Identification of Lentil (Lens culinaris) germplasm with resistance to ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta fabae f. sp. Lentis in New Zealand

Abstract

Lentils are one of the earliest cultivated crops in the world. Archeological investigation has shown that they have been grown since the early stone age. World production of lentils is currently around 2.8 million tons, produced on 3.3 million ha (FAO, 1996). Lentil production commenced in Canterbury New Zealand in 1982 with the release of a small red cotyledoned lentil cultivar named 'Titore', by the Department for Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Crop Research Division. This followed a decade of extensive research on this crop by DSIR and Lincoln College to identify suitable germplasm for production, and the agronomic factors which influence the growth and development of lentils. During the 1985/86 growing season ascochyta blight, (caused by the fungus Ascochyta fabae f. sp. lentis), (AFL) was widespread in lentil crops in Canterbury. Many harvested seed-lines contained discoloured and shrivelled seed (Russell, unpublished data). The area of lentils sown in New Zealand has declined rapidly in recent years as the cost of controlling ascochyta blight combined with a lower international price for lentils has forced Canterbury farmers to plant other legume crops such as field peas, which are perceived to be less risky (Wilson, pers. comm.). In response to the demand for lentil cultivars with resistance to AFL, the New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Limited (C&FR) initiated an industry-funded lentil breeding programme at Lincoln. An objective of the breeding programme is to incorporate resistance to ascochyta blight into commercially acceptable cultivars for the New Zealand arable industry, and for commercial evaluation in international markets. The plant breeding activities of C&FR are increasingly being focused on producing new lentil cultivars for international markets because of the limited potential in New Zealand to earn significant royalty income from new lentil cultivars.