Innovation continuum: from trait discovery to deployment for efficient breeding of pulses
Keywords:
Gene editing, High-throughput phenotyping, Metabolomics, Plant genetic resources, Pre-breedingAbstract
Pulses are a vital source of plant-based protein and play a crucial role in global food and nutritional security. Their capacity to biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic interactions enhances soil nitrogen availability, positioning pulses as key components of sustainable agroecosystems. However, despite steady expansion in both global and national cultivated areas, productivity gains in pulse crops have remained modest. This stagnation is largely attributable to biotic and abiotic stresses, compounded by agronomic and environmental constraints. In the context of global climate change, rapid population growth, and increasing water scarcity, particularly in dryland regions where pulses are mainstream crops, there is an urgent need to enhance their productivity. Recent advances in genomics and breeding technologies have transformed pulse improvement from predominantly fieldbased selection to data-driven, precision-oriented breeding programs. This review emphasizes novel allele mining from global germplasm resources, prebreeding strategy to broaden genetic diversity, high-throughput phenotyping, rapid generation advancement, marker-assisted and genomic selection, multiomics approaches, and genome-editing technologies to accelerate the genetic gain. Collectively, the integration of germplasm resources and advanced genetic innovations provides a comprehensive framework for developing next-generation, climate-resilient, and nutritionally enhanced pulse varieties, thereby supporting sustainable agri-food systems under changing climatic conditions.
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