Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Growth and Trigonelline Content in Hairy Root of Iranian Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Fenugreek is a valuable medicinal plant and it is essential to investigate induction of mutations in order to increase its active ingredient.

In this study, the phytochemical and growth traits in hairy and normal roots of Fenugreek in response to gamma irradiation were evaluated.

In this study, gamma irradiation was applied to Iranian Fenugreek seeds in five doses (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 Gy), and then the irradiation effects in root hair culture conditions in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications were evaluated. In order to induce hairy roots in fenugreek, ATCC15834 strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenesis was used.

The results showed that the different irradiation doses had a significant effect on all traits in normal and hairy roots. The comparison of mean of data showed that the highest values of traits were related to 100 Gy and the lowest values of traits related to irradiation of seeds with 400 Gy doses. The trigonelline content was significantly higher in hairy roots than normal roots, so that the amount of trigonelline of hairy roots at different treatments including 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 Gy were 2.46, 2.67, 2.66, 2.44 and 2.64 times more than normal roots, respectively.

The results indicated that the cell proliferation, growth and amount of trigonelline were increased due to the stimulating effect of low doses of gamma irradiations.