GRAIN LEGUMES AEP The magazine of the European Association for Grain Legume Research Le magazine de l’Association Européenne de recherche sur les Protéagineux ISSUE No. 49 October 2007 BackBack issuesissues No.33 Degradability of grain legumes No.34 in ruminants Highlights from the No.35 th 4 AEP Conference Grain legumes and No.36 1 human health 0 Environmental benefits 0 1 2 of grain legumes 0 2 r 0 0 e t 2 r 0 2 r a 2 e 0 t u r r 0 q e a t 2 r u d r r a q e u 3 t h r q t a t 4 u s q 1 d n 2 No.37 Genetic resources No.38 No.39 of grain legumes Use of synteny for genetic progress EU projects No.40 on 2 grain legumes Highlights from Dijon 2004 0 2 0 (AEP-5 and ICLGG-2) 0 2 4 0 r e 0 2 t r GRAIN LEGUMES AEP 4 0 r The magazine of the European Association for Grain Legume Research a Le magazine de l’Association Européenne de recherche sur les Protéagineux e 0 2 t ISSUE No. 39 2nd quarter 2004 u r 0 r q a e 2 t u r d r r q a e t 3 u h r t q a 4 u d q n 2 d r 3 No.41 The GRAIN LEGUMES No.42 Integrated Project Drought and saline No.43 stress in legumes Food uses and health No.44 5 benefits of lupins 0 Seed protein in 5 0 grain legumes 0 2 GRAIN LEGUMES AEP 5 0 he European Association for Grain Legume Research y The magazine of t Le magazine de l’Association Européenne de recherche sur les Protéagineux r 0 2 ISSUE No. 42 June 2005 a 5 0 e u 0 2 n n u 0 r a J J e 2 b r e m t r e t a p u e q S h t 4 No.45 Economic and environmental No.46 value of grain legumes Integrated activities No.47 EU Grain Legumes Integrated inProject the No.48 Vetches from 6 Feed to Food? 0 Faba 6 0 beans 0 2 6 0 r e 0 2 t r 7 0 r a e 0 2 t u r 0 r q a e 2 t t u r s y q a r 1 u a d q u n n 2 d r a J 3 GGRRAAIINN LLEEGGUMEUMESS CONTENTS Carte blanche 4 Available markets should be supplied – we need to encourage The magazine of the farmers to enlarge areas (P. Cuypers) European Association for Grain Legume Research News Le magazine de l’Association Européenne de Recherche sur les Légumineuses à graines 5 Changes and challenges for AEP (The AEP Executive Committee) 5 Lisbon 2007 – Integrating legume biology for sustainable AEP agriculture – a coming milestone 12, avenue George V, 75008 Paris, France 5 Insert: First GL-TTP workshop in April 2007 Grain Legumes magazine is available on subscription to anyone interested 6 5th Phaseomics meeting in Varenna, Italy, May 2007 in grain legumes. (F. Sparvoli, N. Terryn, W. Broughton) Subscription prices and ordering information 6 Towards sustainability: eleventh Serbian forage crops symposium are available from the AEP secretariat or the (A. Miki´c) AEP web site (http://www.grainlegumes.com) Research Publishing Director/ 7 Manipulating flowering time Directeur de la publication: (B. Wenden, C. Rameau I. Lejeune-Hénaut) Álvaro RAMOS MONREAL 8 Insert: Digestibility of Hr winter peas (K. Crépon) (Consejeria de Agricultura Ganadería, Spain) Managing Editor/Rédacteur en chef: Special report Anne SCHNEIDER (AEP, FR) Email: [email protected] Abiotic stress in legumes Editorial Secretary/Secrétaire de 9 Introduction rédaction: 10 Growth and functioning of legumes under drought: a whole Jill CRAIG (AEP, UK) plant perspective (B. Davies) Email: [email protected] 12 Plant traits and crop management to limit the effects of water stress Editorial Board/Comité de rédaction: in Mediterranean agronomic situations (F. Lelièvre) Jill CRAIG (AEP, UK) 14 How genomics may help to understand tolerance to abiotic Gaëtan DUBOIS (UNIP, FR) stress in legumes? (V. Gruber, M. Crespi) Simon KIGHTLEY (NIAB, UK) 16 Integrating molecular and genetic data in legumes (T. Huguet) Pascal LETERME (Prairie Swine Centre, Saskatoon, Canada) 17 Benefits of inoculation under abiotic stress in the Mediterranean Wolfgang LINK (IPP, Göttingen, DE) region (C. Vargas, M. E. Aouani) Diego RUBIALES (CSIC, Córdoba, SP) 18 Abiotic stress breeding at ICARDA (M. Baum) Anne SCHNEIDER (AEP, FR) 19 Where we go from here – Concluding remarks of the abiotic stress Overseas correspondents/ in legumes workshop Correspondants à l’étranger (M. Crespi, A. Schneider, T. Huguet, M. E. Aouani) Brian CLANCEY (Stat Publishing, USA) David MCNEIL (Victorian Department of Crops, uses & markets Primary Industries, AU) 20 George HILL (Lincoln University, NZ) Dynamics and prospects for grain legumes in the European feed market (A. Schneider, F. Pressenda, K. Crépon) Electronic prepress/Infographie Printing/Impression: 22 Decision support system for efficient disease control Herald Graphics, Reading (UK) (T. Volk, J.-S. von Richthofen) 24 A jump in price for French faba beans exported to Egypt Subscriptions/Abonnements: (J.