Nutritional profile of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L): Breeding efforts for enhancing nutritive value

Chickpea is the dominant rabi pulse crop in India, accounting for 50% (13.5 mt) of the nation's pulse production. This nutrient-dense and cost-effective legume provides a rich source of energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fibre. Beyond its basic nutritional value, chickpea harbor a diverse array of non-nutritive phytochemicals, including oligosaccharides, saponins, tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and enzyme inhibitors, holding promising potential for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anticancer, prebiotic, and cholesterol-lowering effects. Recent advancements in genome sequencing have unlocked the chickpea's complete genetic blueprint and empowered cutting-edge breeding methods like QTL analysis, GWAS, and genomic selection to effectively pinpoint and target beneficial genomic regions governing key nutritional traits. These findings help germplasm enhancement, nutritional enrichment and optimization of bioactive components to meet the food security of nations. This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge regarding chickpea's nutritional profile, highlighting past breeding achievements and future prospects for enriching its nutritive value.