Plant Gene and Traits 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 195-206 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 195 Review Article Open Access Molecular Breeding for Pest and Disease Resistance in Legumes Chunxia Wu, Deming Yu, Lijun Qiu Modern Agricultural Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: lijun.qiu@cuixi.org Plant Gene and Trait, 2024, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0020 Received: 11 Jul., 2024 Accepted: 18 Aug., 2024 Published: 25 Aug., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Wu et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Wu C.X., Yu D.M., and Qiu L.J., 2024, Molecular breeding for pest and disease resistance in legumes, Plant Gene and Trait, 15(4): 195-206 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0020) Abstract This study focuses on the application of molecular breeding techniques to enhance pest and disease resistance in legume plants, which are critical for global food security and agricultural sustainability, identifies and utilizes molecular markers associated with resistance traits, analyzes genetic diversity, and implements advanced breeding strategies such as marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection. By identifying key resistance genes and the successful application of MAS, significant progress has been made in developing resistant bean varieties that improve pest and disease resistance, the results highlight the potential of molecular breeding in revolutionizing bean production, ensuring higher yields and resilience to biological stresses. Keywords Molecular breeding; Legumes; Pest resistance; Disease resistance; Marker-assisted selection 1 Introduction Legumes are a cornerstone of global agriculture, playing a critical role in ensuring food security and nutritional health. They are a primary source of protein for both human and livestock consumption, particularly in developing countries where access to animal protein may be limited (Pandey et al., 2016; Varshney et al., 2018; Zhang, 2024). Additionally, legumes contribute significantly to soil health through their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, thereby reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices (Ramalingam et al., 2015; Bueno and Lopes, 2020). The cultivation of legumes such as chickpea, soybean, and common bean is essential not only for their nutritional benefits but also for their environmental advantages, including biodiversity preservation and soil fertility enhancement (Roriz et al., 2020; Wohor et al., 2022). Despite their importance, legume production faces significant challenges from various pests and diseases, which can lead to substantial yield losses and threaten food security. Viral diseases, for instance, are a major biotic stress that severely impacts grain legume production globally (Jha et al., 2023). Similarly, soilborne pathogens such as those causing rhizospheric diseases in peas are difficult to manage and persist in the soil for long periods, complicating control efforts (Wohor et al., 2022). Ascochyta blight is another critical disease affecting grain legumes, causing considerable yield reductions worldwide (Jha et al., 2022). The increasing incidence of these diseases, exacerbated by climate change, underscores the urgent need for effective resistance breeding strategies (Pratap et al., 2021). This study will explore the use of genomic resources, marker-assisted selection, and cutting-edge biotechnology tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 to achieve durable resistance in legume breeding programs, with the hope of supporting sustainable agriculture and ensuring food security by mitigating the impact of pests and diseases on legume crops. This study aims to explore molecular breeding methods for improving resistance to pests and diseases in legume plants, identify and deploy genetic determinants of resistance to various pests and diseases by leveraging advances in genomics, phenotyping, and bioinformatics, and integrate next-generation sequencing techniques, high-throughput genotyping, and functional genomics to accelerate the development of resistant legume varieties.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzMg==