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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 46250

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ali Naz

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Guest Editor

Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Interests: crop biodiversity; molecular breeding; wild accessions; drought stress adaptation; disease resistance

Dr. Agim Ballvora

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Guest Editor

Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Interests: wheat; oilseed rape; natural diversity; phenomics; functional genomics; yield; disease resistance

Dr. Benedict Oyiga

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Guest Editor

Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, Germany
Interests: Wheat; Barley; Salt stress tolerance; GWAS, Root genomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant breeding is a historical academic discipline which laid the foundations of modern agriculture. The principles of classical breeding are still the nucleus of modern breeding science and industry. On the other hand, recent methodological advancements in genomics, biotechnology, molecular biology and bioinformatics have revolutionized the area of plant breeding and its linkages with related disciplines. These developments have opened new inter-disciplinary areas of plant breeding with quantitative genetics, genomics, agro-biotechnology and bioinformatics.

This special issue will focus on innovative research on the exploration and utilization of crop biodivesity for improving essential breeding traits using molecular techniques and to replensh the genetic potential of cultivated gene-pool for yield and sustainability.

Dr. Ali Naz
Dr. Agim Ballvora
Dr. Benedikt Oyiga
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Crop biodiversity
Wild accessions
Molecular breeding
QTL and gene mapping
Comparative genomics
Drought stress adaptation
Disease resistance
Yield and sustainability

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gene Expression Correlation Analysis Reveals MYC-NAC Regulatory Network in Cotton Pigment Gland Development

by Hailiang Cheng, Xiaoxu Feng, Dongyun Zuo, Youping Zhang, Qiaolian Wang, Limin Lv, Chaofeng Wu, Shuyan Li, Yuanli Dai, Da Qu, Man He, Shang Liu and Guoli Song

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 5007; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22095007 - 08 May 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2907

Abstract

Plant NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) family is involved in various development processes including Programmed Cell Death (PCD) associated development. However, the relationship between NAC family and PCD-associated cotton pigment gland development is largely unknown. In this study, we identified 150, 153 and 299 NAC genes in newly updated genome sequences of G. arboreum, G. raimondii and G. hirsutum, respectively. All NAC genes were divided into 8 groups by the phylogenetic analysis and most of them were conserved during cotton evolution. Using the vital regulator of gland formation GhMYC2-like as bait, expression correlation analysis screened out 6 NAC genes which were low-expressed in glandless cotton and high-expressed in glanded cotton. These 6 NAC genes acted downstream of GhMYC2-like and were induced by MeJA. Silencing CGF1(Cotton Gland Formation1), another MYC-coding gene, caused almost glandless phenotype and down-regulated expression of GhMYC2-like and the 6 NAC genes, indicating a MYC-NAC regulatory network in gland development. In addition, predicted regulatory mechanism showed that the 6 NAC genes were possibly regulated by light, various phytohormones and transcription factors as well as miRNAs. The interaction network and DNA binding sites of the 6 NAC transcription factors were also predicted. These results laid the foundation for further study of gland-related genes and gland development regulatory network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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16 pages, 2101 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of QTLs and a Candidate Gene for Reducing Pre-Harvest Sprouting in Aegilops tauschii–Triticum aestivum Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines

by Jie He, Dale Zhang, Xian Chen, Yuge Li, Minjie Hu, Shaoguang Sun, Qing Su, Yarui Su and Suoping Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3729; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22073729 - 02 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3557

Abstract

Wheat pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) causes serious losses in wheat yield. In this study, precise mapping was carried out in the chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSL) F₂ population generated by a direct cross of Zhoumai 18 (PHS-sensitive) and Aegilops tauschii accession T093 (highly PHS-resistant). Three Ae. tauschii-derived quantitative trait loci (QTLs), QDor.3D.1, QDor.3D.2, and QDor.3D.3, were detected on chromosome 3DL using four simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers and 10 developed Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers. Alongside these QTL results, the RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analysis revealed expression levels of TraesCS3D01G466100 in the QDor.3D.2 region that were significantly higher in CSSLs 495 than in Zhoumai 18 during the seed imbibition treatment. The cDNA sequencing results of TraesCS3D01G466100 showed two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), resulting in two changed amino acid substitutions between Zhoumai 18 and line 495, and the 148 nt amino acid substitution of TraesCS3D01G466100, derived from Ae. tauschii T093, which may play an important role in the functioning of ubiquitin ligase enzymes 3 (E3) according to the homology protein analysis, which could lead to differential PHS-resistance phenotypes. Taken together, our results may foster a better understanding of the mechanism of PHS resistance and are potentially valuable for marker-assisted selection in practical wheat breeding efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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13 pages, 2305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Modified Actin (Gly65Val Substitution) Expressed in Cotton Disrupts Polymerization of Actin Filaments Leading to the Phenotype of Ligon Lintless-1 (Li₁) Mutant

