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Ho WK, Tanzi AS, Sang F, Tsoutsoura N, Shah N, Moore C, Bhosale R, Wright V, Massawe F, Mayes S. A genomic toolkit for winged bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1901. [PMID: 38429275 PMCID: PMC10907731 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
A sustainable supply of plant protein is critical for future generations and needs to be achieved while reducing green house gas emissions from agriculture and increasing agricultural resilience in the face of climate volatility. Agricultural diversification with more nutrient-rich and stress tolerant crops could provide the solution. However, this is often hampered by the limited availability of genomic resources and the lack of understanding of the genetic structure of breeding germplasm and the inheritance of important traits. One such crop with potential is winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), a high seed protein tropical legume which has been termed 'the soybean for the tropics'. Here, we present a chromosome level winged bean genome assembly, an investigation of the genetic diversity of 130 worldwide accessions, together with two linked genetic maps and a trait QTL analysis (and expression studies) for regions of the genome with desirable ideotype traits for breeding, namely architecture, protein content and phytonutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Kuan Ho
- Future Food Beacon, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
- Crops for the Future (UK) CIC, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Alberto Stefano Tanzi
- Future Food Beacon, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Fei Sang
- Deep Seq, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Niki Tsoutsoura
- Future Food Beacon, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Niraj Shah
- Digital and Technology Services, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Christopher Moore
- Deep Seq, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Rahul Bhosale
- Future Food Beacon, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Victoria Wright
- Deep Seq, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Festo Massawe
- Future Food Beacon, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sean Mayes
- Crops for the Future (UK) CIC, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK.
- Future Food Beacon, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
- International Centre for Research in the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, 502324, India.
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Dwivedi SL, Chapman MA, Abberton MT, Akpojotor UL, Ortiz R. Exploiting genetic and genomic resources to enhance productivity and abiotic stress adaptation of underutilized pulses. Front Genet 2023; 14:1193780. [PMID: 37396035 PMCID: PMC10311922 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1193780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Underutilized pulses and their wild relatives are typically stress tolerant and their seeds are packed with protein, fibers, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals. The consumption of such nutritionally dense legumes together with cereal-based food may promote global food and nutritional security. However, such species are deficient in a few or several desirable domestication traits thereby reducing their agronomic value, requiring further genetic enhancement for developing productive, nutritionally dense, and climate resilient cultivars. This review article considers 13 underutilized pulses and focuses on their germplasm holdings, diversity, crop-wild-crop gene flow, genome sequencing, syntenic relationships, the potential for breeding and transgenic manipulation, and the genetics of agronomic and stress tolerance traits. Recent progress has shown the potential for crop improvement and food security, for example, the genetic basis of stem determinacy and fragrance in moth bean and rice bean, multiple abiotic stress tolerant traits in horse gram and tepary bean, bruchid resistance in lima bean, low neurotoxin in grass pea, and photoperiod induced flowering and anthocyanin accumulation in adzuki bean have been investigated. Advances in introgression breeding to develop elite genetic stocks of grass pea with low β-ODAP (neurotoxin compound), resistance to Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus in black gram using rice bean, and abiotic stress adaptation in common bean, using genes from tepary bean have been carried out. This highlights their potential in wider breeding programs to introduce such traits in locally adapted cultivars. The potential of de-domestication or feralization in the evolution of new variants in these crops are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark A. Chapman
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Rodomiro Ortiz
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
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Popoola JO, Ojuederie OB, Aworunse OS, Adelekan A, Oyelakin AS, Oyesola OL, Akinduti PA, Dahunsi SO, Adegboyega TT, Oranusi SU, Ayilara MS, Omonhinmin CA. Nutritional, functional, and bioactive properties of african underutilized legumes. