The Nature and Magnitude of Variability and Disease Reaction of Lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik) Genotypes Across Cropping Systems

An experiment was conducted to study the nature and extent of variability, heritability and genetic advance between different traits across cropping systems i.e. monocropping and intercropping of lentil with linseed, in order to facilitate identification of suitable genotypes and traits for future breeding programme aimed at lentil improvement. A thorough screening of the material studied under the present investigation revealed sufficient variability for all the twelve characters under monocropping and intercropping systems except plant height, primary branches per plant and pods per cluster in monocropping system. Thus, there appears to be a greater scope for bringing about improvement in these traits. Genotypes identified to be promising and superior to the best check consistently in both the cropping system were L 1–50, PL-406, L-4147, L 1–24, Pusa-4, 2147, Precoz like, L 1–3, L 1–5, L 1–6, L 1–25 and L-207, besides being either immune or resistant to Fusarium wilt.