Cryopreservation of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Clovers (Trifolium Species)

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and clovers (white clover — Trifolium repens L. and red clover — Trifolium pratense L.) are the most important agronomic forage legumes and soil improvement crops in the temperate areas of the world. They are perennial, and are cultivated for their vegetable matter, fresh or preserved, which is used as feed for animals. The origin of alfalfa is in Iran (see Bolton et al. 1972), and of red and white clovers in Europe. Economically, white clover is more important than red clover. White clover is well adapted to cooler climates and to poor soils. Medicago and Trifolium species are the most useful culture as forage grasses, because their pasture value is much more important than that of red clover (after McCoy and Walker 1984; Phillips and Collins 1984).KeywordsWhite CloverPlant Cell CultureCallus CellForage LegumeCicer ArietinumThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.