Adaptation of Lentil to the Mediterranean Environment. I. Factors Affecting Yield Under Drought Conditions

    Silim , S N and Saxena , M C and Erskine, W (1993) Adaptation of Lentil to the Mediterranean Environment. I. Factors Affecting Yield Under Drought Conditions. Experimental Agriculture, 29 (1). pp. 9-19. ISSN 0014-4797

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    Abstract

    Lentil frequently suffers from drought stress towards the end of the growing season in rainfed Mediterranean farming systems. This study aimed to quantify the contribution of yield potential under irrigated conditions and of drought escape to the adaptation of lentils to drought, and to identify traits of value in selection for adaptation to a rain-fed Mediterranean environment. Twenty-five diverse lentil lines were sown under both irrigated and rainfed conditions in the 1987/88 and 1988/89 seasons in northern Syria. In 1987/88 the total seasonal rainfall was 403 mm and average rainfed biomass and seed yields were 5.0 and 1.8 t ha-l, respectively. In contrast, in 1988/89 the total season rainfall was 180 mm and average biomass and seed yields were only 0.67 and 0.12 t ha-1, respectively. Early vigour (estimated as a visual score) and percentage ground cover were strongly associated with final biomass, and were of value in predicting economic yield (seed + straw). Early maturity was correlated with seed yield. In the dry season 1988/89, 49% of the variation in seed yield among lines was accounted for by variation in flowering time. Drought escape was clearly the key response to drought. For severely drought-prone areas, selection for early flowering is therefore required. Variation in flowering time and seed yield under irrigated conditions accounted for 62% of seed yield variation under drought stress

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Others > Food Legumes
    Others > Plant Physiology
    Others > Climate Change
    Depositing User: Mr B K Murthy
    Date Deposited: 13 Jun 2014 09:11
    Last Modified: 13 Jun 2014 09:11
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/8105
    Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479700020366
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: UNSPECIFIED
    Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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