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Evidence from numerous feeding studies with cows indicates that excessive ruminal protein degradation may be the most limiting nutritional factor in higher-quality temperature legume forages such as alfalfa and clover (Barry and McNabb, 1999). Condensed tannins (CT), found in some minor forage legumes, are known to decrease protein degradation. However, genes involved in CT biosynthesis are still largely unidentified. Since Lotus corniculatus is an in vitro highly responsive species and it does accumulate CT in edible tissues, it represents an invaluable legume model species to gain information on regulatory mechanisms leading to CT biosynthesis. |
