Legume Production Under the Changing Climate
摘要
Food security is a major concern globally both in terms of quality and quantity, with one in every three individuals being affected by malnutrition. Rapidly growing world population and climate change further amplify the problem. Legumes are often referred to as “superfoods” due to their high protein content and the presence of nutritive bioactive elements like vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and low glycemic index carbohydrates. Moreover, they also improve soil fertility through their symbiotic relationship with beneficial bacteria, thus promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Climate-induced stresses like high temperature, drought, and salinity pose a significant threat to legumes along with other food crops with a predicted decrease of up to 2.3% in global food production by the 2050s. These stresses alter the morphophysiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms in plants, resulting in changes in the oil and nutritional content, reduced nitrogen fixation, and loss of yield. The understanding of how these stresses affect legume plants, and the morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses to cope with these stresses, is crucial for developing climate-resilient crops. This chapter discusses the negative impact of these stresses on legume production and provides a comprehensive account of modern and conventional approaches that have been utilized to harness the potential of existing genotypes to develop stress-resilient legume varieties. An integrated strategy that combines various management options and simultaneously addresses all abiotic stresses could be the answer to sustainable food production and security.