S02 - Session P5 - Conservation of grain legumes genetic diversity for multipurpose uses in the agri-food chain

Authors: Creola Brezeanu *, Petre Marian BREZEANU, Silvica Ambarus, Mariana Calara, Andreea Antal Tremurici, Alexandru Bute

The study was developed in the current context of the EU Green Deal to make Europe greener and more sustainable. Food legumes are crucial species for key agriculture-related societal challenges, such as agrobiodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, food security and human health. Alternative plant proteins for food are in demand, and the EU has developed a new protein plan. Currently, only 3% of EU arable land is devoted to protein crops, but the trend is to increase the allocated surfaces for it. Romania has a favourable and diverse agroecological land and a high diversity of grain legumes species. The market request for legumes has been increasing, mainly attributed to the high demand for nutrition and benefits for the environment due to legume cultivation. This study aims to promote grain legumes by investigating diverse collections and their performance to be exploited in modern agronomic practices that boost the yield and its quality and impact. The most representative grain legumes collections are maintained in Romania by the Gene Bank Suceava, and large collections are also held in the Vegetable Research and Development Station in Bacau. This study presents the structure of the national collection for major and minor species, including common bean, runner bean, mung bean, field pea, developed under different national and international projects. It shows the status of the collections and the performance of selected materials with their suitability to organic cultivation, intercropping (common/ runner bean n maize) and rotation schemes developed in an organic (snap bean, tomatoes, broccoli) system. Despite the multiple benefits of grain legumes, their use is below potential, mainly due to the limited seed availability, market problems and poor extension services.