Potential Health Benefits of Fenugreek With Multiple Pharmacological Properties

Fenugreek is one of the familiar spices found in human food and has been used extensively for curing numerous disorders. It provides natural food fibers and other nutrients required in the human body. It is used in functional foods, traditional foods, and nutraceuticals as well as in physiological uses such as antidiabetic agent, antibacterial, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, enzymatic pathway, and modifier gastric stimulant. It has a valuable influence on digestion and also has the capability to modify food texture. In modern food technology, it is used as a food stabilizer, adhesive, and emulsifying agent due its fiber, protein, and gum content. Recent pharmocological exploration of the seed extract of this plant discovered anticancer properties. Although it has many potential effects, there are some side effects as well; therefore, there is a greater need to study the pharmacological and toxicological effects of fenugreek to examine its clinical efficacy and safety.

Improving the Mechanical Properties of Red Clay Using Xanthan Gum Biopolymer

The traditional treatment of red clay using inorganic materials leads to many serious environmental problems. The study investigates the mechanical properties of red clay using an environmental-friendly material—xanthan gum—through confined compression, direct shear, and scanning electron microscope tests. At the macroscale, xanthan gum content and curing age had obvious effects on the compressibility, presenting the treated red clay was in the category of low compressibility which gradually increased when xanthan gum content exceeded 1.5%. The xanthan gum content and curing age also had significant influences on the cohesion but not on the internal friction angle. The shear strength of red clay can be improved by increasing the cohesion without obviously changing the friction characteristics. After curing for 28 days, the cohesion and internal friction angle of 2.0% xanthan gum-treated soil were effectively improved to 170.44 kPa and 20.56°, which were increased by 69.79% and 9.36°, respectively, compared with untreated red clay. Microscopic analysis indicated that the strengthening mechanism by xanthan gum was derived from changing the arrangement characteristics of soil particles and forming hard biopolymer-red clay matrices. The proper xanthan gum can effectively wrap clay particles and fill pore spaces. However, the extensive stacking of gels would also reduce the effective connection of clay particles and produce local weak points in the soil, resulting in attenuation of mechanical properties. This study enriches the treatment measure of red clay and provides beneficial experiences for biopolymer application on special clay.

​Genetic Diversity for Seed Yield and its Components in Clusterbean [Cymopsis tetragonaloba (L.) Taub]

Background: Clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] (2n=2x=14) is an under exploited legume belonging to family fabaceae. Clusterbean is a versatile legume crop cultivated mostly as animal feed, green manure green leaves as fodder, vegetable and cover crop. Clusterbean is a drought resistant, hardy, deep rooted annual legume crop. D2 statistics provides a measure of magnitude for divergence between two genotypes under comparison. For broadening the genetic base of cultivars, the genetic diversity present in cultivated and wild relatives must be explored. Generally, diverse germplasms are expected to give high hybrid vigor and hence, it necessitates studying genetic divergence among the existing varieties and genotypes for the identification of parents for hybridization programme. Methods: The present investigation was undertaken to study genetic variability in clusterbean [Cymopsis tetragonaloba (L.) Taub] with using a set of 40 genotypes at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during Kharif 2019 in randomized block design with four replications. Mahalanobis (1928) D2 statistic was used for assessing the genetic divergence between different populations. Grouping of the genotypes in different clusters was done by using Tocher’s method. The inter-cluster distance was calculated by measuring the distance between clusters I and cluster II, between clusters I and cluster III, between clusters II and cluster III and so on. Likewise, one by one cluster was taken and their distances from other clusters were calculated. Result: The genetic diversity analysis revealed the formation of nine clusters suggested the presence of considerable genetic diversity among the 40 genotypes. The clustering pattern indicated that geographic diversity was not associated with genetic diversity. The analysis of per cent contribution of various characters towards the expression of total genetic divergence indicated that, the number of branches per plant followed by gum content, days to maturity, days to flowering contributed maximum towards total genetic divergence. On the basis of inter cluster distances, cluster IX was found to be more divergent. Therefore, it was concluded that the genotypes belonging to these cluster should be inter crossed in order to generate more variability.

