SCREENING OF LENTIL (Lens culinaris Medik.) GENOTYPES IN RELATION TO MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE UNDER NORMAL AND WATER DEFICIT CONDITIONS

Lentil is very important and oldest legume crop globally, especially in South Asia. This crop faces many biotic and abiotic stresses but drought is very common. Due to the scarcity of water in Pakistan, drought stress becomes a very big issue that limit the growth and yield potential of lentil. Root length increases and penetrate in to the lower soil substrata helps to avoid from water stress. We examined 15 traits among 18 genotypes including two standard checks. The average root length at the stage of 65 days plant ranged from 69.50 to 103.58 cm. genotype (08054, 08511, 09502, M-93) had shorter root length, (08054, 08511) had minimum dry root weight while (08054) also showed minimum shoot length. Fresh root weight ranged from 4.77 to 7.77 cm. Four genotypes (09501, 08511, 09502, Pb.M-09) had minimum fresh root weight while (09502, Pb.M-09) showed minimum dry shoot weight while (09501) also showed minimum plant height at seedling stage. Relationship of Root parameters under rainfed as well as irrigated conditions were non-significant with seed yield. In less water environment, flowering and maturity starts early and produce higher seed yield. Drought tolerant genotypes could be used in future breeding programs.