Transgenic Grain Legumes

Recombinant DNA technology remains one of the best tools that still presents a great potential to enhance genetic improvement in many recalcitrant crops since its discovery more than two decades ago. This chapter intends to provide a comprehensive review of the applications of genetic transformation techniques in legumes, useful for both growth and yield improvements, especially under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. This technology is very promising in mitigating the current and future challenges in agriculture, with proven records in the development of a number of cereal and legume crops, such as maize, sorghum, soybean, lentils, peas, chickpeas, common beans, and alfalfa. In the midst of all reported advantages, this technology is also faced with several concerns, criticism, and possible shortcomings emanating from its adoption and production of novel genetically modified cultivars, especially at farm and market levels. Issues such as the genetic integrity of the transgenic cultivars, undesirable mutations, biosafety, and moral beliefs regarding the production and consumption of GM crops are among the controversial topics faced by this biotechnological tool. In addition, a large number of genotypes still persist in being recalcitrant to genetic manipulations, pending a cost-effective, precise, highlycompetent, and robust approach for the generation of fertile transgenic plants. However, this technology remains widely utilised in many countries despite the numerous speculative concerns raised by some scientists, health professionals, and environmentalists.

Keywords: Agrobacterium, Electroporation-mediated transformation, Genetically modified organisms, Particle bombardment, Transgenic crops.