Abstract
Lentil (Lens culinaris M.) is the most popular legume crop in Bangladesh and a valuable with
balanced protein source for the people. Lentils have narrow genetic base with their
morphological, phenotypical and agronomic characters. The objectives of this study to assess variability and diversity of lentil germplasm based on yield and quality parameters and select
superior genotypes for higher yield capable of withstand stemphylium blight resistance having
balanced amino acid content. The field experiments were carried out at Regional Agricultural
Research Station, BARI, Ishwardi, Pabna. Morphological characters on qualitative characters variation was observed in plant growth habit, seedling stem pigmentation, leaf pubescence,
leaflet size, flower ground colour, seed coat colour, seed coat pattern and seed coat pattern colour, cotyledon colour, lodging susceptibility and pest and disease susceptibility. From the analysis of variance of quantitative characteristics showed highly significant differences among
30 lentil genotypes. The early flowering was 53 days in BD-3811 genotype followed by 54 days for BD-3809, 55 days for BD-3805 and 56 days for BD-4102 and early maturity was recorded
102.00 days both in BD-3805 and BD-3811 followed by 103.00 days in BD-6018 and 104.00 days
in BD-4087. Highest number of pods per plant (94.94) observed in genotype BD-3805 followed
by 93.41 for BD-4087, 91.33 for BD-3811, 90.88 for BD-6018. Genotype BD-3805 gave highest
grain yield per plant (2.96 g) followed by 2.94 g in BD-4087, 2.69 g in BD-3977, 2.57 g in BD- 3811, 2.21 g in BD-3962 and 2.19 g in BD-5998. The correlation and path-coefficient analysis
yield and yield contributing characters showed positive association and direct effect with grain yield per plant. From cluster analysis, it was grouped into six clusters among 30 lentil
genotypes. Higher grain yield were found in BD-4087, BD-3805 and BD-3811 from cluster VI,
BD-3974 and BD-5976 from cluster III and BD-5998, BD-3962 from cluster I which were
selected for 7 × 7 half-diallel crossing for heterotic breeding. The high general combining
in
ability (GCA) effect showed in BD-4087 including positive direction for most of the characters
as best general combiner followed by BD-3805 and BD-3974. The best specific combiner (SCA)
as well as heterosis over better parent crosses such as F₁ (BD-3974 × BD-4087), F1 (BD-3805 ×
BD-3974), Fi (BD-3805 × BD-5998) and F₁ (BD-3811 x BD-3974) were showed better
performance in respect of grain yield per plant revealed a great scope for higher yield in lentil
improvement through heterosis breeding. The high level of polymorphism were detected
among the primers, the primer SSR33 showed highest level of polymorphism followed by SSR90, SSR34-2 and SSR80. A total of 32 alleles were detected among 30 lentil genotypes (Fi hybrids along with their parents) with an average of 3.20 allele per locus. Polymorphism
Information Content (PIC) range varied from 0.30 to 0.61 with an average value 0.44 per locus.
A dendrogram based on UPGMA revealed that segregation of 30 lentil genotypes (F₁ hybrids along with their parents) into five major clusters were formed which exhibited in genetic
distance level 0.10-0.90 from primers polymorphism grouped. The maximum numbers of
polymorphic loci were exhibited in SSR33 (0.61). Pair wise comparisons of Nei's genetic
distance was observed F₁(BD-3962 x BD-5998) vs F₁(BD-3811 x BD-5976) followed by F1(BD5976 x BD-5998) vs F1(BD-3811 x BD-5976), (BD-3805) vs F₁(BD-3811 x BD-5976), (BD-3974) vs
F₁(BD-3962 x BD-5976) and F₁(BD-3805 x BD-5976) vs F₁(BD-3962 x BD-5976). The pair F1(BD3974 x BD-4087) vs Fi(BD-3805 x BD-5976) located in morphological cluster II & III but differently in molecular cluster and exhibited better for yield and yield contributing characters.
The protein estimation from Kjeldahl method, the highest protein concentration (26.85%) was
observed from F₁(BD-3974 x BD-4087) cross combination followed by (26.54%) for F₁(BD-3811 x
BD-4087), (26.46%) for F1(BD-3962 x BD-5976), (26.44%) for F1(BD-4087 x BD-5998), (26.31%) for F₁(BD-3805 x BD-3962), (25.94%) for F₁ (BD-3811 x BD-3974) and (25.92%) from Fi(BD-3805 x
BD-5976) through seed. For leaves protein analysis from spectrophotometer, five cross
combinations i.e., F₁(BD-3974 × BD-4087), F1(BD-3811 × BD-3974), F1(BD-3805 × BD-3974), F₁(BD-3805 × BD-5998) and F₁(BD-3962 × BD-3974) were better cross combinations. From this study, in respect of all morphological, diversity, molecular analysis, total protein content and
resistant to stemphylium blight results with selection index, three cross combinations F₁(BD3974 × BD-4087), F1(BD-3805 × BD-5998) and F1(BD-3811 × BD-3974) were found promising.