by Yuefen Cao, Hui Huang, Yanjun Yu, Huaqin Dai, Huanfeng Hao, Hua Zhang, Yurong Jiang, Mingquan Ding, Feifei Li, Lili Tu, Zhaosheng Kong and Junkang Rong

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(6), 3000; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22063000 - 16 Mar 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1833

Abstract

Dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton plays a central role in the elongation of cotton fibers, which are the most important natural fibers in the global textile industry. Here, a high-resolution mapping approach combined with comparative sequencing and a transgenic method revealed that a G65V substitution in the cotton actin Gh_D04G0865 (GhACT17D in the wild-type) is responsible for the Gossypium hirsutum Ligon lintless-1 (Li₁) mutant (GhACT17DM). In the mutant GhACT17DM from Li₁ plant, Gly65 is substituted with valine on the lip of the nucleotide-binding domain of GhACT17D, which probably affects the polymerization of F-actin. Over-expression of GhACT17DM, but not GhACT17D, driven by either a CaMV35 promoter or a fiber-specific promoter in cotton produced a Li₁-like phenotype. Compared with the wild-type control, actin filaments in Li₁ fibers showed higher growth and shrinkage rates, decreased filament skewness and parallelness, and increased filament density. Taken together, our results indicate that the incorporation of GhACT17DM during actin polymerization disrupts the establishment and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, resulting in defective fiber elongation and the overall dwarf and twisted phenotype of the Li₁ mutant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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16 pages, 8713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Breeder-Friendly KASP Markers for Low Concentration of Kunitz Trypsin Inhibitor in Soybean Seeds

by M. Luciana Rosso, Chao Shang, Qijian Song, Diana Escamilla, Jay Gillenwater and Bo Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(5), 2675; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22052675 - 06 Mar 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2476

Abstract

Trypsin inhibitors (TI), a common anti-nutritional factor in soybean, prevent animals’ protein digestibility reducing animal growth performance. No commercial soybean cultivars with low or null concentration of TI are available. The availability of a high throughput genotyping assay will be beneficial to incorporate the low TI trait into elite breeding lines. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a breeder friendly Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assay linked to low Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) in soybean seeds. A total of 200 F_3:5 lines derived from PI 547656 (low KTI) X Glenn (normal KTI) were genotyped using the BARCSoySNP6K_v2 Beadchip. F_3:4 and F_3:5 lines were grown in Blacksburg and Orange, Virginia in three years, respectively, and were measured for KTI content using a quantitative HPLC method. We identified three SNP markers tightly linked to the major QTL associated to low KTI in the mapping population. Based on these SNPs, we developed and validated the KASP assays in a set of 93 diverse germplasm accessions. The marker Gm08_44814503 has 86% selection efficiency for the accessions with low KTI and could be used in marker assisted breeding to facilitate the incorporation of low KTI content in soybean seeds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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16 pages, 6747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

QTL Mapping and Candidate Gene Identification of Swollen Root Formation in Turnip

by Yudi Wu, Shifan Zhang, Hui Zhang, Fei Li, Guoliang Li, Chuchuan Fan, Rifei Sun and Shujiang Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(2), 653; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22020653 - 11 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2757

