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USDA-ARS, 303 Johnson Hall Washington State Univ. Pullman, WA 99164-6434
muehlbau{at}wsu.edu
Edited by N. MAXTED and S.J. BENNETT. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 101 Philip Dr., Norwell, MA 02061. Hardcover, 378 pp., $176.00. ISBN 0-7923-6707-3.
The Mediterranean region is the center of diversity for many legume species and the site of domestication of nearly all forms cultivated for food and forage. Human activities pose an increasingly serious threat to the genetic diversity of many species found in the Mediterranean region that are important to world agriculture and food security. Faced with this threat, the main purpose of the book is to review the current status of legume diversity in the Mediterranean region and to formulate strategies and methodologies that might reverse the loss of genetic variation and improve utilization. The authors provide an excellent discussion of the relative merits of ex situ and in situ conservation approaches. Examples of in situ conservation projects currently underway in Turkey and Morocco are described in detail. The authors, who are experts in their respective areas, point out the need for genetic resource conservation and the need for utilization to improve cultivated forms for important traits unique to each crop species. The book contains 19 chapters organized into five sections.
The first section has three chapters that introduce the reader to the ecogeographic factors of the Mediterranean region including an overview of legume genera, species and taxa found there. Chapter 1 reviews the range of legume species and taxa found in the region and where some of the diversity is conserved. Chapter 2 is an excellent description of the ecogeographic environment of the Mediterranean region including climate, soils and vegetation. The soils and topography of the region are described as well as the major types of vegetation such as the Maquis, Garrique, and Steppe. Chapter 3 reviews the diversity of legume species in the region that includes 650 genera, and 18 000 species. Details of the so-called "hot spots" of legume diversity are mentioned.
The second section comprises 10 chapters, 9 of which are crop specific. There is excellent coverage of the diversity of clovers, medics, chickpeas, lentils, vetches, grasspea and chicklings, peas, lupins, and minor and under-utilized legumes that are native to the region. The outlines of each of the crop specific chapters are very similar and provide the reader with a good appreciation of the genetic diversity and variation available for economically important species and recommended conservation priorities. Also included are the taxonomy, center of diversity, ecogeographic distribution, conservation resource status and gaps in conservation, and research needs. Under-utilized species are also discussed for apparent potential as future crops. Research needs for each of the economically important legumes is discussed at the end of each chapter and some very good suggestions are made. A final chapter in the section deals with root-nodule bacteria and a strong argument for the need to collect and preserve the nodule bacteria associated with collections of legume germplasm. The authors point out the glaring lack of attention to this important aspect of collection of legumes and the need to correct this discrepancy in the future.
The third section comprises three chapters, two of which concern ex situ conservation and one that discusses the relatively new concept of in situ conservation. Chapter 14 concerns ex situ conservation of the grain legumes and mentions the importance of reproductive biology in the maintenance of seed while minimizing loss of genetic diversity in the process. The discussion of domestication and centers of diversity in the chapter duplicates material presented very well in the crop specific chapters of Section 2. The priorities for future collection are consistent with those held by users and potential users of the germplasm. Chapter 15 is in similar format and deals with the present and future needs for ex situ conservation of the forage legumes. While the chapter provides an excellent discussion of the situation, there seems to be an overemphasis on numbers of accessions rather than on the diversity represented. Chapter 16, which describes in situ conservation, is a major contribution of the book. The growing need for in situ conservation of germplasm either in protected reserves or on-farm is discussed at length. Mention is made of ongoing in situ projects in Turkey and Morocco and the critical need for cataloguing and documenting the species present in the reserves. Inexperience in implementation of the procedure on the part of national programs of the countries where in-situ sites are proposed for development is an apparent problem that must be addressed.
The fourth Section comprises two chapters on utilization of legume diversity in crop improvement programs. Chapter 17 deals with the grain legumes: chickpea, faba bean, grasspea, lentil, lupins, and pea and the use of genetic diversity to improve the crops for food and feed. The need for extensive germplasm evaluation of this group of crops for resistance or tolerance to disease, insects, parasitic plants (especially broomrape), and abiotic stresses is highlighted. Higher biomass production is a priority for lentil germplasm screening. Chapter 18 concerns the utilization of germplasm diversity for enhancing forage and pasture legumes.
The fifth and final section is a look into the future for conservation and utilization of legume diversity and the associated rhizobia species. Recommendations for ex situ and in situ conservation and use of Mediterranean legume germplasm are highlighted. Major areas of the region where germplasm is under represented in current collections are pointed out for future exploration.
The book has 32 contributors who are authorities in the field including the editors, Drs. Nigel Maxted and Sarita Jane Bennett. It contains authoritative information on the genetic diversity of legumes in the Mediterranean region, the status of current conservation efforts, the need for collection and maintenance of diversity from under represented areas, and the potential for utilization of legume germplasm for improvement of cultivated forms for food and feed. A major part of the book promotes the concept of in situ conservation of genetic resources either in native habitats or on-farm. This developing concept has great potential for conservation of the wide diversity of forage and food legumes in the region. However, it is not entirely clear how in situ sites are developed, maintained, catalogued and financed, and made accessible to potential users. The book is ideal as a ready reference for collectors of legume germplasm and where target species are likely to be found. References cited at the end of each chapter are extensive and provide sources of additional information on topics mentioned in the book. The book is printed in a relatively small font size and has a number of typographical errors and some errors of formatting. Nevertheless, the book is highly recommended as a source of information on legume genetic resources in the Mediterranean region, the need for conservation either ex situ or in situ, and the potential for greater and more efficient use of conserved material for enhancement of cultivated forms.
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