Breeding for insect resistance in mung bean and urd bean

Abstract

Mung bean and urd bean are important warm season food legumes grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world and contribute significantly to the nutritional security of vegetarian people. However, high incidence of insect pests in these crops is a major constraint in achieving their potential productivity and resulting in yield instability over the years. Their chemical control is costly and inconsistent and has detrimental environmental effects. Host plant resistance is an economical, durable, environmentally safe and ecologically acceptable means of managing these pests. This chapter outlines the sources of resistance available for major insect pests of mung bean and urd bean, mechanisms of resistance, breeding methods for evaluation of genetic resources, alien gene introgression, genetic transformation and prospects in breeding for insect resistance in mung bean and urd bean.