〔植探報Vol. 23 : 125 ～ 135，2007〕

Collaborative Exploration and Collection of Forage Legume
Genetic Resources in the Mountainous Areas of Bulgaria
in 2006．
Kenji OKUMURA1), Taku HAYASHI2), Yana GUTEVA3)
and Tsvetoslay MIHOVSKY4)
1)National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region , Hitsujigaoka 1, Toyohira,Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-8555, Japan
2)Konsen Agricultural Experiment Station , Asahigaoka 7, Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido,
086-1135, Japan
3)Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources , Bulgaria, 2 Drouzba Str., 4122 Sadovo,
Plovdiv, Bulgaria4)Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture , 281 Vasil Levski Str.,
5600 Troyan, Bulgaria

Summary
A program for the exploration and collection of forage legume genetic resources was
carried out in Bulgaria by a collaborative team from two Japanese institutes, the National
Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region (NARCH) and the Konsen Agricultural
Experiment Station (KAES), and two Bulgarian institutes, the Research Institute of Mountain
Stockbreeding and Agriculture (RIMSA) and the Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources(RIPGR), from 21 July to 2 August 2006. Bulgaria is rich in the genetic resources of forage
crops since it lies close to their genetic center, the Mediterranean region, and has diverse
climate conditions. The aim of this program was to increase the genetic variation of forage
crops, especially Trifolium species, due to their adaptability to severe environmental conditions
including low temperature and acidic soil, by collecting them in mountainous regions. We
collected the seeds of forage species, mainly Trifolium species, in the Balkan, Strandza, Sakar,
Rodopi, and Rila-Pirin mountain areas. A total of 148 seed accessions of forage legume andgrass species were collected at 64 sites. In the accessions, 52 of T. pratense and 53 of T. repens
were included.
Introduction
Hokkaido is located in the northernmost part of Japan, extending from approximately 41 to
45 degrees latitude north. In comparison with the main island of Japan, the climate in Hokkaido
is dry and cool in summer and cold and snowy in winter. Its cool climate and vast land area
have made dairy farming one of Hokkaido’s most important industries. More than 80% of Japan’s pasture area is in Hokkaido, with the total amount of grassland in Japan being 0.64 million ha- 125 -

while that of Hokkaido is 0.53 million ha. For this reason we have concentrated the breeding
programs of forage legumes and grasses in this area.
Red clover is one of the most important forage legume species in Hokkaido since it was
introduced more than one hundred years ago from the United States and European countries.
We have developed new cultivars from these introduced cultivars and ecotypes derived fromthem. This means Japan has no native population or relatives of red clover. Thus, an effort isneeded to introduce diverse genetic resources through international collaboration in order tofurther improve of useful characters.
We have currently been offered the opportunity to collaborate with a Bulgarian research
institute, the Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture (RIMSA). Bulgaria
is located at a latitude of between 41 and 44 degrees, which is almost the same as that of
Hokkaido. The climate of Bulgaria is diverse, ranging from continental to Mediterranean zones.
One third of its land is mountainous, and stockbreeding has been practiced in the pastures ofthese mountainous areas since the prehistoric era. In these pastures there exist many kinds offorage grass and legume species, especially Trifolium species.
The aim of this exploration in Bulgaria was to collect genetic resources of Trifolium andother forage species which are rich in species and genetic diversity. In the last exploration we
had tried to collect seeds of forage legumes in flat to low mountain regions of northeastern
1)

