The studies of rhizobial diversity in the Phaseolus genus have focused on Phaseolus vulgaris. It is unclear how rhizobial diversity is associated with Phaseolus lunatus in areas where this legume is not native, such as Brazil. Therefore, we studied rhizobial diversity associated with P. lunatus bean in soils from Brazil. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, and seeds from each genotype of P. lunatus were sown in plastic bags containing soils originating from Northeast Brazil. The nodules used in isolation and characterization were collected at 45 days after seedling emergence. Fourteen isolates of rhizobia were obtained. DNA was extracted, and the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using primers fD1 and rD1. More than half of the strains studied were positioned in the Bradyrhizobium clade (in the B. elkani superclade). One strain was positioned in the Rhizobium etli/Rhizobium phaseoli clade. Two strains were grouped within the R. tropici group. Three strains, ISOL16, ISOL21, and ISOL27, that may represent new lineages were found. According to our analysis of the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of 14 rhizobia strains, there was high species diversity of rhizobia-nodulating P. lunatus in Northeast Brazil, including potential new species.

Diversity of native rhizobia-nodulating Phaseolus lunatus in Brazil

Background: Farmers&rsquo; conventional tillage and residue removal practices in rice-maize-greengram systems in India are input-intensive, costly and soil degradative. A number of soil quality issues have emerged due to continuous cropping and burning of residues threatening the sustainability of rice based cropping systems for the last more than four decades. Nevertheless, the in-situ or in-field decomposition of crop residue using microbial inoculum is rarely studied. This necessitated the use of microbial consortia developed by a combination of potent strains of fungi which can perform harmoniously for rapid decomposition of crop residues. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during 2020-21 and 2021-22 with eight residue-management treatments and three fertility levels to zero till maize at college farm, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU using strip plot design and the residual effect on the succeeding greengram was studied. 
 
Result: Greengram growth and yield were significantly higher under residual effect of incorporation of residues treated with microbial consortia consisting of Trichoderma viridae, Aspergillus awamori and Phanerocheate spp. along with 300:100:100 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O (125% RDF) and P supplied in the form of single super phosphate (SSP) under zero tillage during summer, 2021 and 2022. Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production and yield attributes like number of pods plant-1, pod length and number of seeds pod-1 in greengram were higher under residue incorporated plots compared to residue burning, removal and retention plots with 125% RDF.

Residual Effects of Microbial Treated Paddy Residues Applied to Zero Till Maize on Growth and Yield of Summer Greengram

<div>Background: Jack bean is an under-exploited legume species, a source of food, medicine and cover crop. By virtue of its adaptive nature to low fertility soils, it is one of the few pulses that grow well on highly leached, nutrient depleted, lowland tropical soils. But, in India, crop improvement work is very little done. Stability of yield is a major criterion for farmer&rsquo;s acceptability of any variety and there are several methods to estimate the stability and G x E interaction effects of a genotype across seasons. Among these, AMMI analysis is the most recent and widely exploited in different crops for the identification of stable genotypes. In this context, yield stability of 10 accessions of jack bean is studied to identify the stable genotypes. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted with 10 Jack bean genotypes in RCBD with two replications under rain fed conditions during 2017-2020 in Kharif for four seasons. The data was subjected to analysis of variance and then taken for AMMI and GGE analysis for identification of stable genotypes. 
 
Result: The combined analysis of variance revealed that there was highly significant variation (p &lt; 0.01) in grain yield and environments and genotype interaction among the genotypes. The average bean yield of the genotypes was 533.1 grams per plant. The highest and the lowest mean yield was recorded in PSR-12202 and CHMJB-02 respectively which was corroborated by the AMMI bi-plot as well. Similar to the AMMI bi-plot, the GGE bi-plot also confirmed that PSR-12202 was the stable genotype across the environments, whereas, G1, G2, G3, G4, G6, G7 and G8 were the other genotypes with low yields in some or all the environments. Kharif, 2018 and Kharif, 2020 are discriminating environments and are declared as the most representative than Kharif, 2017 and Kharif, 2019. Generally, PSR-12202 was the ideal genotype with higher mean yield and relatively good stability; G5 was the moderately good yielding genotype and the most unstable genotype; Whereas, G1, G2, G3, G4, G6, G7 and G8 were the poorly yielding and unstable genotypes. Both AMMI and GGE bi-plot are able to establish the genotypic stability and these models can be exploited for judging the genotypes for their GEI in other crops as well. &nbsp;</div>

