Lentil Lines Research Articles

Genetic pattern analysis of some quantitative traits in lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.)

The 6 × 6 half-diallel crossings among six parental lines for twelve traits were investigated to estimate different genetic parameters and identify superior lentil line combinations. The significant results of the analysis of variance for all the traits except RW proved the parental lines genetically different from each other. Dominance and additivity were studied and over dominance was found in NPBFF, CAMF, NPdPP, NSPP, SWPP and IPW through Wr/Vr and (Wr + Vr′)/Yr′ graphs. The degree of dominance (H1/D)1/2 supported the result of over dominance for all the traits. The asymmetry in the proportion of genes with positive and negative effects in the parents was studied for all the traits and the presence of an excess dominant gene in most of the traits was noted. General combining ability (GCA) for DFF, PHFF, NSBFF, CAMF, NSBMF, NPdPP and NSPP, as well as specific combining ability (SCA) for all the traits except NPBFF and RW were significant indicating the importance of additive and non-additive gene action, respectively. Parents P3, P4 and P5 were assessed as good general combiner from this investigation and the crosses viz. P1 × P2, P1 × P3, P2 × P5, P4 × P5 and P5 × P6 were the best combiners as judged from the specific combining ability effects. So, these parents and crosses need special consideration for the improvement of lentil.

Climate and landscape mediate patterns of low lentil productivity in Nepal.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a cool-season pulse grown in winter cropping cycle in South Asia and provides a major source of nutrition for many low-income households. Lentil productivity is perceived to be sensitive to high rainfall, but few studies document spatial and temporal patterns of yield variation across climate, soil, and agronomic gradients. Using farm survey data from Nepal, this study characterizes patterns of lentil productivity and efficiency for two cropping seasons. Additional insights were derived from on-farm trials conducted over a 5-year period that assess agronomic, drainage, and cultivar interventions. To contextualize the inferences derived from farm surveys and trials, the Stempedia model was used to simulate the severity of Stemphylium blight (Stemphylium botryosum) risk–the principal fungal disease in lentil–with 30 years of historical climate data. Although development efforts in Nepal have prioritized pulse intensification, results confirm that lentil remains a risky enterprise highlighting the prevalence of crop failures (16%), modest yields (353 kg ha-1), and low levels of profitability (US$ 33 ha-1) in wet winters. Nevertheless, site factors such as drainage class influence responses with upland sites performing well in wet winters and lowland sites performing well in dry winters. In wet winters, a phenomena perceived to be increasing, 76% of surveyed farmers reported significant disease pressure and simulations with Stempedia predict that conditions favoring Stemphylium occur in >60% of all years. Nevertheless, simulation results also suggest that these risks can be addressed through earlier planting. Based on the combined results, gains in yield, yield stability, and technical efficiency can be enhanced in western Nepal by: 1) ensuring timely lentil planting to mitigate climate-mediated disease risk, 2) evaluating new lentil lines that may provide enhanced resistance to diseases and waterlogging, and 3) encouraging the emergence of mechanization solutions to overcome labor bottlenecks.

Estimation of path analysis of mutant lines of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik L.)

Seed of 9 induced mutant lines of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik. L.) were used for the experimental purpose. These mutants were isolated from variety K -75 with gamma ray and EMS treatment. The self-seeds of all mutants were sown in randomized block designed in three replications at Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural sciences, B.H.U, Varanasi, during Rabi 2017-18.Distance between row to row and plant to plant was maintained 30cm and 5cm respectively. In genotypic path analysis, the secondary branches showed the highest positive direct effect (0.991) on grain yield followed by test weight (0.8706) and number of pods per plant (0.2640) in year 2017-18. In phenotypic path analysis, the number of pods per plant showed highest positive direct effect (1.054) followed by days to 50% flowering and test weight (0.0436) in year 2017-18. So that maximum importance of these characters might be given in selection program me.

