Single Plant Selection within a Lentil Landrace Enhances Genetic Progress.

Response to selection and duration of conventional breeding programs constitute of breeders’ main concern. It has been asserted that absence of competition optimizes genetic expression and advances progress, while for the latter single-plant selection within landraces of self-pollinated species might result in pure-line varieties. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic progress after two cycles of selection of individual plants on their yielding efficiency within a lentil landrace at the ultra-low density of 1.15 plants/m2. Among 1000 initially grown plants of commercially grown landrace named ‘Farsala’, 31 plants were selected to form the 1st generation progeny lines; then four individuals selected within each of two 1st generation progeny lines led to eight 2nd generation progeny lines. Regarding mean yield per plant, the two 1st generation progeny lines were by 17 and 18% more productive than the landrace but these differences were not significant due to high standard deviations attributable to intense virus infection. Six out of the eight 2nd generation progeny lines significantly out yielded the initial landrace by 43% up to 69%. Concerning CV values, they were consistently lower than the respective CVs of the mother landrace, indicating narrowing genetic variation. Lower CVs were also attributed to reduced virus load of the advanced lines. Conclusively, the results suggest that selecting in absence of competition within a lentil landrace appears a direct approach of promising pure-line varieties. This research has been co?financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program "Education and Lifelong Learning" of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) ? Research Funding Program: THALES. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund.