Evaluation of red clover samples by polyembryony characteristic

The objective of the study is to examine red clover bean distichous varieties and to isolate lines with the highest expression of the polyembryony trait for further use in breeding work to increase the seed produc-tivity of varieties. Objectives: to assess the possibility of using the increase in clover seed productivity using selections based on the bean distichous trait; to form breeding material based on selection methods that characterizes the stability of the polyembryony trait. The object of the study is 21 varieties of mid-season red clover and the standard variety Niva. The research work was carried out in 2017–2023 at the Kotlasskaya experimental station, which is located in the southern part of the Arkhangelsk Region. The paper presents studies on the polyembryony trait of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) in competitive variety testing and selection nurseries. All clover samples had the trait of two-seeded plants. The expres-sion of the studied trait is low and amounted to from 0.03 to 1.55 % in absolute value and from 0.04 to 2.90 % in relative value. Analysis of the structure of heads for two-seeded beans showed that the trait is not only inherited, but also accumulates. Using multiple individual selection of plants, work was carried out to create new breeding material to increase seed productivity based on the trait of polyembryony. Geno-types with the highest seed content from two-seeded beans in the fourth generation were obtained: K-17421, K-34525; K-2006, K-1696/2, K-46524 (from 6.8 to 11.4 seeds on average per plant, or 9.0–11.2 %). The obtained breeding material will be used in further breeding work.