MUTAGENESIS-ASSISTED IMPROVEMENT OF YIELD AND SEED QUALITY IN FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA FOENUM GRAECUM L): A REVIEW ON PHYSICAL VERSUS CHEMICAL MUTAGENS

Abstract

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an economically and nutraceutically valuable, self-pollinated legume with a low genetic foundation and breeding development which limits its productivity and quality of seed. The induced mutagenesis is a useful strategy to offer new variability to improve the yield and quality of such crops. This is a review of the existing studies on physical and chemical mutagenesis of fenugreek with focus on their relative effectiveness, mutation spectrum, and breeding implications. Physical mutagens, especially gamma rays, introduce a wide source of chromosomal and morphological variation in which low to medium levels promote yield components and seed characteristics with higher doses leading to growth retardation and reduced fertility. Other chemicals that cause mutation are generally more effective at a low dose like ethyl methanesulfonate, sodium azide, and maleic hydrazide, and they generally cause point mutations that enhance quantitative traits, and seed biochemical composition. Populations generated through mutagenesis have a higher genetic variation, high degree of heritability, and a high genetic progress in seed yield, seed weight, protein content and nutraceutical qualities. Combined with current genomic and screening technologies, optimization of mutagenesis regimes will likely enable rapid generation of high yield, quality improved fenugreek varieties.