Performance evaluation of selected moderately stemphylium blight resistant lentil lines/varieties in yield

Blight is an important disease that cause devastating yield loss now a days. That’s why, an investigation was carried out at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Barishal for screening of lentil germplasms against stemphylium blight in terms of yield and yield attributes. To find the best genotype, 40 moderately stemphylium resistant lentil lines/ genotypes were used and their different yield contributing characters were analysed. In this study, it has been observed that the long delay of 1st flowering was recorded in BD-5982 and BD-5996 while early flowering in BD-3927 and BARI masur-7. The highest 50% flowering days was recorded in BD-3983, BD-4024, BD-4053 etc. and lowest in BD-3922. Long maturation period of 111.5 days was recorded in BD-4024 and that of short maturity date was recorded in BD-3924 and BD-3927. The highest plant height was observed in BD-3974 and lowest was in BD-4127. The maximum number of branches per plant was observed in BD-3936 and BD-4024 and minimum was found in BD-4097. Maximum number of pods per plant was recorded in BD-3922 and minimum number of pods per plant was in BD-4053. The lowest number of seeds per pod was recorded in BD-4053. The highest 100 seed weight was recorded in BD-5986 and the lowest was observed in BD-4127. Maximum biological yield was recorded in BD-4053 and minimum was in BD-5989. The highest and lowest grain yield was recorded in BD-5983 and BD-4024, respectively. This finding will help researcher to develop new variety in near future.
 Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2019, 5(2): 100-106

English

An experiment was conducted at Chefe Donsa naturally infested field with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis in order to evaluate the effect of lentil genotypes and seedbed types as components of integrated management option. A factorial experiment including lentil variety and seedbed type, each at four levels, was carried out in a split-plot design with three replications. The four lentil genotypes were ILL-590 (susceptible check), Alemaya, Derash and Denbi and four seedbed types were flat bed, open raised bed, tie-raised bed and farmer’s practice. Raised seedbed exhibited relatively lower disease incidence than among the seedbed types. Interaction of the used varieties and seedbed types was significant in wilt reduction. The highest wilt incidence (ca. 67.5%) was recorded on ILL-590, susceptible lentil line, planted on flat bed, whereas, the lowest (ca. 8.8%) Fusarium wilt incidence was noted on cultivar Derash planted in raised bed. A combination of cultivar Derash and raised bed resulted significantly (P<0.05) higher grain yield (3827.0 kg ha-1) than all other treatment combinations. Significantly (P<0.05) lower grain yields (in the order of 68.0 kg ha-1) were obtained from integration of the susceptible genotype (ILL-590) with flatbed than all other treatment integration. The highest (899.4% unit/days) in AUDPC values were observed by flat seedbed type and ILL-590, while the lowest (114.0% unit/days) in AUDPC values were obtained by raised seedbed type and Derash variety. Wilt incidence and AUDPC values were significant and negatively correlated with yield parameters. It was concluded that using moderately resistant variety (Derash) with raised seedbed significantly reduced Fusarium wilt incidence and exhibited reasonably high yields. Keywords: Lentil, management, wilt, F. oxysporum f. sp. lentis. &nbsp

Dynamics of genomic change during evolutionary rescue in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus.

Rapid adaptation can prevent extinction when populations are exposed to extremely marginal or stressful environments. Factors that affect the likelihood of evolutionary rescue from extinction have been identified, but much less is known about the evolutionary dynamics (e.g., rates and patterns of allele frequency change) and genomic basis of successful rescue, particularly in multicellular organisms. We conducted an evolve-and-resequence experiment to investigate the dynamics of evolutionary rescue at the genetic level in the cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, when it is experimentally shifted to a stressful host plant, lentil. Low survival (~1%) at the onset of the experiment caused population decline. But adaptive evolution quickly rescued the population, with survival rates climbing to 69% by the F5 generation and 90% by the F10 generation. Population genomic data showed that rescue likely was caused by rapid evolutionary change at multiple loci, with many alleles fixing or nearly fixing within five generations of selection on lentil. Selection on these loci was only moderately consistent in time, but parallel evolutionary changes were evident in sublines formed after the lentil line had passed through a bottleneck. By comparing estimates of selection and genomic change on lentil across five independent C. maculatus lines (the new lentil-adapted line, three long-established lines and one case of failed evolutionary rescue), we found that adaptation on lentil occurred via somewhat idiosyncratic evolutionary changes. Overall, our results suggest that evolutionary rescue in this system can be caused by very strong selection on multiple loci driving rapid and pronounced genomic change.

