COMPARATIVE AND TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON FOUR Trifolium SPECIES IN EGYPT

Abstract

The study was conducted on three wild species found in the north coast (Porg El Arab) area in Egypt and belong to the genus ((Trifolium). The wild species are: T.esupinatum, T. fragiferum and T. repens,A comparative study was performed on the three wild Trifolium species and the cultivated one; Trifolium alexandrinum.. The study focused on the micro and macro morphological characters of leaves and seeds, the quality components, in addition to micro-elements. The research aimed to discriminate the genus Trifolium using morphological characteristics and surface properties of the leaflet and the seed using scanning electron microscope and anatomical characteristics to be used as criteria and divisional signs to identify those species in the future.Morever, the aim of this study was to document this wild species in the Egyptian flora and to study the possibility to cultivate them as a fodder plants.Assessment of the three wild species in terms of forage quality values was compared with Egyptian clover (T. alexandrinum). The study showed that the wild species have a high content of protein, carbohydrate and crude fiber and ash, as well as the content of elements (N.P.K).The study recommended the possibilities of sowing the wild Trifolium species (alone or intercropping with other forage legumes and grasses) in new broad pasture areas to increase the animal resources in Egypt.