Genomic regions associated with drought tolerance and other traits in lentils (Lens sp.)

Authors: FERNANDEZ-GUTIERREZ, ANDREA - University Of Leon; RODRIGUEZ-TORRES, ALVARO - University Of Leon; Curtin, Shaun; GONZÁLEZ, ANA - University Of Leon; POLANCO, CARLOS - University Of Leon; GUTIERREZ-GONZALEZ, JUAN - University Of Leon

Submitted to: Plants
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2026
Publication Date: 2/24/2026
Citation: Fernandez-Gutierrez, A., Rodriguez-Torres, A.F., Curtin, S.J., González, A.I., Sáenz De Miera, L.E., Polanco, C., Gutierrez-Gonzalez, J.J. 2026. Genomic regions associated with drought tolerance and other traits in lentils (Lens sp.) . Plants. 15(5). Article 674. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050674.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050674

Interpretive Summary: Drought is one of the biggest challenges facing lentil farmers worldwide, often resulting in poor harvests and unstable production. To address this issue, the genetic makeup of lentils was examined to identify traits linked to drought tolerance. A special population of lentil plants was developed by crossing a drought-susceptible variety with a drought-tolerant wild relative, and these plants were grown under controlled water stress conditions. Advanced DNA sequencing enabled the construction of a detailed genetic map of the lentil genome, alongside measurements of plant performance under drought, including seed yield and leaf water content. Analysis revealed 26 specific regions of the genome strongly associated with drought tolerance, along with candidate genes that may control these traits. Visible features such as flower color and seed coat patterns were also mapped to confirm the accuracy of the genetic map. The resulting genetic markers provide valuable tools for breeders to develop new lentil varieties capable of withstanding drought. Application of these findings will allow farmers to grow lentils more reliably in dry regions, helping secure food production and protect livelihoods.

Technical Abstract: Drought is currently one of the biggest constraints for lentil production in many regions worldwide, thus, breeders will have to focus on obtaining drought-tolerant varieties for a stable lentil production. Therefore, the identification of genes/markers associated with drought tolerance is a crucial first step. Here, we used a population of 90 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from an interspecific cross between the drought-susceptible L. culinaris cv. Alpo and the tolerant L. odemensis ILWL235 to study genomic regions associated with drought tolerance. A total of 4,163 high-quality Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS)-derived SNP markers were used to build up a linkage map showing seven linkage groups corresponding to the number of lentil chromosomes. The map spans 786.82 cM and covers 3.46 Gpb (approx. 88% of the lentil genome). This map was used to find loci associated with drought tolerance. For this, the 90 RILs were subjected to water stress by limiting soil moisture to 40% of the field capacity (FC) for 15 days, recording the leaf relative water content (RWC) every two days. The RILs were phenotyped for their total yield, 100-seed weight, and the number of seeds produced in control and stressed plants. We highlighted 26 QTLs strongly associated with drought tolerance traits and found putative candidate genes for most of them. Furthermore, we also mapped other descriptive traits, including stem pigmentation, flower coloration, seed coat patterning, and seed ground color. Genomic locations for these traits were used to validate our map.