Characterization of Spanish Lentil Germplasm: Seed Composition and Agronomic Performance Evaluation

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a resilient annual herb belonging to the Fabaceae family. Known for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with rhizobia, lentils demonstrate moderate drought tolerance. Legumes are key crops in sustainable agriculture due to their low water and N requirements. This study evaluates the symbiotic responsiveness of various lentil accessions from the Spanish germplasm bank to different rhizobia strains. Additionally, the nutritional profile of seeds was determined, encompassing energy, fat, available carbohydrates, sugars, proteins, fibre, mineral content, and macro and micronutrients. Phenolic compound content was assessed using advanced UHPLC-HRMS techniques. The agronomic performance of six selected accessions was evaluated across two distinct locations under rainfed conditions and varying management systems. Notably, the protein content of the evaluated accessions exceeded 25%, particularly in two standout accessions, namely BGE025596 and BGE026702, with protein levels surpassing 30% and fat content below 2%. Furthermore, accessions BGE016362 and BGE026702 exhibited exceptional iron (Fe) content, exceeding 1 g/100 g of seed flour. It was observed that coloured microsperma lentil accessions harboured higher concentrations of phenolic compounds than non-coloured macrosperma seeds’ antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Agronomic performance varied based on cropping region and accession origin.