It is pollinated by insect vectors, usually bees. The keel is a hollow petal with a small opening at the top that encloses the sexual column. It must be tripped for pollination to occur. When the keel is depressed by the bee, sticky pollen is squeezed out onto the underside of the bee.
Extreme uniformity is considered undesirable in most cultivars.
BFT breeders generally focus on increasing the longevity of the stand, rather than concerning themselves with individual plants and traits. The autogamous line is self-fertile and exhibits no inbreeding depression. Inbreeding can lead to inbreeding depression and an extreme loss of vigour. Seed is usually produced outside the areas of production. Breeding materials need to be evaluated in both the area of seed production and the area of forage production.