Nutritional Value and Stress Tolerance Mechanisms in Legume Crops

Dear Colleagues,

Legumes are a vital source of vegetable protein for tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They are a staple food for low-income populations in these regions because they are a cheap source of protein, with more than 20% protein in the grain. Legumes are known as the "meat of the poor" for good reason. It is clear that, in view of the future forecast of rising air temperatures and more frequent droughts, as well as increasing salt content in soils, legume crops that are more adapted to these environmental stresses, such as groundnuts (peanuts), pigeon peas, chickpeas, mung beans, and cowpeas, will see their cultivation areas expand. Their high protein content (20 to 30%) makes them vital for supplying vegetable proteins at low costs. This is essential to ensure food security for the most disadvantaged populations, which are increasing in number, especially in regions subject to these environmental stresses. These regions are considered marginal (unsuitable) areas for agriculture. They are also undemanding in terms of soil fertility. They can form a symbiotic relationship with Bradyrhizobium bacteria to acquire nitrogen (N), carrying out biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) without the need for nitrogen fertilization to achieve high productivity. Legumes are an important nutritional component of the human diet, especially for low-income populations. They can adapt to abiotic stresses, such as drought, high temperature and salinity, and save nitrogen fertilizers. Their high protein content (20 to 30%) and amino acid pattern (high lysine and low methionine and tryptophan content) complement the amino acid pattern of cereals; which are deficient in lysine and rich in methionine and tryptophan. Therefore, grain legumes are a cheap, high-quality source of protein with low production costs, and their cultivation needs to be improved, especially in marginal areas for agriculture, where population growth is higher.

This Special Issue focuses on the physiological, phenological, and anatomical adaptation mechanisms of legume crops to cope with abiotic stresses (such as drought, high temperature, and salinity). In addition, the regulation and optimization of symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency, genetic improvement of grain protein quality, and sustainable high-yield cultivation techniques in marginal agricultural areas are also goals of this edition. We welcome original research articles and reviews related to stress tolerance mechanisms in legumes, biological nitrogen fixation and fertilizer utilization, grain quality and nutritional enhancement, yield stability, and regional adaptability.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Pimentel
Guest Editor

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