Towards establishment of comprehensive reference proteome maps of legume crops

Common bean and pigeon pea constitutes two legume crops par excellence consumed worldwide, including the Indian sub-continent where they serve to satisfy the energy requirements of the population. Importantly, they provide diverse nutrients, protein, and some essential micronutrients. Thus, these model legumes are excellent research materials for high-throughput omic analyses, including proteomics, which is the next frontier post-genome sequencing. The reasons for advancing proteomics databases are manifold, from understanding fundamental plant biology, growth and development, varietal differences, and to unraveling the factors involved in plant adaptability or susceptibility to adverse environmental conditions, among others. Finally, only an integrated omics analysis approach with the protein (proteome) at the center of the genome to metabolome will help fully understand the legumes and contribute to their survival and further advancement as a food crop. Here we discuss possibility and our efforts towards establishment to comprehensive reference maps of common bean and pigeon pea.