Winter Lentil Genetic Resources to breed winter lentils for mixed cropping

Project

Project code: 2820EPS005
Contract period: 01.09.2023 - 31.12.2026
Budget: 138,543 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: protein plants, climate change adaptation, climate protection, sustainability, plant genetic resources, other legumes

Target of the project is the development of an ideotype for winter lentils in mixed cropping with suitable supporting crops in Germany and the valorization of genetic resources for the cultivation and breeding of winter lentils for mixed cropping. This requires comprehensive testing of highly diverse genetic resources in field experiments at locations with different climate conditions, largely representing cultivation conditions in Germany. In order to ensure an even sharper selection under natural conditions in a way, which is easily realizable for practical breeding, pot experiments or Weihenstephan cold boxes are used. The soil freezes through quickly in a pot and creates a significantly higher cold stress as can be achieved in the field with the connection to warm subsoil. Further goals are the detection and verification of trait correlations, the detection of morphological markers and the optimization of mixed cropping with suitable supporting crops. The latter includes both increasing the competitiveness of lentils and their ability to climb up stalks of the supporting crop, as well as selecting lodging resistant but less competitive supporting crop species/cultivars at an appropriate sowing rate. Basically, lentils are weak competitors, while winter forms of common supporting crops such as cereals, Brassicaceae and flax are more competitive than corresponding spring forms. In the first year, different types of supporting crops will be tested at three locations with different sowing rates using two types of lentils. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve yield parameters under suitable cultivation conditions in mixed cultivation. For this purpose, yield tests for lentil genotypes are carried out at two organically managed locations and one low input conventionally managed location in the second and third year. Results will be used in practical breeding work at the Keyserlingk Institute, which is so far focused on spring sown lentils.

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