About this Research Topic

Background

In a world urgently requiring more sustainable agriculture, food security and healthier diets the demand for legume crops is on the rise. This growth is fostered by the increasing need for plant protein and for sound agricultural practices that are more adaptable and environmentally sensitive. Food, feed, fibers and even fuel are all products that come from legumes – plants that grow with low nitrogen inputs and in harsh environmental conditions.

To heighten the public awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition, the 68th UN General Assembly declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses. Timely, the forthcoming Second International Legume Society Conference (ILS2 ) scheduled from 11-14th October 2016 in Portugal (Tróia, vicinity of Lisbon) will host an unique forum to present and discuss the new research accomplishments on the Legume biology, as well as, seek for innovative scientific approaches intended to address these fundamental questions on this importantly family of plants. The health and environment benefits, as well as, the marketing of legumes will be transversal topics throughout the conference.

In this Research Topic, excellent review and research papers coming from both ILS2 and non-ILS2 participants dealing with various aspects of legume research are welcomed. Manuscripts should address, but are not restricted to, the following topics: legume quality and nutrition; farming systems/agronomy; abiotic and biotic stress responses and breeding; legume genetic and genomic resources; legume seed technology among others.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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