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Article

Genetic Variability for Iron, Zinc, and Protein Content in a Mediterranean Lentil Collection Grown under No-Till Conditions: Towards Biofortification under Conservation Agriculture

by
Rachid Aboutayeb
1,*,
Aziz Baidani
2,
Abdelmonim Zeroual
2,3,
Nadia Benbrahim
4,
Abdellah El Aissaoui
5,
Hanane Ouhemi
6,
Chafika Houasli
3,
Elisabetta Mazzucotelli
7,
Agata Gadaleta
8 and
Omar Idrissi
3,*
1
Soil, Plant and Water Laboratory, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Settat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
2
Laboratory of Agrifood and Health, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Hassan First University of Settat, BP 577, Settat 26000, Morocco
3
Laboratory of Food Legumes Breeding, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Settat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
4
Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
5
Laboratory of Engineering and Agricultural Machinery, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Settat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
6
Laboratory of Agronomy, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Settat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
7
CREA—Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, 29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
8
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5200; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065200
Submission received: 19 December 2022 / Revised: 24 January 2023 / Accepted: 13 February 2023 / Published: 15 March 2023
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Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Biofortification is a promising and sustainable way to improve lentil nutritional value. No-till is an eco-friendly agricultural practice for sustainable agricultural production under climate change conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variation of lentil grain quality traits under no-till and conventional tillage systems, and to investigate the significance of tillage and genotype by tillage interaction. A Mediterranean lentil collection of 120 accessions, including landraces, advanced breeding lines, local varieties, and improved varieties was assessed for protein, iron, and zinc genetic variability under no-till and conventional tillage systems. Under no-till, substantial genetic variation for protein (19–32%), iron (17–184 mg/kg), and zinc (9–48 mg/kg) was observed, indicating the possibility of lentil biofortification under conservation agriculture. Significant effects of tillage system and genotype by tillage interaction were observed for protein and iron contents. Furthermore, significant effect of tillage system on zinc content was recorded. No-till yielded slightly higher protein and zinc content than conventional tillage. Overall, the results indicated that shifting lentil production from a conventional tillage system to a no-till system would be of interest to increase lentil nutritional value.

1. Introduction

Hidden hunger affects large populations around the world; one of the main reasons behind this is undernourishment due to protein malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency [1,2,3]. Considered as a global issue, this nutritional status leads to serious health complications impairing either physical performance or cognitive potential [1], and affects billions of humans worldwide, essentially in developing countries. These deficiencies could be manifested in forms of anemia, poor cognitive development, and weak immunity [1,4].
Despite being a rich legume in terms of dietary proteins and mineral contents—mainly iron and zinc [5,6]—lentil grain composition varies widely depending on genotypes, environment, crop management, and their interactions [7]. According to Dhaliwal et al. [8], micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in calcareous soil, which has low organic matter, high pH, and high levels of calcium carbonate. This deficiency, due to low micronutrient availability, can potentially reduce food legume and cereal productivity and quality in many agricultural areas [9,10,11]. Furthermore, intensive tillage practices have considerably affected soil fertility and quality [10,12,13,14]. As an alternative, minimum tillage or no-till has been widely adopted as a sustainable solution of conservation agriculture that could help to overcome problems of soil fertility and micronutrient availability. Combining food legume and cereals rotations with minimum tillage practices has been widely promoted as an efficient solution of integrated crop management to sustain agricultural cropping systems and address nutritional deficiencies [14,15]. Conservation agriculture has been recommended for its benefit in alleviating climate change drawbacks through carbon sequestration and soil organic matter accumulation [10,13,16]. Identification of lentil genotypes with high potential under semi-arid conditions is important to promote through both national and international research programs to overcome nutrition problems in developing countries and also satisfy the sustainability of agricultural systems [14,17,18]. Biofortification of crop pulses, including lentil, using plant breeding is a promising way to address global nutritional issues [1,19]. In fact, improving the nutrient content of major grain legumes such as lentil using breeding and omics tools could contribute significantly to ensure global food security and human health [20,21,22]. In addition, growing lentil under a no-till system can increase its nutritional profile as a result of agroecological benefits of this system due to chemical, biological, and physical soil performance. No-till can be considered as an efficient agronomic practice in semi-arid regions where water is scarce and soil organic matter content is below 2% [15,23]. In this regard, Neumann et al. [24] showed the importance of minimum tillage to improve pea’s grain quality and to enhance nitrogen fixation, leading to higher protein content. Kumar et al. [25] and Devkota et al. [26] reported that no-till could be an important option for profitable lentil production in dry areas. Other authors showed that crop yields can be greater under no-till in comparison with conventional tillage in dry regions [13,27]. In the same vein, Stagnari et al. [28] reported that lentil performs well in conservation systems, which are very important in the low-input and low-yield farming systems frequent in developing countries.
Hence, biofortification of lentil using no-till, as a promising sustainable agronomic practice, derived from the available genetic variability for lentil grain quality traits through the exploration of the genetic variation under no-till conditions, and the evaluation of the significance of genotype by tillage system interaction may lead to the selection of promising genotypes that could be used in lentil breeding programs targeting grain yield and quality under no-till systems in order to ensure the transition to a sustainable agriculture for healthy diet [14,29].
Genetic variation of grain’s protein, iron, and zinc concentrations in several crops including cereals and food legumes has been widely studied under different tillage systems, especially for wheat [30,31,32]. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies focusing on the genetic variability and biofortification of lentil under different tillage systems have been published. For instance, no significant study dealing with genetic variability for iron, zinc, and protein contents of lentil seeds grown under a no-till system using a large number of accessions is currently available. Thus, we aimed at contributing to a better understanding of genetic variability for these traits under no-till and conventional tillage systems. The specific objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the genetic variation of lentil protein, zinc, and iron contents under no-till system, and (2) investigate the interaction of genotypes and tillage system for the three nutritional traits.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Field Experiment Site and Climatic Conditions

