CYTOPHOTOMETRIC ESTIMATION OF 4C DNA CONTENT AND KARYOTYPE ANALYSIS IN TEN CULTIVARS OF TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM

Estimation of nuclear DNA content through cytophoto-densitometer in somatic cells and karyotype analysis were carried out for the first time in ten cultivars of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Somatic chromosome number is reported 2n=16 in all the cultivars. Detailed karyotype analysis revealed cultivar specific chromosomal characteristics and minute structural alterations in chromosomes. The 4C DNA content varied significantly from 7.23 pg in the cultivar TG-103 to 9.12 pg in TG-09. Significant variations in the genome length, volume and total form percentage were noted at cultivar level. A positive significant correlation coefficient revealed interdependence between the chromosome volume and nuclear DNA content of the cultivars. Significant variations in 4C nuclear DNA content among different cultivars despite the same somatic chromosome number suggest a changes in the repetitive DNA sequences of the genomes.