‘Grasslands HF1’ red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)—a cultivar bred for isoflavone content

Abstract

‘Grasslands HF1’ red clover was bred from the tetraploid cultivar ‘Grasslands Pawera’, with selection aimed at increasing the concentration of the isoflavone group, formononetin plus its glyco‐side ononin. Selection for two generations resulted in the concentration in leaves being raised to about 50% above that of ‘Pawera’, when harvested from sown rows. The level of total isoflavones increased by about 17%. The levels of three other isoflavone groups were not changed significantly during the selection of ‘HF1’ from ‘Pawera’. However, comparisons with the cultivar ‘Grasslands G27’ bred earlier from ‘Pawera’ for decreased level of formononetin, showed larger and more significant differences between these two extreme cultivars in the levels of most isoflavones.