Evaluation of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) germplasm for growth and seed yield

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) is an important seed spices and occupies third place in terms of acreage and forth in production among the different seed spices. It is a dual purpose crop grown both for leaf and seed purposes. Leaf is used as vegetables either alone or cooked with other vegetables. Apart from spice, value seed is also used in pharmaceutical and flavouring industries especially in bakery products. It is a rich source of Vit-A, Vit-C, riboflavin, iron and calcium. Recently, the alkaloid diosgenin extracted from fenugreek is used for preparation of oral contraceptive. Though area under this crop is mostly concentrated in the Western part of the country, it can also be cultivated in the different parts of India particularly in the state of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.