engleski

Assessment of genetic diversity in red clover breeding populations selected in abiotic stress conditions using AFLP markers and fodder quality traits

Changes in the global climate pose demands for the breeders in creating red clover cultivars tolerant to abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the most important fodder quality traits of red clover breeding populations developed under the abiotic stress conditions during two experimental years and to estimate genetic diversity with AFLP markers. In the field trials, 12 red clover populations were included, of which nine were Croatian breeding populations, two Japanese cultivars and one standard Polish cultivar ‘Viola’. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) found significant differences between populations in all investigated quality properties in both research years. In the second, drier year, the average content of structural carbohydrates was lower and the average water-soluble carbohydrate content (WSC) increased from 27.82 g kg-1 in the first year to 54.66 g kg-1 in the second year. AFLP marker analysis revealed a high level of polymorphism and the proportion of polymorphic loci across populations was 72.4 %. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the largest proportion of variation (92.27 %) resides at the within population level. An UPGMA dendrogram based on genetic distances divided populations into two groups. One group contained, with one exception, all populations selected in low temperature conditions, while the other contained populations selected in dry conditions and under conditions without abiotic stress.

Red clover, ANOVA, UPGMA dendrogram

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