Assessment of Germination Traits and Seed Vigour in Promising Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Genotypes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Turan Amanzadeh

Ahmad Tobeh

Salim Farzaneh

Negin Amanzadeh

Saeid Heydarzadeh

Department of Plant Genetics and Production Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

10.22067/ijpr.2026.96383.1121

Abstract

Introduction
Legumes are the second most important group of cultivated crops after cereals, accounting for approximately 27% of global plant production. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, the average yield of rainfed lentil in Iran is 485 kg.ha⁻^¹. Globally, lentil is cultivated on more than five million hectares, with a total production exceeding 5.6 million tons and an average yield of 1,305 kg.ha⁻^¹. The lentil crop (Lens culinaris Medik.), after chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), ranks second in terms of cultivated area in Iran, covering approximately 132,034 hectares, more than 90% of which is grown under rainfed conditions. Seed germination is one of the earliest physiological processes in plants. This process has numerous implications for the development of post-germination traits, ecological niche occupation, and the geographical distribution of plant species. Seed germination begins with water uptake and is completed by the emergence of the radicle. In most species, the radicle emerges first, and the seed is therefore considered germinated. According to the definition of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA, 2009), seed vigour is the sum of seed characteristics that determine the potential level of activity and performance of seed germination and seedling emergence of an individual seed or a seed lot. This study aimed to compare and select superior lentil genotypes based on germination indices, stress tolerance, and seed viability, in order to identify those with better establishment, higher adaptability, and potential for high yield under field conditions.
 
Materials and Methods
To compare and select the best genotypes in terms of germination traits and growth indices, an experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications in the laboratory of the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. The experimental treatments consisted of 12 promising lentil genotypes, including Varzeqan 6, Varzeqan 7, Nir D, Nir C, Boukan Karim Beigi, Naqadeh Mosalman, Khalkhal Sheikh Janlou, Mohagharloo, Namin B, Pardis, Bilesavar, and Sana. It should be noted that the seeds used in this study were obtained from the local seed populations of the Agricultural Research, Education, and Natural Resources Center of Ardabil Province. Sowing operations were carried out immediately after confirming the viability and health of the received seeds. For the experiment, 48 Petri dishes with a diameter of 9 cm and a depth of 1.6 cm were prepared. Twenty-five seeds from each genotype were placed in each Petri dish containing filter paper, with four replications, and five milliliters of distilled water were added to each dish. The Petri dishes were then transferred to a germinator set at 25 °C. Counting of germinated seeds began 24 hours after transfer to the germinator and was performed three times a day (every 8 hours) for 14 days. Seeds were considered germinated when the radicle had emerged at least 2 mm from the seed coat. Germination indices were calculated using the Germin software. Seed vigour of the genotypes was assessed using accelerated aging and electrical conductivity tests, and finally, the Seed vigour index was determined. At the end of the fourteenth day, to measure radicle and plumule lengths as well as fresh and dry weights of seedlings, ten seedlings were randomly selected from each Petri dish and evaluated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS software (version 16), and mean comparisons were conducted using Duncan’s multiple range test at the 5% probability level. Figures and graphs were prepared using Microsoft Excel.
 
Results and Discussion
The Pardis genotype exhibited the highest germination percentage (98%), whereas the Nir C genotype showed the lowest germination percentage and germination rate (75% and 0.023 seeds per day, respectively). To determine seed vigour, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity tests were applied, followed by evaluation of the seed vigour index relationship. Under the accelerated aging test, the lowest reduction in germination percentage (10%) was observed in the Pardis and Nir C genotypes, while the highest reduction in germination percentage (25%) was obtained in the Mohagherloo genotype. The electrical conductivity test indicated that the Sana genotype, due to greater leakage of solutes from the seeds, had the highest electrical conductivity (68.98 µS.cm⁻¹.g⁻¹), whereas the Nir D and Varzeghan 7 genotypes showed lower electrical conductivity values (26.37 and 26.84 µS.cm⁻¹.g⁻¹, respectively). The Sana genotype was classified as having weak vigour, while the Nir D and Varzeghan 7 genotypes were categorized as genotypes with good vigour. The highest vigour index (671.60) and radicle length (4.74 cm) were observed in the Sana genotype. The Bukan–Karim Beigi genotype had the highest seedling dry weight (0.064 g).
 
Conclusions
According to the results, the highest germination percentage was observed in the Pardis genotype, while the Nir C genotype showed a lower germination percentage and germination rate. Since the seed vigour index alone is not sufficient to predict actual seed performance, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity tests were conducted. After the accelerated aging test, the lowest reduction in germination percentage (10%) was observed in the Pardis and Nir C genotypes, whereas the highest reduction in germination percentage (25%) was observed in the Mohagherloo genotype, indicating that the vigour of the Mohagherloo genotype decreased under high temperature and humidity conditions. The electrical conductivity test, which measures the extent of electrolyte leakage from seeds into water, showed that the Mohagherloo genotype had relatively weak seed vigour. Based on germination percentage and seedling growth (seed vigour index), the highest seed vigour was observed in the Bilesavar genotype, and the highest seedling dry weight was recorded in the Bukan Karim Beigi genotype. Due to the direct effect of the seed vigour index on seedling length, the Bilesavar genotype exhibited the greatest radicle length. Therefore, the Nir D, Varzeghan 6, Varzeghan 7, and Nir C genotypes can be recommended for further studies under the Ardabil climatic conditions; however, to confirm these results, both greenhouse and field evaluations are also required.

Keywords

Accelerated aging test

Electrical conductivity test

Germination uniformity

Subjects

• Agronomy

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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