A water deficit during pod development in lentils reduces flower and pod numbers but not seed size

An experiment was conducted under controlled conditions in a glasshouse to determine the sensitivity of reproductive development of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) genotypes of different origins to water deficit. The 3 genotypes were Cassab (West Asia), Simal (South Asia), and ILL 7979 a crossbred between a West Asian genotype and a South Asian genotype. Two watering treatments, a well-watered control and a water-deficit treatment, were imposed from the beginning of podding. Leaf water relations, total dry matter production, leaf area, and number of flowers, pods, and seeds were measured from podding to maturity. In the well-watered plants the leaf water potential (?leaf) before sunrise ranged from -0.6 to -0.8 MPa. When subjected to water deficit, ?leaf fell to about -3.0 MPa. Genotypes did not show variation in vegetative growth or seed yield under either well-watered or water-deficit conditions, but they differed significantly in the number of flowers, fruiting nodes, pods, and seeds, and harvest index (HI). Seed size in Cassab was 61% larger than ILL 7979 and 105% larger than Simal. The small-seeded genotypes produced the highest number of fruiting nodes and hence a greater number of flowers, pods, and seeds. Seed size was positively correlated with seed growth rate (r = 0.77**) and seed fill duration (r = 0.45*). The water deficit reduced plant height by about 20%, leaf area by 48–81%, and total dry matter by about 60% compared with well-watered plants. The water deficit reduced flower number by 35–46% and increased seed abortion (empty pods) by 17–46%. The water deficit had no effect on the maximum seed growth rate, seed fill duration, or final seed size in any of the 3 genotypes. Therefore, the 70% reduction in seed yield induced by the water deficit was primarily due to a reduction in pod and seed numbers (by 59–70%) rather than individual seed growth rate and seed size.