
New 'Mason' Lentil Promises High Yields, Easier HarvestBy Kathryn Barry
Stelljes July 7, 1997PULLMAN, Wash., July 7--Mason, a new lentil variety from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides greater yields, larger seeds and
easier harvesting than other varieties now grown in the Pacific Northwest. "In five years of field trials, Mason averaged 18 percent higher
yields than Brewer, the most popular variety in Washington and Idaho," said
geneticist Frederick Muehlbauer with
USDA's Agricultural Research Service.
"Mason seeds are light green and don't have any mottling. Mottling can make
lentils look dirty and thus less appealing to consumers," he added. Muehlbauer developed Mason, which was released in June by ARS in
conjunction with Washington State University and the University of Idaho. He
leads the ARS Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit in
Pullman. The new variety's tall, erect growth also benefits growers. "The
pods are higher on the plant. This allows more room to cut the plants during
combining, so less of the crop is lost during the harvesting operation,"
Muehlbauer said. He noted that as much as 20 percent of a lentil crop can be
lost during harvest because pods shatter or fall through farming equipment.
Losses from Mason variety should be much lower, according to Muehlbauer. Lentils, most commonly used in soups and rice dishes, are high in
protein, fiber and folic acid. Most of the 126,000-acre U.S. lentil crop is exported to Spain and
Italy. Washington and Idaho produce almost the entire U.S. lentil crop, worth
$23 million to farmers in 1996. Mason should also grow well in Oregon, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota and parts of Canada. Plots of Mason plants will be on display July 10 at the Spillman
Farm Field Day in Pullman. Researchers can obtain small amounts of seed from Muehlbauer.
Large amounts of seed should be available from the Washington and Idaho state
crop improvement associations for commercial production in 1999. Scientific contact: Frederick J. Muehlbauer, geneticist,
Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Agricultural Research
Service, USDA, Pullman, WA 99164-6421, phone (509) 335-9521, fax (509)
335-7692, [email protected]. U.S. Department of Agriculture | |