The field experiment consisted of two experimental field trials, under conventional tillage and no-till, carried out at Sidi El Aidi experimental station of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA-Morocco) during the cropping season 2020–2021. The study area is located at the nearby Settat city in northwest Morocco (latitude 33.1208767; longitude −7.62884). The no-till field has more than 8 years of cultivation history without any soil plowing either as fallow, for most of the years, or growing cereals and legumes.
The annual precipitation recorded during the 2020–2021 season at the experimental site was 297 mm and average minimum and maximum day temperatures ranged from 10 °C to 33 °C respectively, as shown in Figure 1 (top/bottom). The climate of the site is semi-arid where winter is the rainfall season. Soils are classified as Vertic-Calcixerolls (further details are shown in Table 1).

2.2. Plant Materials, Experimental Set-Up, and Crop Management

A Mediterranean lentil collection composed of 120 accessions from different origins (Morocco (63), Italy (21), Turkey (17), and Greece (18)) was evaluated under two different tillage systems, namely, a no-tillage system, where the seeder was the only machine used for planting, and a conventional tillage system, where seedbed preparation and sowing were carried out using four machines for soil mixing, pulverization, puddling, and levelling: a plough, a disc harrow (vertically and horizontally), and a rotavator. Augmented design with eight blocks was used. Six checks (three local varieties and three improved varieties) were replicated within each block. Each accession was planted in a plot of four rows of 6 m in length and 0.35 m between rows for the two systems. The seeding rate used was 45 seeds per linear meter for all accessions and both tillage systems. The sowing dates were 23 and 24th November 2020. The Canadian variety ‘Eston’, well-known in the market, was included for comparison purposes.
The fertilization plan consisted in spreading 50 kg/ha of ammonium sulfate (21%) for both no-till and conventional tillage fields. For weed control, 0.5 l/ha of Haloxyfop was applied to control narrow-leaf weeds and manual and surface mechanical weeding were used for broad-leaf weeds.

2.3. Analytical Methods

Protein and mineral contents were assessed on lentil grain flour obtained through seed milling. Nitrogen (N) contents were quantified using the Kjeldahl method (Buchi, Switzerland). To quantify nitrogen content, 0.25 g of dry lentil floor is weighed, 6 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid is added, and then the tubes are placed in the block-digester and heated at 420 °C for 1.5 h. After distillation, the resultant liquid is titrated with standard 0.05 N sulfuric acid.
Protein content was calculated based on N content using the following formula:
P r o t e i n   c o n t e n t = 6.25 × N   c o n t e n t
Iron and zinc contents were assessed with the wet digestion method. To perform this analysis, 1.0 g of dry lentil floor is weighed in a porcelain crucible; this latter is placed in a chilly muffle furnace, and gradually the temperature is raised to 550 °C. Ashing process continues for 5 h once the temperature hits 550 °C; then, the cooled ash is dissolved in 5 mL of 2 N HCl. After 15 to 20 min, the sample is diluted with distilled water to the desired volume (50 mL) and the aliquots are analyzed for Zn and Fe using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) (Perkin Elmer, Norwalk, CT, USA) at 213 and 248 nm wavelengths, respectively [33]. For each sample, two measures were undertaken to assess analysis reliability.