Abstract

The swollen root is an important agronomic trait and is a determinant of yield for turnips, which are cultivated as both vegetables and fodder. However, the genetic mechanism of swollen root formation is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the F₂ and BC₁P₂ populations derived from a cross between “10601” (European turnip with swollen root, Brassica rapa ssp. rapifera, AA, 2n = 2× = 20) and “10603” (Chinese cabbage with normal root, Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis, AA, 2n = 2× = 20), and suggested that the swollen root is a quantitative trait. Two major quantitative trait loci (QTLs), FR1.1 (Fleshy root 1.1) and FR7.1 (Fleshy root 7.1), were identified by QTL-seq analysis and further confirmed by QTL mapping in F₂ and BC₁P₂ populations. The QTL FR1.1 with a likelihood of odd (LOD) of 7.01 explained 17.2% of the total phenotypic variations for root diameter and the QTL FR7.1 explained 23.0% (LOD = 9.38) and 31.0% (LOD = 13.27) of the total phenotypic variations in root diameter and root weight, respectively. After a recombinant screening, the major QTL FR7.1 was further narrowed down to a 220 kb region containing 47 putative genes. A candidate gene, Bra003652, which is a homolog of AT1G78240 that plays an essential role in cell adhesion and disorganized tumor-like formation in Arabidopsis thaliana, was identified in this region. In addition, expression and parental allele analysis supported that Bra003652 was a possible candidate gene of QTL FR7.1 for swollen root formation in turnip. Our research may provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of swollen root formation in root crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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19 pages, 3821 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Programmed Editing of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) OsSPL16 Gene Using CRISPR/Cas9 Improves Grain Yield by Modulating the Expression of Pyruvate Enzymes and Cell Cycle Proteins

by Babar Usman, Gul Nawaz, Neng Zhao, Shanyue Liao, Baoxiang Qin, Fang Liu, Yaoguang Liu and Rongbai Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(1), 249; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22010249 - 29 Dec 2020

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4722

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the major crops in the world and significant increase in grain yield is constant demand for breeders to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. The size of grains is one of major components determining rice yield and a vital trait for domestication and breeding. To increase the grain size in rice, OsSPL16/qGW8 was mutagenized through CRISPR/Cas9, and proteomic analysis was performed to reveal variations triggered by mutations. More specifically, mutants were generated with two separate guide RNAs targeting recognition sites on opposite strands and genomic insertions and deletions were characterized. Mutations followed Mendelian inheritance and homozygous and heterozygous mutants lacking any T-DNA and off-target effects were screened. The mutant lines showed a significant increase in grain yield without any change in other agronomic traits in T₀, T₁, and T₂ generations. Proteomic screening found a total of 44 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), out of which 33 and 11 were up and downregulated, respectively. Most of the DEPs related to pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and cell division and proliferation were upregulated in the mutant plants. Pathway analysis revealed that DEPs were enriched in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, carbon metabolism, ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, and citrate cycle. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis presented that most of the DEPs were involved in the pyruvate metabolic process and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Proteins related to pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit alpha-1 displayed higher interaction in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Thus, the overall results revealed that CRISPR/Cas9-guided OsSPL16 mutations have the potential to boost the grain yield of rice. Additionally, global proteome analysis has broad applications for discovering molecular components and dynamic regulation underlying the targeted gene mutations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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20 pages, 3228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genomic and Transcriptomic Survey Provides New Insight into the Organization and Transposition Activity of Highly Expressed LTR Retrotransposons of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

by Ilya Kirov, Murad Omarov, Pavel Merkulov, Maxim Dudnikov, Sofya Gvaramiya, Elizaveta Kolganova, Roman Komakhin, Gennady Karlov and Alexander Soloviev

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(23), 9331; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21239331 - 07 Dec 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

LTR retrotransposons (RTEs) play a crucial role in plant genome evolution and adaptation. Although RTEs are generally silenced in somatic plant tissues under non-stressed conditions, some expressed RTEs (exRTEs) escape genome defense mechanisms. As our understanding of exRTE organization in plants is rudimentary, we systematically surveyed the genomic and transcriptomic organization and mobilome (transposition) activity of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) exRTEs. We identified 44 transcribed RTEs in the sunflower genome and demonstrated their distinct genomic features: more recent insertion time, longer open reading frame (ORF) length, and smaller distance to neighboring genes. We showed that GAG-encoding ORFs are present at significantly higher frequencies in exRTEs, compared with non-expressed RTEs. Most exRTEs exhibit variation in copy number among sunflower cultivars and one exRTE Gagarin produces extrachromosomal circular DNA in seedling, demonstrating recent and ongoing transposition activity. Nanopore direct RNA sequencing of full-length RTE RNA revealed complex patterns of alternative splicing in RTE RNAs, resulting in isoforms that carry ORFs for distinct RTE proteins. Together, our study demonstrates that tens of expressed sunflower RTEs with specific genomic organization shape the hidden layer of the transcriptome, pointing to the evolution of specific strategies that circumvent existing genome defense mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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17 pages, 3965 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Analysis of Seed microRNA and mRNA Transcriptome Reveals Important Functional Genes and microRNA-Targets in the Process of Walnut (Juglans regia) Seed Oil Accumulation

