INVESTIGATION OF THE FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA-FOENUM-GRAECUM L) GENOTYPES FOR FRESH WEIGHT, SEED PRODUCTIVITY, SYMBIOTIC ACTIVITY, CALLUS FORMATION AND ACCUMULATION OF STEROIDS
Na. Provorov et al., INVESTIGATION OF THE FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA-FOENUM-GRAECUM L) GENOTYPES FOR FRESH WEIGHT, SEED PRODUCTIVITY, SYMBIOTIC ACTIVITY, CALLUS FORMATION AND ACCUMULATION OF STEROIDS, Euphytica, 88(2), 1996, pp. 129-138
As a result of the analysis of 31 fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum
L.) genotypes we demonstrated that subsp. indica surpass significantl
y subsp. foenum-graecum in fresh weight, seed yield, nodulation abilit
y, resistance to root rot and the duration of the interstage and growi
ng periods. There was no difference between the subspecies for leafine
ss and biochemical composition of seeds (concentrations of diosgenin a
nd steroid glucosides, nitrogen, fat, inhibitors of tripsin and hemotr
ipsin). The most promising genotypes (as compared with the standard cv
. Nakhichevanskaya Shambala) yield 1650-1938 g/m(2) of fresh weight, 9
8.2-116.1 g/m(2) of seeds and accumulate 1.45-1.64% of diosgenin in se
eds. High positive correlations (r = +0.53... +0.84; P-o < 0.01) were
found between fresh weight, seed yield, plant leafiness and height. In
oculation of the cv. Nakhichevanskaya Shambala with Rhizobium meliloti
strains 851 and 852 increased its fresh weight by 94.5% and 93.6% and
seed yield by 83.1% and 60.5%, respectively. Significant correlations
of the nodule number with the fresh weight and seed yield (r = +0.70
and +0.77; P-o < 0.01) allow us to assume that selection for increased
symbiotic activity may be useful for improving the fenugreek producti
vity. The intersubspecies hybrids (four genotypes) surpass the subsp.
indica (six genotypes) for the sizes of calli formed in presence of 2.
4-D and kinetin. The sizes of calli formed by ten analysed genotypes i
n presence of BAP and kinetin (or 2.4-D) were negatively correlated wi
th the nodule number (or fresh weight).