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

wrinkling as sound seeds. It is difficult to determine if the Acurum ® machine
inadvertently measures seed coat wrinkling and gives the seed a higher score if
wrinkling is present. In green pea, seed coats that do not imbibe water as readily
exhibit reduced cotyledon bleaching (Riehle and Muehlbauer, 1975).
4.3.2 Chlorophyll Extractions
Significant differences were observed among lentil genotypes for content of
total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b in the seed coat and chlorophyll a:b
ratio (Table 4.13). For total chlorophyll levels, several 1294M-23 measurements
had more total chlorophyll than CDC Grandora and 1048-8R. RIL 114, the line
with the lowest index score (best colour) compared to all other genotypes in the
group, also had the most chlorophyll both a and b across all of the locations and
years.
Generally, genotypes with lower index scores had more chlorophyll a and b
(Table 4.13). Microclimates at each plot reflect differences in environments,
resulting in a range of index scores and seed coat chlorophyll content. For example,
chlorophyll a content of some samples of 1048-8R was higher than that of 1294M-
23. From the heritability study it was known that 1294M-23 had a more desired
green colour. It may be necessary to use large numbers of replicated chlorophyll
extractions at multiple locations and years to reliably use this as a method of
ranking desirability of green lentil genotypes making it less useful than running the
samples through the Acurum ® machine.
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