Productivity of Indian mustard, an important oilseed crop of India, is affected by several pathogens. Among them, the hemibiotroph Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which causes sclerotinia rot disease, is the most devastating fungal pathogen causing up to 90% yield losses. The availability of host resistance is the only efficient approach to control and understand the host–pathogen interaction. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out using six Indian mustard genotypes with contrasting behavior towards sclerotinia rot to study the antioxidant resistance mechanism against S. sclerotiorum. The plants at post-flowering stage were inoculated with five-day-old pure culture of S. sclerotiorum using artificial stem inoculation method. Disease evaluation revealed significant genotypic differences for mean lesion length among the tested genotypes, where genotype DRMR 2035 was found highly resistant, while genotypes RH 1569 and RH 1633 were found highly susceptible. The resistant genotypes had more phenolics and higher activities of peroxidase, catalase and polyphenol oxidase which provide them more efficient and strong antioxidant systems as compared with susceptible genotypes. Studies of antioxidative mechanisms validate the results of disease responses.

Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia) starch is modified in its dry state (110 °C for 8 h, 14% moisture) using various ratios of organic acids (citric acid and stearic acid) in solvent free (solid–solid) reaction mode. Apparent amylose content is observed to increase in organic acid treated starches. Modified starches show lower swelling power than native starch. Scanning electron micrographs display rough granules surface for treated starches. Crystalline polymorphic pattern of moth bean starch is unaffected by organic acid treatment and dry heating. However, relative crystallinity increases after dry modification. Pasting properties indicate reduction following hydrolysis and loss of granular strength. Resistant starch (RS) content increases as an effect of the modification. This novel modification provides different functionality as compared to aqueous protocols and also provides a clean alternative to replace acid hydrolysis process with concentrated mineral acids.

Sclerotinia stem rot is one of the utmost important disease of mustard, causing considerable losses in seed yield and oil quality. The study of the genetic and proteomic basis of resistance to this disease is imperative for its effective utilization in developing resistant cultivars. Therefore, the genetic pattern of Sclerotinia stem rot resistance in Indian mustard was studied using six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1, and BC1P2) developed from the crossing of one resistant (RH 1222-28) and two susceptible (EC 766300 and EC 766123) genotypes. Genetic analysis revealed that resistance was governed by duplicate epistasis. Comparative proteome analysis of resistant and susceptible genotypes indicated that peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (A0A078IDN6 PPIase) showed high expression in resistant genotype at the early infection stage while its expression was delayed in susceptible genotypes. This study provides important insight to mustard breeders for designing effective breeding programs to develop resistant cultivars against this devastating disease.

Starch from chickpea seeds was isolated using three different steeping solutions viz water, sodium hydroxide and potassium metabisulfite and subsequently heat‐moisture treated (HMT) at 110 °C after adjusting moisture contents to 30% for 8 hr. The aim was to see the effect of steeping solutions on the physicochemical, morphological, crystalline and rheological properties of chickpea starch and their influence on heat‐moisture treatment of the starches. Starch isolated by water as steeping media showed the highest amylose content and swelling power. HMT starches showed lower granule sizes, swelling power, and bulk and tapped densities than native starch. The X‐ray diffraction pattern of HMT starches also showed difference in position and intensity of peaks. The starches after heat‐moisture treatment also differed significantly in loss and elastic modulus than those of native starches. Practical applications There is increased demand of heat‐moisture treated starches by the food industry. The present research is aimed at finding the isolation method of starch from chick pea seeds which can be subsequently used for heat‐moisture treatment. This can help industry to selectively modify the process before physical modification. There is a need of more understanding of how starch behaves after heat‐moisture treatment and its possible uses in products as texture stabilizer, and this research is directed at achieving at these aims.

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