Relationship of flower and pod numbers per inflorescence with seed yield in lentil

This study, quantifying variation in Rower and pod production in lentil (Lens culinaris), aimed to answer the question: Will selection for more pods per inflorescence increase seed yield? In Season 1 (1992-93) ail open Rowers were tracked to maturity in a field experiment with two lentil genotypes sown on two dates. Genotype Talia 2 had a higher rate of flower abortion than pod abortion, in contrast to genotype ILL 2581 which showed the reverse. Flower abortion accounted for 15% of flowers opened in early sowing and increased to 22% in the late sowing. Pod abortion was 19% (of flowers opened) in early sowing and 23% in the late sowing. These are the first quantitative estimates of flower and pod abortion in lentil. From the data, a rapid sampling method was developed to estimate the average number of pods per inflorescence at maturity. In Season 2 (1993-94) an experiment was conducted at two locations to estimate the average number of pods per inflorescence of 81 genotypes and to relate this to seed yield. Although the broad-sense heritability (h(2)) of the number of pods per inflorescence was 0.68 and its phenotypic correlation with seed yield was r = 0.71, the highest-yielding genotypes were not those with the most pods per inflorescence. Selection for the number of pods per inflorescence cannot be recommended for increasing seed yield in lentil.