Influence of Seed Coat Color Genes on Milling Qualities of Red Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Efficient milling is the key economic trait for the red lentil industry. Various seed characteristics including seed coat color can influence milling characteristics. Four basic seed coat ground colors (green, gray, tan, and brown) of 16 red lentil genotypes from a common genetic background were compared to determine the effect of seed coat color genes on three key milling quality traits- dehulling efficiency (DE), milling recovery (MR), and football recovery (FR). These genotypes were grown at two locations in Saskatchewan, Canada for two years. DE, MR, and FR results varied depending on the seed coat color conferred by specific genotypes. Green and gray seed coat color (homozygous recessive tgc allele) genotypes had significantly higher DE and MR percentages compared to brown or tan seed coat types (homozygous dominant Tgc allele) depending on genotype interaction with site-year. Seeds with brown or tan seed coats had significantly higher FR percentages in two site-years. Red cotyledon lentils with uniform shape and green or gray seed coat color might be more profitable for millers who wish to maximize DE and MR of red lentil, but brown seed coat color might be preferable in terms of FR.