Performance of some fenugreek genotypes in subhumid subtropical red lateritic belt of eastern India

Abstract

Thirty genotypes of fenugreek were grown during winter seasons of 2009-10 and 2010-11 in subhumid subtropical red lateritic belt of Eastern India. The performance of the genotypes was assessed for eight agronomic characters, viz. plant height, days to flowering, branches per plant, pods per plant, pod length, seeds per pod, test weight and seed yield per plant. Analysis of variance pooled over the seasons revealed that the mean squares due to seasons for all the characters except branch number were highly significant indicating considerable differences between the test seasons. The mean squares due to genotypes for all the above characters were highly significant which indicated presence of variation among the genotypes. The significant mean squares due to genotype × season interaction for all the above characters indicated differential performance of the genotypes with the change in growing conditions. The variability was highest in seed yield per plant followed by pods per plant, branches per plant and seeds per pod. On the basis of performance of the genotypes for important characters including yield, the genotypes JF-14, JF-15, JF-17 and JF-21 could be considered for cultivation as seed spice of fenugreek in subhumid subtropical red lateritic belt of eastern India.