Genotype × Environment Interaction for Appraisal of Iron and Zinc Rich Stable Genotypes in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Background: Micronutrient malnutrition is a severe peril for wellbeing of humankind, which can be holistically addressed through genetic biofortification. Lentil, proclaim as poor man’s meat can hold a great promise in global biofortification programme. The present study was designed to appraise genetic variability for Fe and Zn content and elucidate the role of Genotype × Environment interaction for delimitation of micronutrient enriched stable lentil genotypes integrating HA-GGE biplot with REML/BLUP. Methods: Grain Fe and Zn content of 44 lentil genotypes grown at three different locations of West Bengal during two consecutive years were estimated for deciphering the G × E interaction combining HA-GGE and REML/BLUP. Result: Results revealed substantial genetic variability for Fe (48.07 to 107.45 mg kg-1) and Zn (38.72 to 60.07 mg kg-1) in 44 lentil genotypes with significant influence of environment and GE interaction. The present study precisely detected ILL-10123 and VL-156 as the ‘ideal’ genotypes for Fe and Zn content, respectively in addition to non-redundant testing location. Identified genotypes and testing location aid in global biofortification programme for upscaling micronutrient concentration in lentil.