Racić, Nedeljko

ABSTRACT The search for long‐standing, drought‐tolerant species with consistent annual yields presents both the demands of sustainable agriculture and a significant challenge. Hungarian clover, an underutilized fodder species with a long lifespan, may be a potential solution to these demands. This study represents the first report on the metabolomic profile of this species. We analyzed 52 samples of Hungarian clover and Swedish clover, used as a control species, employing 1 H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis. A total of 24 metabolites were identified, with dominant signals derived from sugars, amino, eucomic acids, and hydroxyeucomic acids. These acids contributed to the higher antioxidant capacity observed in Hungarian clover samples compared to Swedish clover. The application of nuclear magnetic resonance in the pre‐breeding evaluation of fodder species is a well‐justified approach, providing clear insight into the metabolic variations of the examined material and valuable guidance for future breeding activities.