Bulgaria, but the season was a little earlier than fully matured . In this program we focused ourcollection efforts especially on mountainous areas because in such areas we expected to findmaterials which are resistant to severe environmental conditions including low temperature andacidic soil, and have strong persistence.
Methods
We collected seeds of forage species in the Balkan, Strandza, Sakar, Rodopi, and Rila-Pirin
mountains from July 21 to August 2 in 2006 (Figs. 1, 2). The collection season was determinedbased on information provided by the Bulgarian institutes regarding when the mature seedsof T. pratense and T. repens could be collected in the central Balkan mountains. During this
exploration we searched the collection sites based on information from the RIMSA and RIPGR orfrom interviews with the inhabitants of these mountainous areas.
We gathered the mature seeds of forage legumes as well as grasses from large numbers ofplants throughout the entire area of each site. In addition, we gathered basic geographical data
including altitude, latitude, longitude, and so on for registration of passport data information.
The collected seeds were divided into two subsets: one for the Bulgarian institutes andanother for the Japanese Genebank. After cleaning and quarantine tests at the RIPGR, the seeds
were sent to NARCH in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and quarantined again at the Sapporo Branch of the
Yokohama Plant Protection Station. We will start a field evaluation at both NARCH and KAES
and seed multiplication at NARCH in 2007.
Results
We collected 148 seed accessions of forage legume and grass species at 64 sites inmountainous areas in Bulgaria (Tables 1, 2). The accessions included at least 20 species,- 126 -

ROMANIA
44N
100km

BURGALIASERBIA&MONTENEGRO

Troyan (RIMSA)

7/19

Sofia

7/20-24

BLACK
8/3
7/26

8/1

Topolovgrad

Bulgari

Sadavo(RIPGR)

Bansko

42N

SEA

7/27

7/25

Plovdiv

8/2
Devin

MACEDONIA

7/30

Smolyan

7/31

Ivailovgrad

TURKEY

7/29
7/28

GREECE
24E

26E

28E

Fig. 1. Exploration route
routeand
andschedule
scheduleininBulgaria
Bulgariainin2006
2006

Altitude 0-500

Altitude 751-1000

Altitude 501-750

Altitude 1001-

43

Balkan mountains
Rila-Pirin mountains

42

Starandzha mountains

Rodopi mountains

Sakar mountains

41
23

24

26

25

Fig. 2. Collection sites and their geography in Bulgaria in 2006

27

Fig. 2. Collection sites and their geography in Bulgaria in 2006
- 127 -

28

including red clover (T. pratense ), white clover (T. repens ), and other Trifolium species.
The main grass species were Phleum pratense , Lolium perenne , Festuca pratensis ,Arrhenatherum elatius , Dactylis glomerata , and Festuca rubra . We collected Arrhenatherum
elatius which is called “French ryegrass” by Bulgarians and has not been cultivated in Japan. We
will evaluate the performance of this species in Hokkaido because it shows strong persistence
and productivity in Bulgaria. Regarding legumes except Trifolium , we collected the seedsof Onobrychis viciifolia , Medicago polymorpha , M. minima , and Lotus corniculatus . Lotus

corniculatus dominates and is an important forage legume in Balkan mountain areas. We also
found two interesting species, Galega officinalis and Astragalus cicer , in these areas, but they did
not mature.
In the mountainous areas we examined, grasslands are used mainly as pastures where
forage is harvested for hay production at first cutting, then grazed. Most of meadows andpastures consist of native species without artificial seeding with modern cultivars. Scythes
are used for cutting, and gathering hay is also carried out manually. Basic fertilizer has not2)

been applied to the pastures in these areas, and the pH of the soil was quite low . Thus, their
management and environmental conditions are quite different from those in Hokkaido.
The basic features of these areas are as follows.
a. Balkan mountains
The altitude of this area ranges from around 500 m near Troyan to more than 1,000 m in thesouth. The growing stage of red and white clovers varies from the full-flowered to mature seedstages. We could collect the seeds of both species in most of the sites. T. medium dominatedover T. pratense on the pastures’ slopes and on the road sides at some sites. We found G.

