Objectives and approaches in the breeding of perennial legumes for use in temporary pasturelands

Abstract

Legumes are the major element of grassland ecosystem, on which the forage quality depends. Breeding of pasture varieties in perennial legumes firstly aims at achieving tolerance and persistence of the legume component in the pasture. In species having low natural grazing tolerance (lucerne and red clover) it is necessary to conduct breeding for biological, morphological and physiological characteristics, directly related to grazing tolerance. In the species having high grazing tolerance (white clover, birds foot trefoil, sainfoin), the pasture persistence is considered as a function of particular morphological characteristics, adaptive potential and stress tolerance. The indirect breeding for pasture persistence includes also breeding for competitive ability and co-adaptivity with grass pasture species adapted to the region and practices of cultivation, as well as breeding for improved nodulation and nitrogen fixation as an important element of the adaptive ability. The breeding for grazing tolerance and persistence is concentrated also on the mechanisms of self-maintenance of the legumes in the pasture-vegetative reproduction, spread and self-seeding. Many breeding programmes are concentrated also on morphology providing better intake by the animals, on main and specific quality characteristics, on anti-nutrient factors, on adaptation to systems and practices of pasture establishment and use. The breeding strategy using germplasm consolidated through the mechanisms of specific adaptation to unfavourable or specific agro-ecological conditions and influencesi.e. breeding through ecotypic selection is considered to be the most efficient for grazing purposes. The interactions in the system: pasture species-companion species in the pasture herbaceous community-grazing animals (kind, category, grazing style and behaviourial reactions) and the applied regime of use of the pasture are direct and strong. These interactions are of essential importance in genotypic differentiation of the pasture ecotypes. The adaptive variability of the pasture ecotypes is used directly, as well as in recombination breeding.

Role of Osmotic Regulation and Cryoprotectant Substances in the Freezing Tolerance of Alfalfa in Cold, Dry Conditions

“…Northern China not only has cold winters, but also a dry and windy climate, which causes alfalfa to suffer from a combination of cold and drought stress from winter to early spring. Previous studies have shown that favorable moisture conditions in winter are conducive to the successful overwintering of forage (Naydenova et al, 2013). W ater has a high heat capacity and thermal conductivity.…”

Transcriptome analysis reveals major transcriptional changes during regrowth after mowing of red clover (Trifolium pratense)

“…Unfortunately, the morphological investigations of several T. pratense populations showed a correlation of persistency with non-favorable traits, like small plant size and prostrate growth habit [17]. Moreover, most T. pratense cultivars or accessions are locally adapted and require their specific local conditions to show the favored traits [18,19], which decreases the stability for individual traits in breeding efforts [20]. T. pratense exhibits significant intraspecific variation due to high intrapopulation genetic diversity, thus, persistence and performance in response to mowing or cutting depends on the variety as well as on the developmental stage at the moment of damage [21][22][23][24].…”

Transcriptome analysis reveals major transcriptional changes during regrowth after mowing of red clover (Trifolium pratense)

“…Unfortunately, the morphological investigations of several T. pratense populations showed a correlation of persistency with non-favorable traits, like small plant size and prostrate growth habit [17]. Moreover, most T. pratense cultivars or accessions are locally adapted and require their speci c local conditions to show the favored traits [18,19], which decreases the stability for individual traits in breeding efforts [20]. T. pratense exhibits signi cant intraspeci c variation due to high intrapopulation genetic diversity, thus, persistence and performance in response to mowing or cutting depends on the variety as well as on the developmental stage at the moment of damage [21][22][23][24].…”