Purpose of the project:

 

• During the research, a young scientist from the Bc Institute, (the main contributor in the proposed project) will be educated and trained for scientific work, through the preparation of his doctoral dissertation.

 

• In this way a long term collaboration and transfer of knowledge between university and private company in the domain of plant breeding and seed production will be continued.

 

Objectives of the project:

 

1. To perform morphological characterization (description) of local red clover populations using descriptors for red clover.

2. To analyse variability within and among local populations of red slover and identify the existence of different gene-pools using molecular markers.

3. To determine the level of divergence between local populations and commercial varieties of red clover on the basis of morphological traits and molecular markers.

4. To assess the value of populations included into the study for development of breeding populations.

 

 

The long-term goal of the project will result in the use of selected germplasm in future breeding programs

 

•  for the development of new breeding populations which will be used to create new varieties for providing high-quality variety assortment which is missing today, especially in the areas of organized livestock production, i.e. production of milk, and

 

•  for scientific research within the breeding program on red clover.