Estimation of genetic relatedness among cultivated and wild lens based on morphological and molecular markers

Abstract

Lentil is an important rainfed legume grown in the winter season. Low productivity due to its narrow genetic base is the cause for concern. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity in sixty cultivated lentil genotypes based on yield and other agronomic traits. The studied genotypes were grouped in three clusters. Hundred seed weight, plant height and number of secondary branches contributed 26.98%, 17.88% and 15.95% respectively towards the genetic diversity. Intercluster distance revealed narrow genetic base of cultivated lentil. The 60 cultivated genotypes alongwith 23 wild types were also characterized using molecular markers. Dendrogram based on Jaccard similarity coefficient and UPGMA analysis revealed two major clusters and one minor cluster. Twenty-one wild accessions of L. orientalis and 1 L . e rvoides subspecies grouped separately into cluster 1. Nineteen Indian varieties grouped together in subcluster IIA indicating their narrow genetic base. Subcluster IIB consisted of 41 genotypes including 5 exotic and 36 advanced breeding lines due to use of exotic lines into recent breeding programmes. Therefore it is implied from this study that prebreeding of lentil is very essential using wild spp and exotic collection in hybridization programme, which is required for broadening of the genetic base and introgression of useful traits.