Grain Legume Production Research Articles

Economic and statistical methods of estimating and forecasting the enterprise production activity and realization of oilseed crops

Enhancing food security of Kazakhstan, increasing food products is one of the priority tasks of the country’s economic policy. The processing industry is one of the most important links of the agro-industrial complex as a whole, being an integral part of the country’s food security. The processing industry provides the population with quality food products, income from the sale of products, as well as jobs. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to its qualitative development and efficiency improvement by means of economic and statistical methods of evaluation and forecasting of enterprise activity. The research was performed at the micro level in the districts of Kostanay region. A number of typical farms of the region engaged in production of grain legumes and oilseed crops, processing of oilseed crops and sale of finished products were involved. The article considers economic and statistical methods of estimating the change in cash flows from the sale of oilseed linen, as well as forecasting the transformation of sales revenue up to 2026. The work presents several new aspects of the study, including adaptation to government subsidies and market demand, characterisation of the life cycle stage of the company, application of statistical analysis, and a detailed economic sense and methodological calculation of the company’s financial health. The following research methods were applied in the article: statistical method of dynamic series, interval level of the series of dynamics of cash receipts, absolute growth at prices and base values, considered the impact of unaccounted factors, growth and acceleration rates by chain and base method. As a result, the data of the study showed the instability of changes in cash from the sale of oilseed linen.

AGRONOMIC RESPONSE OF Phaseolus vulgaris CULTIVARS IN AGROCLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF “SAN JUAN AND MARTÍNEZ”, CUBA

The production of grain legumes is very important for food and should be promoted in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) farming systems little diversified. The research was carried out in soil and climatic conditions in the tobacco locality “San Juan and Martínez”, Cuba, with the objective of determining the agronomic response of four common bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Commercial cultivars were used 'CUL´-156', 'Buenaventura', 'Guamá 23' and 'Chévere', distributed in an experimental design of blocks randomly with four replicas. The crop is established in two sowing times (November 2017 – February 2018 y November 2018 – February 2019), in a Leached Yellowish Ferralitic soil. The agricultural yield of its components (number of legumes per plant, index non-effective legumes per plant, number of seeds per legume, dry mass of the legumes, dry mass of the seeds per legume and the mass of 100 seeds) was evaluated. The productive results showed a differentiated response between cultivars that justify the effect of the genotype-environment interaction in its crop. The average agricultural yield exceeded 65% of the genetic potential in the cultivars with red testa seeds ('Buenaventura' and 'Guamá 23') and white testa ('Chévere'), a proportion higher than that of the commercial production control 'CUL-156' (63.6%). The results of this study showed the possibility of diversifying the production of this legume in tobacco agroecosystems of “San Juan and Martínez” with cultivars of different colors in the seed coat.

Coinoculation impact on plant growth promotion: a review and meta-analysis on coinoculation of rhizobia and plant growth-promoting bacilli in grain legumes.

Coinoculation of symbiotic N2-fixing rhizobia and plant growth-promoting Bacillus on legume seeds can increase crop productivity. We collected highly resolved data on coinoculation of rhizobia and bacilli on 11 grain legume crops: chickpea, common bean, cowpea, faba bean, groundnut, lentil, mung bean, pea, pigeon pea, soybean, and urad bean to verify the magnitude of additive effects of coinoculation in relation to single inoculation of rhizobia on plant growth and yield of grain legumes. Coinoculation of rhizobia and bacilli on legume seeds and/or soil during sowing significantly increased nodulation, nitrogenase activity, plant N and P contents, and shoot and root biomass, as well as the grain yield of most grain legumes studied. There were however a few instances where coinoculation decreased plant growth parameters. Therefore, coinoculation of rhizobia and Bacillus has the potential to increase the growth and productivity of grain legumes, and can be recommended as an environmental-friendly agricultural practice for increased crop yields.