Diversity in protein secondary structure, molecular weight, mineral and amino acid composition of lentil and horse gram germplasm.

Lentil and horse gram germplasm was assessed for variety in seed and flour properties. Horsegram grains showed higher a* and b* and lower L* values as compared to lentil grains indicating lentil grains were lighter in color as compared to horse gram. Both the pulses showed significant differential accumulation of minerals. Flours from horse gram lines showed higher Mn, K, Mg, Na, Zn and Ca content and lower Cu and Fe content as compared to lentil lines. Polypeptide of 42kDa was present in IC94636 and IC139555 only and 35kDa PP subunit was absent in all the horse gram lines except IC94636. Major polymorphism among lentil lines was observed in 10, 35-37 and 55-49kDa PP subunits. Amount of β-sheets and β-turns was the highest whereas that of antiparallel β-sheets was the lowest. NIC17550, NIC17551 and NIC17552 showed higher content of antiparallel β-sheets and random coils among lentil lines. PL1 showed the highest portion of α-helixes and β-turns whereas PL57 showed the highest proportion of β-sheets among lentil lines. Lentil flours showed higher proportion of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, serine, citrulline and serine and lower proportion of histidine, threonine, GABA, tyrosine and cystine as compared to horse gram.

Evaluation of Lentil Genepool for Yield and Some Yield Related Attributes

Lentil is an important pulse crop in Pakistan which is used in combination with cereals to balance the diet. Lentil area and production is declining for the last ten year. The current study is devised to evaluate lentil germplasm for the high yield performance at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad. Hundred accessions of lentil germplasm (Lens culinaris L.) were estimated for morphological and yield related attributes. Field performance results showed that lentil lines indicated major differences for their morphological studied factors. AARI-L-540, AARI-L-302, AARI-L- 411, AARI-L-562, AARI-L-454, AARI-L-417, AARI-L- 650, AARI-L-701, AARI-L-284, AARI-L-124, AARI-L-234, AARI-L-318, AARI-L-530, AARI-L-550, AARI-L-272, genotype analyzed the maximum plant biomass, highest seed yield, 1000 seed weight, number of pods, plant height at maturity and flowering, length of reproductive phase, days to flowering and maturity, harvest index, Degree of indetermination, primary and secondary branches of plant, No of pods/plant, seed per pod, canopy temp, internode distance, no of nodes and leaves were calculated respectively. Principal component analysis statistically applied on these traits. First eight principal component analyses (PCA) expressed 88.52% of total variation in which PC I, PC II, PC III, PC IV, PC V, PC VI, PC VII & PC VIII accounted for 19.12%, 11.24%, 610.05%, 29.66%, 7.19%, 36.75%, 75.88%, 5.58% of total variation. The data was statistically analyzed to find out the superior genotype for the above mentioned character.

Lentil anthracnose: epidemiology, fungicide decision support system, resistance and pathogen races

Colletotrichum lentis causes anthracnose of lentil (Lens culinaris) in Canada that results in defoliation, stem girdling and severe yield losses, but the disease is rarely reported elsewhere. The pathogen survives as microsclerotia on lentil debris for up to 3 years when buried in the soil, but loses viability on the soil surface. Windborne debris spreads the pathogen to neighbouring fields, while seedborne infection is less important. Foliar fungicides were registered, and a fungicide decision support system was developed which assessed disease risk with 85% accuracy. Around 2300 L. culinaris accessions from 50 countries were screened for resistance. Congruently, two races – Ct1 and Ct0 – were identified on differential lentil lines. Resistant lines were generated by cycles of inoculation and selfing of single resistant plants which resulted in the following three accessions resistant to both races: VIR2633 (Georgia), VIR2058 and VIR2076 (Czech Republic), while six and 49 lines had resistance to Ct0 and Ct1, respectively. Ct1 resistance is controlled by recessive and dominant genes crt1 and CtR3 in variety ‘Indianhead’, ctr2 and CtR5 in accession PI345629 and CtR4 in PI320937. Molecular markers linked to Ct1 resistance were identified on linkage group six, close to Ascochyta lentis resistance, and were used to combine resistance to both pathogens in breeding lines. Two repeat rich regions in the intergenic spacer (IGS) of ribosomal DNA can be used to differentiate the two C. lentis races. Utilizing length polymorphisms in a 39 nucleotide repeat region showed the races were equally frequent among isolates collected between 1991 and 1999, while 95% belonged to race Ct0 in 2010, likely because lentil varieties are susceptible to race Ct0, but around one-third of the varieties had Ct1 resistance.

