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Agronomy
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Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition
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Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Breeding and Genetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2026) | Viewed by 4773

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lixia Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: pulses crop; genetic diversity; breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the growing recognition of pulses crops and their vital role in providing plant-based protein, supporting disaster relief, and promoting diet adjustments, the planting area and market demand for these crops are now increasing. Notably, the United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses to highlight their potential for improving nutrition in an affordable and sustainable manner and to encourage their broader use in food and agriculture.

Many of you have made great progress in pulses breeding and contributed significantly toward the stable production of these crops. To accelerate communication on breeding objectives and methods, enhance cultivar development, and facilitate knowledge exchange among breeders, we are pleased to organize this Special Issue, inviting original articles on new cultivars and critical reviews on breeding strategies.

We previously published a successful Special Issue titled “Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop”, which featured twelve excellent papers (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/special_issues/Cultivar_Pulses). Based on the success of that Special Issue, this second edition aims to cover a broader range of applications and advances in the field.

We look forward to collaborating with researchers worldwide to advance this important area of agricultural science. We hope to work with all of you on this exciting project.

Dr. Lixia Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • new cultivars (with notable character, e.g., high yield, high resistance, special uses)
  • systematic selection
  • hybridization
  • mutation
  • transgenic
  • wide adaptability
  • planting system

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1116 KB  
Article
Cultivar Variation in Growth, Yield, and Nutritional Quality of Pea Sprouts and Fresh Seeds for the Selection of Specialized Cultivars
by Cheng-Na Zhou, Jing Bai, Xiao-Yan Zhang, Feng-Jing Song, Jun-Jie Hao, Shi-Zuo Qiu, Xiao Cui, Wen-Jiao Wang, Kai-Hua Jia, Ru-Mei Tian, Min Liu, Guan Li and Na-Na Li
Agronomy 2026, 16(8), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080784 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 350
Abstract
To clarify cultivar differences in growth performance, yield formation, and bioactive characteristics at the sprout and fresh seed stages, twelve pea cultivars were evaluated. Growth traits, yield formation, and changes in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity during sprouting were assessed, and the nutritional [...] Read more.
To clarify cultivar differences in growth performance, yield formation, and bioactive characteristics at the sprout and fresh seed stages, twelve pea cultivars were evaluated. Growth traits, yield formation, and changes in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity during sprouting were assessed, and the nutritional quality and mineral element composition of fresh seeds were also determined. The results showed that cultivars 24-164 and 24-510 exhibited low germination rates and severe cotyledon decay, making them unsuitable for sprout production. Significant differences were observed among the remaining cultivars in growth traits, edible ratio, and yield efficiency, with cultivars 24-724 and 24-486 showing superior processing efficiency and utilization value. During sprouting, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, as well as 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), were significantly influenced by both cultivar and light exposure stage. Root length and root diameter were significantly and positively correlated with phenolic accumulation and antioxidant activity. Analysis of fresh seed quality revealed marked inter-cultivar variation in nutritional and health-related traits. Cultivar 24-486 exhibited the highest values for phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, vitamin C, vitamin E, and Fe and Se accumulation, whereas cultivar 24-013 showed advantages in calcium and potassium contents. These results identify cultivars 24-724 and 24-486 as promising candidates for sprout production and highlight cultivar 24-486 as a dual-purpose genotype for both sprout and fresh seed utilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 8538 KB  
Article
Mining for Resistance Loci to Fusarium Wilt in Mungbean
by Yingchao Shen, Zhixiao Zhang, Changyou Liu, Yan Wang, Shen Wang, Huiying Shi, Zhimin Cao, Zhendong Zhu, Baojie Fan and Jing Tian
Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020242 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 457
Abstract
Fusarium wilt (FW), caused by Fusarium oxysporum, poses a significant threat to mungbean (Vigna radiata L.), impacting its yield and quality. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed by crossing the highly resistant cultivar Weilv 9002-341 with [...] Read more.