by Xinchi Zhao, Guiyan Yang, Xiaoqiang Liu, Zhongdong Yu and Shaobing Peng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(23), 9093; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21239093 - 29 Nov 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2749

Abstract

Walnut (Juglans regia) is known as a promising woody oil crop with abundant polyunsaturated fatty acids in its kernel. However, the regulation mechanism of walnut oil accumulation and fatty acid metabolism is still poorly understood, which restricted the breeding and genetic improvement of high-quality oil-bearing walnuts. To reveal the molecular mechanism of walnut oil accumulation, considering the potential regulation of microRNA (miRNA) in seed development, in this study, the oil content of walnut kernel on the 80th, 100th and 120th day after flowering (DAF) was tested and the corresponding proportions are 11.51%, 40.40% and 53.20%. Between DAF of 80th~120th, the content of stearic acid and oleic acid tended to increase, but the proportion of other fatty acids tended to decrease. Meanwhile, comparative transcriptome and sRNA-seq analysis on three stages (80th, 100th and 120th DAF), found 204 conserved miRNAs and 554 novel miRNAs in walnut kernels, among which 104 key genes related to walnut oil accumulation were screened. The phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase metabolic pathway may contribute more to oil accumulation in walnut. 16 miRNA-mRNA regulatory modules related to walnut oil accumulation and fatty acid synthesis were constructed. 8 known miRNAs and 9 novel miRNAs regulate 28 genes involved in fatty acid (FA) metabolism and lipid synthesis. Among them, jre-miRn105, jre-miRn434, jre-miR477d and jre-miR156a.2 are key miRNAs that regulate walnut FA synthesis. Jre-miRn411 and jre-miR399a.1 are closely related to oil accumulation. These data provide new insights and lay the foundation for subsequent studies on walnut FA synthesis and oil accumulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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22 pages, 6137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metagenomic Insights into Rhizospheric Microbiome Profiling in Lentil Cultivars Unveils Differential Microbial Nitrogen and Phosphorus Metabolism under Rice-Fallow Ecology

by Krishnendu Pramanik, Arpita Das, Joydeep Banerjee, Anupam Das, Shayree Chatterjee, Rishu Sharma, Shiv Kumar and Sanjeev Gupta

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(23), 8895; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21238895 - 24 Nov 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3497

Abstract

The plant rhizosphere interfaces an array of microbiomes related to plant growth and development. Cultivar-specific soil microbial communities with respect to their taxonomic structure and specific function have not been investigated explicitly in improving the adaptation of lentil cultivars under rice-fallow ecology. The present study was carried out to decipher the rhizosphere microbiome assembly of two lentil cultivars under rice-fallow ecology for discerning the diversity of microbial communities and for predicting the function of microbiome genes related to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling processes deploying high-throughput whole (meta) genome sequencing. The metagenome profile of two cultivars detected variable microbiome composition with discrete metabolic activity. Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Thaumarchaeota were abundant phyla in the “Farmer-2” rhizosphere, whereas Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, and some incompletely described procaryotes of the “Candidatus” category were found to be robustly enriched the rhizosphere of “Moitree”. Functional prediction profiles of the microbial metagenomes between two cultivars revealed mostly house keeping genes with general metabolism. Additionally, the rhizosphere of “Moitree” had a high abundance of genes related to denitrification processes. Significant difference was observed regarding P cycling genes between the cultivars. “Moitree” with a profuse root system exhibited better N fixation and translocation ability due to a good “foraging strategy” for improving acquisition of native P under the nutrient depleted rice-fallow ecology. However, “Farmer-2” revealed a better “mining strategy” for enhancing P solubilization and further transportation to sinks. This study warrants comprehensive research for explaining the role of microbiome diversity and cultivar–microbe interactions towards stimulating microbiome-derived soil reactions regarding nutrient availability under rice-fallow ecology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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Review

