Autor(es): Aguilar, Catherine Hazel ; Pires, David ; Cortaga, Cris ; Jr., Reynaldo Peja ; Cruz, Maria Angela ; Langres, Joanne ; Redillas, Mark Christian Felipe ; Galvez, Leny ; Balendres, Mark Angelo
Data: 2025
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10174/39299
Origem: Repositório Científico da Universidade de Évora
Assunto(s): Arachis hypogaea; food security; Glycine max; Phaseolus vulgaris; plant genetic resources; Vigna species
Legumes are among the most important crops globally, serving as a major food source for protein and oil. In tropical regions, the cultivation of legumes has expanded significantly due to the increasing demand for food, plant-based products, and sustainable agriculture practices. However, tropical environments pose unique challenges, including high temperatures, erratic rainfall, soil infertility, and a high incidence of pests and diseases. Indeed, legumes are vulnerable to infections caused by bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, viruses, and nematodes. This review highlights the importance of legumes in tropical farming and discusses major diseases affecting productivity and their impact on the economy, environment, and lives of smallholder legume farmers. We emphasize the use of legume genetic resources and breeding, and biotechnology innovations to foster resistance and address the challenges posed by pathogens in legumes. However, an integrated approach that includes other cultivation techniques (e.g., crop rotation, rational fertilization, deep plowing) remains important for the prevention and control of diseases in legume crops. Finally, we highlight the contributions of plant genetic resources to smallholder resilience and food security.
