Abstract
Biofortification is a process to enrich micronutrients in food crops by agronomic management or
breeding technique. In Bangladesh, rice and pulse, especially lentil is a major food diet. The
present study aimed at enriching selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) in lentil (Lens culinaris). The
study was accomplished through a field survey and several field experiments. The survey was
done to delineate the level of Se, Zn and Fe in lentil seeds from across Bangladesh. The field
experiments were carried out to examine genetic diversity in lentil germplasms, to see genotype -
environment interactions and to evaluate foliar application effects of Se, Zn and Fe on their uptake
in lentil seeds. The field survey was done at farm level taking seed and soil samples from 15
locations representing intensively lentil growing areas of the country. Depending on the locations
and genotypes, the seed Se concentration ranged from 130-364 µg/kg, the seed Zn concentration
from 25.71-40.50 mg/kg and the seed Fe concentrations from 49.06 to 68.95 mg/kg, the mean
values being 264 µg/kg, 34.50 mg/kg and 59.92 mg/kg, respectively. These levels are quite low in
consideration of people's consumption and recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Thus, the
program of biofortification of lentil with Se, Zn and Fe has well justification. Genetic divergence
for seed Se, Zn and Fe concentrations was evaluated on 152 lentil genotypes in the research field at
Ishurdi during 2015-16. Results showed a significant variation among the genotypes in respect of
seed Se, Zn and Fe contents of lentil. Multivariate analysis showed 27 genotypes out of 152
genotypes having higher Se, Zn and Fe contents. A follow-up experiment was undertaken with 27
selected lentil genotypes at Gazipur, Ishurdi and Jessore during 2016-17. Analysis of variance
showed a significant variation for all the characters among the genotypes studied. According to
Eberhart & Russel and AMMI model, the genotypes LR 9-25, ILL-5151 and BARImasur-7 had the
most stability with higher Se content. Again, the genotypes LRIL-21-109, LRIL-21-224, LRIL-22-15,
BARImasur-7, LRIL-22-205, LRIL-22-70 and LRIL-22-39 exhihited stability with higher Zn
conectration. The genotypes LRIL-22-39, ILL-5121, BARImasur-6, LRIL-21-109, BARImasur-7 and
X96S/40-50134-12 were most stable and demonstrated comparatively higher seed Fe content.
Genotype BARImasur-7 and BARImasur-6 performed higher yield with most stability over the
locations. The foliar fertilization experiment was done at those three locations with eight stable
genotypes of lentil. The effect of foliar application of micronutrients was significant on seed
micronutrient contents in different genotypes, with a positive effect on the seed yield for Zn
application only. Foliar application of Zn increased seed Zn level up to 61%, Fe application
increased seed Fe up to 29% and Se application increased seed Se level up to 10 fold across the
lentil genotypes. Lentil showed a unique capacity to store Se and Fe in seed with foliar fertilization,
with no effect on crop yield. Foliar application of Se, Zn and Fe appeared to be an efficient
approach to improve seed micronutrient concentrations in lentil.