Karyotype Feature of Reputed Variety of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) in East Azerbaijan-Iran

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) of family Leguminosae and subfamily Papilionaceae is extensively grown in West Azerbaijan-Iran as forage and vegetable. It has more economical and medicinal benefits as well. Cytogenetical studies are necessary to improve the economical value and hybridization between close related species and varieties. In order to analyze karyotype of Trigonella foenum-graecum and identification chromosomes type by using improved methods, plants and seeds specimens were collected from different farmlands of west Azarbaijan. Root tip meristems obtained from germination of seeds were pretreated with saturated solution of ά-bromonaphthalene and 8-Hydroxiquinolin then fixed in Lewitsky solution and stained in Aceto-Iron - Hematoxylin. Ten metaphasic plates were used to analyze karyotype parameters. The karyotype of Trigonella foenum-graecum consists of 2n=2x=16 chromosomes. Size of chromosomes changes from 6.698 ±0.238 μm (the largest chromosome) to 5.063 ± 0.162 μm (the smallest chromosome). All of them are submetacentrics except the chromosome 8, which is metacentric. Pairs 1 and 4 are satellited chromosomes as a chromosome marker. Size of satellites are 1.978 and 1.364 μm respectively. Karyotype details were illustrated in complete article.