<div>Understanding of Yield Stability in Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.) Genotypes using AMMI and GGE bi-plot Models</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of halt irrigation and bio fertilizer on plant yield, seed nutrients content, relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll index (SPAD) of Goli genotype of red bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), based on split plot design with three replications during two years of 2014-2015 at Arak, Iran. Halt irrigation was in main plots by four levels of control (full irrigation), halt irrigation in vegetative stage, at flowering stage and pod filling stage and four bio fertilizer were in sub plots, including: control (no bacteria), Phosphorus Solublizing bacteria (PSB), potassium solublizing bacteria (KSB) and concurrent use both of PSB and KSB. Analysis of variance showed that no significant effect of years but the effect of halt irrigation treatments was significant on plant yield, N, P, K and Zn percentage of seed, relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll index (SPAD). Halt irrigation reduced plant yield by 67.81% in comparison to full irrigation during flowering stage. In the study, physiological characteristics such as RWC, N, P, K and Zn contents were also reduced significantly with halt irrigation at flowering stage than its effects on other stages of the crop. Also other characteristics was significantly reduced in this study with halt irrigation that this reduction in flowering stage was more than other stages.&nbsp;</div>

Role of potassium solublizing bacteria on nutrients uptake in red bean&nbsp;(Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Goli) under water deficit condition&nbsp;

<div>Background: Acacia pods are non-conventional protein rich feed resources that could be harnessed as a feed ingredient in sheep production. Though many workers have observed the utility of raw Acacia nilotica pods as a noteworthy feed for small ruminants, the information on nutritive value of urea treated pods is lacking.&nbsp; Hence the present study was undertaken to evaluate the nutritional potential of urea treated Acacia nilotica pods at different dietary levels for supporting growth and nutrient utilisation in lambs. 
 
Methods: Acacia nilotica pods were collected, sun dried and ground in a hammer mill. The ground pods and seeds were treated in bulk with urea. Then the urea treated pods (UTP) was incorporated in three experimental concentrate mixtures @ 0, 15 or 30 per cent (R1, R2, R3) replacing deoiled rice bran. The concentrate mixtures were made isoproteinic and isocaloric. Napier Bajra hybrid grass (CNCO4) was provided as the basal roughage component in the rations. The ingredient and proximate composition of concentrate mixtures. Fifteen ram lambs of native Kilakarsal breed of about six months of age and with an average initial body weight of 9.39 kg were divided on the basis of body weight into three groups with five lambs per dietary group in a completely randomized design. Daily record of feed consumption was maintained. The lambs were weighed at fortnightly intervals. At the end of the feeding experiment, digestion trial was conducted using the same ram lambs. The samples were analysed for proximate composition and the digestibility of nutrients in the three experimental rations were determined.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Based on the data analyzed the DMI worked out to be 64.90, 65.84 and 65.43 g/kg W0.75 in lambs fed with rations containing 0, 15 and 30% UTP in the concentrate mixture respectively. The corresponding values for ADG in the present study were 48.14, 47.43 and 48.57 g. The feed efficiency in terms of DMI required to gain one kg body weight were 8.28, 8.58 and 8.35 kg which did not vary between the treatment groups. DCP of experimental rations increased significantly (P&le;0.05) as the level of UTP in the concentrate mixture increased which could be attributed to the increased crude protein digestibility. The TDN decreased significantly (P&le;0.05) at 15% and level and was unaffected thereafter. Hence, it was concluded that Acacia nilotica pods treated with 5% urea at 40% moisture and stored for 14 days could safely be included up to 30 per cent level in the concentrate mixture of growing lamb ration.</div>

