Rice bean: a lesser known pulse with well-recognized potential.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Genetics
• Food Security

Background:

• Rice bean (Vigna umbellata) is a vital food security crop for small farmers in Southeast Asia.
• It is nutritionally rich, providing food and fodder, and possesses genes for stress tolerance (drought, acidity, pests).
• Agronomic limitations have hindered its widespread adoption despite its potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the availability of genetic resources for rice bean improvement.
• To emphasize the need for international collaboration in conserving and utilizing these resources.
• To identify key areas for crop improvement in rice bean.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications on rice bean genetic resources.
• Analysis of existing genomic studies concerning stress tolerance and nutritional quality traits.
• Assessment of agronomic and nutritional traits within the global rice bean collection.

Main Results:

• Desirable genetic resources for agronomic and nutritional improvement are present in the global rice bean collection.
• These resources are currently dispersed across different countries.
• Genomic studies have primarily focused on insect resistance and aluminum toxicity tolerance, with less attention to other traits.

Conclusions:

• Required genetic resources for enhancing rice bean's agronomic, nutritional, and economic value are accessible globally.
• International cooperation is essential for the effective utilization and conservation of these resources.
• Collaborative efforts can improve rice bean cultivation, food value, trade, and preserve its unique genomic potential for marginal farmers.