Morphological Characterization of High Grain Iron and Zinc Concentration Bio-fortified lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) in Nepal

  

    
Traits
    

    
Name of accessions
    
No. of Accessions
  
  

    
Stemphylium blight
    
1(No infection)
    
Sagun, Black Masuro, RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7979,    ILL-4605
    
6
  
  

    
3(Resistant)
    
ILL-2712, ILL-6819, ILL-7723, ILL-8006, ILL-7715,    ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4,    WBL-77, RL-49, RL-12
    
17
  
  

    
5(Moderately Resistant)
    
RL-6
    
1
  
  

    
7(Moderately Susceptible)
    
Shital
    
1
  
  

    
Fusarium wilt
    
1(No infection)
    
LG-12, Black Masuro, ILL-6467, WBL-77
    
4
  
  

    
3(Resistant)
    
RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, Shital, Sagun,    HUL-57, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4, RL-79, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-7723, ILL-4605,    RL-49
    
16
  
  

    
5(Moderately Resistant)
    
ILL-8006, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, ILL-2712
    
5
  
  

    
Growth habit
    
Erect and Compact
    
RL-6, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2,    Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-4, ILL-2712, Black Masuro, ILL-6467, ILL-7979,    ILL-7723, WBL-77, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
18
  
  

    
Semi-spreading
    
ILL-8006, RL-12, Simal, Shital, RL-11, RL-79,    ILL-6819
    
7
  
  

    
Stem color
    
Green
    
PL-4, RL-4, RL-49
    
3
  
  

    
Purple
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164,    ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, RL-11, ILL-2712,    Black Masuro, RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-7723, WBL-77, ILL-4605
    
22
  
  

    
Leaf pubescence
    
Absent
    
Black Masuro
    
1
  
  

    
Slight
    
LG-12, RL-79, RL-49
    
3
  
  

    
Dense
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4, ILL-2712, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-7723, WBL-77, ILL-4605
    
21
  
  

    
Leaflet sizes
    
Small
    
RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, RL-11, RL-4, RL-79, ILL-7723
    
13
  
  

    
Medium
    
ILL-8006, PL-4, ILL-2712
    
3
  
  

    
Large
    
HUL-57, LG-12, Black Masuro, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, WBL-77, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
9
  
  

    
Foliage color
    
Dark Green
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4, ILL-2712, Black Masuro, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, WBL-77
    
21
  
  

    
Light Green
    
RL-79, ILL-7723, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
4
  
  

    
Tendril length
    
Rudimentary
    
ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12,    ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-4,ILL-2712, Black    Masuro
    
18
  
  

    
Prominenet
    
RL-11, RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7723, WBL-77, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
7
  
  

    
Flower color
    
Blue(One gene)
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164,    ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital,    Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-11,    RL-4, ILL-2712, Black Masuro, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, WBL-77, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
22
  
  

    
White with blue veins
    
RL-79, ILL-7723, ILL-6467
    
3
  
  

    
No. of flowers

      per peduncle
    
2 flowers    per peduncle
    
RL-6, ILL-7715, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-4, ILL-2712, Black Masuro,    RL-79, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, WBL-77,    ILL-4605, RL-49
    
17
  
  

    

    

    

  
  

    
3 flowers per peduncle
    
ILL-8006, RL-12, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Sagun, RL-11,    ILL-6467, ILL-7723
    
8
  
  

    
Pod pigmentation
    
Absent
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164 ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4,ILL-2712, Black Masuro, RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-7723, WBL-77, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
25
  
  

    
Seed

      sizes
    
Small
    
RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Simal, Shital, ILL-6467, ILL-6819, WBL-77
    
10
  
  

    
Medium
    
ILL-8006, Khajura-2, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12,RL-11, RL-4, ILL-2712, Black Masuro, RL-79, ILL-7979
    
11
  
  

    
Large
    
PL-4, ILL-7723, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
4
  
  

    
Seed coat pattern
    
Spotted
    
ILL 7979
    
1
  
  

    
Dotted
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4, ILL-2712, ILL-6819, WBL-77, RL-79
    
19
  
  

    
Marbled
    
RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7723, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
5
  
  