Fusarium wilt (FW), caused by Fusarium oxysporum, poses a significant threat to mungbean (Vigna radiata L.), impacting its yield and quality. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed by crossing the highly resistant cultivar Weilv 9002-341 with the highly susceptible line V1128. Assessment of resistance revealed a continuous variation in the average disease index within the resulting population, consistent with the inheritance pattern of quantitative traits. Leveraging an F2:3 segregating population, we conducted linkage mapping analysis and bulked segregant analysis by sequencing, leading to the construction of a genetic linkage map and the identification of a region correlated with resistance. Within this region, 14 novel simple sequence repeat markers were designed to enable refined mapping. A putative resistance locus, spanning 0.17 Mb and encompassing 19 annotated genes, was precisely located. Ultimately, two genes were identified as high-priority candidates conferring resistance. The results of this study lay the foundation for the functional investigation of genes associated with resistance to Fusarium wilt disease in mungbean. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 1700 KB  
Article
Seed Coat Color-Mediated Differences in Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Mung Bean
by Miaomiao Wu, Qianyu Tao, Suhua Wang, Yang Yao and Lixia Wang
Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020180 - 11 Jan 2026
Viewed by 902
Abstract
The mung bean (Vigna radiata) is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds and is valuable for its antioxidant content in functional food development. However, mung bean seed coats are discarded or used as a low-value feed owing to their coarse texture. [...] Read more.
The mung bean (Vigna radiata) is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds and is valuable for its antioxidant content in functional food development. However, mung bean seed coats are discarded or used as a low-value feed owing to their coarse texture. Here, 12 homozygous mung bean lines with different seed coat colors were selected from six recombinant inbred lines. The seed coats and cotyledons were separated and quantitatively analyzed for protein, starch, dietary fiber, polyphenols, flavonoids, vitexin, isovitexin, and antioxidant activities using standard chemical assays and HPLC, followed by statistical analysis and principal component analysis. The cotyledons contained more protein (26.97–28.34%) and starch (50.40–56.25%), whereas the seed coat contained more dietary fiber (74.17–79.93 g/100 g) and bioactive compounds. Polyphenolic compounds were significantly higher in the seed coat than in the cotyledons (p < 0.05) and were positively correlated with seed coat darkness, indicating that the black mung bean had higher bioactive functions. This study provides evidence for mung bean variety improvement and functional food development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 8882 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification, Structural Characterization, and Stress-Responsive Expression of the PsPP2C Gene Family in Pea (Pisum sativum)
by Zhi-Wei Wang, Min Liu, Yun-Zhe Cong, Wen-Jiao Wang, Tao Zhang, Hui-Tong Sang, Song Hou, Zi-Meng Sun, Guan Li, Ru-Mei Tian, Yong-Yi Yang, Kun Xie, Longxin Wang, Kai-Hua Jia and Na-Na Li
Agronomy 2025, 15(12), 2920; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15122920 - 18 Dec 2025
Viewed by 600
Abstract
Protein phosphatase 2Cs (PP2Cs) constitute a widespread family of signaling regulators in plants and play central roles in abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated stress signaling; however, the PP2C gene family has not yet been systematically identified and characterized in pea (Pisum sativum), a [...] Read more.
Protein phosphatase 2Cs (PP2Cs) constitute a widespread family of signaling regulators in plants and play central roles in abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated stress signaling; however, the PP2C gene family has not yet been systematically identified and characterized in pea (Pisum sativum), a salt-sensitive legume crop. In this study, we identified 89 PsPP2C genes based on domain features and sequence homology. These genes are unevenly distributed across seven chromosomes and classified into ten subfamilies, providing a comparative framework for evaluating structural and regulatory diversification within the PsPP2C family. The encoded proteins vary substantially in length, physicochemical properties, and predicted subcellular localization, while most members contain the conserved PP2Cc catalytic domain. Intra- and interspecies homology analyses identified 19 duplicated gene pairs in pea and numerous orthologous relationships with several model plants; all reliable gene pairs exhibited Ka/Ks < 1, indicating pervasive purifying selection. PsPP2C genes also showed broad variation in exon number and intron phase, and their promoter regions contained diverse light-, hormone-, and stress-related cis-elements with heterogeneous positional patterns. Expression profiling across 11 tissues revealed pronounced tissue-specific differences, with generally higher transcript abundance in roots and seeds than in other tissues. Under salt treatment, approximately 20% of PsPP2C genes displayed concentration- or time-dependent transcriptional changes. Among them, PsPP2C67 and PsPP2C82—both belonging to the clade A PP2C subfamily—exhibited the most pronounced induction under high salinity and at early stress stages. Functional annotation indicated that these two genes are involved in ABA-related processes, including regulation of abscisic acid-activated signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, and MAPK signaling pathway-plant. Collectively, this study provides a systematic characterization of the PsPP2C gene family, including its structural features, evolutionary patterns, and transcriptional responses to salt stress, thereby establishing a foundation for future functional investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 19092 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification, Expression Profile and Evolution Analysis of Importin α Gene Family in Glycine max
