Controlled Environments as an Adjunct to Field Research on Lentils (Lens culinaris) I. Perspectives, Tenets and Objectives

Abstract

Our experience with potentially tropic-adapted grain legumes leads us to hypothesize that 'with appropriate and sufficiently proven technology, developed specifically for the purpose, controlled environment facilities can be a powerful adjunct to field research and so assist in the attainment of crop improvement objectives in lentils'. This contribution comments on the 'adaptation' of grain legume crops to their environments, describes current lentil production in the USA and elsewhere, and discusses the tenets and objectives of a programme of research devoted to the ultimate release of lentil genotypes that are well adapted to the environments for which they are intended.

Controlled Environments as an Adjunct to Field Research on Lentils (Lens culinaris). II. Research Strategy

“…For example, it could be used to identify response classes of different sensitivity to (or tolerance of) particular environmental conditions amongst genotypes in which a breeder is interested. Of course, as we discuss elsewhere (Summerfield and Muehlbauer, 1981), research activities and screening procedures in the glasshouse are closely integrated with, and will often depend on, the outcome of research in the cabinets (and see Roberts et al, 1979).…”

“…This second paper on lentils describes a strategy for research in keeping with the objectives and tenets of a programme which seeks to make effective use of controlled environment facilities in providing information and screening techniques useful to the plant breeder (Summerfield and Muehlbauer, 1981). There are two principal objectives: (a) that genotypes grown in artificial climates should respond to whatever factors are being investigated in a manner which reflects their responses (positive, negative or neutral) and relative sensitivity to different agroclimates in the field -whether these differences are a consequence of 'sites' or 'years'; and (b) to deploy controlled environment facilities for the longest period which is feasible during each calendar year and with maximum benefit:cost ratio.…”

“…The sensitivity of different genotypes to seasonal changes, and differences between locations, in photoperiod and day (mean maximum) and night (mean minimum) air temperatures, are known to be important determinants of adaptability to environment in grain legume crops (Summerfield and Wien, 1980). This is especially so when dates of planting and harvest are more-or-less fixed and inflexible -as in many lentil growing areas in the USA and elsewhere (Summerfield and Muehlbauer, 1981).…”