GREEN SEED COAT COLOUR RETENTION IN LENTIL - University ...

carbohydrate, and micronutrient requirements from it. A balanced and nutritious
diet can be formulated from cereals and lentil. Protein complementation occurs
because the cereals are low in amino acids like lysine and leucine, while legumes
like lentil have a relatively high content of these amino acids. Amino acids like
methionine and cysteine that are low in lentil (Sell, 1993) are high in cereal making
for balanced protein in the diet of monogastric mammals like humans and swine.
2.1.2 Canadian Lentil
Lentil is an important cash crop in Canada especially in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan produces 99 percent of the Canadian lentil crop (SPG, 2007). In
2005, 2.16 million acres of lentil were planted in Saskatchewan which produced
1.26 million tonnes (SAFRR, 2007). Canada is the world’s largest lentil exporter.
In 2003 Canada accounted for 44 percent of total international lentil exports
(AAFC, 2007).
There are two main types of lentil grown in Canada, red and green. They
differ on the basis of seed coat colour and cotyledon colour. Green lentil has a light
green seed coat with a yellow cotyledon while red lentil usually has a brown or grey
seed coat with an orange to red cotyledon. Until 1997 green lentil was the prevalent
type grown on over 95 percent of the seeded area. In 2006 Saskatchewan had more
red lentil acres seeded than green lentil for the first time (Hursh, 2006). The value
of the two market classes is somewhat independent as the markets and uses of the
two market classes differ. Red lentil is primarily consumed after the seed coat is
removed by abrasive dehulling while green lentil is usually eaten whole. Thus
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