2.4. Statistical Analysis

The obtained data were analyzed using R Software [34] to assess the genetic variability within the studied collection and analyze the effect of the studied factors (genotype tested, checks, origin, tillage system) on protein, iron, and zinc contents. In the first step, the data set from the no-till system was analyzed using the specific R package dedicated to augmented design analysis [35] to investigate the extent of genetic variability and determine the effect of genotype and origin on the three-quality traits studied. Then, in a second step, data from the two tillage systems (no-till and conventional tillage) for the replicated six check genotypes were considered as a Split-Plot design with the tillage system as the main factor and genotype as a sub-factor to perform ANOVA 2 ways for the two factors using R-software [34].

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Genetic Variability for Proteins, Iron, and Zinc Contents under No-Till System (Genotype Effect)

Statistical analysis revealed high genetic variability within the tested collection and a significant effect of genotype on protein content (Table 2, Figure 2). Significant variation was observed at different levels: among test genotypes, among check genotypes, and between checks and test genotypes. The obtained values ranged from 19.32 to 31.85%. Among the six check genotypes, the highest protein content was observed for C1 (L56) (30.75%), which is one of the earliest local lentil varieties registered in Morocco. It is an advanced line from a single plant selection from a landrace in Zaer region (western-north Morocco) where it was historically and on-farm grown and conserved for ages and has been labeled with a quality label as geographic ID since 2015 [36,37,38,39]. L56 is a very promising genotype that might be used as parental material aiming to enhance protein content in breeding programs. Among the tested accessions, the highest protein content (31.06%) was observed for an advanced line (F84-112L) from the Moroccan national breeding program. Lentil as pulse crop can fix atmospheric nitrogen [13] and provide grains highly rich in protein [7,40,41]. Our results, obtained under no-till system, are comparable with those reported by Nadia et al. [37] and Khazaei et al. [40] for seeds obtained from lentil grown in different environments under conventional tillage. The protein content values we obtained are slightly higher than those found by Grusak [42] who reported values ranging from 15.9 to 31.4%. Additionally, our results are in agreement with the previous study carried out by Ray et al. [43] who concluded significant genotypic variation, while Watson et al. [20] reported a wider range of variation from 20 to 45%.
For iron, a significant effect of genotype was observed. This result is in agreement with those found by Vandemark et al. [44] considering a high effect of genotype on lentil iron content. Lentil could be considered as a good source of iron in accordance with previous studies, which makes lentil a good candidate to deal with micronutrient deficiencies [43].
The current study has shown a significant effect of genotype (checks, tests, and tests vs. checks) on iron content among the 120 accessions of the collection tested under no-till system. A large genetic variability has been observed, and the Fe content ranged from 16.82 to 183.99 mg/kg with a mean of 54.79 ± 25.78 mg/kg (Table 2, Figure 3). Among the tested checks, the improved variety Bakria had the highest iron content (62.36 mg/kg). The highest value (183.56 mg/kg) was obtained for the accession ILL312 originating from Greece. The range of genetic variation obtained in our study is wider than those reported by Grusak [42] (30.1–130.3 mg/kg), Kumar et al. [45] (71.3–126.2 mg/kg), and Vandemark et al. [44] in different environments under conventional agriculture.
Augmented design variance analysis revealed statistically no significant effect of genotype on lentil zinc concentration. The mean concentration of zinc (32.12 ± 7.56 mg/kg) ranged from 9 to 48 mg/kg and showed moderately large genetic variation despite the ANOVA result (Figure 4). However, low variation was observed between the six repeated checks, making the statistic detection of variance, residual error, and therefore the difference between tested accessions impossible. In fact, zinc content ranged only from 30 to 35 mg/kg among the six repeated checks, while iron content, for instance, ranged from 40 to 62 mg/kg. Under augmented design, contrasted checks for zinc content would have resulted in significant variation for genotype effect. The range of variation we obtained under no-till system is in line with that was reported by Jha and Warkentin [1] and Kumar et al. [45] under conventional tillage, while Grusak [42] reported higher values and wider range of zinc content variation (20.3 to 100.2 mg/kg) under the conventional tillage as well.
Phenotypic coefficient of variation was respectively 48.92, 22.36, and 5.99, while genotypic coefficient of variation was 45.13, 14.08, and 3.01, respectively, for iron, zinc, and protein content. Broad-sense heritability was 85.11, 39.66, and 28.07%, respectively, for iron, zinc, and protein content. Interestingly, the high and moderate heritability obtained respectively for iron and zinc contents are promising for selection and breeding purposes aiming at developing varieties with high iron and zinc seed content. For protein content; higher genotype by environmental interactions may be the reason of moderate to low heritability obtained. In the studied collection, significant responses to selection by conventional breeding techniques are expected for iron followed by zinc contents, while low response is expected for protein content. This finding should be taken in consideration for biofortification strategies. Our results are in agreement with those reported by Salaria et al. [21] under conventional tillage system.

