Agronomic evaluation and quality characterization of lentil accessions (Lens culinaris L.) in a Mediterranean environment

Agronomic evaluation and quality characterization of lentil accessions (Lens culinaris L.) in a Mediterranean environmentLentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important grain legume cultivated in the Mediterranean region and used for human nutrition. An extensive differentiation of lentil over millennia has permitted the evolution of many landraces. These ecotypes often are the result of centuries of selective choices by local farmers and are characterized by high genetic variability and high adaptation to different environmental conditions. Presently, lentil is mainly cultivated in marginal areas of Central and Southern Italy and in Sicily small cultivation has permitted the evolution of local landraces. An understanding of the genetic relationships and diversity of lentil germoplasm, in relation to landraces collected in traditional cultivation areas of Sicily and from other countries, is important in attempting to widen the genetic resource in the region. 30 accessions of lentil obtained from FAO collection and 10 local ecotypes were evaluated for agro-morphological-qualitative traits in internal hilly environment of Sicily. A wide range of diversity of almost all of detected traits was recorded for the lentil accessions. Some accessions were characterized by a good adaptation to the semi-arid environment of internal environment of Sicily as shown by the comparison of its yield performance with that of populations native to Sicily or to other countries. The study of agronomic important traits, as plant height, showed less variability, even though some accessions could be used to adapt the crop to modern production techniques such as mechanical harvesting . The evaluation of this collection has shown an appreciable results that could foster future breeding programmes.