Role of IAA, GA3 and riboflavin for crop improvement in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an important winter leafy vegetable with high nutritional values. Its seeds are used as spices and the whole plant is used in many home remedies and medicines throughout the world. Its foliage and seed productivity is much low in the region. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) and vitamin (riboflavin) are exogenously applied chemicals for enhancement of plant productivity. For this purpose, 50 mmol L-1 treatments of indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid, and riboflavin were applied on fenugreek variety Kasuri Methi. Results showed that GA3 and indole-3-acetic acid significantly enhanced the root and shoot development, foliage growth and ions concentrations in shoot and root, and peroxidase dismutase (POD) and catalases (CAT) activities at seedling and vegetative stages. PGRs also increased the pod and seed yield of fenugreek. Riboflavin did not show any significant effect on fenugreek except that it increased the antioxidant activities at seedling stage. GA3 was more effective as compared with IAA for the enhancement of biomass production, yield, and biochemical attributes of fenugreek. It was determined that indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid can be used to enhance the foliage biomass production and yield but GA3 is superior over IAA in fenugreek. These outcomes can be useful for economic benefits with high production of this leafy vegetable.