Achievements and future petspective for gene transfer from wild relatives to the cultivated species in cool season food legumes

Abstract

The following cultivated crop species, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and faba bean (Visa faba L.) in the genera Cicer L., Lens Miller, Pisum L. and Vicia L., respectively; are main diet and calorie sources for human in most part of the world. Selection processes for higher yield and quality characteristics during domestication have resulted in narrowing of the genetic variation in the cultivated crop species of the cool season food legumes. Wild Cicer, Lens, Pisum and Vicia species do not consist of useful variation for morphological characteristics and protein content, but they also possess sources of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The aims of the present study were to review (i) for resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses on wild species of Cicer, Lens, Pisum and Vicia; (ii) on achievements and future perspective for gene transfer from wild species to the cultivated species in cool season food legumes.