Mutation-derived lentil genotypes confer better tolerance against post-emergence herbicides

Weed control is a major constraint to lentil production worldwide. Although post-emergence herbicides are commonly used to manage weeds, their application can reduce crop yield. Developing herbicide-tolerant lentil varieties through different breeding methods offers an effective solution to minimize such losses. In this study, 60 diverse lentil genotypes, developed through mutation, hybridization, and a combination of both, along with three standard checks, were evaluated against eight post-emergence herbicides to identify tolerant genotypes and determine which breeding method was most effective. The genotypes were planted in an augmented design and evaluated over two growing seasons. Abiotic stress indices were calculated, and data were analyzed using standard augmented design procedures. ANOVA was performed, and multivariate analyses such as PCA, hierarchical clustering, and the multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI) were used to identify herbicide-tolerant genotypes. ANOVA results showed a highly significant genotype × treatment interaction for all measured traits, indicating that genotypes responded differently to the various herbicide treatments. PCA and clustering analyses revealed that most of the high-performing genotypes were mutants, a finding further confirmed by MGIDI, highlighting the effectiveness of mutation breeding for inducing herbicide tolerance. Based on MGIDI results, the best genotypes for each herbicide were G45 (T1), G32 (T2), G41 (T3), G30 (T4 and T5), G17 (T6), G9 (T7), and G4 (T8). These genotypes represent valuable sources of herbicide tolerance and can serve as donors in breeding programs, as controls in research studies, or as candidates for variety development following further adaptation trials.