officinalis and A. cicer only in this area.
b. Sakar and Strandzha mountains
The Strandzha area has a relative low altitude of 200-300 m and is affected by theMediterranean climate. In late July most forage plants die because of the hot and dry conditions.
Thus it was difficult to find seeds and identify their species. In contrast, Site 0623 in the Sakar
area has a slightly higher altitude and a milder climate than those of the Starandzha area. Herewe collected white clover and annual Medicago species as well as grass species.
c. Rodopi mountains
The Rodopi mountains are huge areas. The eastern side of this area is affected by theMediterranean climate. These lands were too dry to collect red clover seeds in midsummer.
As we traveled west the area gained altitude. In the higher altitude area near Smolyan thegrowth stage of T. prantese was in full flower, allowing us to more easily gather enough seeds
in contrast to the lower areas of the Western Rodopi. We found many species of Trifolium . We
collected the seeds of T. michelianum only at one site, Site 0652, near Yagodina. This species isannual and shows strong winter-hardiness and spring growth.

- 128 -

d. Pirin and Rila mountains
We did not have a chance to explore the higher altitudes of these mountains, but did collectspecimens at the base of these mountainous areas, at one site in the Pirin mountains and twosites in the Rila mountains.
Conclusion
The genus Trifolium is comprised of 237 species, including many important forage
3)

legumes . Bulgaria is close to the Mediterranean Sea which is a center of this genus, and4)harbors 60 of its species . Fourteen species, 23 % of the genus’ total number, are perennial.
In the present study we focused on the species T. pratense and T. repens which are perennial
species, and collected 52 and 53 seed accessions, respectively. We collected 10 more species,
6 of which are perennial. We could not collect the seeds of some perennial species including T.

badium which is tolerant to water logging. In addition there are many annual species in Bulgaria.
We succeeded in collecting T. michelianum which is a winter annual and has the potential to be
used as a winter cover crop in northern Japan.
In light of the native diversity of climate and ecological conditions, the populations of eachcollection site could have specific useful characteristics such as winter hardiness, acidic soil
tolerance, and so on. We will begin a field evaluation program in 2007 in Hokkaido. In 2006
we also created a MOU between RIMSA and NARCH for “the improvement of environmental
adaptability in forage crops by exchange of cultivars and mutual evaluation.” Continuous
collaboration with the Bulgarian institutes concerning the continued collection of genetic
resources, their evaluation, information exchanges, and publication of the results will be needed
for the further genetic improvement of forage crops.
Acknowledgements
This exploration and collection program in Bulgaria was carried out with the collaborationof two Bulgarian institutes: the Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture(RIMSA) and the Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (RIPGR). We would like toexpress our sincere appreciation to their two Directors, Dr. Martin Todorov, RIMSA, and Dr. Lilia
I. Krasteva, RIPGR, for arranging the collaboration. Drs. Makoto Kawase and Kazuto Shirata,
and Mr. Keisuke Tanaka were also helpful in arranging and supporting the program. Dr. Sika
D. Stoyanova, Director of the National Genebank, also assisted in the seed quarantine and theprocedure for material transfer. We wish to express our thanks to them and to other members
involved in the program at RIMSA and RIPGRI. This project was funded by the Genebank Projectof the National Institute of Agrobiological Science, Japan.
References
1) Kolchakov, I., S. Rousseva, B. Beorgiev and D. Stoychev (2005) Soil survey and soil mappingin Bulgaria. European Soil Bureau. Res. Rep. No 9: 83-87.
2) Shamov, D., Y. Guteva, P. Tomov, M. Kanbe and M. Gau (2000) Collecting wild forage species
in the northeastern region of Bulgaria. PGR Newsletter 122:44-45.
3) Zohary, M. and D. Heller (1984) The genus Trifolium . The Israel Academy of Science and- 129 -