3.2. Genetic Variability for Proteins, Iron, and Zinc Contents under No-Tillage System According to the Accessions’ Origins and Types (Origin/Type Effect)

Different classes of genetic material among the tested population were defined considering their geographical origins (Morocco, Italy, Turkey, and Greece) and genetic/breeding history (landraces, improved varieties, local varieties, and advanced lines). Based on this factor, variance analysis revealed a significant variation within the categories for protein content (Figure 5). No significant variation among these categories was observed for iron and zinc (Figure 6 and Figure 7). The observed variation among accessions and classes could be explained by the different potentials of each genotype in terms of nitrogen uptake [13].
The highest values for protein content were recorded for the local check 1, the local Moroccan variety L56. In fact, the highest mean and highest value was recorded for this cultivar. Turkish landraces had the second highest mean protein content, while the lowest values were observed for Italian landraces. The largest variability was observed among Moroccan landraces compared to other classes. Lentil richness in protein makes it a valuable source to overcome protein malnutrition [20]. A significant effect of genotype origin on iron content under no-till was observed (Figure 6). The highest values were recorded for Greek and Moroccan genotypes (Figure 6).
A significant effect of geographical origin on zinc content under no-till was observed. For zinc content, the obtained values ranged from 8.98 mg/kg to 47.83 mg/kg; the highest values were recorded among Moroccan genotypes while the highest overall mean was recorded for Turkish genotypes (Figure 7).
This finding suggests that the geographical origin of the tested genetic material plays a key role in terms of richness in Fe and Zn. Both environmental and selection factors may be the reason for the observed differentiation. The observed genetic variability is important for research programs aiming to develop more nutritious lentil genotypes capable of meeting the consumers’ needs [44].
This result is in agreement with those of Jha and Warkentin [1] who highlighted the effect of location on Zn and Fe concentration and recorded a wide range of its contents. This fact confirms the variability of the biofortification approach to dealing with micronutrient deficiencies, mainly Fe and Zn [8].

3.3. Comparison of Genetic Variation for Protein, Iron, and Zinc Content under No-Till and Conventional Tillage (Effect of Genotype and Tillage System)