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1105364. [PMID: 37123863 PMCID: PMC10141332 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1105364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Globally, legumes are vital constituents of diet and perform critical roles in maintaining well-being owing to the dense nutritional contents and functional properties of their seeds. While much emphasis has been placed on the major grain legumes over the years, the neglected and underutilized legumes (NULs) are gaining significant recognition as probable crops to alleviate malnutrition and give a boost to food security in Africa. Consumption of these underutilized legumes has been associated with several health-promoting benefits and can be utilized as functional foods due to their rich dietary fibers, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), proteins/essential amino acids, micro-nutrients, and bioactive compounds. Despite the plethora of nutritional benefits, the underutilized legumes have not received much research attention compared to common mainstream grain legumes, thus hindering their adoption and utilization. Consequently, research efforts geared toward improvement, utilization, and incorporation into mainstream agriculture in Africa are more convincing than ever. This work reviews some selected NULs of Africa (Adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), Kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), Marama bean (Tylosema esculentum), Mung bean, (Vigna radiata), Rice bean (Vigna Umbellata), and Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus)), and their nutritional, and functional properties. Furthermore, we highlight the prospects and current challenges associated with the utilization of the NULs and discusses the strategies to facilitate their exploitation as not only sources of vital nutrients, but also their integration for the development of cheap and accessible functional foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Olagbenro Popoola
- Pure and Applied Biology Programme, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences/Biotechnology Cluster, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, Nigeria
- *Correspondence: Jacob Olagbenro Popoola, ; Omena B. Ojuederie,
| | - Omena B. Ojuederie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kings University, Ode-Omu, Osun, Nigeria
- Food Security and Safety Focus, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Jacob Olagbenro Popoola, ; Omena B. Ojuederie,
| | | | - Aminat Adelekan
- Department of Chemical and Food Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun, Nigeria
| | - Abiodun S. Oyelakin
- Department of Pure and Applied Botany, College of Biosciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
| | - Olusola Luke Oyesola
- Department of Biological Sciences/Biotechnology Cluster, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, Nigeria
| | - Paul A. Akinduti
- Department of Biological Sciences/Biotechnology Cluster, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, Nigeria
| | - Samuel Olatunde Dahunsi
- Microbiology Programme, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun, Nigeria
- The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Taofeek T. Adegboyega
- Food Security and Safety Focus, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
- Biology Unit, Faculty of Science, Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Solomon U. Oranusi
- Department of Biological Sciences/Biotechnology Cluster, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, Nigeria
| | - Modupe S. Ayilara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kings University, Ode-Omu, Osun, Nigeria
- Food Security and Safety Focus, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Conrad A. Omonhinmin
- Department of Biological Sciences/Biotechnology Cluster, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, Nigeria
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Singh N, Jain P, Ujinwal M, Langyan S. Escalate protein plates from legumes for sustainable human nutrition. Front Nutr 2022; 9:977986. [PMID: 36407518 PMCID: PMC9672682 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.977986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein is one of the most important, foremost, and versatile nutrients in food. The quantity and quality of protein are determinants of its nutritional values. Therefore, adequate consumption of high-quality protein is essential for optimal growth, development, and health of humans. Based on short-term nitrogen balance studies, the Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein for the healthy adult with minimal physical activity is 0.8 g protein/kg body weight (BW) per day. Proteins are present in good quantities in not only animals but also in plants, especially in legumes. With the growing demand for protein, interest in plant proteins is also rising due to their comparative low cost as well as the increase in consumers' demand originating from health and environmental concerns. Legumes are nutrient-dense foods, comprising components identified as "antinutritional factors" that can reduce the bioavailability of macro and micronutrients. Other than nutritive value, the physiochemical and behavioral properties of proteins during processing plays a significant role in determining the end quality of food. The term "complete protein" refers to when all nine essential amino acids are present in the correct proportion in our bodies. To have a balanced diet, the right percentage of protein is required for our body. The consumption of these high protein-containing foods will lead to protein sustainability and eradicate malnutrition. Here, we shed light on major opportunities to strengthen the contribution of diversity in legume crops products to sustainable diets. This review will boost awareness and knowledge on underutilized proteinous foods into national nutritional security programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Singh
- Department of Bioinformatics, Gujarat Biotechnology University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Priyanka Jain
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Megha Ujinwal
- Department of Bioinformatics, Gujarat Biotechnology University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Sapna Langyan
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India