Effect of Different Inoculum Levels of Ascochyta lentis on Growth and Yield Attributes of Lentil Plant

Effect of different inoculums levels (103, 5x103, 104, 5x104 spores/ml) of A. lentis was studied on growth and yield parameters of four lines of lentil. Results showed that among these lines one (ILL-358) showed microsperma resistant, one (ILL-4605) macrosperma resistant, one (ILL-5580) microsperma susceptible and the remaining one (ILL-6002) macrosperma susceptible response over control. Plant height was the minimum in case of all the four lentil lines are at 5spores/ml. Similarly no. of leaflets, no. of pods/ plant, no. of grains/pod and 100 grain weight were reduced with increased level of spores concentration from 103 spore/ml to 5x104 spore/ml. Size and frequency of lesions/pods showed positive correlation with increasing spore concentrations.

Effect of a Heat Wave on Lentil Grown under Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) in a Semi‐Arid Environment

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have been increasing from ∼280 to 405 mmol mol−1 air from the preindustrial era until now. As this rise is a major driver for global warming and increasing variability in weather patterns, it is predicted that the frequency and duration of heat waves will continue to increase in many arable regions during this century. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a cool‐season crop whose production has recently expanded into areas where it is subject to high temperature stress during pod filling (e.g., Australia). The objective of this experiment was to determine whether growth at elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (e[CO2], imposed by free‐air CO2 enrichment [FACE]) is able to compensate for the negative impact of a 3‐d heat wave event imposed at the flat pod stage on two lines of lentil. Grain yield under e[CO2] subjected to the heat wave were equivalent to grain yield under ambient without the heat wave event. The heat wave reduced grain yield by 33%, but this was not made more or less severe by e[CO2]. This reduction was attributed to a small decrease in aboveground biomass (6%) and a larger decrease in harvest index (16%) due to the heat wave event. The number of pods and grains per square meter were reduced by the heat wave (29–32%), whereas seed size was not affected. The effects of the heat wave during the event were evident on the foliar canopy temperature measured with an infrared thermometer, which increased by 6°C, and on the electron transport rate calculated from the quantum efficiency of photosystem II obtained with chlorophyll fluorescence measurements.

Assessing genetic potential of elite interspecific and intraspecific advanced lentil lines for agronomic traits and their reaction to rust (

The narrow genetic base of lentil (Lens culinaris) has challenged the efforts of breeders to increase its productivity under changing environmental conditions. Inclusion of wild species and diverse cultivated genotypes offers an opportunity to generate new variation through wide hybridisation to broaden the genetic base of cultivated lentil. We evaluated 96 elite, interspecific (L. culinaris × L. orientalis) and intraspecific advanced lentil genotypes along with four checks to determine the extent of genetic variation, resistance to lentil rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae), and the nature and magnitude of their genetic divergence. Sufficient genetic variability was revealed for all of the traits. High heritability and genetic advance were recorded for number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, seed yield per plant and biomass per plant. A positive correlation was recorded between grain yield and ten important plant traits. Statistical (D2) and molecular analyses grouped all genotypes into two main clusters and revealed sufficient genetic diversity among advanced lines. Our study showed promising results for creating new variation through wide hybridisation and identified lines L-354 and L-437-1 (rust-resistant) and HPLL-32 (moderately rust-resistant) superior for seed yield and related traits.

