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Abstract The main objectives of the recent study were; 1) identifying ecotypes of barseem clover that has adaptive responses to frequent-cutting tolerance, 2) Improving frequent-cutting tolerance in Egyptian barseem clover gene-pool by selection, ending in a new population of adaptive response, and 3) determine the correlated responses to selection for frequent-cutting tolerance in barseem clover. In 2016/2017 winter season, 200 ecotypes of multi- cut barseem clover were collected from ten governorates (Assuit, Sohage, El- Menia, EL- fayoum, Giza, Khalyobia, Minufenia, Khafr EL- Sheikh, EL- Behira and EL- Sharkia) covering different environments of Egypt. Farmers fields and local markets in each governorate supported ten distinguished ecotypes. Ecotypes were divided to ten random sets each of 20 ecotypes. Each set was sown in a replicated trial of three replicates. Each replicate was divided to three main plots. Each main plot was randomly subjected to one of three cutting frequency levels, i.e; a) normal; where, first cutting was taken after 50 days, second cutting after 45 days, third fourth and fifth cuttings after 30 days each, b) Frequent, where, first cutting was taken after 50 days, second cutting after 40 days, third, fourth and fifth cuttings after 25 days each then sixth cutting after 20 days and C) Very frequent, where, first cutting was taken after 40 days, second cutting after 35 days, third and fourth cuttings after 25 days each, and fifth, sixth and seventh cuttings after 20 days each. The sub- plots randomly received the assigned ecotypes. Each subplot comprised four rows of four meters long and 0.2 meter apart. Seeding rate was 13 kg.Faddan- 1. Depending on data analysis for each set ecotypes, the most tolerance ecotypes to very frequent cutting regime (High green forage yield), were identified. Unselected ecotypes were uprooted prior to flowering. Vigorous plants in each selected ecotype’s plot were selected, whereas, other plants of small crown size were uprooted. Adequate irrigation along with honeybee heaves was maintained in flowering field to permit random cross-pollination and good seed setting. At seed ripening, selected ecotypes were harvest separately. Equal seed weights representing each ecotype (total of 40 ecotypes) were mixed to produce composite I seed (cycle one). Remaining seeds of each selected ecotype were used for second cycle of selection. |