This work covers legume crop origins and evolution, genetic resources, breeding achievements, specific goals and techniques, including the potential and actual integration of new technologies. The vast amount of knowledge collected in this volume should not only serve researchers, but breeders and academics as well. The text provides plant breeders with new scientific information, and familiarizes molecular biologists with the peculiarities of breeding of the main grain legume species.

The first part of the text consists of crop-specific chapters devoted to the most produced and consumed worldwide grain legume crops. The second part includes five cross chapters covering topics that relate to these crops. These chapters have been written by the world's leading breeders and scientists, representing a wide experience in their crops and topics.

Autorentext

Antonio M. De Ron is Research Professor at the Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Pontevedra, Spain. He received both his graduate and doctorate in Biology from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC, Spain). Initially he worked as a postgraduate student in plant protection at the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA, Spain). In 1988, Prof De Ron gained a staff position as scientist at the MBG working on legume genetics, germplasm and breeding and he is currently the leader of the Biology of Agrosystems Research Group. He was also part-time lecturer of genetics and breeding at the USC. Currently he is also serving as Leader of the Protein Crops Working Group of the European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA, The Netherlands). He has published many scientific articles, books and monographs, as well as several educational publications. Prof De Ron has won awards for his work and is well recognized in the international scientific community for his achievements.

Zusammenfassung
This book is devoted to grain legumes and include eight chapters devoted to the breeding of specific grain legume crops and five general chapters dealing with important topics which are common to most of the species in focus. Soybean is not included in the book as it is commonly considered an oil crop more than a grain legume and is included in the Oil Crops Volume of the Handbook of Plant Breeding.Legume species belong to the Fabaceae family and are characterized by their fruit, usually called pod. Several species of this family were domesticated by humans, such as soybean, common bean, faba bean, pea, chickpea, lentil, peanut, or cowpea. Some of these species are of great relevance as human and animal food. Food legumes are consumed either by their immature pod or their dry seeds, which have a high protein content. Globally, grain legumes are the most relevant source of plant protein, especially in many countries of Africa and Latin America, but there are some constraints in their production, such as a poor adaptation, pest and diseases and unstable yield. Current research trends in Legumes are focused on new methodologies involving genetic and omic studies, as well as new approaches to the genetic improvement of these species, including the relationships with their symbiotic rhizobia.

Inhalt
Common Bean.- Pea.- Chickpea.- Lentil.- Faba Bean.- Lupins.- Cowpea.- Grass Pea.- The Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.- Nutritional Value.- Seed Physiology and Germination of Grain Legumes.- Reproductive Biology of Grain Legumes.- Grain Legume Cropping Systems in Temperate Climates.