Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Trigonella foenum-graecum Based on Nuclear Ribosomal DNA, Internal Transcribed Spacer and RAPD Analysis

Abstract

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is receiving global attention due to rare medicinal properties of significance to human health. Gene banks possess scanty germplasm and very little background information regarding its genetic variability that has hampered its improvement. We investigated the extent of variability among 17 Indian varieties of fenugreek using phenotypic and genetic markers. Multilocus genotyping by ten random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers detected an average of intraspecific variations amounting to 64.7% polymorphism in banding patterns. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that a greater proportion of total genetic variation exists within population (91%) rather than among populations. Higher values of Nei's gene diversity (h) and Shannon Information Index (i) and genetic distance analysis validate higher genetic diversity among Indian fenugreek varieties. SNPs at 14 sites of rDNA region revealed further lineages of distinct varieties with main RAPD clusters. The representative sequences of each subgroup and all distinct varieties have been submitted to NCBI database and assigned Gen Accession numbers HM 176640-176649. The measures of relative genetic distances among varieties of fenugreek did not completely correlate with the geographical distances of places of their development. The homogeneous phenotypic markers proved insufficient in exhibiting genetic divergence among fenugreek varieties studied. Eventually, the knowledge of their genetic relationships, DNA bar coding and phylogenies might contribute for the designing of intraspecific crosses between cultivars of this fenugreek collection with potential interest in seed spices breeding programme.

Genetic diversity and identification of variety-specific AFLP markers in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

“…In this study, RAPD marker system revealed high levels of polymorphism of about 62.4% among the fenugreek varieties, which was found vary close to 64.70% polymorphism detected in accessions from India by Kakani et al (2011) and lower than 70.12% polymorphism detected in accessions of fenugreek from different countries by Dangi et al (2004). Often, RAPD markers have been considered as undependable due to their low reproducibility for being random and because they are based on small decamer primers (Shasany et al, 2005).…”

“…This number is much higher than the eight specific RAPD alleles detected in exotic accessions of fenugreek by Dangi et al (2004). RAPD has been widely used for diversity analysis in fenugreek by Sundaram and Purwar (2011), Kakani et al (2011) and Dangi et al (2004). In fenugreek, no publication was found for genetic diversity analysis using AFLP marker system.…”

Genomic profile of the plants with pharmaceutical value

“…et Fernand Assessment of genetic similarity of micropropagated plantlets with their mother plant Kumar et al ( 2010 ) Trollius Genetic diversity assessment Li and Ding ( 2010 ) Chlorophytum borivilianum Assessment of the genetic stability of micropropagated and in vivo plant materials Samantaray and Maiti ( 2010 ) Zingiber montanum (Koenig) Link ex Dietr. The genetic relatedness among 51 accessions, 14 species of the genus Zingiber and genetic variability of a clonally propagated species Bua-in and Paisooksantivatana ( 2010 ) Vitex negundo L. Confirmation of the true-to-type nature of randomly selected micropropagated 2-year-old plant Ahmad and Anis ( 2011 ) Swertia chirata Assessment of genetic fidelity of plantlets regenerated through somatic embryogenesis Balaraju et al ( 2011 ) Simmondsia chinensis L. Schneider Sex determination Hosseini et al ( 2011 ) Trigonella foenum - graecum Multilocus genotyping for detection of intraspecific variations Kakani et al ( 2011 ) Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell Assessment of genetic diversity in different accessions Karthikeyan et al ( 2011 ) Simmondsia chinensis L. Schneider Assessment of genetic fidelity of micropropagated plants Kumar et al ( 2011 ) Trichopus zeylanicus subsp. travancoricus Assessment of genetic fidelity of in vitro regenerants Martin et al ( 2011 ) Kaempferia galanga L. <...>…”

10.5937/ratpov51-5072 = Significance of genetic resources of cool season annual legumes: II: Neglected and underutilised crops

“…Fenugreek is rarely grown in other countries and, although some efforts have been made by several gene banks, its genetic resources are endangered (Hymowitz 1990). An analysis using molecular tools showed that the variability of the economically important traits in fenugreek is wider within one population in comparison to the variability among diverse populations, what may represent an additional stimulus to preserve its germplasm (Kakani et al 2011). It is considered that early vigour, growth habit, date of flowering beginning, date of flowering end, biomass at late flowering, yield per plant, thousand grains mass and harvest index are the most significant agronomic characteristics in fenugreek (McCormick et al 2009).…”