Genetics and Breeding of Resistance to Bruchids (Callosobruchus spp.) in Vigna Crops: A Review

Abstract

Vigna crops include mungbean (V. radiata), blackgram (V. mungo), azuki bean (V.angularis) and cowpea (V. unguiculata) are agriculturally and economically important cropsin tropical and subtropical Asia and/or Africa. Bruchid beetles, Callosobruchus chinensis(L.) and C. maculatus (F.) are the most serious insect pests of Vigna crops during storage.Use of resistant cultivars is the best way to manage the bruchids. Bruchid resistant cowpeaand mungbean have been developed and comercially used, each with single resistancesource. However, considering that enough time and evolutionary pressure may lead bruchidsto overcome the resistance, new resistance sources are neccessary. Genetics and mechanismof the resistance should be clarified and understood to develop multiple resistance cultivars.Gene technology may be a choice to develop bruchid resistance in Vigna. In this paper wereview sources, mechanism, genetics and breeding of resistance to C. chinensis and C.maculatus in Vigna crops with the emphasis on mungbean, blackgram, azuki bean andcowpea.