The Dolichos bean: a versatile legume with potential to address food security challenges and strategies for improvement

The Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.), despite its rich history, diverse applications and impressive nutritional profile, faces limitations in adoption and productivity. This review highlight its potential for sustainable food security due to its genetic diversity, adaptability and nitrogen fixation, while acknowledging challenges like low awareness and restricted breeding programs. Collaborative efforts across research and practice are crucial to overcome these hurdles. Modern technologies like gene editing and omics approaches offer exciting prospects for improved stress tolerance and host plant resistance to pathogens and pests. Future research should focus on exploring genetic diversity, enhancing nutritional quality, developing sustainable cropping systems and leveraging biotechnological tools to develop climate resilient cultivars with higher production and improved nutrition. Ultimately, increasing awareness of the Dolichos bean benefits can foster wider adoption and support its sustainable use for food, feed and various value-added products across diverse regions.