Efficient Breeding of Pulse Crops

Abstract

Plant breeding aims to create new varieties that outperform the parents by combining valuable traits. The breeding cycle of selection–recombination–selection–testing requires resources, time, and experience to deliver improved varieties with appropriate phenology, efficient plant type, higher yield, and better nutritional quality. Pulse breeders have used classical plant breeding methods with modest success, in terms of crop duration, grain yield, and disease resistance, to develop more than 3700 improved varieties of different pulse crops globally. However, these efforts have not achieved the large genetic gains needed to close the gap between demand and supply. Studies have identified a narrow genetic base and high proportion of variance due to environment (E) and genotype × environment (GE) interactions in the total phenotypic variance of pulse crops in multilocation environment trials (MET) as significant factors for reduced selection efficiency, as well as the lengthy breeding cycle. This chapter reviews the present status of pulse crops, production trends, past breeding progress, and the means to accelerate genetic gain. The application of modern tools and techniques of phenotyping, genotyping, experimental design, data management, statistical analysis, and digitalization and mechanization of breeding and testing pipelines is the way forward for accelerating genetic gains in pulse crops to meet the future demands of the increasing population.