    
Absent
    
Black Masuro
    
1
  
  

    
Seed Coat color
    
Grey
    
LG-12, RL-79, ILL-7979, ILL-7723, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
6
  
  

    
Brown
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4,    ILL-2712, ILL-6467, ILL-6819, WBL-77
    
18
  
  

    
Black
    
Black Masuro
    
1
  
  

    
Cotyledon color (Red, Yellow, Green, Black)
    
Red
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164 ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Simal, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4,ILL-2712, Black Masuro, RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-7723, WBL-77, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
25
  
  

    
Lodging susceptibility
    
None
    

    

  
  

    
Low
    

    

  
  

    
Medium
    
Simal, ILL-7723, WBL-77
    
3
  
  

    
High
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7715, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Shital, Sagun, HUL-57, LG-12, PL-4, RL-11, RL-4, ILL-2712, Black    Masuro, RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
22
  
  

    
No. of Nodules /plant
    
Very good(>20-30)
    
ILL-6819, LG-12, RL-49, RL-6, Sagun, RL-4, ILL-7164, Khajura-2
    
8
  
  

    
Fair(10-20)
    
ILL-7715, ILL-2712, PL-4, ILL-4605, ILL-7723, Shital, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-3490, Black Masuro, RL-79, RL-11, ILL-8006,    HUL-57, WBL-77, RL-12
    
16
  
  

    
Poor(<10)
    
Simal
    
1
  
  

    
Cold susceptibility

      (1-9 scale)
    
Resistant
    
HUL-57, LG-12, RL-11, ILL-2712, RL-79, ILL-6467, ILL-7979, ILL-6819, ILL-7723, WBL-77, ILL-4605, RL-49
    
12
  
  

    

    

    

  
  

    
Moderately resistant
    
ILL-8006, RL-6, RL-12, ILL-7164, ILL-3490, Khajura-2, Shital, Sagun, PL-4, RL-4
    
10
  
  

    
Susceptible
    
ILL-7715,Simal, Black Masuro
    
3
  

Table 4: Classification of 25 lentil accessions into distinct groups based on qualitative characters.

Growth habit

On the basis of IBPGR descriptors for DUS testing in lentil, accessions have been categorized as Erect and Compact and semispreading based on the growth habit. Out of 25 accessions; 18 accessions were fall in erect and compact group and 7 accessions were semi-spreading type.

Stem color

Stem color is an important morphological character, varied from green to purple. Green stem color was found in three accessions and the rest 22 accessions were with purple stem. Most of the accessions originated from ICARDA were found with purple stem while the green stem color of other accessions was originated from India and Nepal.

Leaf pubescence

Leaf pubescence is also typical character containing in the lentil leaves which has distinguished the varietal characters. In general, it is categorized into three group’s i.e. dense pubescence, slight pubescence and absent pubescence. Dense pubescence was found in 21 accessions likely slight pubescence was found in three accessions and no pubescence or glabrous was found in 1 accession.

Leaflet sizes

Leaflet sizes are another important key morphological character; it is generally categorized into three groups’ small, medium and large leaflets sizes. Most of the lentil accessions were found small leaflets mainly originated from ICARDA. 13 different accessions had found small leaflets, while 9 accessions had large leaflet sizes and three accessions were medium leaflets sizes out of 25 accessions.

Foliage color

Among the morphological traits observed during field evaluation, the foliage colour may be considered as distinguishing, stable and uniform trait for DUS characterization. Lentil accessions have been categorized as light green and dark green and accessions under study contains both two form of foliage color. Dark green foliage was more common among the accessions under study, as 21 accessions had dark green foliage. Only four accessions observed with light green foliage type.

Tendril lengths

During crop growth and at maturity tendril keeps the plants intermingled and the canopy upright. This allows less seed loss in mechanical harvest. Depending upon the tendril lengths it may be prominent with long tendril or rudimentary with short or no tendril. Prominent tendril was found in 7 accessions and rudimentary with 18 accessions.

