Koul B, Sharma K, Sehgal V, Yadav D, Mishra M, Bharadwaj C. Chickpea (
Cicer arietinum L.) Biology and Biotechnology: From Domestication to Biofortification and Biopharming.
PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022;
11:plants11212926. [PMID:
36365379 PMCID:
PMC9654780 DOI:
10.3390/plants11212926]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), the world's second most consumed legume crop, is cultivated in more than 50 countries around the world. It is a boon for diabetics and is an excellent source of important nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, K, B1-B3, B5, B6, B9 and minerals (Fe, Zn, Mg and Ca) which all have beneficial effects on human health. By 2050, the world population can cross 9 billion, and in order to feed the teaming millions, chickpea production should also be increased, as it is a healthy alternative to wheat flour and a boon for diabetics. Moreover, it is an important legume that is crucial for food, nutrition, and health security and the livelihood of the small-scale farmers with poor resources, in developing countries. Although marvelous improvement has been made in the development of biotic and abiotic stress-resistant varieties, still there are many lacunae, and to fulfill that, the incorporation of genomic technologies in chickpea breeding (genomics-assisted breeding, high-throughput and precise-phenotyping and implementation of novel breeding strategies) will facilitate the researchers in developing high yielding, climate resilient, water use efficient, salt-tolerant, insect/pathogen resistant varieties, acceptable to farmers, consumers, and industries. This review focuses on the origin and distribution, nutritional profile, genomic studies, and recent updates on crop improvement strategies for combating abiotic and biotic stresses in chickpea.
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