by Zhong-Qi Zhang, Min-Min Li, Ru-Mei Tian, Xing Cheng, Zhi-Wei Wang, Kun-Lun Li, Guan Li, Ling-Hua Lyu, Lei Liu, Na-Na Li, Longxin Wang, Kai-Hua Jia and Yong-Yi Yang
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2603; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112603 - 12 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1055
Abstract
Importin α (IMPα) proteins are key mediators of nucleocytoplasmic transport and play crucial roles in plant development and stress adaptation. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of the IMPα gene family in Glycine max, followed by gene structure and conserved motif analyses, [...] Read more.
Importin α (IMPα) proteins are key mediators of nucleocytoplasmic transport and play crucial roles in plant development and stress adaptation. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of the IMPα gene family in Glycine max, followed by gene structure and conserved motif analyses, chromosomal distribution and duplication inference, synteny and selection (Ka/Ks) analyses, and expression profiling across tissues and stress conditions using public RNA-seq datasets and expression browsers. The GmIMPα genes exhibited diverse gene structures and conserved motifs, suggesting functional diversification within the family. Segmental duplication was identified as the main contributor to family expansion, and most duplicated gene pairs underwent purifying selection. Promoter analysis revealed numerous stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements, implying complex transcriptional regulation. Expression profiling demonstrated that GmIMPα5 and GmIMPα7 were strongly induced under drought, heat, and salt stresses, indicating potential roles in abiotic stress tolerance. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive framework for the evolution and functional divergence of the GmIMPα family in soybean and offer candidates for improving stress resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 471 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Food Legumes Pest and Disease Control in China: Evidence Using a Provincial-Level Dataset
by Huijie Zhang, Guodong Yin, Yuhua He, Yujiao Liu, Hongmei Luo, Jijun Zhang, Bin Zhou, Zhenxing Liu, Xiaoyan Zhang, Xu Zhu, Yang Shao, Rongfang Lian, Chao Xiang, Yunshan Wei, Xuejun Wang, Xingxing Yuan, Zhendong Zhu, Xin Chen and Changyi Jiang
Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2404; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102404 - 16 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 927
Abstract
Food legumes play a pivotal role in China’s food security, nutritional health, and green development strategies due to their unique advantages. This paper presents an empirical study on the economic evaluation of scientific research on pest and disease control for food legumes. Using [...] Read more.
Food legumes play a pivotal role in China’s food security, nutritional health, and green development strategies due to their unique advantages. This paper presents an empirical study on the economic evaluation of scientific research on pest and disease control for food legumes. Using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces from 2008 to 2023, we employ a Double Machine Learning (DML) approach to identify the impact of investment in plant protection research on food legume outputs. The results indicate a steady increase in China’s investment in this field, with an average annual growth rate of 5.19% from 2008 to 2023, and the total investment in 2023 was 2.14 times that of 2008. Investment in plant protection research effectively mitigates output losses and leads to significant production increases. Specifically, a 1% increase in research investment corresponds to a 0.2% increase in food legume output. This effect remains robust across various algorithms, time windows, and control variable settings. Based on these findings, we recommend: (1) increasing financial support and talent acquisition for research on food legume pests and diseases to enhance the stability and sustainability of research investment; (2) strengthening cooperation mechanisms between research institutions and enterprises to leverage their respective strengths and promote the commercialization of research outcomes and regional variety extension; (3) establishing a diversified research investment system that explores a co-construction model guided by the government, involving enterprises, and utilizing public–private partnerships to reconcile the conflict between long research cycles and market demands; (4) fostering a dual-track linkage between regional technological innovation and enterprise product commercialization to improve the efficiency of technology transfer and application; and (5) strengthening R&D in cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence to improve the efficiency and precision of pest and disease control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivar Development of Pulses Crop—2nd Edition)
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