Humanities, Jerusalem, Israel.
4) Jordanov, D. (1976) Flora Republic Popularis Bulgaricae VI. Aedibus Academiae Scientiarum
Bulgaricae. Sofia, Bulgaria.
和文摘要ブルガリアでは有史以前から牧畜が営まれ，多種多様な牧草種が利用されてきている．また標
高 1500 ｍを超える山間地でも牧草が利用されており，多様性に富んだ牧草遺伝資源を有するとされている．そこで，（独）農業生物資源研究所のジ－ンバンク事業の一環として，不良環境耐性等に優れる遺伝資源の集積を目的に，山岳地帯を中心にマメ科牧草，とくにクローバ類を中心に探索収集を実施した．
探索収集は 2006 年７月 21 日から８月２日まで，ブルガリアの植物遺伝資源研究所 (RIPGR)
ならびに山地家畜育種・農業研究所 (RIMSA) の両機関と共同で探索収集を実施した．収集地域
は大きく分けて，標高 500 ～ 800m 程度の中標高で気候が穏やかなバルカン山脈中央部，地中海性気候で夏期には高温干ばつとなるサカールおよびストランジャ山地など南東部，ならびに標高 1000m を超える高標高のロドピおよびピリン・リラ山地などトルコ・ギリシア国境に近い南部の４地域である．収集地は草地を対象として，地点毎に可能な限り広い面積から種子を採集した．また，緯度，経度，標高，植生，開花登熟のステージ，利用法などの情報を合わせて記録した．
今回の収集時期は，南東部では夏期の干ばつで既に多くの牧草は枯れ上がってやや遅く，一方，
南部高標高地では開花盛期でやや早すぎたものの，多くの地点で採種が実施できた．収集場所の多くは現在も利用されている採草地や放牧地および耕作放棄地であり，全て造成播種を行っていない自生の草地であった．収集点数は，マメ科牧草ではアカクローバ 52 点，シロクローバ 53 点，
その他の Trifolium 属を含むマメ科牧草 14 種 21 点，（未同定種を除く），イネ科牧草ではペレ
ニアルライグラス 10 点，オーチャードグラスやフェスク類など計 8 点であった．ブルガリアの土壌の特徴は pH が 5 以下の強酸性で生産性が低く，緯度は北海道と同程度であるが標高や気象
条件は変異に富み，多様なエコタイプを形成している可能性がある．そこで，今後これらの収集材料を活用するために，北海道における特性評価試験を 2007 年より開始する．

- 130 -

Table 1. The list of accessions and species
Species

No. accessions

Trifolium species

Species

No. accessions

Forage legume and their relatives

Trifolium pratense L.

52

Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.

1

Trifolium repens L.

53

Medicago polymorpha L.

1

Trifolium hybridum L.

1

Medicago minima (L.) Bart.

1

Trifolium medium L.

3

Lotus corniculatus L.

2

Trifolium montana L.

1

Trifolium incarnatum L.

1

Forage grass species

Trifolium heldreichianum Hausskn.

2

Lolium perenne L.

10

Trifolium alpestre L.

2

Festuca pratensis Huds.

2

Trifolium spadiceum L.

1

Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) Beauv.

2

Trifolium aureum Poll.

1

Dactyris glomerata L.

4

Trifolium pannonicum Jacq.

3

Trifolium michelianum Savi

1

Trifolium spp.

3

Number of Trifolium accesssions

124

Total of all accessions148- 131 -

Table 2. List of collection site and species
Collection

Date

Species*

Usage- 132 -

Area

Altitude (m)Gorno Pavlikene

Balkan mountain range

388

N 43 °05 ′39.8 ″E 24 °47 ' 08.9 ''between G. Pavlikene and Kukrina

Balkan mountain range

485

N 43 °06 ′33.0 ″E 24 °50 ' 11.0 ''meadow

KukrinaBalkan mountain range488

N 43 °06 ′58.6 ″E 24 °52 ' 02.0 ''1,2

meadow

Malinovo

Balkan mountain range475

N 43 °02 ′09.3 ″E 24 °52 ' 40.1 ''7/22/2006

1,2,4,5meadow

Belish, Radevska

Balkan mountain range402

N 42 °55 ′40.7 ″E 24 °43 ' 09.5 ''7/22/2006

1,5,7,8,12

road side

Margatina

Balkan mountain range

597

N 42 °56 ′19.4 ″E 24 °46 ' 29.5 ''0607

7/22/2006

1,2

meadow

Zlatesko (near Margatina)

