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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #155634
Title: REGISTRATION OF 'MERRIT' LENTIL

Author
item Muehlbauer, Frederick
item McPhee, Kevin

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2004
Publication Date: 7/1/2004
Citation: Muehlbauer, F.J., Mcphee, K.E. 2004. Registration of 'Merrit' lentil. Crop Science. 44(4):1487.

Interpretive Summary: 'Merrit' is a large-seeded yellow-cotyledon lentil developed by the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Washington Agricultural Research Center, Pullman, WA, the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Moscow, ID, the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Fargo, ND and released in 2003. Merrit has large seed size; seed coat mottling that is similar to 'Brewer', upright plant habit and high yield. Based on yield performance, the variety has the potential to replace Brewer as the predominant lentil produces in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Plains states of North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

Technical Abstract: 'Merrit' is a large-seeded yellow-cotyledon lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) developed by the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Washington Agricultural Research Center, Pullman, WA, the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Moscow, ID, the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Fargo, ND and released in 2003. Merrit has large seed size, seed coat mottling, upright plant habit and high yield. Merrit, selection LC460266, originated as an F5 selection from the cross Brewer*2/LC760336/'Palouse' made in 1990. In 25 site-years from 1997 to 2000, Merrit averaged 5% higher yield when compared to Brewer. In the Palouse region of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, the yield advantage was 6%. Compared to Brewer, Merrit averaged 2 cm taller, flowered an average of one day later and matured one day later. Plants of Merrit are strongly branched at the base, which imparts a bushy structure that enables the canopy to remain somewhat erect during the growing season. Seed size of Merrit is larger and averages 6.4 grams per 100 seeds compared to 5.7 g for Brewer. The large seed size of Merrit should appeal to markets in the U.S. and internationally.