Advancing Heat Tolerance in Mungbean: Genetic, Physiological, and Breeding Perspectives for Sustainable Production

Abstract

The Green Revolution substantially improved global food production; however, nutritional security, particularly the alleviation of protein malnutrition in rapidly expanding populations, remains a critical challenge. Mungbean, a vital legume crop, having high nutritional value with 24–28% protein, essential minerals, bioactive compounds, and the ability to biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen (58–109 kg/ha), thereby enhancing soil fertility and contributing to sustainable agricultural systems. Its short growth duration makes it well-suited for intercropping, including rice–wheat fallow systems, but elevated temperatures during the summer months (April–May) can severely reduce yields. Efforts to identify heat-tolerant genotypes and elucidate molecular mechanisms have revealed key physiological traits, heat shock protein regulation, and stress-responsive genes, along with associated QTLs for heat tolerance. Advances in precise phenotyping, coupled with the introgression of novel alleles into elite cultivars, offer significant opportunities for developing resilient mungbean varieties. This review examines the effects of heat stress on mungbean highlighting key physiological and yield constraints. We assess genetic resources for heat tolerance and discuss advanced breeding strategies, including genomic selection and high-throughput phenotyping, to accelerate development of climate-resilient varieties. Integrating multi-omics approaches can enhance trait discovery and breeding efficiency, supporting sustainable mungbean production in warming climates.