A. B. Das - Cytogenetics Laboratory, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar ۷۵۱۰۱۵, Orissa, India.
S. Mohanty - Cytogenetics Laboratory, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar ۷۵۱۰۱۵, Orissa, India.
P. Das - Cytogenetics Laboratory, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar ۷۵۱۰۱۵, Orissa, India.

Cytophotodensitometric estimation of ۴C DNA content in root tip cells and karyotype analysis were carried out in ten cultivars of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Somatic chromosome number was ۲n=۱۶ in all the cultivars. Detailed karyotype analysis revealed cultivar specific chromosomal characteristics and minute structural alterations in chromosomes of the genome. The ۴C DNA content varied significantly from ۹.۱۱۶pg in the cultivar TG-۴۱ to ۱۲.۴۲۰ pg in TG-۰۳. Significant variations in the chromosome length and volume and total form percentage (TF%) were noted at cultivar level. Correlation coefficient studies revealed interdependence between the chromosome volume and nuclear DNA content of the varieties. Variations in chromosome structure and the nuclear DNA content despite the same somatic chromosome number suggest micro-evolution leading to the development of new cultivars.

Fenugreek, genome size, Karyotype, Trigonella