Broadening the genetic base of lentil cultivars through inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses of L ens taxa

Wild L ens taxa are invaluable sources of useful traits for broadening genetic base of cultivated lentil. Nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses were made successfully between cultivated ( L ens culinaris ssp. culinaris ) and wild lentils ( L . culinaris ssp. orientalis , odemensis , lamottei and ervoides ). The effect of species groups, day length and temperature on crossability in lentils was evident under normal winter sowing in N ew D elhi and in summer H imalayan nursery at S angla in H imachal P radesh, I ndia, although pollen fertility assessed in all the cross‐combinations showed no significant variation. True hybridity of nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses was confirmed through morphological and molecular ( ISSR ) markers, in which three of 120 primers could confirm the hybridity of all the crosses. All cross‐combinations were also studied for important quantitative traits related to yield. The range, mean and coefficient of variation were estimated in parental lines, F 1 and F 2 generations to determine the extent of variability generated in cultivated lentils through the introgression of genes from wild L . taxa. A high level of heterosis was observed in F 1 crosses for important traits studied. Substantially higher variations for seed yield and its attributing traits were exhibited in F 2 generations indicating transgressive segregation. The results of the present investigation revealed that wild L . taxa can be successfully exploited for lentil improvement programmes, and the variations generated could be easily utilized for broadening the genetic base of cultivated lentil gene pool for improving the yield as well as wider adaptation.