Tehlan, S.K.Mamatha, N. C.2017-09-192017-09-192017http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810031442The present experiment entitled "Morphological and molecular characterization in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)” was conducted at Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during winter season of 2014-15 and the molecular work was carried out in laboratory of the Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics during 2015-16. For morphological characterization, 150 fenugreek genotypes, which were collected from different regions, were sown in field following randomized block design with three replications. To study DUS characters, the genotypes were observed visually and categorized into different classes based on different morphological traits with the help of crop descriptors. It is concluded that the morphological traits like plant growth habit, plant growth pattern, leaf margin, leaf size, leaf tip shape, category of plant, leaf margin pigmentation, stem shape, flower color, pod color, pod curvature, pod shape, constrictions of pod between seeds, seed color, seed size and seed luster proved best for identification purpose, and from this, it is also evident that there was a sufficient diversity for these traits in genotypes under study. Variability studies reveal that there was a wide range of genetic diversity for yield and its attributing traits in 150 fenugreek genotypes, which were evaluated under field conditions. The genotypic as well as phenotypic correlations show that the yield per plant had significant and positive association with plant height, primary branches per plant, secondary branches per plant, pod length, pods per axis, pods per plant, seeds per pod and test weight. Path analysis reveals that the traits like plant height, primary branches per plant, secondary branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod and test weight are important traits for crop improvement programme, as they directly contribute towards yield per plant. However, for more precise and accurate identification, the modern biotechnological tool like molecular markers could be utilized. RAPD and ISSR were employed to assess the genetic diversity in best performing 48 fenugreek genotypes, which were selected among 150 genotypes evaluated, which gave the clear picture of diversity existence in genotypes at genetic level as DNA markers are not influenced by environmental effects or plant growth stages, and both RAPD and ISSR markers proved best for assessing genetic diversity in fenugreek germplasm, which shows that the genotypes, which were used in the present study, could be utilized in further crop improvement programme.ennullThesis