Chickpeas, faba beans and lentils are important pulse crops in the Mediterranean regi on and Mi ddl e East, where thei r hi gh protei n seed nutritionally complement cereal grain in the human diet. The by-products of these crops serve as a valuable feed for animals. Thanks to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, the inclusion of these crops in the cropping system helps in the maintenance of the productivity of the soil and reduces the dependence of the farmer on fertilizer nitrogen to realise good yields. Being the site of original domestication of these legumes, the Fertile Crescent is...