Evaluation of protein accumulation pattern in lentil seeds as affected by different period of weeds interference

ABSTRACT: In order to study the effect of different periods of the presence of weeds on 1000-seed weight, protein percent, protein yield, seed yield and seed N content of lentil, the present study was carried out in research farm of University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran on the basis of a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in spring of 2011. The treatments included the absence of weeds for 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after sowing date and the presence of them for 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing date. The study had two control treatments, i.e. the absence of weeds in whole growing season (full absence of weeds) and the presence of them in whole growing season (full presence of weeds). At the end of these periods, the plots were sampled and then, the samples were transferred to the agronomy laboratory of Department of Agriculture. After extracting the protein of the seeds, its amount was measured by Bradford method on 595 nm wavelength. The analysis of protein data showed that weeds significantly affected protein yield at 1% probability level. The highest and lowest protein content of lentil seeds was obtained from the treatments of simultaneous growth of weeds and the absence of weeds, respectively.