Morphological Evaluation of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Genotypes from Different Altitudinal Collections in the Western Hilly Region of Uttarakhand, India

Prawal Pratap Singh Verma^1-2, Saba Siddiqui^2*, Saudan Singh³, Rakesh Kumar Upadhyay¹, Md Abu Nayyer^1,4, Mohd. Haris Siddiqui²

¹Division of Crop Production and Crop Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre Purara, PO Gagrigole, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand India

²Department of Agriculture, Integral Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (IIAST), Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

³Division of Crop Production and Crop Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

⁴Department of Horticulture, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India

Corresponding Author E-mail: 27.sabasiddiqui@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.12.3.22

Abstract:

This study evaluates the morphological and agronomic diversity of 30 fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) genotypes from lower-altitude regions of Uttarakhand to identify high-yielding, resilient cultivars for the western Himalayan region. Cultivated in a randomized block design with three replications over two growing seasons (2021-22 and 2022-23) at CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre, Purara, the genotypes were analyzed for traits such as germination rate, plant height, leaf characteristics, root length, branching, flowering time, and yield metrics. Results revealed significant genetic diversity, with early-germinating genotypes like UK-23 (3.51 days) facilitating rapid establishment, and uniform-emergence genotypes like UK-28 (8.41 days to 50% germination) promoting even stands. High-biomass genotypes, like UK-18, with a tall stature (38.87 cm) and high fresh herb weight (23.77 kg/ha), were favorable for biomass production. Enhanced leaf and root traits, such as large leaves in UK-10 and long roots in UK-9, support improved photosynthesis and drought resilience, while early-flowering genotypes like UK-16 (91.91 days) suit shorter growing seasons. Notably, UK-22 stood out for high yields in both dry herb (16.07 kg/ha) and seed (24.06 kg/ha), demonstrating promise for sustainable productivity in challenging conditions. Overall, genotypes UK-23, UK-18, and UK-22 emerged as top candidates for herb and seed production in hilly areas, providing a valuable basis for breeding resilient fenugreek varieties to bolster local livelihoods and sustainable agriculture in the region.

Keywords:

Agronomic traits; Fenugreek variability; Genotype characterization; Morphological diversity; Trait association

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