Lentil accession (Lens culinaris) screening for autumn sowing in cold and highland regions

Identify the freezing tolerant cultivars is a suitable approach for the success of lentil sowing in autumn. In this respect, an augmented experience was carried out to evaluate freezing tolerance of 259 lentil accessions during the 2016-2017 growing seasons in Mashhad. During the growing season, the phenologic growth stages of the plants and the survival percentage affected by winter hardiness were recorded, and at the end of the growing season, morphological traits, seed yield and components were determined. The lowest recorded temperature during the growing season was -13ºC. Survival percentage varied between 0 and 100% and the highest survival percentage (100%) and maximum plant height (53cm) were found in MLC13 MLC409, respectively. Six accessions (MLC424، MLC286, MLC409, MLC303، MLC334 and MLC407) were identified as freezing tolerant. Among freezing tolerant accessions, MLC424, MLC286, MLC409, MLC303, MLC334 and MLC407 had the highest seed yield (154, 192, 220, 144, 225 and 264 g.m،2), respectively. There was a high correlation between survival percentage and seed yield and components. Based on the results, more precise assessment of physiological processes involved in freezing tolerance of lentil accessions in the controlled condition and accessing to winter hardness genotyped is necessary.