Significant effects of tillage system, genotype, and their interaction on protein content were observed. The highest values were recorded under no-till system except for the two genotypes C2 and C3, for which similar values were obtained under both tillage systems (Figure 8). Although studies on the comparison of protein content under no-till and conventional tillage in lentil are lacking, similar results were reported for other crops. For instance, pearl millet had higher protein content under no-till with crop residue mulching as compared to no-till without mulch and conventional tillage [46], and wheat on minimum-till and no-till fallow [47]. De Vita et al. [30], in a three year study, reported higher protein content under no-till compared to conventional tillage for one year and no significant differences between the two systems for two years for durum wheat in southern Italy. In the same vein, Pagnani et al. [48] reported higher grain protein content for durum wheat in Mediterranean areas grown under no-till under wheat–wheat and wheat–fava bean rotation. No-till reduces losses of mineral nitrogen, which induces higher lentil protein content [49]. Enhanced crop residues under no-till could enhance nitrogen availability, thus resulting in higher protein content. The current experiment has revealed no significant difference between no-till and conventional tillage in terms of organic matter and total nitrogen content; however, there are important reasons for the higher protein content under no-till: namely, a tendency towards higher organic matter content under no-till system, the pH being significantly less alkaline, which is more favorable for plant growth, contributing thus to reduce nitrogen loss. Furthermore, the inversion of topsoil, in conventional tillage, during plowing shifts less fertile subsoil to the surface, which could explain less available nitrogen for crops [10,50]. Furthermore, it is known that soil microbial diversity and activity are higher in no-till fields than in fields where tillage operations are practiced. These facts could contribute to explaining higher values of protein content under no-till compared to conventional tillage system.
For iron content, variation was significant between the two tillage systems, among genotypes and according to the interaction of the two factors (genotype by tillage system). Higher concentration was obtained under conventional tillage for C4, C5, and C6, while it was higher for C3 under no-till. No significant variation was observed for C1 and C2 between the two tillage systems (Figure 9).
The calcareous soil of the experimental field (Table 1) could be among the reasons for low iron bioavailability under the no-till system, mainly for the three checks C4, C5, and C6. Indeed, Mahmoudi et al. [51] reported low iron availability in calcareous soils. These types of soils are very common in the Mediterranean region. Both alkaline pH and calcareous soils contribute to compromising iron uptake [52]. In addition, tillage practices induce releasing soil nutrients, especially those non-available due to the nature of the soil and its quality [53].
For zinc content, significant variation was observed between the tillage systems. Higher values were observed under no-till system for six genotypes (Figure 10), while no significant effect of the genotype factor was observed among the six tested genotypes corresponding to the six repeated checks. Our finding is in accordance with that reported by Vandemark et al. [44] who concluded a minor effect of genotype on Zn concentration in lentil.

