Evaluating the breeding potential of cultivated lentils for increasing protein and amino acid concentration in the Northern Great Plains

ABSTRACT The rising demand for plant-based proteins has intensified interest in pulse crops due to their high protein concentration. However, few studies have evaluated protein and amino acid composition/variability in cultivated lentil ( Lens culinaris Medik.). We evaluated protein and amino acid composition using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in a diversity panel grown in four site-years in Saskatchewan, Canada, followed by genome-wide association analyses with phenology-related traits as covariates. We found little correlation between days from sowing to flowering, region of origin, cotyledon color, or seed size, and protein concentration. Reproductive period was correlated with protein concentration. We also observed large variability between environments and more variability within market classes than among them. Our results demonstrate the potential for breeders to identify germplasm and select for increased protein and amino acid concentration and quality using a high-throughput NIRS method. We were able to identify numerous molecular markers for use in marker-assisted breeding. Our approach could be replicated by breeders from other regions or with other pulse crops to help meet the demand for plant-based protein and improvements in protein quality.