Innovative Pulses for Western European Temperate Regions: A Review

Abstract

In Europe, there is an increasing interest in pulses both for their beneficial effects in cropping systems and for human health. However, despite these advantages, the acreage dedicated to pulses has been declining and their diversity has reduced, particularly in European temperate regions, due to several social and economic factors. This decline has stimulated a political debate in the EU on the development of plant proteins. By contrast, in Southern countries, a large panel of minor pulses is still cropped in regional patterns of production and consumption. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential for cultivation of minor pulses in European temperate regions as a complement to common pulses. Our assumption is that some of these crops could adapt to different pedoclimatic conditions, given their physiological adaptation capacity, and that these pulses might be of interest for the development of innovative local food chains in an EU policy context targeting protein autonomy. The research is based on a systematic review of 269 papers retrieved in the Scopus database (1974–2019), which allowed us to identify 41 pulses as candidate species with protein content higher than 20% that are already consumed as food. For each species, the main agronomic (e.g., temperature or water requirements) and nutritional characteristics (e.g., proteins or antinutritional contents) were identified in their growing regions. Following their agronomic characteristics, the candidate crops were confronted with variability in the annual growing conditions for spring crops in Western European temperate areas to determine the earliest potential sowing and latest harvest dates. Subsequently, the potential sum of temperatures was calculated with the Agri4cast database to establish the potential climatic suitability. For the first time, 21 minor pulses were selected to be grown in these temperate areas and appear worthy of investigation in terms of yield potential, nutritional characteristics or best management practices.

Cowpea Constraints and Breeding in Europe

“…Cultivated areas for cowpea dry beans production are also reported in Slovenia and Hungary [ 58 ]. In total, cowpea corresponds to the 0.3% of pulses production in Europe and the 0.3% of world cowpea production for dry seed, reaching up to 23,825.22 ton in 2021 [ 58 , 60 ]. However, not many data are available regarding cowpea production for fresh pod production despite that its production was enhanced in Southern European countries lately [ 10 , 61 ].…”

Underutilized legumes: nutrient status and advanced breeding approaches for qualitative and quantitative enhancement

“…Disease rates worldwide may be lowered by 32% if malnutrition were reduced ( 12 ). Abnormal fetal brain physiology and morphology have been linked to malnutrition, particularly protein shortage ( 18 ). Death rates, medical expenses, and recovery times are all impacted by poor nutrition ( 19 – 22 ).…”

“…Canavanine content ranged from 27% in C. gladiata to 42% in C. ensiformis . Furthermore, Ayerdi and Marraccini ( 18 ) determined that the crude protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrate contents of Cassia hirsuta ranged from 15.52–21.74, 3.77–7.04, 4.68–6.92, and 62.45–70.16%, respectively. The calorie content per 100 grams of seeds was reported to vary between 1549 and 1634.…”

Envirotyping to control genotype x environment interactions for efficient soybean breeding

“…Leguminous crop deployments have been accelerated to address European protein deficits (Marraccini et al, 2020;Ayerdi Gotor & Marraccini, 2022). Among legumes, soybean (Glycine max L. (Merrill)) seems to be a good candidate to become a major oleo-protein crop for both food and feed (Sudarić, 2020).…”