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27 pages, 908 KiB

Open AccessReview

Genomic Approaches to Identify Molecular Bases of Crop Resistance to Diseases and to Develop Future Breeding Strategies

by Antonia Mores, Grazia Maria Borrelli, Giovanni Laidò, Giuseppe Petruzzino, Nicola Pecchioni, Luca Giuseppe Maria Amoroso, Francesca Desiderio, Elisabetta Mazzucotelli, Anna Maria Mastrangelo and Daniela Marone

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5423; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22115423 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4132

Abstract

Plant diseases are responsible for substantial crop losses each year and affect food security and agricultural sustainability. The improvement of crop resistance to pathogens through breeding represents an environmentally sound method for managing disease and minimizing these losses. The challenge is to breed varieties with a stable and broad-spectrum resistance. Different approaches, from markers to recent genomic and ‘post-genomic era’ technologies, will be reviewed in order to contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of host–pathogen interactions and genes, including those with small phenotypic effects and mechanisms that underlie resistance. An efficient combination of these approaches is herein proposed as the basis to develop a successful breeding strategy to obtain resistant crop varieties that yield higher in increasing disease scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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21 pages, 1635 KiB

Open AccessReview

Molecular Insights into Inflorescence Meristem Specification for Yield Potential in Cereal Crops

by Chengyu Wang, Xiujuan Yang and Gang Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3508; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22073508 - 29 Mar 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 8644

Abstract

Flowering plants develop new organs throughout their life cycle. The vegetative shoot apical meristem (SAM) generates leaf whorls, branches and stems, whereas the reproductive SAM, called the inflorescence meristem (IM), forms florets arranged on a stem or an axis. In cereal crops, the inflorescence producing grains from fertilized florets makes the major yield contribution, which is determined by the numbers and structures of branches, spikelets and florets within the inflorescence. The developmental progression largely depends on the activity of IM. The proper regulations of IM size, specification and termination are outcomes of complex interactions between promoting and restricting factors/signals. Here, we focus on recent advances in molecular mechanisms underlying potential pathways of IM identification, maintenance and differentiation in cereal crops, including rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and barley (Hordeum vulgare), highlighting the researches that have facilitated grain yield by, for example, modifying the number of inflorescence branches. Combinatorial functions of key regulators and crosstalk in IM determinacy and specification are summarized. This review delivers the knowledge to crop breeding applications aiming to the improvements in yield performance and productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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24 pages, 1087 KiB

Open AccessReview

Developments and Prospects in Imperative Underexploited Vegetable Legumes Breeding: A Review

by Sandeep Kaur Dhaliwal, Akshay Talukdar, Ashish Gautam, Pankaj Sharma, Vinay Sharma and Prashant Kaushik

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9615; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21249615 - 17 Dec 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4024

Abstract

Vegetable legumes are an essential source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, along with health-promoting bioactive chemicals. The demand for the use of either fresh or processed vegetable legumes is continually expanding on account of the growing consumer awareness about their well-balanced diet. Therefore, sustaining optimum yields of vegetable legumes is extremely important. Here we seek to present d etails of prospects of underexploited vegetable legumes for food availability, accessibility, and improved livelihood utilization. So far research attention was mainly focused on pulse legumes’ performance as compared to vegetable legumes. Wild and cultivated vegetable legumes vary morphologically across diverse habitats. This could make them less known, underutilized, and underexploited, and make them a promising potential nutritional source in developing nations where malnutrition still exists. Research efforts are required to promote underexploited vegetable legumes, for improving their use to feed the ever-increasing population in the future. In view of all the above points, here we have discussed underexploited vegetable legumes with tremendous potential; namely, vegetable pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), thereby covering the progress related to various aspects such as pre-breeding, molecular markers, quantitative trait locus (QTLs), genomics, and genetic engineering. Overall, this review has summarized the information related to advancements in the breeding of vegetable legumes which will ultimately help in ensuring food and nutritional security in developing nations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding)

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