DETERMINATION OF YIELD AND YIELD CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME EARLIER RED LENTIL LINES (LENS CULINARIS MEDIC.) IN F7 AND F8 LEVEL

Lentil is one of the most important crops all over the world. Lentil seeds contain high protein, vitamin and essential elements for human healthy. Lentil is produced wide area in Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. This study was aimed to breeding of high yield red lentil varieties to Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Study was conducted in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 growing seasons under Sanliurfa conditions. Experiment was established to randomize complete block design with 4 replicates. In the study 6 earlier red lentil lines in F7 and F8 level which are obtained from ICARDA and 2 standard varieties were used as a crop material. Statistically differences were found among the tested lines and standard varieties. Flowering period, plant height, first pod height, thousand kernel weight and grain yield were significant at 0.01 levels. According to average of years; the highest grain yield obtained from line 2 (160.14 kg/da), whereas the lowest grain yield was found at line 5 (124.04 kg/da). Some better lines than others were selected in considering to flowering period, plant height, thousand kernel weight and grain yield values.

Genotype-Dependent Interaction of Lentil Lines with Ascochyta lentis.

Ascochyta blight of lentil is a prevalent disease in many lentil producing regions and can cause major yield and grain quality losses. The most environmentally acceptable and economically profitable method of control is to develop varieties with high levels of durable resistance. Genetic studies to date suggest that ascochyta blight resistance genes (R-gene) in lentil lines CDC Robin, ILL 7537, 964a-46, and ILL 1704 are non-allelic. To understand how different R-genes manifest resistance in these genotypes and an accession of Lens ervoides, L-01-827A, with high level of resistance to ascochyta blight, cellular and molecular defense responses were compared after inoculation with the causal pathogen Ascochyta lentis. Pathogenicity testing of the resistant lines to A. lentis inoculation revealed significantly lower disease severity on CDC Robin and ILL 7537 compared to ILL 1704 and 964a-46, and no symptoms of disease were observed on L-01-827A. Histological examinations indicated that cell death triggered by the pathogen might be disrupted as a mechanism of resistance in CDC Robin. In contrast, limiting colonization of epidermal cells by A. lentis is a suggested mechanism of resistance in 964a-46. A time-series comparison of the expressions of hallmark genes in salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signal transduction pathways between CDC Robin and 964a-46 was conducted. These partially resistant genotypes differed in the timing and the magnitude of SA and JA signaling pathway activation. The SA signaling pathway was only triggered in 964a-46, whereas the JA pathway was triggered in both partially resistant genotypes CDC Robin and 964a-46. The expression of JA-associated genes was lower in 964a-46 than CDC Robin. These observations corroborate the existence of diverse ascochyta blight resistance mechanisms in lentil genotypes carrying different R-genes.

Evaluation of Advanced Lentil Lines for Diversity in Seed Mineral Concentration, Grain Yield and Yield Components

Lentil is one of the most important grain legumes, which plays a significant role in human nutrition and animal feed through the world. In developing countries, the prohibitively high cost of meat has rendered, lentil, with its high seed protein and essential amino acid content, important source of dietary protein. In this research, 181 lentil advanced lines (F7 generation) of Karacadag x Silvan and Karacadag x Cagil 2004 crosses were evaluated for grain yield, yield components and seed mineral concentrations in two diverse environments in Turkey. Considerable diversity was observed with regard to yield components and seed mineral concentrations in the advanced lentil lines. The greatest phenotypic diversity was observed in the biological yield, number of pods and weight of pods per plant, the number of seeds and weight of seeds per plant, and seed Ca, Zn and Fe concentrations. Grain yield per plant was significantly positively correlated with the biological yield per plant, number of pods per plant, weight of pods per plant, and number of seeds per plant. Plant grain yield and yield components were strongly positively correlated with seed potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) concentrations but was negatively correlated with Fe concentration. In conclusion, promising lentil advanced lines for the grain yield, yield components and mineral concentrations could be evaluated for developing new lentil varieties and spesific breeding purposes.

