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Legume–microbial interactions focus mainly on Rhizobium. The present study aimed to evaluate the plant growth-promoting (PGP) potential of bacterial and cyanobacterial formulations and variety-specific differences following their inoculation in two varieties of pea (Pisum sativum L.), namely Arkel and GP-17. Providencia sp. PW5–Anabaena laxa CW1 treatment was the most promising, with an 11%–76% increase in defense enzyme activity in both varieties. Interestingly, Arkel responded better in terms of nitrogenase activity, which was enhanced several-fold in the inoculated treatments, and exhibited a significant correlation (r = 0.787, 0.778, 0.755; p < 0.05) with shoot length, fresh weight and nodule number per plant, respectively. Nodule number was significantly correlated (r = 0.74, 0.81; p < 0.05) with PAL and PPO activity, respectively, and with microbial biomass carbon, alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity (r = 0.582, 0.538, 0.666; p < 0.05), respectively. Variety GP-17, however, responded better in terms of increasing the polysaccharide and glomalin content of soil. This study reveals the promise of co-inoculation of PGPRs (plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria) as synergistic partners for improving plant growth mobilization of major nutrients in pea. However, there is a need to study root exudate patterns to identify promising microbe–variety combinations.

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The present investigation reports variability in lycopene, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and colour attributes of 12 watermelon cultivars grown in India. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using four in vitro assays, namely ferric reducing antioxidant power, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl. Among watermelon cultivars, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found with respect to lycopene content and antioxidant capacity. Lycopene content ranged from 03.46 to 8.00 mg/100 g fresh weight. Colour of watermelon flesh was described by an optimized colour index (CI). Cultivars 'PWM25-4', 'Arun', 'Kiran' and 'Kareena' were found to be the most promising ones with highest lycopene content, antioxidant capacity and CI. Results indicate that watermelon is a good source of dietary lycopene and there exists significant variation that can be exploited to produce high-quality cultivars.

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