Genetic improvement of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) through introgression of yield enhancing traits and estimation of genetic parameters

Enormous genetic variability was created as expressed in terms of range, mean and the coefficient of variations in all F₂ populations studied. The crosses viz., L-830 × P-1117, JL-3 × P-22211 and SKL-259 × P-22211 produced higher percentage of transgressive segregants with desirable traits. Days to 50% flowering and days to maturity manifested high heritability, coupled with low genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) and genetic gain, indicating requirement of selections for several successive generations for their improvement. Low to medium heritability accompanied by high coefficients of variation and genetic advance for seed yield indicates complexity of the character improvement through simple selection. High heritability accompanied by moderate to high GCV and genetic gain were observed for other yield components studied, which could be improved by simple selection in early generations. Thus, the study exhibited the possibilities of improving lentil genotypes through introgression of useful traits from exotic and indigenous germplasm.