Flower color

Flower colors are the most important morphological traits which helps to distinguish, uniform and stable traits of any accessions. In general, there are broadly two groups of flower color pertaining in lentil i.e. blue and white with blue veins. In our study, white with blue veins flowers were observed in 3 accessions only while blue flowers which are governed by one gene were found in 22 accessions. Basically this trait is very important trait for testing hybridity segregates in crossing program and a key trait to keeping varietal purity at final level of seed production.

Number of flowers per peduncle

Number of flowers per peduncle is also a morphological trait which helps to distinguish the variety in minute level. It is categorized into two groups i.e. two flowers per peduncle and three flowers per peduncle. In our study, majority of the accessions i.e. 17 accessions had two flowers per peduncle while three flowers per peduncle was found in eight accessions.

Pod pigmentation

In general, there are two types of pod pigmentation i.e. absent or present. Pod pigmentation observation were observed during the well matured pods or harvesting stage. In our study, all accessions had absent any type of pod pigmentation.

Seed sizes

Seed sizes are broadly classified into three group i.e. small, medium and large seeded lentil. In our study, 10 accessions were grouped into small seed size, 11 lentil accessions had medium seed sizes and 4 accessions in large seed sizes. Lentil seed sizes are grouped into two types: macrosperma, or large seeded varieties and microsperma, or small seeded varieties. Macrosperma is found mainly in the Mediterranean region and the New World (seed size ranging from 6 to 9 mm in diameter and yellow cotyledons with little or no pigmentation) and microsperma (2 to 6 mm with red orange or yellow cotyledons) is found on the Indian subcontinent, Near East and East Africa, respectively, are known [32,33]. The first one includes the Chilean or yellow cotyledon types while the latter includes the small seeded Persian or red cotyledon lentils [34].

Seed coat colour, seed coat pattern and cotyledon color

Expression of seed characters like, seed coat color, seed coat pattern and cotyledon color are uniform and stable. Therefore, these traits are better criteria for distinguishing the lentil accessions. Three classes were formed on the basis of seed coat color i.e., grey, brown and black. Among 25 accessions under study 18 accessions had brown seed coat color, 6 accessions had grey seed coat color and only single local collection observed with black color seed coat. On the basis of seed coat pattern, four types of classes were formed based on spotted, dotted, marbled and absent. Out of 25 accessions, 19 accessions had dotted, five accessions had marbled, 1 accession spotted and 1 accession absent.

Cotyledon color

Visual assessment for cotyledon color was done one month after harvesting the seeds and can be categorized in three different classes as per IBPGR DUS guidelines i.e. Red, Yellow, Green, Black. Genotypes under study were classified into two categories i.e. yellow, and red. Almost all genotypes had found red color cotyledons.

Number of nodules per plant

Number of nodules per plant determines the capacity of biological nitrogen fixation by the lentil variety in the soil. It can be assumed that higher the number of nodules will have more nitrogen fixation which supply to the plants itself and provide more yield and also high protein content in the seed. Generally, there are categorized in three groups of nodules per plant i.e. very high, fair and poor. In our study, 8 accessions had the very high nodules per plant, 16 accessions had fair nodules per plant and 1 accession had poor nodules per plant.

Stemphylium blight disease

Lentil stemphylium blight is one of the major foliar diseases which cause substantial yield losses in lentil. In Nepal it was first reported during 1993. In Bangladesh and India estimated yield losses of 62% (Bakr 1991, Erksine and Sarker 1997). Nepalgunj is a hot spot for lentil stemphylium and the symptoms of stemphylium are visible on all plant parts. Hence, stemphylium scoring of accessions under study were done at field level and on the basis of stemphylium disease score accessions on a 1-9 scale under study were classified into four groups i.e. highly resistant, resistant, moderately resistant and moderately susceptible. Disease score was recorded before flowering and after flowering as followed by the Chen, 2007. Highly resistant group consisted of 6 accessions, 17 accessions were resistant out of 25, and rest 1 accession was moderately resistant and 1 accession showed moderately susceptibility for stemphylium blight.

Fusarium wilt disease

Likewise, fusarium wilt was also serious disease in low land growing lentils where it is prevailing soil moisture stress. Based on the scale disease (1-9 score) contrary same as stemphylium blight. In our study, 4 accessions were found highly resistant to fusarium wilt disease, 16 accessions were resistant and 5 accessions were moderately resistant.

