practices.

To face climate change, searching for alternative crops resistant to drought and heat stress becomes necessary, along with efficient germplasm management. Old landraces well-adapted to local climatic conditions, pests, and pathogens could be used as a source of desired traits. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), grown mainly in the tropical and subtropical areas, presents superior drought and heat stress adaptation compared to other legumes. Limited information is available on field performance and nutrient qualities of cowpea landraces originating from southern Bulgaria. The aim of the present study was to compare in field conditions and their impacts on plant performance, yield, and the seed biochemical composition of Bulgarian cowpea accessions, including fourteen landraces and one variety. Higher-yielding, earlier-maturing accessions were discerned. Among the landraces studied, B1E0103 was the most productive under the agro-climatic conditions in Sadovo, central Bulgaria; BOE0035 had the earliest maturity. The seed moisture content was 11.5 ± 0.3%, and the energy value was 347.9 ± 1.2 kcal/100 g. The crude protein content varied from 22.5 to 27%, the lipids were 1.6–2.55%, the carbohydrates were 56.5–61.4%, ash was 3.8–4.3%, dietary fibers were 3.1–4.5%, tannins were 16–22%, phenols were 1.3–4.4 mg/g, flavonoids were 1.85–3.7 mg/g, and the trypsin-inhibiting activity was 0.7–2.5 units/mg FW, with the lowest in BOE0010, the variety “Hrisi”, and B1E0103 and the highest in B0E0035, A9E1230, and A8E0562. Landraces are promising genetic material for future research and breeding purposes.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a species with superior tolerance to drought stress compared to other legumes. It is a promising crop with increasing importance in the face of global climate changes. Local forms, well adapted to particular agro-climatic conditions, are useful germplasm resources. Five Bulgarian cowpea landraces, which had displayed differences in osmotic stress tolerance at the germination stage, were subjected to severe stress (15% PEG 6000 in Hoagland nutrient media) during 16 days at the vegetative growth stage (plants with expanded trifoliate leaves). All local forms responded to the imposed stress by biomass and leaf area diminution, a slight increase in leaf water deficit and electrolyte leakage, proline accumulation in roots and leaves, and an increase in root starch and leaf phenol content. Roots presented more pronounced metabolic changes than leaves, including increased total antioxidant activity, phenolic and carbohydrate content, and proline accumulation. Under osmotic stress, tight control of oxidative stress and concerted upregulation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione transferase, and peroxidase activities in leaves were registered along with changes in certain specific isoforms, while glutathione reductase activity diminished. Antioxidant enzyme activities had different changes in stressed roots, compared to leaves, and among genotypes. The accession most sensitive to osmotic stress at germination presented more symptoms of oxidative stress at the vegetative growth stage.

Направено е сравнително проучване за да се установят най-съществените разлики между две зърнено-бобови култури отглеждани у нас, обикновен фасул (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) и папуда (Vigna unguiculata L.). Изпитани са по двадесет образци от двете култури в експерименталното поле на Института по растителни генетични ресурси (ИРГР), Садово за период от две години, 2022 и 2023г. Направена е агробиологична и морфологична характеристика на 20 количествени и качествени признаци при фасул и папуда. По време на вегетацията бяха отчетени фенологичните фази: поникване, масов цъфтеж, бобообразуване и узряване при отделните генотипове. Всички образци обикновен фасул бяха засети през първата десетдневка на месец април, а папудата - през последната десетдневка на aприл. Цъфтежа при фасула настъпи след 56-69 дни, считано от поникването, докато при папудата този период е значително по-дълъг (от 63 до 74 дни). Продължителността на вегетационният период се различава значително, като при фасула средната стойност беше 87,3, а при папудата - 97,4 дни. Сравнителното проучване на елементите, определящи добива (брой бобове на едно растение; тегло на бобовете от едно растение; брой семена в един боб; тегло на семената от едно растение и добива при генотиповете от двете култури) показа съществени различия. Броят на бобовете от едно растение при фасула беше отчетен със средна стойност 8,0, докато при папудата беше 11,1 броя. Измерената средна стойност на теглото на семената от едно растение при фасула беше 7,0 g, докато при папудата - 13,8 g. Средната стойност на теглото на 100 семена при папудата бе 17,3 g, а при фасула - 28,4 g.