Yield Improvement in Small and Bold-Seeded lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik.) in Mid-Altitudes of North-Western Himalayas

Small-seeded (twenty-five) and bold-seeded (eighteen) genotypes of lentil were evaluated at mid-altitudes in North-Western Himalayas in winter seasons of 2002-03 and 2003-04 to understand and compare the contribution of various characters to yield. Seed yield was positively associated with pod length, plant height and maturity in both the lentil types. Pod length contributed negatively towards yield in small-seeded lentil. Delayed maturity in small-seeded lentil contributed more towards yield. Plant height showed more of direct contribution towards yield than indirect contribution. A significant shift in the association between yields with pods/plant, flowering and maturity was observed. Similarly the correlation coefficients were significantly different in small and bold-seeded lentil for maturity with pods/plant. Hence a separate breeding strategy is needed in small and bold-seeded lentil for improvement in yield where the association between different characters differs in the types of lentil. In small-seeded lentil all the characters were important with an emphasis on delayed maturity and tall plant habit, while in bold-seeded lentil, pod length, delayed maturity and tall plant type were important with more emphasis on tall plant type.