Advancements in Legume Breeding for Nitrogen Fixation

Abstract

Legumes play a crucial role in promoting agricultural sustainability, not just for their nutritional benefits, but also by improving soil health through the process of biological nitrogen fixation. This mechanism decreases reliance on chemical fertilizers, thus fostering better soil conditions and greater environmental robustness. With the worsening impacts of climate change and land degradation, breeding legumes for enhanced nitrogen fixation has become ever more critical. This review compiles recent findings regarding the genetic foundations of nitrogen fixation, along with the implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) to enhance soil quality. Examples from soybean, pea, and chickpea demonstrate effective breeding initiatives and the resulting agronomic advantages. Additionally, the paper addresses significant challenges such as narrow genetic diversity and environmental pressures and suggests future paths that include the combination of precision breeding techniques with climate modeling. Progressing legume breeding focused on nitrogen fixation is essential for developing sustainable, low-input farming systems.