Physiological and ecological studies on the oestrogenic isoflavones in subterranean clover (T. subterraneum L.) III. Effects of light

Abstract

Isoflavone levels in subterranean clover leaves were higher in 13 hr days of natural daylight than in 6 hr days, but length of photoperiod per se had no substantial effect on these levels. In the field, reduction of light intensity (by shading) to 40% daylight caused no decline in isoflavone levels compared with full daylight; even at 24% daylight the reduction in levels was ill defined. On the other hand, in young seedlings there was a marked fall in isoflavone content, especially in the unifoliate leaf, as light intensity fell from 950 to 320 f.c. However, appreciable isoflavone formation was found in dark-grown clover seedlings.

Possible light reactions connected with the promotion of isoflavone synthesis are discussed.

Changes in isoflavone levels resulting from variation in the natural light environment are unlikely to be sufficient to affect "clover disease".