Population structure of red clover ecotypes collected from Europe and Asia

Abstract

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a highly adaptable species, with a wide geographic distribution. At the genetic level, wild ecotypes possess high variability, which enables them to adapt rapidly to diverse environments. This variation can be identified, via molecular techniques, and used to determine the differences between populations that may otherwise be indistinguishable. The results presented here are part of a wider study undertaken with a view to assess the available genetic diversity and use it to facilitate future introgression of useful traits into red clover breeding populations.