Evaluation of Terminal Drought Stress Tolerance in Lentil (Lens Culinaris)

Drought occurrence is one of the most important reasons for reduced yield in crops. At least in arid and semi-arid areas an efficient approach to tackle this problem is to identify and grow tolerant genotypes with the help of drought tolerance indices. The main objective of this research was to study the effects of drought on the performance of six genotypes of lentil in order to evaluate some of the drought tolerance and sensitivity indices, including stress tolerance index (TOL), stress susceptibility index (SSI), mean arithmetic (MP), geometric productivity of productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HAM), yield stability index(YSI) and stress tolerance index (STI) in two conditions of drought stress (Non-irrigation) and normal conditions (irrigation). The experiment was conducted as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications and six genotypes in Research Farm of Payame Noor University Center of Asadabad, Hamedan-Iran in 2017. Data obtained from growing genotypes under normal and drought conditions were used to calculate drought tolerance indices. There was a significant difference between genotypes in terms of response to late drought, most of the studied indices were able to discriminate susceptible and tolerant genotypes. Based on the examined indices, Bile Savar and Gachsaran genotypes were recognized as tolerant genotypes. The distribution of genotypes in the biplot space revealed a genetic variation between them in relation to drought stress and based on this, Bile Savar and Ghachsaran genotypes were recognized as drought tolerant and high yielding. Also, according to the results of the main components analysis, the first and second components described 100 percent of variation among the genotypes for the examined drought tolerance indices.