Recent Advances in the Development of Transgenic Pulse Crops

Abstract

Pulse crops, belonging to the family Leguminosae, are harvested solely for their dry grains and are known to play a pivotal role in improving the fertility of the soil by nitrogen fi xation. They are of immense importance to humanity and are a key to sustainable agriculture. Pulses, due to their high protein content, are important for the vegetarian population of developing countries and are known as “the poor man’s meat.” Pulse proteins are generally defi cient in the essential amino acid methionine. The digestibility of pulse protein is high and consumption of pulses is known to reduce mortality from coronary heart diseases (Menotti et al., 1999). India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulse crops. The major pulse crops include pigeon pea or red gram (Cajanus cajan), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), mung bean or green gram (Vigna radiata), black gram or urd bean (Vigna mungo), azuki bean (Vigna angularis), moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia), fi eld bean (Vicia faba), lima bean (Vigna lunatus), dry cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), lentil (Lens culinaris), and dry peas (Pisum sativum). Minor pulses include winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), velvet bean (Mucuna spp.), and so on. CONTENTS