Journal of Crop Breeding

To study determination of the most traits affecting grain yield in segregation populations of lentil, two F3 populations derived from crosses Lc74-1-5-1×L3685 (first population) and Lc74-1-5-1×Qazvin (second population) were evaluated. According to the results of stepwise regression number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, 100- seed weight, plant height and number of leaflets leaflets (in the first population) and number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight and seed diameter (in the second population) were the most important traits for explaining the variation in yield. Sequential path coefficient analysis showed that in the first stage of the chain, number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight in both populations, number of leaflet and plant height in the first population and seed diameter in the second population had directly influence on seed yield. In the second stage of the chain, the number of primary branches and days to maturity in both populations and plant height in the second population with direct effects on traits such as seed number per plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight were indirectly effective on yield. One reason for the high similarity of the relationship between traits in the two populations is probably genetically background of their common parent (L3685 Line). Therefore, based on these results, number of seed per plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight could be introduced as the most important traits affecting the grain yield of both two populations and could be considered for improving grain yield.