On-farm experiments on cultivation of grain legumes for food – outcomes from a farmer–researcher collaboration

AbstractThere is a growing interest among farmers and consumers in increasing production and consumption of grain legumes in Sweden. This requires better knowledge among farmers and advisors about suitable species, varieties and management practices for different conditions. Since cultivar suitability and management practices are highly site-specific, farmers need to gain their own experience of new crops and practices. This paper describes a farmer–researcher collaboration in which cultivation of grain legumes for food was investigated in on-farm experiments designed, managed and evaluated jointly by a group of farmers and researchers. Farmers tested innovative practices using within-field species diversity, comparative performance of varieties and methods for weed control. Post-harvest steps such as cleaning and selling the crops were considered by farmers to be integral components of the experiments. The process generated different types of knowledge, including practical knowledge on crop management, strategic knowledge on economic sustainability and knowledge about joint learning through collaboration. The on-farm experiments combined advantages of ‘pure’ farmer experiments (i.e., context specificity) and ‘pure’ researcher experiments (i.e., scientific inquiry), facilitating deeper analysis and understanding of outcomes. This enabled efficient knowledge building, adoption of new crops and innovative practices and stimulated further experimentation. The outcomes of this study are that farmer–researcher collaborations using on-farm experiments can stimulate collective learning by stimulating the exchange between participants and combining complementary perspectives throughout the experimentation process. The study also provides recommendations for facilitating on-farm experiments in future work, for instance using collective settings to evaluate the results.

A comprehensive review on grain legumes as climate‐smart crops: Challenges and prospects

Global food production needs to be doubled by 50% by the middle of 21st century to ensure the food and nutritional security for 9 billion people explicitly in the challenging scenarios such as land degradation, water scarcity and environmental pollution. Climate change is evident worldwide due to exponential rise in atmospheric carbon-di-oxide (eCO2) and temperature (eT). It leads to more complexity in achieving the sustainable food security. Grain legumes are the major sources of dietary proteins with multifaceted impact on ecosystem services. Being the C3 crops climate change (more specifically eCO2) usually has positive impact on physiology and productivity of grain legumes as compared to C4 cereal crops. Grain legumes can allocate the above ground photosynthates into the below ground parts like roots and nodules resulting improvement in plant biomass, rhizospheric activities and higher input (water and nutrients) use efficacy. However, the impact of eT on grain legume is not always favourable. High temperature explicitly in the reproductive phase is extremely deleterious causing flower abortion and abnormal pod filling. Besides, eT impairs the performance of grain legumes because of higher evaporative demand, poor root-microbial association and pest severity. Therefore, both agronomic and genetic interventions must be integrated to raise successful grain legumes and to achieve the targeted yield in the changing climatic conditions. The targeted breeding programmes should be selection of high yielding, biotic stress resistant and abiotic stress tolerant grain legume genotypes that are adapted to eCO2 and eT conditions. Further, integrating the grain legumes with desirable traits to the food production system might impart resilience towards climate change. In this comprehensive review the impacts of climate change (eCO2 and eT) on above and below ground crop growth, productivity, water use efficiency and disease-pest severity are thoroughly discussed. Further, climate smart technologies which make grain legumes as a perfect candidate crop in the future climatic condition are also highlighted.

Genome-Wide Association Studies of Seed Performance Traits in Response to Heat Stress in Medicago truncatula Uncover MIEL1 as a Regulator of Seed Germination Plasticity.

Legume seeds are an important source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins for human and animal diets and represent a keystone for food security. With climate change and global warming, the production of grain legumes faces new challenges concerning seed vigor traits that allow the fast and homogenous establishment of the crop in a wide range of environments. These seed performance traits are regulated during seed maturation and are under the strong influence of the maternal environment. In this study, we used 200 natural Medicago truncatula accessions, a model species of legumes grown in optimal conditions and under moderate heat stress (26°C) during seed development and maturation. This moderate stress applied at flowering onwards impacted seed weight and germination capacity. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed to identify putative loci or genes involved in regulating seed traits and their plasticity in response to heat stress. We identified numerous significant quantitative trait nucleotides and potential candidate genes involved in regulating these traits under heat stress by using post-GWAS analyses combined with transcriptomic data. Out of them, MtMIEL1, a RING-type zinc finger family gene, was shown to be highly associated with germination speed in heat-stressed seeds. In Medicago, we highlighted that MtMIEL1 was transcriptionally regulated in heat-stressed seed production and that its expression profile was associated with germination speed in different Medicago accessions. Finally, a loss-of-function analysis of the Arabidopsis MIEL1 ortholog revealed its role as a regulator of germination plasticity of seeds in response to heat stress.

