Evolution of Grain Legumes. II. Old And New World Pulses of Lesser Economic Importance

Abstract

SUMMARYA consideration of the apparent lack of general success of minor pulse crops can lead to a better appreciation of the factors which have made the major pulses successful. The relevant factors are both biological and economic. High productivity based on an efficient physiology, amenability to local agronomic practices and a satisfactory range of ecological tolerance are prime prerequisites for success. Aspects of quality, palatability, lack of toxic factors (or ease of detoxification), ease of preparation and cooking and the more imponderable questions of consumer preference are equally important. If any of these prerequisites are not adequately met success in cultivation is improbable. At the present time the lack of more extensive success of the winged bean appears to be due to some deficiency in ecological tolerance, and of the horse-gram and jack and sword beans to a lack of palatability; the Hausa groundnut (Kersting's groundnut) suffers from a probably inefficient physiology while limited consumer acceptance has possibly restricted production of pigeonpea and hyacinth bean. The rather limited evolutionary advance achieved by this group of pulses is probably directly related to their somewhat restricted production and the relatively low level of selection pressures to which they have been subjected.