Molecular Breeding Approaches for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

What is it about?

This chapter explores molecular breeding strategies to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in mungbean (Vigna radiata), a legume critical for food and nutritional security in Asia. Mungbean productivity is often limited by drought, salinity, heat, and other environmental stresses. Conventional breeding has achieved some progress, but the narrow genetic base and complex inheritance of stress‑related traits restrict its effectiveness. The paper reviews advances in molecular markers, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, and genomic selection for identifying stress‑responsive genes. It highlights the role of transcriptomics and proteomics in uncovering pathways linked to drought tolerance, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant defense. Marker‑assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection are emphasized as tools to accelerate breeding cycles. The chapter also discusses integration of molecular breeding with biotechnological approaches such as transgenics and CRISPR/Cas‑based editing, aiming to introduce precise modifications for resilience. By combining molecular insights with traditional breeding, the authors argue that mungbean can be developed into a climate‑resilient crop, ensuring stable yields under adverse conditions.

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Photo by XRP Relic on Unsplash

Photo by XRP Relic on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Abiotic stresses are major constraints to mungbean productivity, directly threatening food security and farmer livelihoods. Molecular breeding provides faster, more precise solutions than conventional methods, enabling the development of stress‑tolerant varieties that can thrive under climate change and resource limitations.

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