ARS | Publication request: REGISTRATION OF 'MORTON' LENTIL

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 22, 2006
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: ‘Morton’ is a small seeded non-mottled red-cotyledon lentil that was developed for its winter hardiness and for use in direct seeded cropping systems or in reduced tillage systems. The winter hardiness of Morton enables the variety to survive cold winters and to resume growth in the spring. This trait has been responsible for significantly improved seed yields when compared to spring sown lentils. Morton is strongly branched at the base of the plant and has a bushy appearance during crop growth. The variety provides the industry with a new type of lentil that may expand marketing opportunities internationally.

Technical Abstract: ‘Morton’ is a small-seeded red-cotyledon lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) developed by the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Washington Agricultural Research Center (Pullman, WA) and the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station (Moscow, ID) and released in 2004. Morton was released as a winter hardy lentil and is intended for fall seeding into standing cereal stubble or in reduced tillage cropping systems. Morton originated from the cross WA8649090/WA8649041 made in 1992. WA8649090 (PI 547038) and WA8649041 (PI 547039) are registered germplasm lines of winter hardy lentils. Plants of Morton are strongly branched at the base, which imparts a bushy structure that enables the canopy to remain somewhat erect during the growing season. Morton has uniform small seeds (100 seeds weigh an average of 3.3 g) that lack seed coat mottling. The red cotyledon trait of Morton lentil provides the industry with a new type of lentil for production regions.