4. Conclusions

Lentil is a common crop in the Mediterranean region where water scarcity is exacerbated over time due to erratic and lower rainfalls. This study highlights the added value of lentil cropping under conservation agriculture in terms of protein, iron, and zinc grain contents. The genetic variation of lentil seed quality traits observed under no-till and the significant effect of genotype by tillage system interaction highlight the possibility of breeding biofortified lentil cultivars under conservation agriculture system. Furthermore, the higher protein and zinc contents obtained under no-till compared to conventional tillage system showed that shifting to no-tillage would improve lentil nutritional profile, especially for zinc and protein content. However, taking in consideration that overall crop performance under field conditions is associated with other factors such as temperature and the amount and distribution of rainfall, this study needs to be extended over time in order to investigate the behavior of studied genotypes under diverse environmental conditions, in no-till and conventional tillage systems. In addition, the variation of soil properties under both tillage systems needs to be examined, especially the variation of soil microbiome due to its importance in modulating plant growth and development which consequently affects yield and productivity as well as grain quality.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, O.I. and R.A.; methodology, R.A, O.I., N.B., A.E.A., H.O. and C.H; software, O.I. and A.Z.; validation, A.B., A.E.A. and N.B.; formal analysis, O.I.; investigation, H.O., C.H., N.B. and A.E.A.; resources, E.M., A.G. and A.B.; data curation, H.O., O.I., A.Z., A.B., R.A. and C.H.; writing—original draft preparation, R.A., O.I. and N.B.; writing—review and editing, R.A., A.Z., O.I., E.M. and A.G.; visualization, O.I.; supervision, O.I. and R.A.; project administration, O.I., E.M., A.G. and A.B.; funding acquisition, O.I. and A.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research has been supported by the project “CerealMed”—Enhancing diversity in Mediterranean cereal farming systems, funded by PRIMA 2019—Section 2.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support this study will be shared upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Mean temperatures (bottom) and rainfall (top) during the 2020–2021 season at Sidi El Aidi station, Morocco (the experimental site).
Figure 1. Mean temperatures (bottom) and rainfall (top) during the 2020–2021 season at Sidi El Aidi station, Morocco (the experimental site).
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Figure 2. Frequency distribution of a Mediterranean lentil population for protein content under no-till system.
Figure 2. Frequency distribution of a Mediterranean lentil population for protein content under no-till system.
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Figure 3. Frequency distribution of a Mediterranean lentil population for iron content under no-till system.
Figure 3. Frequency distribution of a Mediterranean lentil population for iron content under no-till system.
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Figure 4. Frequency distribution of a Mediterranean lentil population for zinc content under no-till system.
Figure 4. Frequency distribution of a Mediterranean lentil population for zinc content under no-till system.
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Figure 5. Genetic variability for protein content according to geographical origin and accession types in a Mediterranean lentil collection under no-till system. Adv.L: advanced lines; CAN: the Canadian variety ‘Eston’; CC1: the improved variety ‘Bakria’; CC2: improved candidate variety V26LNYT19; CC3: improved candidate variety V16LNYT18; Gre: Greece; Italy: Italy; LC1: the local variety ‘L56’; LC2: the local variety ‘L24’; LC3: the local landrace “Nilou/EL Garra”; Moro: Morocco; Turk: Turkey.
Figure 5. Genetic variability for protein content according to geographical origin and accession types in a Mediterranean lentil collection under no-till system. Adv.L: advanced lines; CAN: the Canadian variety ‘Eston’; CC1: the improved variety ‘Bakria’; CC2: improved candidate variety V26LNYT19; CC3: improved candidate variety V16LNYT18; Gre: Greece; Italy: Italy; LC1: the local variety ‘L56’; LC2: the local variety ‘L24’; LC3: the local landrace “Nilou/EL Garra”; Moro: Morocco; Turk: Turkey.
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Figure 6. Genetic variability for iron content according to geographical origin and accession types in a Mediterranean lentil collection under no-till system. Adv.L: advanced lines; CAN: the Canadian variety ‘Eston’; CC1: the improved variety ‘Bakria’; CC2: improved candidate variety V26LNYT19; CC3: improved candidate variety V16LNYT18; Gre: Greece; Italy: Italy; LC1: the local variety ‘L56’; LC2: the local variety ‘L24’; LC3: the local landrace “Nilou/EL Garra”; Moro: Morocco; Turk: Turkey.
Figure 6. Genetic variability for iron content according to geographical origin and accession types in a Mediterranean lentil collection under no-till system. Adv.L: advanced lines; CAN: the Canadian variety ‘Eston’; CC1: the improved variety ‘Bakria’; CC2: improved candidate variety V26LNYT19; CC3: improved candidate variety V16LNYT18; Gre: Greece; Italy: Italy; LC1: the local variety ‘L56’; LC2: the local variety ‘L24’; LC3: the local landrace “Nilou/EL Garra”; Moro: Morocco; Turk: Turkey.