Source of resistant against Fusarium wilt and Stemphylium blight in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus)

The crop yield of lentil is below attainable levels which are mainly attributed to pathological factors especially lentil wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis and Stemphylium blight caused by Stemphylium botryosum .Fusarium wilt is a potential threat to letil production not only in Nepal but worldwide that can cause complete crop failure. While stemphylium blight is recently being serious problem to Bangladesh, Nepal and India. In Nepal, multiple disease resistance work was not reported in lentil before the present study. Two trials separately using 185 genotypes were conducted to study the wilt and stem phylium blight were conducted. For wilt screening one hundred eighty five lentil lines including resistant check ILL7164 and susceptible check sindur, were sown in a previously developed wilt sick bed, while for stem phylium blight serarate trial was conducted in the research area of Regional Agricultural Research Station Nepalgunj using augmented design. Natural inoculums were also relied upon. Disease severity data were recorded. Results revealed that incase of Fusarium wilt sixteen genotypes were found resistant and twenty-three moderately resistant while in case of Stemphylium blight 87 resistant and 36 moderately resistant in field condition. It also indicated that 9 genotypes i.e RL-13,RL-21,ILL6468,ILL9996,\ILL6024,ILL6811,ILL7164,Arun,Maheswar bharti showed combined resistant to both the diseases.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(1): 102-107

Assessment of variability for root and shoot attributes in recombinant inbred lines of lentil (Lens culinaris L. medik.)

Assessment of variability for root and shoot attributes in recombinant inbred lines of lentil (<i>Lens culinaris</i> L. medik.)

Proline Content and Membrane Permeability Index in Response to Water Stress in Recombinant Inbred Lines of Lentil

Proline Content and Membrane Permeability Index in Response to Water Stress in Recombinant Inbred Lines of Lentil Proline content and membrane permeability index are important stress related parameters. Field experiments were conducted to examine the effect of proline and membrane permeability index on 135 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) under irrigated and rainfed conditions and to analyze their relationship with yield and its component traits in lentil. Higher content (1.89 ± 0.046 mg g-1 FW) of proline was found under rainfed conditions in comparison to irrigated (1.22 ± 0.040 mg g-1 FW). The membrane permeability index of lentil lines increased significantly under rainfed conditions from 63.17 to 84.32 percent. The seed yield was significantly higher in irrigated (122.88 g/plot) than in rainfed conditions (69.99 g/ plot). RILs were categorized in five subsets based on percent yield reduction due to water stress in rainfed conditions. It was found that RIL-23,-78,-86,-90,-95,-104,-109 and-111 recorded minimum yield reduction (15-30%) had higher proline accumulation (65.58%) while, RIL-51 with greater yield reduction (75-90%) showed only 7.92 percent increase in proline content under rainfed conditions thereby suggesting the role of proline as an osmoprotectant under stress conditions in lentil...

Genetic variability in recombinant inbred lines of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) under irrigated and rainfed conditions

Genetic variability in recombinant inbred lines of lentil (<i>Lens culinaris</i> Medik.) under irrigated and rainfed conditions

Microsatellite marker-based genetic diversity analysis of elite lentil lines differing in grain iron and zinc concentration

Trial comprising fifty lentil genotypes was conducted at three locations in India during year 2013–2014 for estimation of grain Fe and Zn concentrations and to analyze G × E interactions by employing the additive main effect and multiplication interaction model. The study revealed significant effects for genotype, environment and genotype by environment interaction for both grain Fe and Zn concentration. In this model genotypes with the IPCA score of nearly zero and mean greater than grand mean are considered as adaptable to the studied environments. For grain Fe concentration genotypes P13143, P13135, ILL2581, P2130, LL147, L4603, PL101 and Globe mutant and for grain Zn concentration genotypes P13122, P2239, P3204 and L11-245 were found stable. The diversity analysis using 20 genomic and 54 EST-SSR markers indicated that the studied genotypes were diverse. The EST-SSRs revealed lower polymorphism as compare to genomic SSRs. Two major clusters were identified with 37 % similarity. Indigenous genotypes were grouped in cluster I and all exotic accessions were grouped in cluster II indicating the role of geographic origin in diversity. Based on multi location evaluation for grain Fe and Zn concentrations and molecular characterization crosses are proposed for development of grain Fe and Zn rich varieties (P3220 × L4649 and VL103 × P2130) and development of mapping populations (P13122 × L11-287 and LL931 × P3220) for study of genetics and mapping of QTLs/gene(s).