Various Mitigation Approaches Applied to Confer Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): A Review

Trigonella foenum graecum L. contains several nutritionally and pharmaceutically important bioactive constituents particularly trigonelline and diosgenin and imparts immense economic value to the plant making it a promising medicinal legume. Fenugreek bears anti-diabetic, anticancerous, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, emollient, laxative, antihypercholesterolemic, and antispasmodic properties. A large number of its medicinal properties are still under clinical trials. Fenugreek being a sensitive crop faces a number of environmental stresses in its natural habitat, and due to its inability to survive transplantation, it further faces survival threats. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) being an immense medicinal plant in the modern world has drawn the concern of various scientists regarding its overall crop improvement to enhance its production and sustainable development. This review focuses on the general description, medicinal uses, agronomical strategies, and various scientific strategies like exploring the potential of diverse PGRs, nanoparticles, elicitors, mineral nutrients, as well as various biotechnological approaches for crop improvement and secondary metabolites production in fenugreek under stress as well as non-stress conditions. It also covers the crop responses towards abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, heavy metals, temperature, and UV-radiation.