Drought and salinity stress as major threat for sustainable Mung bean production: Emerging challenges and future perspectives

Abstract

Climate change is a serious concern in the present scenario for the sustainable production of food crops. Insufficient food availability, increasing population, poverty, malnutrition, and depletion of natural resources may lead to a global food crisis. Stable and greater production of nutritious food crops may be an alternative to overcome these difficulties. Mung bean ( Vigna radiata ) is an important food legume with an excellent source of easily digestible protein. It is also recommended for health benefits due to the presence of bioactive compounds. Short life cycle and nitrogen fixing ability makes it suitable for major cropping system. Mung bean is highly sensitive towards various abiotic and biotic stress factors prevailing in the environment. The present review focuses on drought and salinity stress as major abiotic stresses limiting mung bean production. It includes adverse effects, mung bean response, management strategies, and significant efforts made towards these challenges. In this review, the need of addressing the current demand on modern agriculture and food production activities impaired by global climate change has been focused.