The formononetin content in some Polish di- and tetraploid red clover cultivars

Abstract

The concent of formononetin, the predominant estrogen, was analyzed in four cultivars of red clover. Its highest content was found in cv. Jubilatka (tetraploid) - 0,57 % DM, next, in cv. Hruszowska (diploid) - 0,44%, Radyka (tetraploid) - 0,39 % and Skrzeszowicka (diploid) - 0,3 %. High variation from plant to plant was found in all of the analysed cultivars, which makes it possible to select for a low forrmononetin clover population. The content of formononetin in individual plants in two consecutive years was positevely correlated. The content of biochemin A in two cultivars was also analysed employing a semi-quantitative TCL test. It was found that the concent of these two estrogens in individual plants was positively correlated. However, some individual plants containing high ammount of only one estrogen were also found. Because of that in the selection for low-estrogen red clover, after selection of low formononetin plants, an additional test for biochanin A is recomended.