Canopy architecture and stem stiffness in lentil
Date
2004-08
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Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) cultivars similar to Laird, in the large green seed market class, are
currently produced in Western Canada and are susceptible to lodging. The first goal of this
study was to identify characteristics of lentil canopy architecture that will lead to reduced
lodging and improved yield. The second goal was to determine if plant traits associated with
lodging exist to allow indirect selection of lodging resistant material early in a breeding
program. Four stiff-stem unadapted to Saskatchewan ICARDA genotypes varying in leaf size
and canopy openness were compared to large green and other locally adapted cultivars at three
population densities in the field in 2001 and 2002. Canopy measurements included biomass and
light interception at weekly intervals, recovery from stem bending, recovery from canopy
crushing, lodging score, end of season harvest index, yield, maximum plant height, final branch
number, stem fiber and lignin content. Cultivars adapted to Saskatchewan had greater biomass
(525 to 700 g m-2), higher seed yield (96 to 130 g m-2), higher maximum light interception (61
to 80%), higher final branch number (17 to 19), and greatest overall plant height (0.30 to 0.44
m), but large green cultivars with canopy development similar to Laird had weak stems and
were more prone to lodging. CDC Milestone and Crimson had improved canopy architecture
compared to large green cultivars with higher harvest index (0.40 and 0.34, respectively,
compared to
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Plant Sciences
Program
Plant Sciences