Warqaa Muhammed Shariff

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is a valuable and multifunctional summer legume crop that is widely exploited for seed gum extraction due to the presence of galactomannan in the seed endosperm, as well as for its protein-rich by-products (germ and hull), which are extensively used in various industries. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional value, bioactive compounds, and functional characteristics of seeds from fifteen guar genotypes in order to identify superior genotypes for breeding programs and industrial applications. In this study, a wide range of key traits was assessed, including seed gum percentage (SG), gum viscosity, dry matter digestibility (DMD), protein, fiber, total oil, ash, tannin, total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoids, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and carotenoids. Seed gum content varied from 25.7% in the Pishen genotype to 32.8% in the RGC-986 genotype. Similarly, gum viscosity ranged from 2353.67 to 3466.67 cP, with the highest value observed in RGC-986. Dry matter digestibility differed markedly among genotypes, ranging from 43.37% in Pishen to 51.97% in RGC-986, reflecting genotypic variation in seed nutritional quality. Fiber and protein contents also showed considerable variability, with ranges of 10.57%–12.95% and 25.33%–33.33%, respectively, and RGC-986 exhibited the highest values for both traits. Antioxidant-related attributes, including TAC and carotenoids, varied significantly among genotypes; to enable simultaneous selection of superior genotypes based on multiple nutritional and functional traits, the multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index (MGIDI) was applied. According to this index, genotype BR-99, with the lowest MGIDI value (2.04), was identified as the most desirable genotype, followed by RGC-986 with a value of 2.45. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the considerable genetic variability among guar genotypes in terms of nutritional, biochemical, and functional traits, and demonstrate the potential of exploiting this diversity in breeding programs aimed at developing guar cultivars with enhanced nutritional value and improved industrial performance.

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) is an important industrial legume widely cultivated across arid and semi-arid regions. To identify salt-tolerant genotypes, the fifteen guar genotypes originating from Iran, India, and Pakistan were evaluated under three salinity levels (0, 10, and 15 dS/m) in a factorial RCBD design. Salinity imposed highly significant reductions in physiological traits and caused phenological delays in guar genotypes. Under severe salt stress (15 dS/m), seed yield decreased across all genotypes. In response to 15 dS/m NaCl, the lowest yield reductions were recorded for the genotypes S6553, Saravan, S6260, and RGC-1031, at 16.3, 20.4, 21.2, and 21.4%, respectively, demonstrating relative tolerance to salt. In contrast, the largest decrease was observed in genotypes S-5885, S6566, and S-6560, by 31.4, 30.5, and 30.5%, respectively, confirming their relative sensitivity to salt stress.

This study evaluated the response of different wheat cultivars to deficit irrigation (75 % water irrigation requirement). Grain yield decreased by 15–28 % across cultivars under deficit irrigation, while water productivity (WP) increased by 8–20 %. Sakha 94 consistently exhibited the highest Stress Tolerance Index (STI = 0.92) and WP (1.35 kg m-3), maintaining 85 % of its full-irrigation yield, compared to 70–78 % for other cultivars. Key quality traits were also affected: grain protein content decreased by 12–18 %, gluten strength by 10–15 % and starch composition by 5–12 %, with Sakha 94 showing smaller reductions (protein 6 %, gluten 7 % and starch 4 %). These results indicate that Sakha 94 is the most drought-resilient cultivar and suitable for deficit irrigation, offering both yield stability and quality retention. The study provides valuable insights for breeding programs and water-saving agronomic practices under drought-prone environments

This study investigated the effects of foliar boron (B) and zinc (Zn) on Physalis alkekengi under four levels of drought stress (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of field capacity). Plants were treated with B at 0, 100, 200, and 400 ml/L and Zn at 0, 1, 2, and 3 g/L. Drought stress significantly reduced fruit length (3.5–5.2 cm), weight (13.7–22.8 g), and firmness (1.7–3.5 N). The combined foliar application of B (200 ml/L) and Zn (2 g/L) under moderate drought (50% field capacity) produced the best outcomes. Fruit weight increased by 28%, total soluble solids (TSS) reached 11.6%, chlorophyll content rose to 2.1 mg/g FW, and photosystem II efficiency (Fv/Fm) improved to 0.78. Total phenolics (7.2 mg/g FW), flavonoids (32.3 mg/g FW), and proline (38.5 mg/g FW) also peaked under this treatment, indicating enhanced antioxidant metabolism and osmotic adjustment. Strong correlations were observed between proline and total phenolics (r = 0.90), and between flavonoids and total phenolics (r = 0.86), suggesting coordinated stress-response mechanisms. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed clear clustering of treatments, separating those with higher fruit quality and metabolite accumulation from treatments with improved photosynthetic efficiency. Overall, foliar B and Zn acted synergistically to alleviate drought stress, stabilize photosynthesis, enhance antioxidant defenses, and improve fruit growth and quality in P. alkekengi. These findings demonstrate that integrated micronutrient management can be an effective strategy to improve plant performance under water limited conditions, benefiting both productivity and the nutritional value of fruits.