Lodging susceptibility

Lodging susceptibility is in fact quantitative trait that determined by the environmental influences, planting time and soil fertility. This is quantified into three group i.e. low, medium and high susceptibility. Most of the accessions i.e. 22 accessions were high lodging susceptibility and three accessions had medium susceptibility.

Cold susceptibility

Cold susceptibility is also showed the symptoms during the seedling stage of cold climate which causes turns into reddish brown plant foliage observed in the field. In fact, reddish foliage means the symptoms of phosphorus deficiency particularly seen in those areas where more calcium carbonate adheres in the soil. In mid and high hills can also be encountered in the lentil field. Cold susceptibility is categorized in three classes, in our study, 12 accessions were found resistant to cold climate, 10 accessions were moderately resistant and three accessions were found susceptible to the cold climate.

Discussion

Growth habit supports the observations of [21], and [22]. This trait is monogenically governed with dominant expression of the tall erect plant habit [23]. Erect and spreading plant types were extreme expressions for this trait and these are more stable but semi-spreading expression may be altered with environmental fluctuations.

It is reported that based on the leaf pubescences, any accession can be identified either it is insect resistant or susceptible. Sometimes its pubescence works as the barrier to direct invade the crops.

On the basis of results obtained, it could be emphasized that morphological characters play a very important role and they do contribute towards genotype divergence in lentil. Light green color foliage turns yellow during maturity and leaves drop down during crop maturation. In contrast, dark green foliage persist for long and stay green during advanced stage of crop growth and resulted in high seed yield with fully matured seed. Stay green character of dark green foliage is desirable and genotypes with dark green foliage should be developed for high yield potential. Similar observations were also reported by [24]. It was reported that foliage color is controlled by single gene with dominance of dark green foliage over light green foliage [25].

It can be assumed that the higher the number of flowers per peduncle means higher the numbers of pod setting and finally produces more yield than two flowers bearer. Testa colour and testa mottling are found to be the most stable and uniform traits for certification of genetic purity of genotypes at four level as their expressions are least influenced by environment. Hence, these two traits in combination can be utilized to characterize the lentil accessions.

Cotyledon colour was controlled by single gene hence; trait is less influenced by the environment [26-29]. Therefore, it can be utilized for distinguishing the lentil genotypes. The intensity of cotyledon colour is affected with storage condition and time so; this trait may be useful only for varietal protection before entering into active seed multiplication chain. Cotyledon with red colour in lentil is preferred in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and other countries of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, etc. Likely yellow cotyledon lentil is preferred by the consumers of North Africa, Central Asia and Caucasus countries. Therefore, cotyledon colour might be a valuable trait for breeding purpose because of the consumers’ preferences and its value chain in the international market.

It is said that in Root rot complex of lentil the main pathogens associated with plant mortality were Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Lentis (62.0%), Rhizoctonia bataticola (25.2%) and Sclerotium rolfsii (9.8%) in India [30]. Screening of lentil breeding lines for resistance to fusarium wilt found that yield losses can range from 25-95 % depending on the variety [31]. It might be both soil and seed borne pathogen. At seedling stage, sudden drooping of the leaves followed by the leaves drying and the eventual death of the seedling. At reproductive stage drooping and wilting of the uppermost leaflets and finally become completely yellow and die.

Conclusion

Plant breeders can use these morphological variations to make decision regarding the choice for selecting superior genotypes for improvement or to be utilized as parents for the development of future cultivars through hybridization. Furthermore, important morphological markers like, plant type, foliage color, testa color, testa pattern and cotyledon colors can also be used for testing hybridity and keeping genetic purity at genetic level. The information obtained by the identification keys at seed and plant levels may be useful for discrimination and verification of varieties, hybridity testing and maintenance of genetic purity at genetic level during seed production and certification program.

Acknowledgement

I would like to extend my gratitude to Agriculture and Food Security Project (AFSP), NARC for providing the funds during the PhD research program. Authors would also like to acknowledge the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan for frequent guiding to record the traits. Special thanks go to the technical staffs of Grain Legumes Research Program for helping to conduct the experiment in the station.

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