The challenge of drought stress for grain legumes and options for improvement

ABSTRACT Drought stress is one of the major yield limiting factors in grain legumes. The severity and intensity of drought stress are predicted to increase in the future. Drought stress in grain legumes at any stage causes significant yield reduction owing to a decrease in stand establishment (misfunctioning of germination enzymes like proteases and amylases), and nutrient uptake (decreasing water use efficiency), growth (disrupting cell division and leaf expansion), and yield formation (inhibiting photosynthesis). In this review, the major challenges of drought stress for grain legumes as germination and stand establishment, growth and development, light-harvesting and carbon fixation, yield formation, grain quality, and nutrient uptake are discussed. The options for crop improvement (breeding, OMICs, genomic, and transgenic) and crop management (agronomic options) have also been discussed. The crop improvement strategies as germplasm screening, using proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, genomics, and use of biotechnological approaches along with crop management such as seed enhancement, adjustment of sowing time and planting geometry, soil amendments, and application of plant growth promoting microbes can help improve the field performance and productivity of grain legumes under drought stress. Water use can be economized with the use of information on soil water balance and crop phenological models.

Abiotic stress impact on moong (Vigna radiata L.) and strategies by earthworm enhance soil condition

Moong (Vigna radiata L.) generally known as green gram is one of the most important legume and contain a high composition of proteins, vitamin, mineral and thymine, niacin and ascorbic acid. It has wider adaptability to grow short-duration (65-90 days) and requires low input. High or regular increasing temperature will be detrimental for growth functions of various crop plants and increasing demand of Moong during spring/summer season in major growing region in Northern parts of India. Decrease in Moong quality and yield are influenced by abiotic constraints like high temperature, drought, salinity, metal. Photosynthetic activity is recognized as sensitive to elevated temperature and causes loss of chlorophyll and reduction in carbon fixation and assimilation. Aim of study, the role of abiotic stress impact on the growth of moong and the significant role of earthworm to improve the growth and productivity of moong. In the northern plain, India lies in the Indo-Gangetic plain, moong is grown in the summer/spring season for cropping patterns followed by potato, tomato, wheat etc., these are the major crop in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. In heat stress, an adaptation of physiological and biochemical processes gradually may lead to improvement of heat tolerance in plants. Soil conditions manage by agronomic practices at farm for enhance the productivity and quality. Hence, it is necessary to enhance productivity of food grain legumes by available sustainable source i.e. improve soil condition e.g. salinity, ion-extraction. Earthworms play an important role to promote the growth of mung bean and other crop in a sustainable way. Earthworm and its product (vermicompost and vermiwash) aid to overcome in stress condition and provide nutrition to crop.

Inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve chickpea performance under water deficit conditions

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) currently ranks second in the world's production of grain legumes and it is considered a cheap source of plant-based protein. In Mediterranean regions, predicted changes in climate are likely to further worsen drought stress and increase the economic vulnerability of chickpea production. Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to improve plant growth and ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of inoculation with PGPB (Mesorhizobium sp., Burkholderia sp. and Pseudomonas sp.) and AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis geosporum and Claroideoglomus claroideum) on the growth, grain yield and protein content of chickpea in a field experiment under different irrigation regimes throughout the growing season (100% water requirements (WR), 50% WR, 25% WR, 100% WR only during reproductive stages, and rainfed).Based on two years of results, the beneficial effects of co-inoculation (PGPB+AMF) on plant growth parameters of chickpea allow a cumulative grain yield of about 13,838 kg ha−1, resulting in an increase of 6% when as compared to a single inoculation and 24% over the non-inoculated plants. Plants inoculated with PGPB+AMF, and irrigated only during the reproductive stages, had the highest cumulative grain yield (18,157 kg ha−1), resulting in an increase of 16% and 237% over fully irrigated plants inoculated with PGPB+AMF and non-inoculated plants under rainfed conditions, respectively.In water-scarce environments, deficit irrigation only during the reproductive stage allows farmers to achieve higher yields with less water consumption, which, when combined with microbial inoculation, has the potential to benefit agricultural production of chickpea.

Mungbean in Southeast Asia and East Africa: varieties, practices and constraints

BackgroundImproving the productivity of grain legumes is important to address global challenges of food security and soil degradation. This study’s objective was to quantify the adoption of improved mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) varieties and agricultural practices and to identify production constraints for six countries in Southeast Asia and three countries in East Africa.MethodsA Delphi method using expert elicitation was applied at subnational levels and then aggregated to national levels. Each panel employed repetitive and independent questioning of experts. The study organized 31 expert panels involving 387 experts across 9 countries.ResultsThe share of improved varieties in the planted area, as estimated by the expert panels, was 92% for the Philippines, 91% for Vietnam, 99% for Thailand, 84% for Cambodia, 60% for Indonesia, 35% for Laos, 91% for Kenya, 30% for Uganda and 25% for Tanzania. The average age of improved varieties was 19 years in Asia and 12 years in East Africa. Of the mungbean area in Southeast Asia, 61% was planted to varieties developed by the World Vegetable Center, but this was only 2% in East Africa. Production constraints generally included insect pests and plant diseases, unstable markets with low price and low market demand, and the lack of quality seed of suitable varieties.ConclusionsThere are ample opportunities to improve mungbean productivity through wider use of improved varieties and practices, which is important to meet the contemporary challenges of improving human nutrition and agricultural sustainability.

