Abiotic Stress Responses in Legumes: Strategies Used to Cope with Environmental Challenges
- 24 October 2014
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences
- Vol. 34 (1-3), 237-280
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2014.898450
Abstract
Legumes are well recognized for their nutritional and health benefits as well as for their impact in the sustainability of agricultural systems. The threatening scenario imposed by climate change highlights the need for concerted research approaches in order to develop crops that are able to cope with environmental stresses, while increasing yield and quality. During the last decade, some physiological components and molecular players underlying abiotic stress responses of a broad range of legume species have been elucidated. Plant physiology approaches provided general outlines of plant responses, identifying stress tolerance-related traits or elite cultivars. A thorough identification of candidate genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with these traits followed. Model legumes like Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, and more recently, Glycine max provided valuable translational approaches for dissecting legume responses to abiotic stresses. The challenge now focuses on the translation of the information gained in model systems in controlled environments to crops grown under field conditions. In this review, we provide a general overview of the recent achievements on the study of abiotic stress responses in a broad range of model, grain and forage legumes species, highlighting the different approaches used. Major accomplishments, as well as limitations or drawbacks are discussed across the different sections. Some perspectives regarding new approaches for screening, breeding or engineering legumes with desirable abiotic stress resistance traits are anticipated. These advances will support the development of legumes better adapted to environmental constraints, tackling current demands on modern agriculture and food production presently exacerbated by global climate changes.Keywords
This publication has 101 references indexed in Scilit:
- Genetic variability and QTL mapping of freezing tolerance and related traits in Medicago truncatulaTheoretical and Applied Genetics, 2013
- A high-density genetic map of the Medicago truncatula major freezing tolerance QTL on chromosome 6 reveals colinearity with a QTL related to freezing damage on Pisum sativum linkage group VIMolecular Breeding, 2013
- Integrated genomics, physiology and breeding approaches for improving drought tolerance in cropsTheoretical and Applied Genetics, 2012
- Phenotypic evaluation of interspecific recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of Phaseolus species for aluminium resistance and shoot and root growth response to aluminium–toxic acid soilEuphytica, 2011
- High-resolution melting analysis for SNP genotyping and mapping in tetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Molecular Breeding, 2011
- QTL analysis of seed germination and pre-emergence growth at extreme temperatures in Medicago truncatulaTheoretical and Applied Genetics, 2010
- Restriction site polymorphism-based candidate gene mapping for seedling drought tolerance in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 2009
- Identification of transcription factors involved in root apex responses to salt stress in Medicago truncatulaMolecular Genetics and Genomics, 2008
- Quantitative trait loci of frost tolerance and physiologically related trait in faba bean (Vicia faba L.)Euphytica, 2008
- GmDREB2, a soybean DRE-binding transcription factor, conferred drought and high-salt tolerance in transgenic plantsBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2007