Plant Genetic Resources Of Legumes In The Mediterranean

Genetic erosion, that is, the loss of native plant and genetic diversity has been exponential from the Mediterranean Basin through the Twentieth century. This careless eradication of species and genetic diversity as a result of human activities from a 'hot-spot' of diversity threatens sustainable agriculture and food security for the temperate regions of the world. Since the early 1900s there has been a largely ad hoc movement to halt the loss of plant diversity and enhance its utilisation. The Convention on Biological Diversity and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, both highlight the need to improve conservation methodologies and enhance utilisation techniques. It has been argued that the most important component of biodiversity is the genetic diversity of crop and forage species used to feed humans and livestock. These cultivated and related wild species provides the raw material for further selection and improvement. Leguminosae species are of major economic importance (peas, chickpeas, lentils and faba beans, as well as numerous forage species) and provide a particularly rich source of protein for human and animal foods. Their distribution is concentrated in the Mediterranean region and therefore the improvement of their conservation and use in the region is critical. This text is designed to help ensure an adequate breadth of legume diversity is conserved and to help maximise the use of that conserved diversity. The subjects of conservation and use of legume diversity, the Mediterranean ecosystem and taxonomy of legumes are introduced. Generic reviews of the taxonomy, centre of diversity, ecogeographic distribution, genetic diversity distribution, conservation status, conservation gaps and future research needs are provided, along with a discussion of the importance of rhizobia to the maintenance of legume diversity. Current ex situ and in situ conservation activities as well current legume uses are reviewed. In conclusion future priorities for ex situ and in situ plant genetic conservation and use of Mediterranean legumes are highlighted. All contributors look forward rather than simply reviewing past and current activities and therefore it is hoped that the identification of genetic erosion, location of taxonomic and genetic diversity and promotion of more efficient utilisation of conserved material will be enhanced.

Genetic Resources of Mediterranean Pasture and Forage Legumes is a comprehensive review of grassland improvement in Mediterranean areas using legume species. The book includes a detailed account of the processes involved in understanding the ecology of legumes and their collection in the Mediterranean, through to their preliminary evaluation and storage at various Genetic Resource Centres. A generic conspectus and key to the forage legumes of the Mediterranean basin is also included. These proceedings are truly international with examples on the collection and use of Mediterranean genetic resources being illustrated by Genetic Resource Centres in Australia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Syria, Turkey and Tunisia. Current important issues such as the sustainability of Mediterranean grasslands, the risk of genetic erosion and the principles of population genetics employed during a collecting mission are discussed. The book will be of value to researchers working in the fields of grassland and rangeland improvement, Mediterranean farming systems, genetic resources, and pasture and forage ecology.

Genetic Resources of Mediterranean Pasture and Forage Legumes is a comprehensive review of grassland improvement in Mediterranean areas using legume species. The book includes a detailed account of the processes involved in understanding the ecology of legumes and their collection in the Mediterranean, through to their preliminary evaluation and storage at various Genetic Resource Centres. A generic conspectus and key to the forage legumes of the Mediterranean basin is also included. These proceedings are truly international with examples on the collection and use of Mediterranean genetic resources being illustrated by Genetic Resource Centres in Australia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Syria, Turkey and Tunisia. Current important issues such as the sustainability of Mediterranean grasslands, the risk of genetic erosion and the principles of population genetics employed during a collecting mission are discussed. The book will be of value to researchers working in the fields of grassland and rangeland improvement, Mediterranean farming systems, genetic resources, and pasture and forage ecology.

Chickpeas, faba beans and lentils are important pulse crops in the Mediterranean regi on and Mi ddl e East, where thei r hi gh protei n seed nutritionally complement cereal grain in the human diet. The by-products of these crops serve as a valuable feed for animals. Thanks to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, the inclusion of these crops in the cropping system helps in the maintenance of the productivity of the soil and reduces the dependence of the farmer on fertilizer nitrogen to realise good yields. Being the site of original domestication of these legumes, the Fertile Crescent is bel ieved to possess their vast genetic diversity. In order to prevent the erosion of this genetic di'/ersity and to preserve it for posterity, it is necessary that a major effort is made for its expeditious collection, evaluation, documentation and safe storage. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) being located in the Fertile Crescent has, within its mandate, the responsibility to act as a world centre for the work on the genetic resources of kabuli chickpeas, faba beans and lentils. The International Board of Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) has been strongly supporting ICARDA in this important activity.

Grain legumes mainly consisting of common bean, pea, chickpea, faba bean, cowpea, lentil, pigeon pea, peanut, Asian Vigna species, grass pea and horsegram are under cultivation in a considerable area worldwide. With their higher protein content and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules enabling them to fix their own nitrogen, reducing the fertilizer use in agriculture has become very important for the production systems. For most of these important grain legumes, a large number of germplasm accessions were characterized and evaluated for various agro-morphological traits, including biotic, abiotic and quality parameters. Core and mini-core collections have also been developed for the majority of grain legumes; they were further evaluated for different parameters. From these genetic resources, potential donors of desirable traits have been selected after evaluation and characterization and have been utilized in the genetic improvement of cultivars. Current available genomic resources and technologies can facilitate allele mining for novel traits of interest and incorporation from wild relatives into elite domestic genetic backgrounds.

The first book in this new series discusses grain legumes, which rank only second to cereals in supplying calories and protein to the world's population. With each chapter written by an internationally renowned scientist, the book reviews the role of alien germplasm for the domestication of each major legume crop. Discussion for each crop covers or