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Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an antidiabetic plant. Its bioactive compound, trigonelline, is known to counter diabetes through insulin secretion, modulation of β cell regeneration and quick activity of glucose metabolism related enzymes. A pot experiment was conducted in the natural conditions of net house of the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (UP), India, to evaluate the effect of four concentrations of GA3 (0, 10-7 M, 10-6 M and 10-5 M), alone and in combination with phosphorus (40 kg P ha-1), on growth, biochemical and yield attributes of fenugreek. Compared to control, the combination of GA3 and phosphorus (P40 + 10-6 M GA3) significantly increased the activities of nitrate reductase (30.8%) and carbonic anhydrase (30.7%) enzymes; it also enhanced the seed yield (140.6%) and the content of total chlorophyll (28.5%) and carotenoids (26%). There was also significant increase (19.51%) in the content of seed trigonelline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is a high value medicinal and essential oil bearing crop used in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. Keeping the medicinal as well as economic importance of this herb in mind, a pot experiment was carried out under the net house conditions of the Botanical Garden, Fort, AMU, Aligarh. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four replications. This study was conducted to assess the effects of triacontanol (TRIA) alone and in combination with gibberellic acid (GA3) on growth characteristics, photosynthetic parameters, some other physiological and biochemical attributes, composition and yield of essential oil of fennel. At 30 days after sowing, the plants were sprayed with either TRIA or with different combination of TRIA and GA3. Among the treatments, foliar spray of 10−6 TRIA + 10−6 GA3 significantly promoted the values for most of the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes as well as for essential oil composition and yield attributes. It was concluded that a combined spray of TRIA and GA3 (10−6 TRIA + 10−6 GA3) might be highly effective for increased productivity and essential oil composition of fennel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]