Balkan mountain range

580

N 42 °55 ′25.7 ″E 24 °47 ' 03.2 ''0608

7/22/2006

1,2

meadow

Gumostnik

Balkan mountain range422

N 42 °55 ′08.8 ″E 24 °50 ' 21.0 ''0609

7/22/2006

1,2

abandoned

Lakarevo

Balkan mountain range

688

N 42 °55 ′50.5 ″E 24 °52 ' 43.4 ''0610

7/22/2006

1,2,6

meadow

Debnevo

Balkan mountain range442

N 42 °57 ′41.8 ″E 24 °47 ' 53.7 ''0611

7/23/2006

1,2

abandoned

Zla Reka

Balkan mountain range

461

N 42 °57 ′41.5 ″E 24 °46 ' 13.6 ''0612

7/23/2006

1,2,6

pastureRadina Livada Novo Selo

Balkan mountain range

535

N 42 °50 ′40.0 ″E 24 °53 ' 38.5 ''0613

7/23/2006

1,2,6

meadow

Marinska Vidima

Balkan mountain range

566

N 42 °49 ′25.2 ″E 24 °54 ' 30.9 ''0614

7/24/2006

1,2,10abandoned

Haidusko Sbriste

Balkan mountain range

597

N 42 °51 ′20.6 ″E 24 °39 ' 36.3 ''0615

7/24/2006

1,2

meadowroad to Bekleme I

Balkan mountain range

1041

N 42 °46 ′49.1 ″E 24 °58 ' 10.0 ''0616

7/24/2006

1,2

wild

road to Bekleme II

Balkan mountain range

1079

N 42 °48 ′34.9 ″E 24 °38 ' 25.5 ''0617

7/24/2006

1,2,9

wild

BeklemeBalkan mountain range

1256

N 42 °43 ′53.1 ″E 24 °37 ' 40.0 ''0618

7/24/20061

wild

Tchutchul (Below the pass)

