World Pulses Day: a study analysing the genotyping and phenotyping of 106 lentil varieties has been published in Scientific Reports
The transdisciplinary research was conducted by the Institute of Plant Sciences of the Sant'Anna School of Pisa. ‘It is a study that allows a deeper understanding of the genetic factors that influence the agronomic potential of lentils,’ said lead author Elisa Lorenzetti
World Pulses Day, which takes place on 10 February, was established in 2019 by the FAO to raise consumer awareness of the nutritional values of pulses and to support their role in sustainable agri-food systems.
It is in this context that the Institute of Plant Sciences of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa recently published a scientific article in Scientific Reports, the result of transdisciplinary research on the agrobiodiversity of lentils. In the study, researchers from the Sant'Anna School carried out participatory genotyping and phenotyping of 106 varieties of lentils, mainly Italian, to assess their potential for cultivation and genetic improvement.
The authors of the study are all affiliated with the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies: Elisa Lorenzetti, post-doc fellow and first author, Matteo Dell'Acqua, director of the Institute of Plant Sciences and full professor of Agricultural Genetics, Paolo Barberi, associate professor of Agronomy and Herbaceous Crops, Stefano Carlesi, researcher in Agronomy and Herbaceous Crops, Mercy Wairimu Macharia, research fellow at the Institute of Plant Sciences, and Svenja Mager, research fellow at the Institute of Plant Sciences.
The potential benefits of lentils, a protein-rich food
Lentils are a valuable food in the transition to more sustainable diets, characterised, among other things, by a greater use of vegetable proteins. However, their cultivation is threatened by yield instability, mainly due to the lack of genetic diversity in varietal improvement programmes.
"To study the phenotypic diversity and agronomic characteristics of these 106 varieties of lentils, we conducted field experiments with a design based on augmented blocks, using control plots for a more accurate spatial analysis. The varieties were grown and evaluated with the direct involvement of local farmers in a participatory experiment" explains Elisa Lorenzetti.
"At the same time, we analysed the DNA of the lentil varieties through genetic sequencing, identifying 91,136 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are small variations in the genetic code. This data allowed us to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between the varieties, highlighting their uniqueness. Furthermore, we combined the genetic information with the agronomic characteristics measured in the field, carrying out a genome-wide association study (GWAS), which led to the identification of 32 genetic markers associated with traits linked to plant adaptation and productivity," adds Lorenzetti.
This research lays the foundations for the future of lentil varietal selection in Italy. "By highlighting the pioneering nature of our work, we aim to inspire future studies that build on our methodology and results to explore the agrobiodiversity of lentils in other areas, promoting a deeper understanding of the genetic factors that influence its agronomic potential" concludes Lorenzetti.