-P. Lacampagne) AEP Executive Secretariat Email: [email protected] 25 Events & new books Quarterly magazine/Revue trimestrielle ISSN 245-4710 Around the world Commission paritaire n° 74 616 26 Pigeonpea development in China (S. Yang and colleagues) GRAIN LEGUMES No. 49 – October 2007 3 Available markets should be supplied – we need to encourage farmers to enlarge areas n the past three years, grain legume areas in France have decreased Isignificantly: 2007 areas are 50% less for peas and 30% less for faba beans compared with 2004 areas. In contrast to peas whose Pierre Cuypers* yield also decreased, faba beans benefited from a quite valuable average yield this 2007 harvest. There has been a general trend in recent seasons for enhanced damage to arable crops caused by adverse climatic conditions during the crop cycle. However the decrease in grain legume area in France and in other EU countries is especially alarming for farming systems. Indeed, as highlighted by Mr Christophe Terrain, President of Arvalis1 at a French press conference this summer, it is vital to manage cropping decisions at the rotation level, and grain legumes bring a clear benefit in rotations. The Arvalis Acting Director, Gérard Morice pointed out that they enhance the yield of the following cereal by 0.7 to 1 t/ha, and have costs €50 to €70 lower than a wheat or oil crop. We need to respect the cycle of crops on one field, by avoiding the return of similar crops too soon, and maintaining the diversity of cultivated species. On the market side, UNIP was frustrated to see that there was a low offer of faba beans and peas for the attractive export outlets which have reached very high prices this commercial campaign! Grain legumes compete indirectly with some other crops that benefit from a more positive image and from lucrative contracts, but we also identified some logistical difficulties at collection, storage and market levels that are linked to minor volumes. That is why we believe in demonstrating actions towards farmers and farmers’ unions and in innovative partnerships at regional levels to reinforce stability of the crop chain from the grower to the market users. In addition, we believe in collaboration with scientists to achieve genetic enhancement or agronomic solutions to overcome diseases and pests or soil and climatic variations, while maintaining high seed quality. Grain legumes have benefits especially at agronomic and environmental levels, so we need to be creative to make them economically valuable! I *UNIP President, Paris, France. ([email protected]) 1The technical institute for cereals and several other crops in France. GRAIN LEGUMES No. 49 – October 2007 4 AEP NEWS Changes and challenges for AEP Lisbon-2007 – Since autumn 2006, there have been some changes at AEP Integrating legume biology headquarters. for sustainable agriculture – A lighter structure for AEP in Paris a coming milestone for legumes One of AEP’s main sponsors, UNIP, which hosts the AEP headquarters, has experienced difficulties associated with the strong decline in grain legume areas in recent years in France (as in other EU countries). UNIP has always supported AEP activities at financial and political levels and appreciates the successful networking and dissemination efforts that have been carried out by AEP in the past years. However, with the new situation, UNIP cannot continue to support AEP without reductions in the activities and finances that go through the AEP office in Paris hosted by UNIP. The consequence is that the Paris headquarters of AEP now have a lighter structure with only one half-time person and no more secretarial assistance. In fact, UNIP proposes to take a greater part in AEP activities and decisions while ensuring the balance of AEP budgets. AEP e are delighted to announce that our Lisbon-event to be held has always wished to involve more representatives from the industry Wfrom 12 to 16 November 2007 has received the patronage sector. It is expected that this involvement will be followed by of Mr José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. similar involvement of other market-related organisations or Mr Timothy Hall, the Acting Director of Biotechnologies, economic partners. Agriculture and Food of the European Commission Directorate- Therefore today the AEP network needs to find the best way General for Research will officially open the conference and the (i) to operate with a lighter permanent structure for its day-to- Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jaime day running as well as (ii) to meet the needs and demands of all Silva, will give a welcome address on behalf of the Portuguese the different types of members within AEP.