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Figure 7. Genetic variability for zinc content according to geographical origin and accession types in a Mediterranean lentil collection under no-till system. Adv.L: advanced lines; CAN: the Canadian variety ‘Eston’; CC1: the improved variety ‘Bakria’; CC2: improved candidate variety V26LNYT19; CC3: improved candidate variety V16LNYT18; Gre: Greece; Italy: Italy; LC1: the local variety ‘L56’; LC2: the local variety ‘L24’; LC3: the local landrace “Nilou/EL Garra”; Moro: Morocco; Turk: Turkey.
Figure 7. Genetic variability for zinc content according to geographical origin and accession types in a Mediterranean lentil collection under no-till system. Adv.L: advanced lines; CAN: the Canadian variety ‘Eston’; CC1: the improved variety ‘Bakria’; CC2: improved candidate variety V26LNYT19; CC3: improved candidate variety V16LNYT18; Gre: Greece; Italy: Italy; LC1: the local variety ‘L56’; LC2: the local variety ‘L24’; LC3: the local landrace “Nilou/EL Garra”; Moro: Morocco; Turk: Turkey.
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Figure 8. Comparison of genetic variation for protein content of different genotypes under no-till and conventional tillage. C1 to C6: Local variety ‘L56’, Local variety ‘L24’, Local landrace ‘Nilou El Gara’, improved variety ‘Bakria’, improved candidate variety ‘V26LNYT19’, improved candidate variety ‘V16LNYT18’.
Figure 8. Comparison of genetic variation for protein content of different genotypes under no-till and conventional tillage. C1 to C6: Local variety ‘L56’, Local variety ‘L24’, Local landrace ‘Nilou El Gara’, improved variety ‘Bakria’, improved candidate variety ‘V26LNYT19’, improved candidate variety ‘V16LNYT18’.
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Figure 9. Comparison of genetic variation iron content of different genotypes under no-till and conventional tillage. C1 to C6: Local variety ‘L56’, Local variety ‘L24’, Local landrace ‘Nilou El Gara’, improved variety ‘Bakria’, improved candidate variety ‘V26LNYT19’, improved candidate variety ‘V16LNYT18’.
Figure 9. Comparison of genetic variation iron content of different genotypes under no-till and conventional tillage. C1 to C6: Local variety ‘L56’, Local variety ‘L24’, Local landrace ‘Nilou El Gara’, improved variety ‘Bakria’, improved candidate variety ‘V26LNYT19’, improved candidate variety ‘V16LNYT18’.
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Figure 10. Comparison of genetic variation for zinc content of different genotypes under no-till and conventional tillage. C1 to C6: Local variety ‘L56’, Local variety ‘L24’, Local landrace ‘Nilou El Gara’, improved variety ‘Bakria’, improved candidate variety ‘V26LNYT19’, improved candidate variety ‘V16LNYT18’.
Figure 10. Comparison of genetic variation for zinc content of different genotypes under no-till and conventional tillage. C1 to C6: Local variety ‘L56’, Local variety ‘L24’, Local landrace ‘Nilou El Gara’, improved variety ‘Bakria’, improved candidate variety ‘V26LNYT19’, improved candidate variety ‘V16LNYT18’.
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Table
Table 1. Physico-chemical properties of no-till and conventional tillage fields soil in 2020.
Table 1. Physico-chemical properties of no-till and conventional tillage fields soil in 2020.
Soil PropertiespHElectrical Conductivity (dS/m)NO3
(mg/kg)		P (mg/kg)K (mg/kg)Organic Matter (%)Total Nitrogen (%)Total Limestone
(%)		Active Limestone
(%)
Conventional tillage8.30 ± 0.090.24 ± 0.1330.64 ± 16.5615.69 ± 0.99258.83 ± 25.292.63 ± 0.090.11 ± 0.0223.88 ± 1.4811.75 ± 0.24
No-till8.15 ± 0.060.33 ± 0.1012.05 ± 1.7018.50 ± 3.55179.75 ± 1.772.79 ± 0.290.13 ± 0.0121.82 ± 1.0411.25 ± 0.37
Table
Table 2. Mean, minimum, maximum, genotypic, and phenotypic coefficient of variations and broad-sense heritability of protein, iron, and zinc content of Mediterranean lentil collection grown under no-till system.
Table 2. Mean, minimum, maximum, genotypic, and phenotypic coefficient of variations and broad-sense heritability of protein, iron, and zinc content of Mediterranean lentil collection grown under no-till system.
Grain ContentMeanMinimumMaximumPhenotypic Coefficient of VariationGenotypic Coefficient of VariationBroad-Sense
Heritability (%)
Protein (%)27.5119.3231.855.993.0128.07
Iron (mg/kg)54.7916.82183.9948.9245.1385.11
Zinc (mg/kg)32.128.9847.8322.3614.0839.66
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Aboutayeb, R.; Baidani, A.; Zeroual, A.; Benbrahim, N.; Aissaoui, A.E.; Ouhemi, H.; Houasli, C.; Mazzucotelli, E.; Gadaleta, A.; Idrissi, O. Genetic Variability for Iron, Zinc, and Protein Content in a Mediterranean Lentil Collection Grown under No-Till Conditions: Towards Biofortification under Conservation Agriculture. Sustainability 2023, 15, 5200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065200

AMA Style

Aboutayeb R, Baidani A, Zeroual A, Benbrahim N, Aissaoui AE, Ouhemi H, Houasli C, Mazzucotelli E, Gadaleta A, Idrissi O. Genetic Variability for Iron, Zinc, and Protein Content in a Mediterranean Lentil Collection Grown under No-Till Conditions: Towards Biofortification under Conservation Agriculture. Sustainability. 2023; 15(6):5200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065200

Chicago/Turabian Style

Aboutayeb, Rachid, Aziz Baidani, Abdelmonim Zeroual, Nadia Benbrahim, Abdellah El Aissaoui, Hanane Ouhemi, Chafika Houasli, Elisabetta Mazzucotelli, Agata Gadaleta, and Omar Idrissi. 2023. "Genetic Variability for Iron, Zinc, and Protein Content in a Mediterranean Lentil Collection Grown under No-Till Conditions: Towards Biofortification under Conservation Agriculture" Sustainability 15, no. 6: 5200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065200

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