The Clover Germplasm Center consists of seeds of wild clovers (Genus Trifolium) comprising about 1900 accessions of 205 species. It also includes genetic and breeding stocks of red clover (T. pratense), white clover (T. repens), kura clover (T. ambiguum), crimson clover (T. incarnatum), and zigzag clover (T. medium).

The CGC was initiated by N.L. Taylor in 1953 when a world-wide collection of seeds of Trifolium began to be assembled. The collection is the result of collections in many countries in three centers of diversity; Eurasia, Africa and the Americas.
The CGC unit is a part of the Department of Agronomy, Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, and is cooperative with the US National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS).

Germplasm Acquisition

Seeds of Trifolium species are acquired by exchange among gene banks and collegues engaged in Trifolium research as well as by NPGS sponsored plant explorations. Genetic and breeding stocks are the result of 50 years of investigations at the University of Kentucky and by contributions from investigators who wish to make stocks available for further research.

Stock maintenance

All stocks are maintained under cold storage (-5 to -15C) to insure long-term viability. Self-pollinated stocks usually are regenerated in insect-proof greenhouses and cross-pollinated stocks under isolation under field conditions in the presence of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and/or bumble bees (Bombus spp). Subsamples of species accessions have been deposited in the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Ft Collins, CO and may be available from Pullman, WA (W-6) for the perennials and Griffin, GA (S-9) for the annuals.

Seed Distribution

Seeds stocks may be distributed gratis (depending upon availability) to individuals interested in Trifolium. Generally, only small amounts of seed (up to 100) are available. Submit requests from the following stock list.

Literature

Information concerning characteristics and origins of species and genetic and breeding stocks are available from the list of references.