USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council - Winter Legume

Objective: 1. Develop semi-leafless, semi-dwarf, disease-resistant winter hardy varieties of Austrian winter peas and white-flowered, clear-seeded edible types that are adapted to direct seeding systems. 2. Develop small seeded red (Turkish type) and yellow cotyleldon (Eston or Pardina type) lentils with sufficient winter hardiness to be grown in direct seeding systems over a wide area of the Palouse region. 3. Develop resistance to important root diseases in the winter pea types. 4. Ensure that the types of winter peas and lentils meet quality standards for acceptance in world markets.

Anticipated Benefits and Information Transfer: Success in this project will hasten the adoption of winter grain legumes in cropping systems by providing adapted germplasm, information on sound agronomic practices, weed and pest control. Benefits to be derived include higher yields and better control of wind and water erosion. Benefits to the farming system would include improved nutritional status of the soil and benefits to winter wheat through control of disease.