Evaluation of Urea Treated Acacia nilotica Pods as a Feed for Grower Lambs

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Tepary bean is recognized as a deal crop for cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. The spatial distribution of plants is an important farming practice. A study was conducted in tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) to investigate the effect of planting pattern and plant density on plant yield and amino acid profile. Methods: The experiment was carried out in a split-split plot design with three replications during 2017 and 2018. The main plot comprised planting pattern at two levels, including one-row plantation (PP1) and two-row plantation (PP2) and sub plot comprised plant density at three levels, including high plant density (HPD:50 plant/m2), moderate plant density (MPD:40 plant/m2) and low plant density (LPD: 30 plant/m2). In both years, plants were harvested at the end of pod filling stage at October. Amino acid profiles were determined using a HPLC system.&nbsp; Result: The results showed that in the first year and under PP2, MPD increased the biological yield by 19% and 16% compared to HPD and LPD, respectively. Increased pod yield was observed at MPD compared to HPD and LPD. In the second year under PP1, MPD improved grain yield by 75% and 65% in comparison to HPD and LPD, respectively. Increased protein and amino acid content were observed at MPD and PP2. The greatest amino acid content was Leu followed by Lys, Arg, Phe, Val, Ile, Thr, Tyr, His, Met, Trp and Cys.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Effect of Plant Pattern and Density on Yield and Amino Acid Profile of Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) in a Semiarid Area</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">The 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase is one of the essential enzymes of shikimate pathway and is verified as a specific target of broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate. It is important to get insights into three-dimensional (3D) structure of this enzyme for engineering new herbicides as well as herbicide resistant crops. The information about 3D structure of EPSP synthase enzyme is not yet available in protein database for any of the plant species. Therefore, we revealed the homology model of Phaseolus vulgaris EPSP synthase protein using the structure of EPSP synthase from E. coli as template. The resulting model structure was refined by RAMPAGE server, ERRAT and Verify3D. Ramachandran plot analysis showed that conformations for 95.6% of amino acid residues are within the most favoured region. The phylogenetic tree (constructed using MAFFT) separated EPSP synthases of bacteria, monocot and dicot plants into distinct clusters. Our study generated reliable 3D model structure of EPSP synthase in P. vulgaris, which can be used for future studies.</div>

In silico analysis, structural modeling and phylogenetic analysis of EPSP synthase of Phaseolus vulgaris&nbsp; &nbsp;

<div>Background:&nbsp;This study was conducted to evaluate the production of two fodder crops; common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) irrigated with treated wastewater. The study was implemented during summer 2015.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Four water regimes were used in the experiment including: Irrigation with fresh water (control), fresh water supplied by 10 ppm N-P-K fertilizer, treated wastewater and treated wastewater supplied with 10 ppm N-P-K fertilizer. The crops were planted in 5 liters plastic pots in 4:1 v/v sandy to clay soil. The soil was analyzed before and after planting. The following plant parameters were recorded: Plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, leaves number/plant, fruit number/plant and fruit weight/plant.&nbsp; 
 
Result: using treated wastewater significantly increased production parameters, the highest production was obtained with treated wastewater supplied with 10 ppm N-P-K fertilizer (81.5 cm/plant higher in vetch and 112.5 cm/plant in alfalfa for plant height). When treated wastewater was used alone compared to fresh water higher fresh weights (62.8 g/plant) (82.33 g/plant (132 and 87.17 g/plant) for vetch and alfalfa were obtained respectively. Regarding the dry weight, irrigation with TWW produced 33.83 g/plant and 44.67 g/plant compared to 22 g/plant and 24.5 g/plant for plants irrigated with fresh water for vetch and alfalfa respectively. The results of soil analysis show an increase in soil content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as an increase in soil salinity and SAR values.</div>

Effect of Short-term Irrigation of Treated Wastewater on Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Growth

