Editing Lentil (section)

== Breeding ==
Although lentils have been an important crop for centuries, lentil breeding and genetic research have a relatively short history compared to that of many other crops. Since the inception of The [[International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas|International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas]] (ICARDA) breeding programme in 1977 significant gains have been made. It supplies landraces and breeding lines for countries around the world, supplemented by other programmes in both developing (e.g. India) and developed (e.g. Australia and Canada) countries. In recent years, such collaborations among breeders and agronomists are becoming increasingly important.<ref name="Springer Science & Business Media-2007" />

The focus lies on high yielding and stable cultivars for diverse environments to match the demand of a growing population.<ref name="Kumar-2016">{{Cite journal|last1=Kumar|first1=Jitendra|last2=Gupta|first2=Sunanda|last3=Gupta|first3=Priyanka|last4=Dubey|first4=Sonali|last5=Tomar|first5=Ram Sewak Singh|last6=Kumar|first6=Shiv|date=2016|title=Breeding strategies to improve lentil for diverse agro-ecological environments|journal= Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding |volume=76|issue=4|page=530|doi=10.5958/0975-6906.2016.00071.7|bibcode=2016IJGPB..76..530K |issn=0019-5200}}</ref> In particular, progress in quantity and quality as well as in the resistance to disease and abiotic stresses are the major breeding aims.<ref name="Springer Science & Business Media-2007" /> Several varieties have been developed applying conventional breeding methodologies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bats.ch/bats/publikationen/1995-1_TA/2-methods.php | title=BATS: Methods of Plant Breeding }}</ref> Serious genetic improvement for yield has been made, however, the full potential of production and productivity could not yet be tapped due to several biotic and abiotic stresses.<ref name="Kumar-2016" />

Wild ''Lens'' species are a significant source of genetic variation for improving the relatively narrow genetic base of this crop. The wild species possess many diverse traits including disease resistances and abiotic stress tolerances. The above-mentioned ''L. nigricans'' and ''L. orientalis'' possess morphological similarities to the cultivated ''L. culinaris''. But only ''L. culinaris'' and ''L. culinaris'' subsp. orientalis are crossable and produce fully fertile seed. Between the different related species hybridisation barriers exist. According to their inter-crossability ''Lens'' species can be divided into three gene pools:

# Primary gene pool'':'' ''L. culinaris'' (and ''L. culinaris'' subsp''. orientalis'') and ''L. odemensis''
# Secondary gene pool: ''L. ervoides'' and ''L. nigricans''
# Tertiary gene pool: ''L. lamottei'' and ''L. tomentosus''

Crosses generally fail between members of different gene pools. However, [[Plant hormone|plant growth regulators]] and/or [[embryo rescue]] allows the growth of viable [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]] between groups. Even if crosses are successful, many undesired genes may be introduced as well in addition to the desired ones. This can be resolved by using a [[backcrossing]] programme. Thus, [[Mutagenesis (molecular biology technique)|mutagenesis]] is crucial to create new and desirable varieties. According to Yadav et al. other biotechnology techniques which may impact on lentil breeding are [[Micropropagation|micro-propagation]] using meristamatic explants, callus culture and regeneration, protoplast culture and doubled haploid production.<ref name="Springer Science & Business Media-2007" />

There is a proposed revision of the gene pools using SNP phylogeny.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wong |first1=Melissa M. L. |last2=Gujaria-Verma |first2=Neha |last3=Ramsay |first3=Larissa |last4=Yuan |first4=Hai Ying |last5=Caron |first5=Carolyn |last6=Diapari |first6=Marwan |last7=Vandenberg |first7=Albert |last8=Bett |first8=Kirstin E. |title=Classification and Characterization of Species within the Genus Lens Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) |journal=PLOS ONE|date=27 March 2015 |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=e0122025 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0122025|pmid=25815480 |pmc=4376907 |bibcode=2015PLoSO..1022025W |doi-access=free}}</ref>