*Review* **Biofortification of Pulse Crops: Status and Future Perspectives**

### **Ambuj B. Jha and Thomas D. Warkentin \***

Crop Development Centre/Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; ambuj.jha@usask.ca

**\*** Correspondence: tom.warkentin@usask.ca; Tel.: +1-306-966-2371; Fax: +1-306-966-5015

Received: 26 November 2019; Accepted: 2 January 2020; Published: 6 January 2020

**Abstract:** Biofortification through plant breeding is a sustainable approach to improve the nutritional profile of food crops. The majority of the world's population depends on staple food crops; however, most are low in key micronutrients. Biofortification to improve the nutritional profile of pulse crops has increased importance in many breeding programs in the past decade. The key micronutrients targeted have been iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, carotenoids, and folates. In recent years, several biofortified pulse crops including common beans and lentils have been released by HarvestPlus with global partners in developing countries, which has helped in overcoming micronutrient deficiency in the target population. This review will focus on recent research advances and future strategies for the biofortification of pulse crops.

**Keywords:** biofortification; iron; zinc; selenium; iodine; carotenoid; folate; pulse
