{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T05:16:26Z","timestamp":1788498986044,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788480000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Plant Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Adzuki bean (\n                    <jats:italic>Vigna angularis<\/jats:italic>\n                    ) is an important medicinal and edible legume with high nutritional and functional value. However, a systematic multi-dimensional quality evaluation system for mainstream varieties remains insufficient, restricting targeted breeding and industrial diversified utilization of adzuki bean. This study comprehensively assessed the agronomic, nutritional, processing and functional traits of 22 dominant Chinese adzuki bean varieties to screen promising candidate germplasms for specific applications. Multiple indices covering agronomic traits, mineral nutrition, seed color, processing quality and antioxidant capacity were determined, and 18 core indices were analyzed via principal component analysis (PCA). Results revealed abundant phenotypic variation across all traits, with pods per plant, isoflavone monomers and soluble sugar showing the most pronounced phenotypic variation. PCA ranked Baihong 2, Jihong 8 and Jihong 13 as the top three varieties under the tested conditions, and identified special-purpose cultivars including high-yield Jihong 9218, isoflavone-rich Baohong 8824 and antioxidant-rich Kenjianhong. This study established a multidimensional quality evaluation framework, providing scientific reference for promising cultivar screening, targeted breeding and sustainable industrial development of adzuki bean.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2026.1947671","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T04:27:09Z","timestamp":1788496029000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Comprehensive evaluation of agronomic, processing, nutritional and functional properties of 22 main-cultivated adzuki bean varieties in China and identification of elite varieties for different applications"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Lei","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Life Sciences, Zaozhuang University","place":["Zaozhuang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhaojin","family":"Shi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation\/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei","place":["Baoding, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Congpei","family":"Yin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation\/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei","place":["Baoding, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fan","family":"Jia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation\/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei","place":["Baoding, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuancong","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation\/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei","place":["Baoding, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hongmei","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Baoding Academy of Agricultural Sciences","place":["Baoding, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qiang","family":"Cui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Baoding Academy of Agricultural Sciences","place":["Baoding, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiaxing","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hezhuang Primary School","place":["Tanshan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dongxiao","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation\/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei","place":["Baoding, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuechen","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation\/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, College of Agronomy, Agricultural University of Hebei","place":["Baoding, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"749","DOI":"10.3390\/AGRONOMY14040794","article-title":"Combination effects of sulfur fertilizer and rhizobium inoculant on photosynthesis dynamics and yield components of soybean","volume":"14","author":"Bi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Agronomy"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.1016\/0003-2697(76)90527-3","article-title":"A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding","volume":"72","author":"Bradford","year":"1976","journal-title":"Anal. Biochem."},{"key":"B3","first-page":"23","article-title":"Correlation analysis of sweetened bean paste rate withother composition of adzuki bean","volume":"35","author":"Cao","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Hebei Agric. Univ."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/FOODS13121861","article-title":"Nutritional quality assessment of miscellaneous cassava tubers using principal component analysis and cluster analysis","volume":"13","author":"Chen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Foods"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1750-3841.12868","article-title":"Macronutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activity of soybean sprout germinated with or without light exposure","volume":"80","author":"Chen","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Food Sci."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/AGJ2.70160","article-title":"Foliar application of molybdenum combined with cobalt affects leaf nitrogen concentration, grain yield, and yield components of soybean","volume":"117","author":"Delfim","year":"2025","journal-title":"Agron. J."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7606\/j.issn.1009-1041.2025.08.08","article-title":"Effect of soil fertility on the antioxidant capacity of wheat grains with different grain colors","volume":"25","author":"Dong","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Triticeae Crops"},{"key":"B8","first-page":"461","article-title":"Studies on the relationship between canopy apparent photosynthesis and grain yield in high-yielding winter wheat","volume":"17","author":"Dong","year":"1991","journal-title":"Acta Agron. Sin."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3724\/SP.J.1006.2022.11007","article-title":"Distribution of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in layeredgrinding wheat flour and the regulation effect of nitrogen fertilizer application","volume":"48","author":"Feng","year":"2022","journal-title":"Acta Agron. Sin"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/J.FCR.2025.110112","article-title":"From photosynthesis to grain formation: A comprehensive evaluation of nitrogen-phosphorus co-optimization strategies in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) cultivation","volume":"333","author":"Ge","year":"2025","journal-title":"Field Crops Res."