The INCREASE project has successfully concluded.

While the Citizen Science Experiment continues during growing season 2026, learn more about the impact of INCREASE and view our results here.

Stay tuned for more results to come. We will continue to update the results section and inform you via social media when new results are published.

Explore the results

INCREASE – Intelligent Collections of Food Legumes Genetic Resources for European Agrofood Systems
Common bean
Lentil
Chickpea
Lupin

The INCREASE project developed a comprehensive framework for the characterisation, conservation and exploitation of lentil genetic resources, centred around the creation and analysis of Intelligent CORE Collections.

Development of Intelligent Collections

  • Two main collections were established:
    R-CORE: 3,556 accessions representing broad genetic diversity
    T-CORE: 450 accessions selected for detailed study
  • These collections integrate genomic, phenotypic, and metabolomic data, forming the basis for advanced research and breeding.

Lentil_IC

Genetic Purification and Seed Multiplication

  • Large-scale development of genetically purified SSD (Single Seed Descent) lines: Over 3,000 accessions multiplied, with extensive seed production efforts
  • More than 6,200 pots were used in controlled experiments for line development.
  • Seed increase campaigns ensured availability of material for downstream analyses and stakeholders.

Phenotyping and Field Trials

  • Extensive phenotypic characterisation: Data collected for 29 traits under both controlled and field conditions
  • 7 multi-location field trials (MLFTs) across different countries: Evaluation of traits such as phenology, yield components, disease symptoms and seed characteristics
  • Strong environmental effects were observed for key traits like flowering time and maturity (as shown in ANOVA results on page 12).

Advanced Genomic and Molecular Analyses

  • Genotyping of 891 samples (450 T-CORE + 441 R-CORE) using advanced methods (e.g. CRISPR-Cas9-based depletion)
  • Development of pangenome resources (3 high-quality genome assemblies)
  • Integration of:
    Metabolomics data (leaves and seeds from multiple environments)
    RNA-seq data (350 samples)
    Genome-wide association (GWA) analyses

Functional and Interaction Studies

  • Investigation of plant–rhizobia interactions on selected T-CORE lines
  • Additional studies on: Root architecture, Drought tolerance, Resistance to parasitic weeds (e.g. Orobanche)

Stakeholder Engagement and Use Cases

  • Active involvement of stakeholders through field evaluations and breeding activities as well as collaboration with projects (e.g. Legume Generation, Root2Res)
  • Selected lines are being multiplied and tested further and also used to develop new breeding populations

Long-Term Impact

The INCREASE common bean results will continue to benefit:

  • Genebanks through SSD material conservation
  • Breeders for selection and variety development
  • Collaborative networks enabling data and material sharing

The INCREASE research on lentil delivered a highly integrated genetic resource platform, combining large-scale collections, advanced molecular data and multi-environment phenotyping. This provides a robust foundation for future breeding, research and sustainable use of lentil diversity in European agri-food systems.

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