Quantitative assessment and character association of genetic variability in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) populations from the west-central Himalayas

This study, conducted at CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India, assessed genetic diversity among 30 fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) genotypes during 2021–22 and 2022–23. High genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variation were observed for dry herb weight per hectare (47.04 % and 47.43 %, respectively) and plant height. Heritability ranged from 0.851 (root length) to 0.998 (number of leaves), with significant genetic advance. Mahalanobis D² analysis grouped genotypes into five clusters, while PCA highlighted genetic diversity. Path analysis showed minimal residual effects (0.26079), confirming trait reliability. The MGIDI index identified genotypes UK-17, UK-18, UK-22, and UK-23 as superior, providing robust fenugreek genotypes for further exploitation in breeding high-yielding, resilient varieties adapted to the west-central Himalayas, with substantial potential to enhance crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. • Trigonella foenum-graecum L., a culinary medicinal herb, need conservation efforts. • Studied genetic variability, trait association, multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index analysis, and cluster analysis. • Higher inter-cluster distance indicates high genetic diversity. • Multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index found genotypes with high yield, biomass, and stability. • Phenotypic variation higher than genotypic for most traits, indicating environmental effect.