ABSTRACT
Horse gram agroecosystem confines itself into parts of Africa, Indian Subcontinent, China and Philippines. However, its cropping zones are also traceable in Australia. Horse gram often thrives as intercrop with major cereals and other species. Horse gram is a preferred crop in dry land regions of the world. It is the best bet when precipitation patterns are not congenial and droughts are frequent. Horse gram is an important legume grown extensively in the drier regions of Peninsular India. It has been used as a food legume in South India, since 5 millennia. In almost all archeological sites of South India, such as Sanganakallu, Hullur and others on the banks of Thungabadhra, seed and other remnants of horse gram were noticed. In fact, kulthi or horse gram seems ubiquitous among Neolithic human dwellings found in South India [1]. Boivin et al. [2] suggest that southern Indians used horse gram as an important source of protein during Neolithic period. There is no knowledge about progenitors of horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum). The domesticated species of horse gram is currently known as Macrotyloma uniflorum. Horse gram was domesticated in the plains and hills of South India.
