Foliar Expression of Candidate Genes Involved in Condensed Tannin Biosynthesis in White Clover (\u3cem\u3eTrifolium Repens\u3c/em\u3e)

Bloat disease in cattle and sheep is caused by the rapid microbial degradation of protein-rich fodder in the rumen. This leads to the production of protein foams that trap gases, causing bloat, a condition that is often fatal to livestock and costly to farmers. Condensed tannins (CTs) are phenolic polymers produced by the phenylpropanoid pathway of plants (Figure 1). CTs bind to proteins under acidic to neutral conditions, such as those present in the rumen, slowing their breakdown. A diet with a CT content of between 2% and 4% by dry weight, which is provided by some pasture legumes (e.g. Lotus corniculatus), protects livestock against bloat and improves the absorption of amino acids from the diet. White clover (Trifolium repens L.), a protein rich legume widely used in temperate regions, has virtually no CTs in leaves, although they are present in flowers