Prospects of underutilized food legumes in sustaining pulse needs in India–A review

Abstract

Exploring rate of global population led to fast depletion of natural resources. It has become primary importance in India like horse gram, khesari, rice bean, tepary bean, moth bean, adzuki bean, winged bean and jack bean diversify the current agricultural systems in order to achieve food security. About 45 legume crops have been reported to be taken as food source by around 550 tribal societies in India. Different underutilized legumes are cultivated. These underutilized legumes make an important contribution in the diet of the rural habitats particularly during adverse conditions like dry season, drought and famine. Most of the known underutilized legumes contain adequate quantities of essential amino acids, protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), essential minerals, vitamins and dietary fibers compared to other legumes, along with presence of some beneficial bioactive substances. Exploring underutilized legumes as a source of feed, food and pharmaceutically important compounds to provide primary data which can be applied to overcome malnutrition-associated complications and can be able in sustaining pulse needs in India.