Growth, yield and quality of two guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) ecotypes affected by sowing date and planting density in a semi-arid area

The growth period, phenology, grain yield and gum content of two different guar ecotypes were studied in response to different sowing dates and plant densities. A two-year field experiment was conducted as a split-factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates in the research field of Tarbiat Modares University during 2016 and 2017 growing season. Main plots consisted of four sowing dates (May 21, June 4, June 21 and July 5 in 2016 and May 10, May 26, June 10 and June 26 in 2017), and subplots including three plant densities (13, 20 and 40 plants m-2) and two ecotypes (Pakistani and Indian). Based on findings, the phenological traits, plant height, grain yield and harvest index were significantly affected by plant density. The effect of ecotypes was statistically significant (p<0.05) on all traits except harvest index in the first year. Furthermore, the seed sowings on May 21 and May 26 with 13 plants m-2 led to highest grain yield (3004.8 and 2826.10 kg.ha-1 for two consecutive years). The high gum content (33.68 and 33.78% for two consecutive years) was also recorded for Pakistani ecotype while for gravity, Indian ecotype showed higher value in both crop years. By and large, the Pakistani ecotype showed better response compared to the Indian one in both years, especially in 1st and 2nd sowing dates.

A Framework for Identification of Stable Genotypes Based on MTSI and MGDII Indexes: An Example in Guar (Cymopsis tetragonoloba L.)

Guar, the most popular vegetable, is tolerant of drought and is a valuable industrial crop enormously grown across India, Pakistan, USA, and South Africa for pharmaceutically and cosmetically usable galactomannan (gum) content present in seed endosperm. Guar genotypes with productive traits which could perform better in differential environmental conditions are of utmost priority for genotype selection. This could be achieved by employing multivariate trait analysis. In this context, Multi-Trait Stability Index (MTSI) and Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) were employed for identifying high-performing genotypes exhibiting multiple traits. In the current investigation, 85 guar accessions growing in different seasons were assessed for 15 morphological traits. The results obtained by MTSI and MGIDI indexes revealed that, out of 85, only 13 genotypes performed better across and within the seasons, and, based on the coincidence index, only three genotypes (IC-415106, IC-420320, and IC-402301) were found stable with high seed production in multi-environmental conditions. View on strengths and weakness as described by the MGIDI reveals that breeders concentrated on developing genotype with desired traits, such as quality of the gum and seed yield. The strength of the ideal genotypes in the present work is mainly focused on high gum content, short crop cycle, and high seed yield possessing good biochemical traits. Thus, MTSI and MGIDI serve as a novel tool for desired genotype selection process simultaneously in plant breeding programs across multi-environments due to uniqueness and ease in interpreting data with minimal multicollinearity issues.

Performance of soils enhanced with eco-friendly biopolymers in unconfined compression strength tests and fatigue loading tests

Recently, biopolymers have emerged in soil stabilisation. The efficiency of biopolymers in groundimprovement is mainly dependent on biopolymer types, soil types, biopolymer contents, curing periods,thermal treatment and mixing methods. However, the effect of the initial moisture content during samplepreparation stages, on the mechanical behaviours of biopolymer-treated soils, has not been fullyunderstood. The first part of this study probed the role of initial moisture content, in treating Shanghaiclay with the xanthan gum by performing standard proctor compaction tests, Atterberg limit tests,unconfined compression strength (UCS) tests and microstructural analysis, while the second part contributedto capture the fatigue behaviours of the samples treated with an ideal moisture content by performingconstant-amplitude and stepping-amplitude fatigue loading tests. Our results showed that theimprovement appeared to occur from an average optimum moisture content for the treated soils (treatedoptimum), which was 3% wet of the untreated optimum. As the initial moisture content increased, theUCS values were elevated. However, there existed an ideal initial moisture content leading to the maximumstrengthening efficiency. For xanthan gum content (i.e., the mass of xanthan gum with respect tothe mass of dry soil) ranging from 1.0% to 5.0%, this ideal value was between 1.1 and 1.2 times the treatedoptimum. Our results also indicated that xanthan gum, as a biopolymer soil strengthener, was efficient inincreasing either fatigue life or bearing capacity, under repeated loading for xanthan gum-soil matrices,when compared to untreated soils. While the untreated soils failed at the stress level of only half the UCS,the xanthan gum-treated soils with a 3.0% xanthan gum content sustained at the end of the tests. Thesedata imply the potential use of xanthan gum in soil stabilisation, under repeated loads.

Relative Change in SI Engine’s Emission and Performance Parameters Using New Locally Made Octane Enhancer

In this study, a new gasoline Octane enhancer was made in Al-Doura refinery in Baghdad andwas used with the Iraqi pool gasoline. The main objective of this study was to find an Octanebooster to the low Octane Gasoline produced by Al-Doura refinery that does adversely affect itschemical, physical or combustion properties. This additive was then added to gasoline indifferent percentages (2.5% till 15% Vol) and the blend’s properties e.g. calorific value, density,Octane number (RON and MON), gum content, sulfur content were measured. These blendswere then tested against the performance of the original pool gasoline using previously calibratedand tested software. The relative change in the engine performance was then observed andcompared. It was found that the octane number of gasoline significantly improved after additionof the additive, its gum content decreased, its calorific value decreased while the sulfur contentwas slightly increased. No major change in the engine performance was noticed except for thedecrease in peak cylinder temperature and the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides level at 2.5%then increased with additives.

