Production of High Quality Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Fenugreek is an annual legume crop with medicinal
properties and potential to be a high quality forage
crop. The first forage cultivar of fenugreek Tristar , developed for western Canada requires ~120
days for producing high quality seed in this region
where only ~100 frost-free days are available
annually. Therefore the primary goal of this study
was to determine an appropriate course of action to
produce mature seed in 100 days. A series of
genetics and agronomic studies conducted over two
years suggested that mutation breeding using Tristar
as the base population can reduce maturity duration
of this crop. A strong G X E interaction for seed
yield was observed when world accessions were tested
over multiple locations in western Canada. Swathing
of plants a few days before combining and application
of phosphate fertilizer increased seed yield while
application of foliar spray of some chemicals
produced high quality fenugreek seed. Some short
duration, high yielding and determinate lines were
also identified in this study, improving the
potential for expanded use of fenugreek in western
Canada. This work will be valuable for agronomists,
plant breeders and geneticists.

Autorentext

Saikat K. Basu, MSc: PhD candidate, University of Lethbridge,Alberta, Canada; Surya N. Acharya, PhD, FICN: forage breeder andscientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; James E. Thomas,PhD, FICN: Associate Professor, University of Lethbridge. Acollaborative team working in plant breeding, food andnutraceutical development of dryland crops.

Klappentext

Fenugreek is an annual legume crop with medicinalproperties and potential to be a high quality foragecrop. The first forage cultivar of fenugreek"Tristar", developed for western Canada requires ~120days for producing high quality seed in this regionwhere only ~100 frost-free days are availableannually. Therefore the primary goal of this studywas to determine an appropriate course of action toproduce mature seed in 100 days. A series ofgenetics and agronomic studies conducted over twoyears suggested that mutation breeding using Tristaras the base population can reduce maturity durationof this crop. A strong G X E interaction for seedyield was observed when world accessions were testedover multiple locations in western Canada. Swathingof plants a few days before combining and applicationof phosphate fertilizer increased seed yield whileapplication of foliar spray of some chemicalsproduced high quality fenugreek seed. Some shortduration, high yielding and determinate lines werealso identified in this study, improving thepotential for expanded use of fenugreek in westernCanada. This work will be valuable for agronomists,plant breeders and geneticists.