Effects of genotype and environment on seed and forage yield in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) grown in western Canada

Fenugreek is being developed as a forage legume crop in western Canada, as it has desirable agronomic and forage quality traits. The objective of the present study was to determine if genotype x environment interactions have an impact on seed and forage yield when plants are grown under the short growing season of western Canada. Two studies were conducted: one with up to 83 accessions grown under rain-fed and irrigated conditions at Lethbridge, Alberta for two years and the other had five selected genotypes grown under seven environments scattered over Alberta and British Columbia over five years. In the first study significant (P < 0.01) location and year effects were observed for forage yield and 1000 seed weight respectively, while for seed yield effect of year, genotype, year X location and year X genotype were significant (P < 0.01). In the second study significant (P < 0.01) genotype, environment and their interaction effects were observed for forage and seed yield. These studies indicate that improvement through phenotypic selection for forage and seed yield is possible but, will require use of multiple locations and years. Improvement in seed yield can be achieved through selection for less variable seed size and/or early maturity.