Balkan mountain range1414

N 42 °46 ′57.9 ″E 24 °37 ' 23.3 ''0619

7/24/2006

1,2

road side

Tchutchul cottage

Balkan mountain range

1390

N 42 °47 ′03.0 ″E 24 °40 ' 48.2 ''0620

7/24/2006

2

road side

between Tchutchul and the pass

Balkan mountain range

1542

N 42 °46 ′44.0 ″E 24 °40 ' 44.2 ''0621

7/24/2006

1,2

wild

Parking to the Monument (Troyan pass) Balkan mountain range

1528

N 42 °46 ′43.3 ″E 24 °36 ' 34.8 ''0622

7/26/2006

2

road side

30km to Topolovgrad

Sakar mountains

319

N 42 °00 ′46.9 ″E 26 °03 ' 09.0 ''0623

7/26/2006

2,6,10,19,20,21 road side

Sakar Hotel

Sakar mountains

416

N 42 °00 ′44.8 ″E 26 °03 ' 08.7 ''0624

7/27/2006

6

meadownear Goryamo Krushevo

Strandzha mountains

132

N 42 °09 ′04.7 ″E 26 °42 ' 04.6 ''0625

7/27/2006

1

meadownear Fakiya

Strandzha mountains

193

N 42 °09 ′05.8 ″E 27 °05 ' 50.9 ''site number
0601

7/21/2006

1

meadow

0602

7/21/2006

1,2

meadow

0603

7/21/2006

1,2,4,60604

7/21/2006

0605
0606

Near Town/Village

LatitudeLongitude

0626

7/27/2006

21

wild

near Fakiya (Yabokovo)(Close to Site25) Strandzha mountains

213

N 42 °09 ′51.2 ″E 27 °06 ' 05.2 ''0627

7/27/20062

wild

Bulgari

Strandzha mountains

313

N 42 °05 ′34.3 ″E 27 °41 ' 39.1 ''0628

7/27/2006

1,2

road side

near Byala voda

Strandzha mountains

348

N 42 °11 ′18.4 ″E 27 °24 ' 43.9 ''0629

7/28/200621

meadow

DebovechRodopi mountains

189

N 41 °39 ′50.9 ″E 25 °59 ' 49.6 ''0630

7/28/2006

10

road side

after Debovech

Rodopi mountains

402

N 41 °37 ′38.7 ″E 26 °01 ' 33.3 ''0631

7/28/2006

2,11

road side

3km to Felezino

Rodopi mountains

546

N 41 °30 ′02.1 ″E 25 °56 ' 43.0 ''0632

7/28/2006

2

wild

Perunika

Rodopi mountains

675

N 41 °31 ′18.6 ″E 25 °47 ' 27.5 ''0633

7/28/2006

1

road side

Belibrezi(Kardzali-Ardino)

Rodopi mountains

928

N 41 °34 ′26.7 ″E 25 °09 ' 58.2 ''0634

7/28/2006

2

road side

Hotel detorina

Rodopi mountains

835

N 41 °34 ′35.9 ″E 25 °09 ' 18.1 ''Table 2. (Continued).
Collection site

Date

Species*

Usage

Near Town/Village

Area

Altitude (m)LatitudeLongitude

umber
0635

7/29/2006

1

meadow

Devil's bridge(10km from Ardino)

Rodopi mountains

441

N 41 °37 ′13.9 ″E 25 °06 ' 53.9 ''0636

7/29/2006

2

pasturebetween Ardino and Devil's bridge

Rodopi mountains

584

N 41 °36 ′57.5 ″E 25 °07 ' 27.9 ''0637

7/29/2006

1,2

wild

Saralia (Near Ardino)

Rodopi mountains

582

N 41 °33 ′28.8 ″E 25 °02 ' 58.5 ''0638

7/29/2006

1,2

meadow

Ravnishte (Near Smolyan)

Rodopi mountains

679

N 41 °32 ′26.1 ″E 24 °54 ' 35.1 ''0639

7/29/2006

1,2

meadow

Monasteri (south of Smolyan)

Rodopi mountains

1107

N 41 °32 ′42.9 ″E 24 °44 ' 27.2 ''0640

7/29/2006

1,2

meadow

Chokmanovo

Rodopi mountains

990

N 41 °31 ′11.7 ″E 24 °43 ' 43.3 ''0641

7/29/2006

1,2

abandoned

Gorna Arda(Mogilitza, near bordar)

