Open AccessCoumestrol content in alfalfabreeding populations
Author(s) -
Marijana Tucak,
Tihomir Čupić,
Daniela Horvat,
Goran Krizmanić,
Marija Ravlić
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
agricultural science and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2312-3389
pISSN - 2312-3370
DOI - 10.15407/agrisp7.03.025
Subject(s) - coumestrol , population , zoology , biology , forage , agronomy , cultivar , phytoestrogens , medicine , genetics , estrogen , environmental health
Aim. Alfalfa is a rich source of phytoestrogens, among them coumestrol which shows strong estrogenic activity thatcan adversely affect the health of domestic animals. The aim of the study was to determine the variation in coumestrolcontent in leaves of alfalfa breeding populations, present in the breeding program of Agricultural Institute Osijek inCroatia. Method. Twelve alfalfa populations were selected based on their high forage yield and good persistence.Coumestrol was extracted using acidifi ed methanol as an organic solvent from lyophilized and ground alfalfa leaves,while for detection and quantifi cation was used. Results. Signifi cant differences were observed between the studiedpopulations with average coumestrol content of 435.67 mg/kg of dry matter (DM). The highest content of coumestrolwas determined in breeding population Rs-21 (619.53 mg/kg of DM). Conclusions. Populations Rs-33 and Rs-20 hadthe lowest coumestrol content (82.18 and 86.58 mg/kg, respectively) and present a potential breeding source for creat-ing new contemporary cultivars with decreased coumestrol content