Evaluation of yield and morphological changes in some Iranian endemic fenugreek ecotypes under non-stress and drought stress conditions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between root traits and grain weight in fenugreek ecotypes. Fifteen fenugreek ecotypes were evaluated under two moisture environments (non-stress and drought stress conditions). The experiment was carried out as a split plot based on a completely randomized design with three replications in lysimetric system at the research glasshouse of Tarbiat Modares University. Water treatment had significant effect on all traits except for percent of root to shoot ratio and root number. Grain weight per plant was decreased 56 % from non-stressed condition (2.71 g) to drought stressed condition (1.19 g). Genotypic coefficients of variation ranged from 8.12 to 50.59 % indicates that there was high genetic variation in studied germplasm. Results of Biplot analysis showed that two main principal components were explained 64 and 80% of the data variation under non-stressed and drought stressed conditions, respectively. Also, results of biplot graphs revealed that there was high positive correlation between transpiration efficiency, grain weight, root length and root dry weight in both water treatments. Tiranchi and Shiraz ecotypes were favorable for many of traits especially for grain weight in both water treatments.