PRESENT STATUS OF GRAIN LEGUMES PRODUCTION IN NEPAL

This review paper is prepared to know the information about the present scenario of grain legumes in Nepal. Grain legumes are important crops for improving soil condition and dietary status of human. The area, production and productivity of grain legumes are collected from the data which is published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD). During the fiscal year 2019/20, Grain legumes are grown in 333,740 ha with the production and productivity of 381,987 Mt and 1,151 kg/ha respectively. Among pulses, the winter crop lentil dominates in production (65.76%) as well as in area coverage (62.93%). Grain Legumes Research Program (GLRP) of Nepal in collaboration with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGAIR) centres works for genetic improvement of lentil, chickpea, pigeon pea, soybean, black gram, fababean and cowpea.

Production, consumption and market diversification of grain legumes in the humid forest agroecology of cameroon

Grain legumes are mostly cultivated for food and income security. However, the productivity of most grain legumes remains low, with ensuing impacts on consumption and marketing. This study aims at characterizing major grain legumes with regards to production, consumption, and sales in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. The research targets explicitly agricultural households in which the production, consumption, and marketing decisions are made sequentially. To evaluate the socioeconomic determinants driving these decisions, we employed the Tobit censored regression model. Our results present empirical evidence that households participate in markets after satisfying their food consumption needs. Female-headed households are more involved in the production and marketing of legumes. We thus provide evidence-based policy directives to target women into farming systems by empowering them and increasing their access to improved seeds and farmland. Informal education is also essential as it increases the indigenous knowledge base of farming households in the production, consumption and marketing of legumes.

Crop rotation and tillage management options for sustainable intensification of rice-fallow agro-ecosystem in eastern India

Presently, rice-fallows are targeted for cropping intensification in South Asia. Rice-fallows a rainfed mono-cropping system remain fallow after rice due to lack of irrigation facilities and poor socio-economic condition of the farmers. Nevertheless, there is the scope of including ecologically adaptable winter crops in water-limited rice-fallow conditions with effective moisture conservation practices. The study aimed to identify the winter-crops that are adaptable and productive in rice-fallow conditions and to evaluate the different tillage-based crop establishment practices for soil moisture conservation, grain yield, economics, and sustainability parameters. Six different crop establishment and residue management (CERM) practices viz., zero-tillage direct seeded rice (ZTDSR), zero-tillage transplanted rice (ZTTPR), puddled transplanted rice (PTR), ZTDSR with rice residue retention (ZTDSRR+), ZTTPR with rice residue retention (ZTTPRR+), PTR with rice residue retention (PTRR+) as main-plot treatment and five winter crops (chickpea, lentil, safflower, linseed, and mustard) as sub-plot treatment were evaluated in a split-plot design. The productivity of grain legumes (chickpea and lentil) was higher over oilseed crops in rice-fallow conditions with an order of chickpea > lentil > safflower > mustard > linseed. Among the CERM practices, ZTDSRR+ and ZTDSR treatments increased the grain yield of all the winter crops over PTR treatment, which was primarily attributed to higher soil moisture retention for an extended period. Grain yield increment with conservation tillage practices was highly prominent in safflower (190%) followed by lentil (93%) and chickpea (70%). Rice grain yield was higher (7–35%) under PTR treatment followed by ZTDSR treatment. Conservation tillage practices (ZTDSR, ZTTPR) reduced energy use (11–20%) and increased the energy ratio over conventional tillage practice (PTR), higher in rice-safflower, rice-lentil and rice-chickpea rotations. Higher net return was attained in rice-safflower and rice-chickpea rotations with ZTDSRR+ treatment. Predicted emission of greenhouse gases was markedly reduced in ZTDSR treatment (30%) compared to ZTTPR and PTR treatments. Hence, the study suggests that cropping intensification of rice-fallows with the inclusion of winter crops like chickpea, lentil, and safflower following conservation tillage practices (ZTDSRR+ in particular) could be the strategic options for achieving the higher system productivity, economic returns, and energy use efficiency with the reduced emission of greenhouse gases.