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Chankaew S, Sriwichai S, Rakvong T, Monkham T, Sanitchon J, Tangphatsornruang S, Kongkachana W, Sonthirod C, Pootakham W, Amkul K, Kaewwongwal A, Laosatit K, Somta P. The First Genetic Linkage Map of Winged Bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.] and QTL Mapping for Flower-, Pod-, and Seed-Related Traits. Plants 2022; 11:plants11040500. [PMID: 35214834 PMCID: PMC8878720 DOI: 10.3390/plants11040500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Winged bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.] (2n = 2× = 18) is a tropical legume crop with multipurpose usages. Recently, the winged bean has regained attention from scientists as a food protein source. Currently, there is no breeding program for winged bean cultivars. All winged bean cultivars are landraces or selections from landraces. Molecular markers and genetic linkage maps are pre-requisites for molecular plant breeding. The aim of this study was to develop a high-density linkage map and identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for pod and seed-related traits of the winged bean. An F2 population of 86 plants was developed from a cross between winged bean accessions W054 and TPT9 showing contrasting pod length, and pod, flower and seed colors. A genetic linkage map of 1384 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated from restriction site-associated DNA sequencing was constructed. The map resolved nine haploid chromosomes of the winged bean and spanned the cumulative length of 4552.8 cM with the number of SNPs per linkage ranging from 36 to 218 with an average of 153.78. QTL analysis in the F2 population revealed 31 QTLs controlling pod length, pod color, pod anthocyanin content, flower color, and seed color. The number of QTLs per trait varied between 1 (seed length) to 7 (banner color). Interestingly, the major QTLs for pod color, anthocyanin content, and calyx color, and for seed color and flower wing color were located at the same position. The high-density linkage map QTLs reported in this study will be useful for molecular breeding of winged beans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sompong Chankaew
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (S.C.); (S.S.); (T.R.); (T.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Sasiprapa Sriwichai
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (S.C.); (S.S.); (T.R.); (T.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Teppratan Rakvong
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (S.C.); (S.S.); (T.R.); (T.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Tidarat Monkham
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (S.C.); (S.S.); (T.R.); (T.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Jirawat Sanitchon
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (S.C.); (S.S.); (T.R.); (T.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Sithichoke Tangphatsornruang
- National Omics Center (NOC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, 111 Thailand Science Park, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; (S.T.); (W.K.); (C.S.); (W.P.)
| | - Wasitthee Kongkachana
- National Omics Center (NOC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, 111 Thailand Science Park, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; (S.T.); (W.K.); (C.S.); (W.P.)
| | - Chutima Sonthirod
- National Omics Center (NOC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, 111 Thailand Science Park, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; (S.T.); (W.K.); (C.S.); (W.P.)
| | - Wirulda Pootakham
- National Omics Center (NOC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, 111 Thailand Science Park, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; (S.T.); (W.K.); (C.S.); (W.P.)
| | - Kitiya Amkul
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; (K.A.); (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Anochar Kaewwongwal
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; (K.A.); (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Kularb Laosatit
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; (K.A.); (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Prakit Somta
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; (K.A.); (A.K.); (K.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Nayak SP, Lone RA, Fakhrah S, Chauhan A, Sarvendra K, Mohanty CS. Mainstreaming underutilized legumes for providing nutritional security. Future Foods 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-91001-9.00023-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Dhaliwal SK, Talukdar A, Gautam A, Sharma P, Sharma V, Kaushik P. Developments and Prospects in Imperative Underexploited Vegetable Legumes Breeding: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9615. [PMID: 33348635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vegetable legumes are an essential source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, along with health-promoting bioactive chemicals. The demand for the use of either fresh or processed vegetable legumes is continually expanding on account of the growing consumer awareness about their well-balanced diet. Therefore, sustaining optimum yields of vegetable legumes is extremely important. Here we seek to present d etails of prospects of underexploited vegetable legumes for food availability, accessibility, and improved livelihood utilization. So far research attention was mainly focused on pulse legumes' performance as compared to vegetable legumes. Wild and cultivated vegetable legumes vary morphologically across diverse habitats. This could make them less known, underutilized, and underexploited, and make them a promising potential nutritional source in developing nations where malnutrition still exists. Research efforts are required to promote underexploited vegetable legumes, for improving their use to feed the ever-increasing population in the future. In view of all the above points, here we have discussed underexploited vegetable legumes with tremendous potential; namely, vegetable pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), thereby covering the progress related to various aspects such as pre-breeding, molecular markers, quantitative trait locus (QTLs), genomics, and genetic engineering. Overall, this review has summarized the information related to advancements in the breeding of vegetable legumes which will ultimately help in ensuring food and nutritional security in developing nations.
