Agricultural Research Updates. Volume 33

Chapter one discusses the current information about the changes in chickpea''s nutritional value and health benefits given by its components after applying different kinds of food processes. In the second chapter, the authors suggest a holistic framework for defining, evaluating and improving the governance of agroecosystem services in Bulgaria. The interdisciplinary Theory of Ecosystem Services and the New Institutional Economy are adapted, and an attempt is made to define the governance of agroecosystem services, to identify its agents, forms and mechanisms, to formulate an adequate criterion for evaluating its efficiency, and to characterize the stages for its analysis and improvement. The aim of the third chapter was to develop a new "ready-to-eat" semi-solid CF product by using HHP at 600 MPa and 50°C for 15 or 25 min combined with final microwave heating prior to consumption. Eight combinations with a formulation that includes raw or toasted CF, with or without lemon juice, were evaluated using physicochemical (color and protein content, mechanical and rheological behavior), microbiological and sensory analyses. Subtropical Scientific Centre scientists (Sochi, Russia) have a task to select the most promising peach varieties of early, average and late maturation that are grown in the region. The timing of fruit maturation depends on the climatic conditions of the area, so in chapter four authors gave a brief description of the varieties, based on their maturation time in the humid subtropics of Russia. Chapter five, the auhors discuss how they came to the conclusion that using the plant growth regulators in okra may be an effective strategy for improving growth, yield, and quality production. In the last chapter, authors perform a study using anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (leguminosae) to determine that the dynamic integration of the species biology, spatial ecology, and historical demographic events will provide valuable tools for a multi-scale understanding of gene dispersal processes and their consequences on genetic variability distribution.