Grain legume-cereal intercropping enhances the use of soil-derived and biologically fixed nitrogen in temperate agroecosystems. A meta-analysis

Abstract Grain legumes are known for their benefits to deliver ecosystem services on provisioning of protein-rich food and feed, reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the symbiotic nitrogen fixation function and diversification of cropping systems. Intercropping is an agroecological practice in which two or more crop species are grown simultaneously in the same field, thereby maximizing the use of resources to enhance yields in low input systems and the resilience of cropping systems. We quantified the effect of grain legume-cereal intercropping on the use of N resources in temperate agroecosystems, focusing on dinitrogen (N2) fixation and soil-derived nitrogen acquisition using a meta-analysis of 29 field-scale studies. We estimated and compared effects of different intercrop compositions (proportion of each species in the intercrops), fertilization rates, crop species, soil properties, and other management practices on the symbiotic N2 fixation and the acquisition of soil-derived nitrogen by the cereals and grain legumes. The proportion of N derived from N2 fixation was on average 14 % (95 % CI = [11, 16]) higher in intercropped grain legumes (76 %) compared to legume sole crops (66 %). On the other hand, intercropping reduced the amount of N2 fixed (kg ha−1) by about 15 %, when N2 fixation in inter- and sole cropped legumes was expressed at equivalent density by compensating for the sown legume proportion in intercrops relative to their sole crop sowing rate. The results were mainly influenced by the intercrop composition, legumes species and the method used to quantify N2 fixation. Soil-derived nitrogen acquisition in intercropped grain legumes was significantly reduced (−47 %, 95 % CI = [−56, −36]) compared to sole crop legumes, expressed at equivalent density, while the soil N acquired by intercropped cereals was much higher (+61 %, 95 % CI = [24, 108]) than in sole crop cereals. Total soil N acquisition (legume + cereal) was significantly higher in intercrops than in legume sole crops (+25 %, 95 % CI = [1, 54]), while there was no significant difference between intercrops and cereal sole crops. The meta-analysis confirms and highlights that intercropping consistently stimulates complementary N use between legumes and cereals by increasing N2 fixation by grain legumes and increasing soil N acquisition in cereals. Based on the results of this analysis it would be suggested that cropping systems diversification via intercropping can be used for simultaneous production of both cereals and grain legumes, while increasing the use of N-sources and reducing external inputs of N fertilizers, thereby enhancing the sustainability of agriculture.

Benefits and Limitations of Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis and Nitrogen Fixation Under Libyan Saline Soil: Mini Review

Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) donates to productivity both straight by increasing the production of legumes and indirectly by improving soil fertility. BNF is the cheapest and most environment-friendly procedure in which nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobia), interact with leguminous plants. Rhizobium is the most well-known species of the rhizobial group that acts as the primary symbiotic fixer of nitrogen, increased farming of legumes is important for the renewal of nutrient-deficient soils and providing required nutrients which important as food for human beings and animals. Some environmental factors such as salinity, which is become one of the severe difficulties in worldwide farming production. Where soil salinity limits the production of both feed and grain legumes.

Novel inflorescence architecture in gamma radiation-induced faba bean mutant populations

Purpose: Inflorescence architecture is an important trait in the seed production of grain legumes. As several genes are responsible for this trait, any mutation, on these genes, may cause change in the inflorescence architecture. This study was conducted to evaluate inflorescence architecture in faba bean exposed to gamma radiation and to characterize the inflorescence architecture mutants phenotypically.Materials and methods: Faba bean M2 seeds (4898) generated from M1 generation of cultivars Hassawi 2 and ILB4347 were used in this study. M1 seeds were produced by irradiation treatments at two doses of gamma radiations (25 and 50 Gy). Faba bean M2 seeds were planted under field conditions. A total of 4032 mutant plants out of 4898 M2 seeds were evaluated for their inflorescence architecture.Results: A total of 20 determinate mutants were found and classified into four different types. Determinate type 1 was characterized by the formation of single terminal inflorescence on shoot apical meristem (SAM), type 2 by the formation of multiple inflorescences on SEM and generated upper branches that act as indeterminate type. Type 3 was characterized by the formation of a panicle-like inflorescence. While type 4 was characterized by the formation of primary and secondary panicle-like inflorescence. All of the determinate mutant types had shorter plant height and earlier maturity than control indeterminate type but had lower biological yield and seed yield. Among the determinate mutant types, determinate type 1 was only mutant that had a higher harvest index than the control indeterminate type. This promising mutant can be used to further breeding program to increase biological yield and seed yield.Conclusions: This study indicated potential of gamma radiation in inducing novel inflorescence architecture in faba bean. The mutants developed are valuable resources to study genes related to inflorescence architecture through forward genetics approach.