Rodopi mountains

1046

N 41 °27 ′22.4 ″E 24 °37 ' 32.8 ''0642

7/30/2006

1,2

wild

Smolyan Lakes

Rodopi mountains

1496

N 41 °37 ′15.8 ″E 24 °40 ' 41.8 ''0643

7/30/2006

1,2,12,13

wild

Pomporovo

Rodopi mountains

1625

N 41 °37 ′52.6 ″E 24 °42 ' 07.2 ''0644

7/30/2006

1,2,15wild

ProgledRodopi mountains

1396

N 41 °40 ′42.2 ″E 24 °43 ' 00.9 ''0645

7/30/2006

1,2,14,15

meadow

Rojen

Rodopi mountains

1941

N 41 °41 ′18.8 ″E 24 °44 ' 37.9 ''0646

7/30/2006

1,2,3,6

meadow

Stoikite

Rodopi mountains

1488

N 41 °38 ′35.9 ″E 24 °38 ' 34.3 ''- 133 -

0647

7/30/2006

1,2,9,15,17,18

wild

Gela

Rodopi mountains

1516

N 41 °38 ′29.4 ″E 24 °34 ' 07.2 ''0648

7/31/2006

1,2,15

meadow

Solishta

Rodopi mountains

1323

N 41 °38 ′55.4 ″E 24 °35 ' 35.6 ''0649

7/31/2006

1,11

wild

before Trigrad

Rodopi mountains

941

N 41 °39 ′18.9 ″E 24 °22 ' 53.0 ''0650

7/31/2006

1,2

wild

after Trigrad

Rodopi mountains

1219

N 41 °35 ′05.4 ″E 24 °23 ' 35.6 ''0651

7/31/2006

1,2

meadow

between Trigrad and Yagodina

Rodopi mountains

1336

N 41 °37 ′23.6 ″E 24 °22 ' 25.3 ''0652

7/31/2006

1,2,16

meadow

Yagodina

Rodopi mountains

1233

N 41 °37 ′43.7 ″E 24 °22 ' 11.2 ''0653

8/1/2006

1,2,6

road side

near Borino

Rodopi mountains

1072

N 41 °40 ′40.3 ″E 24 °20 ' 00.4 ''0654

8/1/2006

1,2,10road side

10km from Borino

Rodopi mountains

1252

N 41 °39 ′05.0 ″E 24 °14 ' 52.0 ''0655

8/1/2006

1,2

road side

DospatRodopi mountains

1188

N 41 °38 ′16.8 ″E 24 °09 ' 14.4 ''0656

8/1/2006

1,2

meadow

Satovcha

Rodopi mountains

1230

N 41 °37 ′56.1 ″E 24 °01 ' 22.1 ''0657

8/1/2006

1,2,6

meadow

Gotze Delchev

Rodopi mountains

542

N 41 °36 ′44.0 ″E 23 °44 ' 26.4 ''0658

8/1/2006

1,2,6

road side

Eleshnitza

Pirin mountains

710

N 41 °49 ′55.8 ″E 23 °37 ' 07.8 ''0659

8/1/2006

1,2,5

wild

between Beliza and Semkovo

Rila mountains

936

N 41 °58 ′49.3 ″E 23 °31 ' 54.0 ''0660

8/1/2006

1

wild

Semkovo

Rila mountains

1588

N 42 °02 ′34.5 ″E 23 °31 ' 27.5 ''0661

8/2/2006

1,2

wild

5km to Yundola (Ablalovo)

Rodopi mountains

1252

N 42 °02 ′20.7 ″E 23 °49 ' 01.7 ''0662

8/2/2006

1,2

meadow

YundolaRodopi mountains

1378

N 42 °04 ′05.7 ″E 23 °51 ' 16.9 ''0663

8/2/2006

1,2

wild

Tsigov Tchark

Rodopi mountains

1134

N 41 °57 ′13.2 ″E 24 °09 ' 00.1 ''0664

8/2/2006

1,2,18meadow

Batak

Rodopi mountains

1013

N 41 °56 ′49.8 ″E 24 °14 ' 00.0 ''*Species, 1:Trifolium prantense , 2:T.repens , 3:T. hybridum , 4:Lotus corniculatus , 5:T. medium , 6:Lolium perenne , 7:T. montana , 8:T. incarnata , 9:Arrhenatherum elatius , 10:Dactyris glomerata ,11:T. heldreichianum , 12:T. alpestre , 13:T. spadiceum , 14:T. aureum , 15:T. pannonicum , 16:T. michelianum , 17:Onobrychis viciifolia , 18:Festuca pratensis , 19:Medicago polymorpha , 20:M.

minima , 21:T . spp

Photo 1. Pasture of the site No. 0601 near

Photo 2. Pasture of the site No. 0629 near

Gorno Pavlikene in the Balkan mountain area

Debovech in the East Rodopi mountain area

（Flowering of T. pratense ).

（T . spp.).

A

B

C

D

Photo 3. Pasture of the site No.0652 near

Photo 4. Diversity of genus Trifolium in

Yogodina in the West Rodopi mountain area

Bulgaria（A: T. fragiferum , B: T. pannonicum ,（T. michelianum ).

C: T. medium , D: T. aureum).

A

Photo 5. Harvesting the hay on a meadow in

Photo 6. Member of the team (Drs. T. Hayashi,

the Rodopi mountain area.

K. Okumura, Y. Guteva and T. Mihovsky).

- 135 -