Anatolian Sage (Salvia triloba L.) Extracts and Biofertilizer Treatments Enhance the Germination and Seedling Growth of Fenugreek

In recent years, novel, effective, and environmentally sustainable approaches have been developed to promote plant growth and enhance plant protection. Plant extracts, which comprise novel, natural, and multicomponent products, have emerged as promising tools for these purposes. This study was designed to determine the effects of S. triloba extracts and biofertilizer applications on the germination, shoot, and root characteristics of fenugreek, as well as phytotoxicity tests. Ten traits were examined in the study, and except for the relative radicle growth (RRG) values, statistically significant differences were determined among the traits. The highest germination percentage, fresh and dry shoot values, and dry root weight with the relative seed germination (RSG) and germination index (GI) values were obtained from T8 (4 mg ml-1 extract + biofertilizer), while the maximum root length and fresh root weight values were found in T5 (0.5 mg ml-1 extract + biofertilizer). Moreover, the relationships among the examined traits were determined by multivariate analysis as principal coordinate (PCA) and heat map analyses. The results of the PCA showed over 75% variations, and heatmap analysis revealed that most of the treatments were found to be associated with the properties. In conclusion, T8 treatment can be used as a biological fertilizer to improve the germination percentage, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot and root weight, and RSG and GI values of the fenugreek.