Breeding potential of sweet clover accessions from the VIR collection under the conditions of the North Caucasus
https://doi.org/10.30901/2227-8834-2026-1-o10
Abstract
Background. Sweet clover is a valuable fodder, phytomeliorative, melliferous, and medicinal crop. It is drought-resistant, winter-hardy, salt-tolerant, and has a wide range of distribution. To develop highly productive sweet clover cultivars adapted to the conditions of the North Caucasus, it is necessary to have source material that meets the requirements of breeding.
Materials and methods. Sweet clover accessions from the VIR collection were screened at the Kuban Experiment Station of VIR in accordance with VIR’s guidelines for studying the collection of perennial forage plants and the list of descriptors for the genus Melilotus Mill. The study was focused on the most common and productive species: M. albus Medik., and M. officinalis (L.) Pall., as well as on a number of species promising for breeding: M. dentatus (Waldst. et Kit.) Desf., M. wolgicus Poir., and M. tauricus (M. Bieb.) Ser. Statistical processing of the research results was performed using basic statistics, analysis of variance, correlation and factor analyses.
Results. Sweet clover accessions that exceeded the reference in the yield of green and air-dry biomass, leafiness, and plant height were selected. The factor structure was specified for the variability of traits valuable for breeding. Accessions promising as potential sources of such traits were identified: 1) for green biomass yield, wild M. wolgicus from Hungary (k-40146), and M. albus from Tajikistan (k‑31403) and Israel (k-43714); 2) for air-dry biomass yield, wild M. wolgicus from Hungary (k-40146) and M. albus from Canada (k-1006); 3) for greater plant height, wild M. albus from Canada (k-1006), and cv. ‘Bokros’ from Hungary (k‑30495); 4) for higher leafiness, a wild specimen of M. officinalis from Saratov Province (k-10277).
Conclusion. The assessment of the breeding potential in sweet clover accessions from the VIR collection helped to identify new sources of valuable traits adapted to the conditions of the North Caucasus.
Supporting agencies: The work was carried out within the framework of the state task in accordance with the thematic plan of VIR for Project No. FGEM 2022 0002 “Identifying possibilities in the genetic diversity of leguminous crops to optimize their breeding and diversify uses in various sectors of the national economy”.
About the Authors
Yu. A. Prosvirin
N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Kuban Experiment Station – branch of VIR
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Yuri A. Prosvirin, Senior Researcher, VIR, Kuban Experiment Station – branch of VIR
2 Tsentralnaya St., Botanika Settlem., Gulkevichsky District, Krasnodar Territory 352183, Russia
O. V. Duk
N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources,
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga V. Duk, Cand. Sci. (Agriculture), Leading Specialist, VIR
42, 44 Bolshaya Morskaya Street, St. Petersburg 190000, Russia
V. V. Chumakova
North-Caucasian Federal Scientific Agrarian Center
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vera V. Chumakova, Cand. Sci. (Agriculture), Leading Researcher
49 Nikonova St., Mikhailovsk 356241, Russia
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Review
For citations:
Prosvirin Yu.A., Duk O.V., Chumakova V.V. Breeding potential of sweet clover accessions from the VIR collection under the conditions of the North Caucasus. Proceedings on applied botany, genetics and breeding. 2026;187(1):123-139. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30901/2227-8834-2026-1-o10
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