},{"key":"B13","first-page":"1","article-title":"The dynamic analysis of isoflavone during seed development in soybean","volume":"2","author":"Guo","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Agric."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/SEEDS4040057","article-title":"Ultrafine bubble priming promotes adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) germination under drought stress via modulation of seed traits and reactive oxygen species production","volume":"4","author":"Ha","year":"2025","journal-title":"Seeds"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fitote.2003.07.003","article-title":"Free radical scavenging activity of extracts prepared from fresh leaves of selected Chinese medicinal plants","volume":"75","author":"Hu","year":"2004","journal-title":"Fitoterapia"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/PLANTS11091132","article-title":"Genetic diversity and environmental influence on yield and yield-related traits of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.)","volume":"11","author":"Hu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Plants"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/J.FOODCHEM.2025.146344","article-title":"Germination-driven dynamic changes of phenolic compounds in oats and the underlying mechanisms for antioxidation enhancement","volume":"495","author":"Huang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/FPLS.2026.1841460","article-title":"Small auxin-up RNA promotes GmMYB176 gene transcription to modulate seed isoflavone accumulation in soybean","volume":"17","author":"Ji","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front. Plant Sci."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2022.978468","article-title":"Effects of light quality on growth, nutritional characteristics, and antioxidant properties of winter wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.)","volume":"13","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Plant Sci."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/HR\/UHAD160","article-title":"Grapevine plantlets respond to different monochromatic lights by tuning photosynthesis and carbon allocation","volume":"10","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Hortic. Res."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"350","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2016.01.101","article-title":"Phytochemical distribution in hull and cotyledon of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) and mung bean (Vigna radiate L.), and their contribution to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities","volume":"201","author":"Luo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/PLD3.70153","article-title":"Transcriptomic and metabolic insight into flavonoid biosynthesis underlying black and yellow seed coat color variation in soybean (Glycine max)","volume":"10","author":"Moon","year":"2026","journal-title":"Plant Direct"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.13982\/j.mfst.1673-9078.2022.9.1276","article-title":"Antioxidant components and activity of Triticum aestivum flour","volume":"38","author":"Niu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Modern Food. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/FOODS10112883","article-title":"Comprehensive evaluation of 17 qualities of 84 types of rice based on principal component analysis","volume":"10","author":"Shi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Foods"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"812","DOI":"10.1186\/S12870-026-08632-5","article-title":"Physiological and molecular mechanisms of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) responding to low light and screening of shade-adaptable varieties","volume":"26","author":"Shi","year":"2026","journal-title":"BMC Plant Biol."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/J.FCR.2026.110429","article-title":"Regulatory mechanisms of sulfur fertilization on photosynthetic physiology and yield formation in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) in the North China Plain: A four-year field study based on genotypic differences","volume":"341","author":"Shi","year":"2026","journal-title":"Field Crops Res."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/MOLECULES15128618","article-title":"Fully automated spectrometric protocols for determination of antioxidant activity: Advantages and disadvantages","volume":"15","author":"Sochor","year":"2010","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.16035\/j.issn.1001-7283.2018.06.013","article-title":"Effects of sowing date and planting densityon yield and related traits in adzuki bean","volume":"2018","author":"Wang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Crops"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1620","DOI":"10.1186\/S12870-025-07664-7","article-title":"Loci and natural alleles for leaf length and width revealed by a genome wide association study in adzuki bean","volume":"25","author":"Wu","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Plant Biol."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.13430\/j.cnki.jpgr.2008.03.019","article-title":"Advances in research on germplasm resources ofadzuki bean (Vigna angularis)","volume":"9","author":"Xu","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Plant Genet. Resour."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/FPLS.2025.1670702","article-title":"Red and blue photo-selective nets optimize leaf photostructure and photosynthetic efficiency to enhance antioxidant capacity, yield, and quality in adzuki bean","volume":"16","author":"Yin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Plant Sci."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/FFT2.70282","article-title":"Homoisoflavonoids\u2014from natural specificity and biosynthesis to precision health\u2010promoting mechanisms","volume":"7","author":"Zhang","year":"2026","journal-title":"Food Front."},{"key":"B30","first-page":"672","article-title":"Determination of soybean isoflavones content by high-performance liquidchromatographic method","volume":"4","author":"Zhang","year":"2011","journal-title":"Soybean Sci."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6108","DOI":"10.1021\/jf049214g","article-title":"Phytochemicals and antioxidant properties in wheat bran","volume":"52","author":"Zhou","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food. Chem."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Plant Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpls.2026.1947671\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T04:27:15Z","timestamp":1788496035000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpls.2026.1947671\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]]},"references-count":32,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpls.2026.1947671"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpls.2026.1947671","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-462X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-462X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]]},"article-number":"1947671"}}