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Sustainability
Volume 17
Issue 15
10.3390/su17157007
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Genetic Variability and Trait Correlations in Lotus corniculatus L. as a Basis for Sustainable Forage Breeding

by
Cristian Bostan
1,
Nicolae Marinel Horablaga
1,2,
Marius Boldea
3,
Emilian Onișan
4,
Christianna Istrate-Schiller
1,2,
Dorin Rechitean
2,
Luminita Cojocariu
1,2,
Alina Laura Agapie
1,
Adina Horablaga
2,
Ioan Sarac
2,
Sorina Popescu
2,
Petru Rain
1,* and
Ionel Samfira
1,2,*
1
Agricultural Research and Development Station Lovrin, 307250 Lovrin, Romania
2
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I”, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
3
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I”, 300641 Timisoara, Romania
4
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technologies, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I”, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157007 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 17 June 2025 / Revised: 27 July 2025 / Accepted: 28 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Lotus corniculatus L. is a valuable fodder legume, recognized for its ecological adaptability and high potential for production and fodder quality. In this study, 18 genotypes collected from wild flora were analyzed to highlight genetic variability and facilitate the selection of genotypes with superior potential. The collection area was in the western part of Romania and featured a diverse topography, including parts of the Banat Plain, the Banat Hills, and the Southern and Western Carpathians. The genotypes selected from the wild flora were cultivated and evaluated for morpho-productive and forage quality traits, including pod weight, average number of seeds/pods, green mass production, and protein percentage. PCA highlighted the main components explaining the variability, and K-means clustering allowed for the identification of groups of genotypes with similar performances. ANOVA showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) for all traits analyzed. According to the results, genotypes LV-LC-3, LV-LC-4, LV-LC-6, and LV-LC-16 showed high productive potential and were highlighted as the most valuable for advancing in the breeding program. The moderate relationships between traits confirm the importance of integrated selection. The identified genetic variability and selected genotypes support the implementation of effective breeding strategies to obtain high-performance Lotus corniculatus L., adapted to local soil and climate conditions and with a superior forage yield.
Keywords: Lotus corniculatus L.; green biomass production; forage protein; productive potential; plant breeding Lotus corniculatus L.; green biomass production; forage protein; productive potential; plant breeding

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bostan, C.; Horablaga, N.M.; Boldea, M.; Onișan, E.; Istrate-Schiller, C.; Rechitean, D.; Cojocariu, L.; Agapie, A.L.; Horablaga, A.; Sarac, I.; et al. Genetic Variability and Trait Correlations in Lotus corniculatus L. as a Basis for Sustainable Forage Breeding. Sustainability 2025, 17, 7007. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157007

AMA Style

Bostan C, Horablaga NM, Boldea M, Onișan E, Istrate-Schiller C, Rechitean D, Cojocariu L, Agapie AL, Horablaga A, Sarac I, et al. Genetic Variability and Trait Correlations in Lotus corniculatus L. as a Basis for Sustainable Forage Breeding. Sustainability. 2025; 17(15):7007. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157007

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bostan, Cristian, Nicolae Marinel Horablaga, Marius Boldea, Emilian Onișan, Christianna Istrate-Schiller, Dorin Rechitean, Luminita Cojocariu, Alina Laura Agapie, Adina Horablaga, Ioan Sarac, and et al. 2025. "Genetic Variability and Trait Correlations in Lotus corniculatus L. as a Basis for Sustainable Forage Breeding" Sustainability 17, no. 15: 7007. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157007

APA Style

Bostan, C., Horablaga, N. M., Boldea, M., Onișan, E., Istrate-Schiller, C., Rechitean, D., Cojocariu, L., Agapie, A. L., Horablaga, A., Sarac, I., Popescu, S., Rain, P., & Samfira, I. (2025). Genetic Variability and Trait Correlations in Lotus corniculatus L. as a Basis for Sustainable Forage Breeding. Sustainability, 17(15), 7007. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157007

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