Genetic variation for seed yield and biomass in some lentil genotypes (Lens culinaris)

In order to assess the genetic diversity of traits and to identify the relationships between quantitative traits in lentil, 760 accessions originated from lentil collection of pulses project evaluated at College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of University of Tehran located at Karaj during 2014. Statistical parameters comprised of mean, variance, standard error of means, maximum and minimum range and coefficient of variation measured. Traits included days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, seed weight, biological yield, and seed yield and harvest index. Each accession sown in one row with 3 meters row length, and cultivar Ziba used as check (control). The result of simple phenotypic correlations and stepwise regression indicated that the total biomass, harvest index and 1000 seed weight mostly affected the seed yield. Positive and significant correlation observed between days to flowering and plant height with seed yield, which resulted in expansion of vegetative period and increasing of plant height among the genotypes that were commonsensical. To clarify the relationship between the variables,a principal component analysis performed, the results of which indicated that seven traits studied in three components account for 70% of the grouping. In addition, to measure and determine the genetic distance between the lentil genotypes, cluster analysis classified them into four clusters.