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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222118
Title: Lens Biodiversity

Author
item REDDEN, BOB - HORSHAM, AUSTRALIA
item MAXTED, NIGEL - UNIV BIRMINGHAM, UK
item FURMAN, BONNIE - GENETIC RES. ALEPPO SYRIA
item Coyne, Clarice - Clare

Submitted to: Lentil: An Ancient Crop for Modern Times
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2007
Publication Date: 5/1/2007
Citation: Redden, B., Maxted, N., Furman, B., Coyne, C.J. 2007. Lens Biodiversity, p. 11-22.in: SS Yadav, D. McNeil, P.C. Stevenson (eds). Lentil: An Ancient Crop for Modern Times.

Interpretive Summary: Lentil genetic diversity is discussed in this book chapter, covering species diversity, ex situ collections as sources of diversity, and morphological and molecular genetic characterization of the world's collections.

Technical Abstract: The Lens genus includes the cultivated L. culinaris, and wild subspecies orientalis - the progenitor, tomentosus, and odemensis, are in the primary genepool, while L. ervoides, L. nigricans and L. lamottei are in the secondary – tertiary gene pool. The Middle East is the primary centre of diversity for the primary genepool, with distribution of L. orientalis extending to central Asia, and of L. ervoides extending along the Mediterranean to Spain. The largest Lens collection is held at ICARDA. In situ reserves of Lens diversity are in Turkey and Syria. Documentation and storage of Lens germplasm is discussed.An evaluation database covering a number of genebanks has been developed for lentil germplasm. Core collections are discussed in the context of the generation Challenge program. Application of DNA characterisation is outlined, along with the potential for allele mining for variation in key traits, the study of relationships within Lens and the use of mapping populations. Reference is made to the International treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.