Bilehsevar, a New Large Seed Size and Tolerance to Fusarium Wilt Lentil Cultivar for Dryland Condition of Iran

Large seed size in lentil is one of major factors for high market acceptance. Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis) is a major yield reducer for lentil in Iran. Bilehsevar cultivar (ILL6037) developed from a cross between ILL 4605 and ILL 4349 made at Tel Hadya, the main research station of ICARDA. ILL6037 was evaluated in Lentil International Yield Trial-Large seed size (LIYT-L-96), A-test, Fusrarium wilt evaluation, Adaptation Yield Trial, On-farm, and Joint Extension-Research trials conducted at research station and farmers field in Kermanshah, Lorestan, Moghan, Gachsaran, Maragheh, Ardebil, Qazvin, North Khorasan and Zanjan during 1995-2007 cropping seasons. The result showed that Bilehsevar cultivar was significantly superior with having 6.07 gram of 100-seed weight than improved lentil varieties (Kimiya and Gachsaran) and local check. Nevertheless Bilehsevar cultivar have high market acceptance and high potential yield, also is higher tolerance to fusarium wilt than local variety and Kimiya.