Stability Analysis of Yield and Yield Attributing Traits of Promising Genotypes of Cluster Bean [Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.]

Background: Cluster bean is originated in India and Pakistan and is characterized as a short day plant. It is a drought tolerant, warm season legume crop, cultivated mainly as rain fed crop in arid and semi-arid regions during rainy season for vegetable, galactomannan gum, forage and green manure. In view of growing demand for its yield, development of new varieties with stable performance over environments is need of the hour.Methods: Twenty five genotypes of cluster bean including one check were evaluated for yield and its attributes in Randomized Block Design with three replications in field investigation during Kharif, 2019 at three agro-climatic Zones of Telangana. G x E interaction and stability analysis of different genotypes across the three environments were worked out as per the model given by Eberhart and Russel (1966).Result: The environments linear were highly significant for all the traits, revealed that the environments were effective in affecting the performance of all the genotypes with respect to cluster bean yield attributing traits. Genotypes IC-9052, IC-10323, IC-10333, IC-103295 and IC-200680 were high yielding and stable under all environments, IC-103295, IC-10323 and IC-9077P1 for higher gum content, IC-10333, IC-28286, IC-103295 and IC-200715 for protein content and genotype IC- 9077-P1 for fibre content were considered as desirable and stable over the environments. The results of the present study could contribute for stable cluster bean varietal improvement in India.

Physical-Chemical Properties and Engine Performance of Blends of Biofuels with Gasoline

Addition of 10 vol% biomass-based methyl levulinate (ML), ethyl levulinate (EL), butyl levulinate (BL), gamma-valerolactone (GVL), dimethyl carbonate (DimC), and diethyl carbonate (DieC) in gasoline were selected as blended fuels. Physical-chemical properties of six different blends of biofuels and gasoline, including miscibility, octane number, distillation, vapor pressure, unwashed gum content, solvent washed gum content, copper corrosiveness, water content, mechanical admixtures, and lower heating value was evaluated according to the China National Standards. Blended fuels were then evaluated on the performance and emissions of a gasoline test engine without any modification. The results showed that all biomass-based fuels at 10 vol% have good miscibility in gasoline at temperatures of –30 to 30 °C. Experiments were performed at 4500 rpm engine speed at different engine loads (from 10% to 100% in 10% intervals). Results showed slightly lower engine power at different loads with the blended fuels than those from gasoline fuelled engine. However, the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) with the blended fuels was slightly higher than that from gasoline. Emission of carbon monoxide (CO), total unburned hydrocarbon (THC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) was reduced significantly from the blended fuels compared to gasoline while carbon dioxide (CO2) emission was slightly higher than that from gasoline. The data suggests that 10 vol% addition of biomass-based levulinates and carbonates fuels to gasoline is suitable for use in gasoline engines.

Exploring the edible gum (galactomannan) biosynthesis and its regulation during pod developmental stages in clusterbean using comparative transcriptomic approach

Galactomannan is a polymer of high economic importance and is extracted from the seed endosperm of clusterbean (C. tetragonoloba). In the present study, we worked to reveal the stage-specific galactomannan biosynthesis and its regulation in clusterbean. Combined electron microscopy and biochemical analysis revealed high protein and gum content in RGC-936, while high oil bodies and low gum content in M-83. A comparative transcriptome study was performed between RGC-936 (high gum) and M-83 (low gum) varieties at three developmental stages viz. 25, 39, and 50 days after flowering (DAF). Total 209,525, 375,595 and 255,401 unigenes were found at 25, 39 and 50 DAF respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis indicated a total of 5147 shared unigenes between the two genotypes. Overall expression levels of transcripts at 39DAF were higher than 50DAF and 25DAF. Besides, 691 (RGC-936) and 188 (M-83) candidate unigenes that encode for enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of galactomannan were identified and analyzed, and 15 key enzyme genes were experimentally validated by quantitative Real-Time PCR. Transcription factor (TF) WRKY was observed to be co-expressed with key genes of galactomannan biosynthesis at 39DAF. We conclude that WRKY might be a potential biotechnological target (subject to functional validation) for developing high gum content varieties.