Advanced Diagnostic Approaches for Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens of Temperate Legumes With a Focus on Botrytis spp.

Plant pathogens reduce global crop productivity by up to 40% per annum, causing enormous economic loss and potential environmental effects from chemical management practices. Thus, early diagnosis and quantitation of the causal pathogen species for accurate and timely disease control is crucial. Botrytis Gray Mold (BGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea and B. fabae, can seriously impact production of temperate grain legumes separately or within a complex. Accordingly, several immunogenic and molecular probe-type protocols have been developed for their diagnosis, but these have varying levels of species-specificity, sensitivity and consequent usefulness within the paddock. To substantially improve speed, accuracy and sensitivity, advanced nanoparticle-based biosensor approaches have been developed. These novel methods have made enormous impact toward disease diagnosis in the medical sciences and offer potential for transformational change within the field of plant pathology and disease management, with early and accurate diagnosis at the point-of-care in the field. Here we review several recently developed diagnostic tools that build on traditional approaches and are available for pathogen diagnosis, specifically for Botrytis spp. diagnostic applications. We then identify the specific gaps in knowledge and current limitations to these existing tools.

Life cycle inventories for the Australian grains sector

Grain production is a key source of food globally and is an important agricultural system for the Australian economy. Environmental impacts such as the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with grain production are well documented and the Australian grains industry has strived to ensure ongoing improvement. To facilitate this improvement, the industry funded the development of life cycle inventories to provide broad geographical coverage. Cradle-to-gate inventories for wheat were developed for each of the grains industry agro-ecological zones, and inventories were developed for minor cereal crops (e.g. barley, sorghum), oilseeds (i.e. canola) and legumes where relevant. Data for inventory development were taken from numerous sources and validated by using data collected through interviews with experts in each agro-ecological zone. Inventory data were also collected so that indicators in addition to global-warming impacts could be assessed. Global warming impacts for wheat production ranged from 193 to 567 kg carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e) t–1, and global warming impacts were 597–851, 333–361, 169–285 and 74–672 kg CO2-e t–1 for canola, sorghum, barley and grain-legume production, respectively. Results for eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, land-use and abiotic depletion (fossil-fuel use) are also presented.

Warm Season Grain Legume Landraces From the South of Europe for Germplasm Conservation and Genetic Improvement.

Currently, there is a high concern from consumers regarding food quality, with emphasis on the origin of food sources. We here review the current situation of beans (Phaseolus spp.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) landraces in the South of Europe focusing on morpho-agronomic and genetic diversity and physiological adaptation to the different agrosystems, including the symbiotic association with rhizobia. Despite the reduction in the production and consumption of grain legumes in Southern Europe, the variability of common bean, runner bean and cowpea landraces in this region is adequately preserved ex situ in germplasm banks and in breeder collections in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece; however, on-farm (in situ) conservation in isolated areas mainly in gardens and small fields for farmers own consumption and local markets is not guaranteed. This variability can be used for the genetic improvement of varieties, which will result in environmental-friendly improved legumes for a sustainable production in the South of Europe as well as in other regions of the World.

Thermal Stress Impacts on Reproductive Development and Grain Yield in Grain Legumes

Temperature stress (cold, heat) during reproductive development is one of the serious constraints to the productivity of grain legumes as their cultivation is expanding to warmer environments and temperature variability is increasing due to climate change. Grain legumes exposed to temperature below 10-15°C or above 30°C show flower abortion, pollen and ovule infertility, impaired fertilization, and reduced seed filling, leading to substantial reduction in grain yield. For managing these effects of temperature extremes, it is important to improve the resistance of grain legumes by using improved breeding and genetic engineering tools. In this review article, the impact of both high and low temperature stress on different phases of the reproductive stage, from meiosis to grain filling, and the sensitivity of different reproductive organs to temperature extremes are discussed. The review also covers the management options to improve resistance to temperature stress in grain legumes. Furthermore, innovative breeding, genetic and molecular strategies in grain legumes against temperature stress are also discussed.