Deciphering Agronomic Traits, Biochemical Components, and Color in Unique Green-Seeded Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L) Genotypes Deciphering agronomic traits, therapeutic components 4-hydroxyisoleucine, diosgenin, chlorophyll and color in unique green seeded fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L) genotypes

Ravindra Singh ^* Ram Swaroop Meena Sharda Choudhary ^* Narottam Kumar Meena Ram Dayal Meena Arvind Kumar Verma Mahesh Kumar Mahatma Ravi Y Shiv Lal Pooja Kanwar Shekhawat Vinay Bhardwaj

• National Research Centre on Seed Spices (ICAR), Ajmer, Rajasthan, India

Fenugreek is a high-value legume known for its potential to enhance human health and combat a variety of diseases and metabolic disorders. This versatile crop has demonstrated promising therapeutic effects in managing obesity, diabetes, cancer, and poor metabolism conditions that have become major global health concerns. Despite the availability of multiple pharmaceutical remedies for these ailments in the market, often times the heavy chemical doses are accompanied by side effects on human body. To investigate the agronomic traits, medicinal potential and color of fenugreek seeds, this study was conducted and identified fenugreek genotypes with green seed color (GSF1 to GSF10), which can prevent the progression of aforementioned diseases without the hassle of side effects. Ten unique green seeded fenugreek (GSF) genotypes were compared with five released varieties (Yellow Seeded Fenugreek; YSF1 to YSF5) as check. The genotypes were assessed during rabi season for three consecutive years (2021-22 to 2023-24) in semi- arid Eastern Plain Zone of Rajasthan, India. The findings exhibited that agronomically GSF performed well, almost at par with the YSF. Harvest index (23.21 ± 0.37%) is higher in GSF with very marginal differences in other agronomic traits. The medicinal potential of the GSF showed that GSF6 has nearly 1.5 to 2 times higher insulinotropic 4-Hydroxyisoleucine (0.90%) levels compared to the YSF genotypes. This unique non-protein branched amino acid is found in fenugreek seeds. High concentration of chlorophyll (0.45mg/100gm) i.e., GSF1, low diosgenin with high 4-OHIle (261.80mg/100g, 0.85% respectively) i.e., GSF10, low Total soluble sugars (TSS; 3.50%) i.e., GSF9. Oil content, phenols, proteins were found to be higher in GSF making it preferrable over YSF. The study further revealed that darkness of green color in the seed is directly related to its chlorophyll content and is directly associated with higher content of 4-OHIle and lower TSS. Amongst the studied genotypes, harvest index is higher in green seeded genotypes with maximum seed yield (2473.74 Kg/ha) in genotype GSF8., The superior genotypes GSF1, GSF6, GSF8, GSF9, GSF10 developed in the study hold potential for future breeding initiatives, aimed at boosting medicinal value, nutritional quality and productivity.