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Adegboyega TT, Abberton MT, Abdelgadir AH, Dianda M, Maziya-dixon B, Oyatomi OA, Ofodile S, Babalola OO. Evaluation of Nutritional and Antinutritional Properties of African Yam Bean ( Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex. A. Rich.) Harms.) Seeds. J FOOD QUALITY 2020; 2020:1-11. [DOI: 10.1155/2020/6569420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex. A. Rich.) Harms) is an annual legume with the capacity to produce bean seeds in a pod and produce tubers with varying seed patterns and colors. It is suggested to have the potential to significantly boost food security in sub-Saharan Africa due to its considerable nutritional qualities but still yet underutilized. Many farmers show limited interest in its production owing to limited knowledge of its nutritional profile, income generation capacity for small-holder farmers’, processing, and other related utilization concerns. This study evaluated the proximate and antinutrient composition of processed and unprocessed seeds of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex. A. Rich.) Harms.). Seeds were harvested from the experimental research field consisting of 50 accessions at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. They were divided into two portions; the first was processed by oven drying at 60°C for 24 hours and the second was left raw. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the levels of proximate and antinutrient in the forms in which the samples were analyzed. TSs104 had the highest protein content of 25.08%, while the lowest was TSs68 (20.50%). However, in the unprocessed seed, protein content ranged between 24.93% (TSs38) and 19.13% (TSs11). Both processed and unprocessed seeds had high carbohydrate contents. In processed seeds, TSs9 (62.93%) had the highest percentage and TSs1 (29.64%) recorded the lowest. In unprocessed seed, the percentage ranged between 67.36% (TSs4) and 54.23% (TSs38). The observed variation may suggest possible suitability of seed for various end-use products and targeted breeding programs for crop improvements. In sub-Saharan Africa, this lesser-known legume could be adapted as a promising food crop in combating protein-energy malnutrition.
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Cheng A, Raai MN, Zain NAM, Massawe F, Singh A, Wan-Mohtar WAAQI. In search of alternative proteins: unlocking the potential of underutilized tropical legumes. Food Secur 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-019-00977-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Tanzi AS, Eagleton GE, Ho WK, Wong QN, Mayes S, Massawe F. Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.) for food and nutritional security: synthesis of past research and future direction. Planta 2019; 250:911-931. [PMID: 30911885 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03141-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Winged bean is popularly known as "One Species Supermarket" for its nutrient-dense green pods, immature seeds, tubers, leaves, and mature seeds. This underutilised crop has potential beneficial traits related to its biological nitrogen-fixation to support low-input farming. Drawing from past knowledge, and based on current technologies, we propose a roadmap for research and development of winged bean for sustainable food systems. Reliance on a handful of "major" crops has led to decreased diversity in crop species, agricultural systems and human diets. To reverse this trend, we need to encourage the greater use of minor, "orphan", underutilised species. These could contribute to an increase in crop diversity within agricultural systems, to improve human diets, and to support more sustainable and resilient food production systems. Among these underutilised species, winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) has long been proposed as a crop for expanded use particularly in the humid tropics. It is an herbaceous perennial legume of equatorial environments and has been identified as a rich source of protein, with most parts of the plant being edible when appropriately prepared. However, to date, limited progress in structured improvement programmes has restricted the expansion of winged bean beyond its traditional confines. In this paper, we discuss the reasons for this and recommend approaches for better use of its genetic resources and related Psophocarpus species in developing improved varieties. We review studies on the growth, phenology, nodulation and nitrogen-fixation activity, breeding programmes, and molecular analyses. We then discuss prospects for the crop based on the greater understanding that these studies have provided and considering modern plant-breeding technologies and approaches. We propose a more targeted and structured research approach to fulfil the potential of winged bean to contribute to food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Stefano Tanzi
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- Crops for the Future, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Graham Ewen Eagleton
- Department of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Nay Pyi Taw, 15011, Myanmar
| | - Wai Kuan Ho
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- Crops for the Future, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Quin Nee Wong
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Sean Mayes
- Crops for the Future, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Nottingham Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Festo Massawe
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
- Crops for the Future, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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