USING GENOTYPIC VARIATION IN FLOWERING RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE AND PHOTOPERIOD TO SELECT LENTIL FOR THE WEST ASIAN HIGHLANDS

A model of the effects of temperature and photoperiod on rate of progr ess from germination towards flowering has been used to select genotyp es of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) suitable for winter-sowing in the West Asian highlands, The photothermal model was based on the respons e of accessions from the world germplasm collection and was used with climatic data from three sites representative of the Turkish highlands in Central and Eastern Anatolia. Use of the model allows more efficie nt targeting of parent material well adapted to winter-sowing, leading to higher yields than those from traditional spring-sown cultivars, T he model suggests that photothermally-insensitive genotypes are poorly adapted to winter-sowing whereas photothermally-sensitive ones are po tentially well adapted to these harsh, highland environments, This is compatible with field observations in which only the most photoperiod- sensitive genotype survived winter sowing in two years.