Effect of ethephon on antioxidant enzymes and diosgenin production in seedlings of Trigonella foenum-graecum

To study the effect of ethylene on growth, diosgenin production and activities of the two antioxidant enzymes catalase and peroxidase, the seedlings of Trigonella foenum-graecum were treated with different concentrations of ethephon (as ethylene generating agent). The fresh weight and the length of seedlings decreased significantly and the dry weight of seedlings increased with increase in concentration of ethephon. At 100 mg/l concentration of ethephon, enzyme activities and diosgenin content decreased significantly. Subsequently, enzyme activities and diosgenin content increased with increase in concentration of ethephon. But diosgenin content did not increase over that of the control. The results suggest that although there is a relation between ethephon concentration, ethephon-induced catalase and peroxidase activities and diosgenin content, ethylene is not required for induction of diosgenin content in T. foenum-graecum seedlings.