Effect of Heat Stress on Grain Yield, Nutritional Composition, and Mineral Bioavailability in Lentils (<i>Lens culinaris</i> Medikus)

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), a major winter pulse crop with high protein content often referred to as “poor man’s meat”, is vital for a well-nourished diet to the vegetarian masses. Despite being well adapted to harsh environments and rich in essential amino acids, lentil production is at a significant risk from climate change and plausibly terminal heat stress, which results in decreased yield and nutritional value. Here, we study the effect of heat stress as manifested through different sowing times on the grain yield, crude protein content, and mineral availability in lentil cultivars. Under normal sowing conditions, the grain yield, along with iron, zinc, and calcium concentrations, is higher. In contrast, late sowing leads to a reduced yield, diminished nutritional quality, increased phytate phosphorus content, and lower bioavailability of iron and zinc. Correlation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) has inferred that, under differential sowing conditions, grain yield, mineral concentrations, and phytic acid level are critical contributors to genotype variation. Among the tested lentil varieties, Moitree, L-4717 and KLS-220 exhibit better nutritive value under heat stress conditions, while L-4717 and BM-7 perform the best in normal sowing. The present study is significant in identifying climate-resilient, heat-tolerant lentil varieties that are nutrient-rich, contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security.