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Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed: a review of physiological and biochemical properties and their genetic improvement

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Abstract

Discovering the complexity of seed structure and function along with a number of vital processes such as seed growth and development, germination are important factors in unlocking the secrets of consistent crop yield. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), a multi-purpose annual, dryland-adapted, forage, legume crop is cultivated in different parts of the world with great potential for introduction under suitable agro-climatic zones in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Fenugreek seed is used extensively for its medicinal, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical properties. It is effective in the treatment of diabetes, hyperglycaemia (thyroxine-induced type) and hypercholesterolemia. This review discusses seed physiological processes and several important biochemical seed constituent, e.g., steroidal sapogenins (diosgenin), polysaccharide fiber (galactomannan), amino acid (4-hydroxyisoleucine), etc, with important medicinal and pharmacological characteristics impacting human and animal health. However, there are noticeable differences in the quality of several phytochemicals found in fenugreek seed possibly due to variations in plant genotypes and agro-climatic conditions under which the crop is grown. Hence, it is important to note that for consistent seed yield and quality of fenugreek cultivars there is an urgent need for continuing efforts in genetic improvements and in developing high yielding, disease and drought-resistant varieties suitable for different agro-climatic conditions. Therefore, in addition to the physico-biochemistry of fenugreek seed different approaches for genetic improvement have also been discussed.

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Abbreviations

4-OH-ILE-C:

4-Hydroxyisoleucine content

4-OH-ILE-P:

4-Hydroxyisoleucine productivity

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AFLP:

Amplified fragment length polymorphism

BA:

Benzyladenine

BCAA:

Branched-chain amino acid

DIOS-C:

Diosgenin content

DIOS-P:

Diosgenin productivity

GA3 :

Gibberellic acid

GE:

Genotype X environment

Gal:

d-galactopyranosyl

GAL-C:

Galactomannan content

GAL-P:

Galactomannan productivity

GP:

Germination percentage

GR:

Germination rate

ISSR:

Inter-simple sequence repeat

Man:

β-d-mannopyranosyl

NAD:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

RAPD:

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA

SSA:

Sub-Saharan Africa

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Takestan Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 466, Takestan, Iran

    Peiman Zandi

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada

    Saikat Kumar Basu

  3. Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, University of Zabol, P.O. Box 98615-538, Zabol, Iran

    Leila Bazrkar Khatibani

  4. Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 900001, Nigeria

    Morufat Oladimeji Balogun

  5. Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University of Wukari, P.M.B. 1020, Wukari, Taraba, Nigeria

    Matthew Olaleke Aremu

  6. Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 302004, Rajasthan, India

    Manorma Sharma & Ashwin Kumar

  7. Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, 700126, West Bengal, India

    Ratnabali Sengupta

  8. Industrial Crop Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650205, Yunnan, People’s Republic of China

    Xianping Li & Yanshan Li

  9. College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan

    Sonam Tashi

  10. Department of Animal Science, Cartgage University, E.S.A 7030, Mateur, Tunisia

    Abdouli Hedi

  11. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A. C. Herbarium CICY, 97200, Mérida, Yucatán, México

    William Cetzal-Ix

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  1. Peiman Zandi
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  2. Saikat Kumar Basu
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  9. Xianping Li
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  11. Sonam Tashi
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  12. Abdouli Hedi
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  13. William Cetzal-Ix
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Correspondence to Peiman Zandi.

Additional information

Communicated by A.K. Kononowicz.

P. Zandi, S. K. Basu, L. B. Khatibani, M. O. Balogun, M. O. Aremu, M. Sharma, A. Kumar, R. Sengupta, X. Li, Y. Li, S. Tashi, A. Hedi, W. Cetzal-Ix contributed equally to this work.

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Zandi, P., Basu, S.K., Khatibani, L.B. et al. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed: a review of physiological and biochemical properties and their genetic improvement. Acta Physiol Plant 37, 1714 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1714-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1714-6

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