High-temperature Stress and the Fate of Pollen Germination and Yield in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus)

Background: High temperatures adversely affect the growth and development of plants at vegetative, reproductive and maturity stages of their life cycle. The maximum air temperature of higher than 25oC frequently encountered in lentil at the reproductive stage mainly in West Bengal rice-lentil cropping pattern. Such high temperatures in rabi season impair the crop growth and productivity. Added to this, future climate predictions are indicating 27-28oC during this period. Methods: The field-laboratory experiment was conducted during 2014, with 20 genotypes of lentil. The field experiment was laid in split plot design with 3 different windows of sowing, while the laboratory investigation was carried out in completely randomized design with pollen collected from the field experiment.Result: The present investigation reveals that high air temperature greater than 25oC resulted in the failure of pollen germination, increase in abnormal pollen tube and aborted pollen. A drastic effect in seed filling and pod development in lentil was observed. Out of 20 lentil genotypes studied, ILL-10893 and L-13-113 emerged as tolerant genotypes while, BM-6 and L-4076 as susceptible with special emphasis on physiological characters.