Synopsis In the present compilation, an attempt has been made to collect and condense the vast published literature from a large number of journals of national and international repute, covering almost a quarter of century (1965-1990). The literature in the complete bibliographic form has been presented by incorporating 2085 abstracts on 12 important pulse legumes (bean, bengal gram, black gram, broad bean, cowpea, lens, moth bean, mung bean, pea, pigeon pea and soy bean) including clusterbean an important food legume alongwith some minor pulses. The abstracts for each of the crops have been arranged into 6 major classes of abiotic factors: 1. drought and waterlogging conditions, 2. saline, sodic and acidic conditions, 3. nutritional stresses, 4. photoperiodic and temperature effects, 5. pollutants and sludge-water effects and 6. population, physical, mechanical and other stresses. Abstracts serialed from beginning to end have been strictly arranged in alphabetic orders for each of the crops and for the abiotic factors as well. Some recent research papers which were published late, have also been accordingly abstracted. Thus, it has been tried to include and effectively condense world's nearly 90 per cent pertinent literature on the aforesaid aspect.