Physical and Chemical Variabilities Among Domestic Iranian Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum) seeds

The seeds of thirty-three fenugreek ecotypes collected from the main cultivation areas of Iran were analyzed to evaluate their genetic diversity in respect to seed properties and phytochemicals Trigonelline (TG) and Nicotinic acid (NA) contents. One thousand seed weight varied from 15.35 g in Ge 6 to 7.15 g in Ge 21. Phytochemical evaluation by HPLC showed that there is a big variation in alkaloid contents sum of Trigonelline (TG) and Nicotinic acid (NA) among different ecotypes. The sum of TG and NA varied from 0.248% (w/w) in Ge 14 from warm arid region up to 0.653% (w/w) in Ge 18 from dry cold region. Most of the ecotypes were rich in trigonelline and nicotinic acid and their recorded values were higher than standard pharmaceutical levels. In cluster analysis, the sum of TG and NA was the highest for group C with mean value of 12.72 g for 1000 seed weight. There were no direct correlations between TG and NA contents and 1000 seed weight. No significant relationship was observed between regions of cultivation and alkaloids (trigonelline and nicotinic acid) contents in seeds. Based on the results of this experiment, it could be concluded that the seed alkaloid contents in fenugreek ecotypes are mainly controlled by genotypic characteristics rather than ecological ones.