Numerous studies have reported wide-ranging benefits of cultivating cover crops during the typical fallow period in temperate cropping systems. However, data on impacts summer water-limited, Mediterranean-type climates, is lacking. A 3-year field experiment was conducted near town Northam wheat-belt Western Australia to test hypothesis that inclusion would increase ground cover, water storage a...

African indigenous leafy vegetables (AILVs) are plants that have been part of the food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for a long time and their leaves, young shoots, flowers, fruits seeds, stems, tubers, roots consumed. These high vitamins, minerals, protein, secondary metabolites promote health. This study aimed at isolating, characterizing, identifying dominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB)...

BACKGROUND Childhood and adolescent malnutrition is a function of inadequate intake. Cookies are favourite snacks of children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE This work determined the nutrient, antinutrient, and phytochemical compositions of two local cowpea (oraludi and apama) flours and evaluated the organoleptic properties of their wheat-based cookies. DESIGN The two local cowpea species were ...

Xylem sap composition was examined in nodulated and nonnodulated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) plants receiving a range of levels of NO(3) and in eight other ureide-forming legumes utilizing NO(3) or N(2) as sole source of nitrogen. A (15)N dilution technique determined the proportions of plant nitrogen derived from N(2) in the nodulated cowpeas fed NO(3). Xylem sap composition of NO(3)...

A Rhizobium strain nodulating cowpeas did not decline in abundance after it was added to sterile soils at pH 6.9 and 4.4, and the numbers fell slowly in nonsterile soils at pH 5.5 and 4.1. A strain of R. phaseoli grew when added to sterile soils at pH 6.7 and 6.9; it maintained large, stable populations in soils of pH 4.4, 5.5, and 6.0, but the numbers fell markedly and then reached a stable po...

In previous studies, we found that the consumption of legumes decreased bone turnover in ovariectomized rats. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether the protective effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and the microarchitecture of a diet containing legumes are comparable. In addition, we aim to determine their protective actions in bones by studying bone specific gene expressi...

Genetic differentiation can be promoted allopatrically by geographic isolation of populations due to limited dispersal ability and diversification over time or sympatrically through, for example, host-race formation. In crop pests, the trading of crops across the world can lead to intermixing of genetically distinct pest populations. However, our understanding of the importance of allopatric an...