Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm with sufficient winter hardiness to survive most winters in cold northern areas is available. However, the use of that germplasm in breeding programs is hampered by variable winter conditions that make field evaluations needed for effective breeding and selection difficult. Our objectives were to gain additional information on the genetics of winter hardiness in lentil by QTL analysis and to identify markers for use in marker‐assisted selection. A total of 106 F6 derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross WA8649090/Precoz were evaluated for winter survival in the field at Pullman, WA, USA, Haymana, Turkey, and Sivas, Turkey, in a randomized complete block design with three replications over 3 yr. Winter survival was based on plant stand counts before and after winter. In addition, winter injury was monitored at Pullman during the 1998‐1999 winter season. Mean survival of the RILs was 49.7, 5.3, and 89.5% at Haymana in 1997‐1998, at Pullman in 1998‐1999, and at Haymana in 1999‐2000, respectively. For QTL analysis of winter survival, three QTL were detected at Haymana in 1997‐1998, one QTL was detected at Pullman in 1998‐1999, and three QTL were identified at Haymana in 1999‐2000. Only one of the QTL was common to all environments. For winter injury scores at Pullman in 1999, four QTL were identified that influenced winter survival. Overall results indicated that winter hardiness is influenced by several genes and the cumulative effects of winter stress.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm with sufficient winter hardiness to survive most winters in cold northern areas is available. However, the use of that germplasm in breeding programs is hampered by variable winter conditions that make field evaluations needed for effective breeding and selection difficult. Our objectives were to gain additional information on the genetics of winter hardiness in lentil by QTL analysis and to identify markers for use in marker‐assisted selection. A total of 106 F6 derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross WA8649090/Precoz were evaluated for winter survival in the field at Pullman, WA, USA, Haymana, Turkey, and Sivas, Turkey, in a randomized complete block design with three replications over 3 yr. Winter survival was based on plant stand counts before and after winter. In addition, winter injury was monitored at Pullman during the 1998‐1999 winter season. Mean survival of the RILs was 49.7, 5.3, and 89.5% at Haymana in 1997‐1998, at Pullman in 1998‐1999, and at Haymana in 1999‐2000, respectively. For QTL analysis of winter survival, three QTL were detected at Haymana in 1997‐1998, one QTL was detected at Pullman in 1998‐1999, and three QTL were identified at Haymana in 1999‐2000. Only one of the QTL was common to all environments. For winter injury scores at Pullman in 1999, four QTL were identified that influenced winter survival. Overall results indicated that winter hardiness is influenced by several genes and the cumulative effects of winter stress.

No abstract

Available winter hardy lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm has prompted interest in the development and use of cultivars that can be fall planted in cold highland areas. This change in production of lentil from normally spring sown to fall sown is environmentally sound and increases yield potential. Understanding the mode of inheritance of winter hardiness in lentil would assist breeding efforts. The objectives of this study were to determine the inheritance and heritability of winter hardiness in lentil. Ten F6 derived recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations from crosses of winter hardy germplasm lines with nonhardy germplasm were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Haymana, and Sivas, Turkey, and at Pullman, WA, USA, between 1997 and 2001. Meaningful data for an analysis of the inheritance of winter hardiness were available only at Haymana in 1997‐1998 and at Pullman in 1998‐1999, indicating infrequent occurrences of sufficiently cold winters to provide differential killing. Percent survival was calculated on the basis of plant stand counts recorded after establishment in the fall and regrowth in the spring. Parental line WA8649041 was the most winter hardy followed by WA8649090, ILL‐1878, and ILL‐669. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant at both locations. Heritability estimates among the 10 RIL populations ranged from 15.9 to 90.7%. Inheritance patterns of winterhardiness appeared to be quantitative on the basis of frequency distributions and the lack of discrete segregation classes. Since winter hardiness in lentil appears to be a quantitative trait, accumulation of genes responsible for winter survival will probably require stringent field testing or marker assisted selection.

No abstract