During this study, the content of crude protein content in seeds of 23 wild red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) populations, collected in East part of Macedonia, district Probistip, was assessed. On the basis of the average crude protein content, the collected accessions were divided into 3 groups with the crude protein content ≥ 15.0% (MKD01527, MKD01530, MKD01531, MKD01539, MKD01540, MKD01542, MKD01543); ≥ 16.0% (MKD01525, MKD01528, MKD01529, MKD0538, MKD01541, MKD01553, MKD01554, MKD01560) and ≥ 17.0% (MKD01536, MKD01537, MKD01544). The highest crude protein content of 17.3% was determined for population MKD01535 and the lowest (14.4 %) for MKD01526.
Information on protein content, as an indicator of wild red clover quality, could be used as a selection tool for identifying accessions to be included in red clover breeding programs.