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Abstract
Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) has not been researched as extensively as many other pulse (grain legume) crops. Until recently, most lentil cultivars had been developed by pureline selection from local germplasm collections. However, breeding programs have been established at several centers and have been successful in developing improved cultivars from hybridization and selection. The large, international, and multidisciplinary crop improvement program based at ICARDA in Syria has strengthened regional and national programs in many countries. While these resources provide opportunities for research and development on a far greater scale than in the past, there remain many researchers who are unfamiliar with the crop and many farmers who do not fully appreciate the constraints that must be overcome if yields are to be stabilized and improved. This publication describes various aspects of the crop, reviews the culture of lentils in the United States and worldwide, and advocates greater cooperation, collaboration, and communication among researchers, breeders, administrators, producers, and the various sectors of industry in general.