Environmental adaptation of small‐seeded lentils (<i>Lens culinaris</i>) in Indian climates: Insights into crop–environment interactions, mega‐environments, and breeding approaches

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the impact of diverse environments on agronomic traits of small‐seeded lentils in India and to identify strategic environment(s) for crop improvement using empirical approaches. Sixteen small‐seeded lentil genotypes were tested across 16 locations, covering North Hill Zone (NHZ), North Western Plain Zone (NWPZ), and North Eastern Plain Zone (NEPZ). Crop yield exhibited a quadratic response to maximum temperature during flowering (TMAX F ) and minimum temperature during reproductive period (TMIN RP ), indicating that both higher and lower TMAX F (optimal = 23.5°C) and TMIN RP (optimal = 12.0°C) negatively affected yield. Low temperatures extended crop duration, and correlation analysis confirmed that environment‐induced variations in vegetative or maturity periods significantly influenced yield, as further validated by regression models and principal component analysis. While an extended reproductive period increased seed weight, its association with grain yield was non‐significant. Among the tested zones, NWPZ recorded the highest average yield (1359 kg ha −1 ), while NEPZ (1269 kg ha −1 ) demonstrated greater yield consistency across locations. Genotype, environment, and genotype‐by‐environment interaction (GEI) contributed 6%, 53%, and 36% of the total yield variation, respectively. Biplot analysis identified three distinct mega‐environments, with Durgapura (NWPZ), Varanasi (NEPZ), Faizabad (NEPZ), and Berthin (NHZ) emerging as ideal testing sites. This study highlights the significant influence of diverse agroclimatic conditions on crop yield and emphasizes the need for region‐specific breeding to harness positive GEI (at mega‐environment scale) and to prioritize early flowering and optimal seed traits to achieve broader adaptability across Indian climates.

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Journal
Crop Science
Published
2025-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70090
Primary Topic
Genetic and Environmental Crop Studies
Type
article
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article

Environmental adaptation of small‐seeded lentils (Lens culinaris) in Indian climates: Insights into crop–environment interactions, mega‐environments, and breeding approaches

Manoj Katiyar, Parvaze A. Sofi, Ajaz A. Lone, Amrit Lamichaney et al.
Crop Science
Genetic and Environmental Crop Studies
article

Environmental adaptation of small‐seeded lentils (Lens culinaris) in Indian climates: Insights into crop–environment interactions, mega‐environments, and breeding approaches

Manoj Katiyar, Parvaze A. Sofi, Ajaz A. Lone, Amrit Lamichaney, Jai Dev Sharma, G. P. Dixit, Deepak Singh, Sarvjeet Singh, Harsh Kumar Dikshit, C. S. Mahto, Hironya Kumar Borah, Sanjeev Gupta, Subhash Chandra, Shailesh Tripathi, Debjyoti Sen Gupta, Amitava Banerjee, Muraleedhar Sidaram Aski, Kali Krishna Hazra, Samuel Jeberson Muniyandi, Ashok Kumar Parihar, Sumer Singh Punia, J. Kumar, Anil Kumar Singh, Ajay Singh, Ashok Kumar, Arpita Das
article en

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the impact of diverse environments on agronomic traits of small‐seeded lentils in India and to identify strategic environment(s) for crop improvement using empirical approaches. Sixteen small‐seeded lentil genotypes were tested across 16 locations, covering North Hill Zone (NHZ), North Western Plain Zone (NWPZ), and North Eastern Plain Zone (NEPZ). Crop yield exhibited a quadratic response to maximum temperature during flowering (TMAX F ) and minimum temperature during reproductive period (TMIN RP ), indicating that both higher and lower TMAX F (optimal = 23.5°C) and TMIN RP (optimal = 12.0°C) negatively affected yield. Low temperatures extended crop duration, and correlation analysis confirmed that environment‐induced variations in vegetative or maturity periods significantly influenced yield, as further validated by regression models and principal component analysis. While an extended reproductive period increased seed weight, its association with grain yield was non‐significant. Among the tested zones, NWPZ recorded the highest average yield (1359 kg ha −1 ), while NEPZ (1269 kg ha −1 ) demonstrated greater yield consistency across locations. Genotype, environment, and genotype‐by‐environment interaction (GEI) contributed 6%, 53%, and 36% of the total yield variation, respectively. Biplot analysis identified three distinct mega‐environments, with Durgapura (NWPZ), Varanasi (NEPZ), Faizabad (NEPZ), and Berthin (NHZ) emerging as ideal testing sites. This study highlights the significant influence of diverse agroclimatic conditions on crop yield and emphasizes the need for region‐specific breeding to harness positive GEI (at mega‐environment scale) and to prioritize early flowering and optimal seed traits to achieve broader adaptability across Indian climates.

Crop ScienceVol. 65(3)
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (IN), Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute (IN), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (IN), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (IN), Birsa Agricultural University (IN), Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IN), Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University (IN), Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (IN), Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (IN), Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (IN), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IN), Central Agricultural University (IN), Punjab Agricultural University (IN), Banaras Hindu University (IN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 91%
Genetic and Environmental Crop Studies
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