<div>Background: Blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.), a major pulse crop of Andhra Pradesh grown in an area of 3.52 lakh ha with a production of 2.93 lakh tons during rabi season (Anonymous, 2019). One of the major characteristics for selection of blackgram varieties for rabi season under conditions of receding soil moisture in black soils is their early vigour and good weed smothering capability. Early varieties due to their early growth habit can cover the land and thus can smother weeds better than late maturing varieties. Further some variations are observed to be more tolerant to post emergence herbicide application. Hence, there is need to evaluate the promising blackgram varieties for their weed competitiveness and tolerance to pre and post emergence herbicidal application. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, with an objective to find out the competitive ability of blackgram varieties to smother weeds during rabi season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 under upland conditions. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of five methods of weed control as main plots, viz., pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 PE, imazethapyr 50 g ha-1 PoE, pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1&nbsp;PE fb imazethapyr 50 g ha-1, PoE, manual weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS) along with inter cultivation at 30 DAS and unweeded; four blackgram varieties, viz., GBG 1, PU 31, LBG 787, LBG 752, as sub treatments which were replicated thrice. 
 
Result: Weed dry matter recorded at 45 days was lower and weed control efficiency (WCE) was higher with pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 PE fb imazethapyr 50 g ha-1 PoE and was on par with manual weeding with inter cultivation. All the varieties were comparable and equally effective in controlling weed dry matter. Yield of variety GBG 1 was higher due to higher yield attributes viz., no. of pods per plant and 100 seed weight. Among the weed control methods manual weeding treatment with inter cultivation recorded significantly higher yield followed by a combination of pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 PE fb imazethapyr 50 g ha-1 PoE. Further, varieties GBG 1 and PU 31 performed better in manual weeding treatment with intercultivation and without any herbicide use.</div>

<div>Response of Blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) Varieties to Weed Competition and to Pre and Post Emergence Herbicide Application during Rabi</div>

<div>Background: Left over feed is still an unnoticed problem at organized dairy farms which often leads to considerable economic losses. This study was done to assess the feasibility of treated left over feed and performance of crossbred dairy cattle for a period of 150 days during winter and spring seasons.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: 24 healthy crossbred (Vrindavani) animals (8-12 months of age) were randomly selected to four different groups viz. Group-1 (Gr-1): 100% treated leftover feed; Group-2(Gr-2): 75% treated feed; Group-3 (Gr-3): 50% treated feed and Group-4(Gr-4) or Control: 100% green fodder. The leftover feed F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5 and F-6 were treated with combination of 1% urea+5% molasses+0.5% salt, 1% urea+5% molasses+1% salt, 1% urea+10% molasses+0.5% salt, 1% urea+10% molasses+1% salt, 5% molasses+0.5% salt and 10% molasses+0.5% salt, respectively. Each feed was offered for a period of one month to each group and animals were rearranged after every trial. Adjustment period of one week was given after every treatment. 
 
Result: The palatability score was found significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in Gr-1 than other treatment groups. The Gr-3 animals had equivalent palatability and weight gain in compared with control group. The average feeding cost per animal at farm was 80Rs. under normal circumstances. Analyzed data revealed that feeding cost was reduced significantly in Gr-1, Gr-2 and Gr-3 respectively. It can be concluded that the leftover feed can efficiently and economically be utilized for feeding to various classes of dairy animals under farm conditions and provide a better option during the scarcity period.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</div>

Diversity of native rhizobia-nodulating Phaseolus lunatus in Brazil

Residual Effects of Microbial Treated Paddy Residues Applied to Zero Till Maize on Growth and Yield of Summer Greengram

Understanding of Yield Stability in Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.) Genotypes using AMMI and GGE bi-plot Models

Role of potassium solublizing bacteria on nutrients uptake in red bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Goli) under water deficit condition

Evaluation of Urea Treated Acacia nilotica Pods as a Feed for Grower Lambs

Effect of Plant Pattern and Density on Yield and Amino Acid Profile of Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) in a Semiarid Area

In silico analysis, structural modeling and phylogenetic analysis of EPSP synthase of Phaseolus vulgaris

Effect of Short-term Irrigation of Treated Wastewater on Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Growth

Response of Blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) Varieties to Weed Competition and to Pre and Post Emergence Herbicide Application during Rabi

Performance Evaluation of Crossbred Cattle Fed Treated Leftover Feed