Growth, Physiology, Yield, and Yield Attributes of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) with Reference to Abiotic Stresses

Abstract

Lentil, a cool-season legume, is grown in South Asia and China, North America, Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA), Sub-Saharan Africa and Australia. It has multiple uses as food and feed because seeds and straw are rich in protein. Being a leguminous crop, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen and increases soil fertility. On the basis of seed size, it is divided into microsperma (small-seeded) and macrosperma (bold-seeded) types. Crop is tolerant to drought, therefore, can be grown successfully in rainfed areas. Productivity of lentil depends on water conserved in the soil as well as on distribution and frequency of rainfall. Avoidance is the major mechanism to resist drought in this crop. Nevertheless, the phenomenon of osmotic adjustment is also reported in some genotypes. Crop is also susceptible to waterlogging, salinity, frost and heat stresses. Terminal heat stress is the major limiting factor in tropical and sub-tropical reasons. Though the management practices may contribute to improvement in yield under water-deficit environments; nevertheless, major progress might be realized by investigating morphological, physiological and biochemical basis of stress resistance and to utilize traits associated with stress tolerance to develop location-specific, climate-resilient high-yielding genotypes resistant to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses using conventional breeding strategies and modern biotechnological tools. Therefore, aim is to discuss evolution, nutritional significance, phenology, physiology, biochemistry, and yield and yield attributes of lentils, particularly under abiotic stresses.