Evaluation of moisture stress tolerance indices for the selection of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) genotypes

Abstract

Drought and moisture stress is the most limiting factor affecting growth and productivity of crop plants. In order to study the effect of moisture stress, forty eight genotypes of fenugreek were planted in RBD with three replications under two environmental conditions namely, (i) normal irrigation (E1) and (ii) staggered irrigation (E2) during rabi 2016-2017. Eight stress tolerance indices viz., stress tolerance (TOL), stress susceptibility index (SSI), stress tolerance index (STI), mean production (MP), geometric mean production (GMP), yield index (YI), stress susceptibility percentage index (SSPI) and modified stress tolerance index (MSTI) were calculated based on seed yield under moisture stress (Ys) and non-stress condition (Yp). The seed yield under non-stress condition (Yp) had significant positive association with TOL, SSI, STI, MP, GMP, SSPI and K1STI. The seed yield under stress condition (Ys) had significant positive association with STI, MP, GMP, YI and K2STI, while significant negative association with TOL, SSI and SSPI. The results showed that MP, GMP and STI indices were more effective in identifying high yielding genotypes in both stress and non-stress conditions while TOL, SSI, YI and SSPI under moisture stress condition. Based upon the mean seed yield and stress tolerance indices, the genotypes UM-124, UM-60, UM-55, UM-28 and UM-4 were found tolerant to staggered irrigation conditions. Hence, these genotypes may be used further in breeding programmes for moisture stress tolerance.