Grazing cattle on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) would be economically beneficial, but its rapid initial rate of protein degradation results in pasture bloat, low efficiency of protein utilization and excessive N pollution into the environment. Introducing a gene that stimulates the accumulation of mono/polymeric anthocyanidins might reduce the ruminal protein degradation rate and reduce bloat related foam stability. The overall objective of this thesis was to evaluate newly developed anthocyanidin-accumulating Lc-alfalfa progeny for nutritional properties (composition, site of degradation and molecular structure), environmental emissions and bloat characteristics. The objective of the first study was to determine survival and phytochemical and chemical profiles of Lc-alfalfa progeny (BeavLc1, RambLc3 and RangLc4) and their non-transgenic (NT) parental cultivars (Beaver, Rambler and Rangelander). Lc-alfalfa forage accumulated enhanced amounts of anthocyanidin, with an average concentration of 197.4 µg/g DM, while proanthocyanidin (i.e. condensed tannins) were not detected. Both of these metabolites were absent in the NT-parental varieties. Lc-alfalfa progeny had ~3 % less crude protein (CP) and ~3 % more carbohydrates (CHO), which resulted in their 11 g/kg lower N:CHO ratio compared with NT-alfalfa. Total rumen-degradable N:CHO ratio based on chemical analysis was 12.9 g/kg lower in Lc-alfalfa compared with NT-alfalfa. The objective of the second study was to evaluate in vitro degradation, fermentation and microbial-N partitioning of three forage color phenotypes [green, light purple-green (LPG) and purple-green (PG)] within Lc-progeny and their parental green NT-alfalfa varieties. Purple-green-Lc alfalfa accumulated more anthocyanidin than Green-Lc with LPG-Lc intermediate. Gas, methane and ammonia accumulation rates were slower for the two purple-Lc phenotypes compared with NT-alfalfa with Green-Lc intermediate. Effective degradable DM and N were lower in the three Lc-phenotypes compared with NT-alfalfa. Anthocyanidin concentration correlated negatively with gas and methane production rates and effective degradability of DM and N. The objectives of the third study were to evaluate in situ ruminal degradation characteristics and synchronization ratios, and to model protein availability to dairy cattle and net energy for lactation of three Lc-alfalfa progenies, BeavLc1, RambLc3 and RangLc4 and the cultivar AC Grazeland (selected for a low initial rate of ruminal degradation). Anthocyanidin accumulation was on average 163.4 ìg/g DM in the three Lc-progeny while AC Grazeland did not accumulate anthocyanidin. The basic chemical composition of the original samples, soluble and potentially degradable fractions and degradation characteristics of crude protein and carbohydrates were similar in Lc-alfalfa and AC Grazeland. The undegradable in situ crude protein and neutral detergent fiber fraction were, respectively, 1.3 %CP and 4.8 %CHO lower in the three Lc-progeny compared with AC Grazeland. Lc-alfalfa had a 0.34 MJ/kg DM higher net energy for lactation and tended to have a 11.9, 6.9 and 8.4 g/kg DM higher rumen degradable protein, rumen degraded protein balance and intestinal available protein, respectively, compared with AC Grazeland,. The hourly rumen degraded protein balance included an initial and substantial peak (over-supply) of protein relative to energy which was highest in RangLc4 and lowest in RambLc3. The hourly rumen degraded protein balance between 4 and 24 h was similar and more balanced for all four alfalfa populations. The objective of the fourth study was to determine foam formation and stability in vitro from aqueous leaf extracts of three Lc-alfalfa progeny (BeavLc1, RambLc3, RangLc4), parental NT-alfalfa and AC Grazeland (bloat reduced cultivar) harvested in the field at 07:00 or 18:00 h. Anthocyanidin accumulation averaged 247.5 ìg/g DM in the leaves of the three Lc-progeny. There was an interaction between population and harvest time for the foam parameters. Initial foam volume (0 min) and final foam volume (150 min) at 07:00 h were lower for AC Grazeland compared with all other treatments and lower for RangLc4 compared with the other two Lc-progeny at 0 min and NT-alfalfa at 150 min; while from the 18:00 h harvest, initial foam volume was larger for NT-alfalfa and final foam volume was larger for RambLc3 compared with AC Grazeland, BeavLc1 and RangLc4. Foam formation correlated positively (R = 0.30 to 0.44) with leaf DM content, leaf extract protein and ethanol-film content, spectroscopic vibration intensity due to all carbohydrates (CHOVI) and amide I:amide II ratio and negatively (R = -0.33 and -0.34; P<0.05) with á-helix:â-sheet ratio and amide I:CHOVI. Final foam volume correlated negatively (R = -0.53 to -0.25; P<0.05) with leaf extract pH, spectroscopic vibration intensity due to all protein structures, structural carbohydrates (SCVI) and lipids (CH2 and CH3 asymmetric stretching) and amide I:CHOVI ratio and corelated positively (R = 0.39 to 0.44; P<0.05) with CHOVI, amideI:SCVI ratio and CHOVI:SCVI ratio. In conclusion, all Lc-alfalfa progeny and phenotypes accumulated anthocyanidin in their forage. Lc-alfalfa progeny had lower protein and higher carbohydrate content which improved the nitrogen to carbohydrate balance compared to their parental NT-alfalfa cultivars. Rate of fermentation and effective degradability in vitro reduced for both purple anthocyanidin-accumulating Lc-alfalfa phenotypes compared with NT-alfalfa. Intestinal protein availability tended to be higher and net energy for lactation was higher from Lc-alfalfa progeny for dairy cattle compared with AC Grazeland. Foaming properties were reduced in Lc-alfalfa progeny compared with parental non-transgenic alfalfa but not compared with AC Grazeland. However, differences between the Lc-alfalfa progeny and other cultivars were small. Therefore, further increases in mono/polymeric anthocyanidin accumulation in alfalfa are required in order to develop an alfalfa cultivar with superior nutritional and bloat preventing characteristics compared to currently available alfalfa cultivars.

With growing demand for cardiovascular implants, improving the performance of artificial blood-contacting devices is a task that deserves close attention. Current prostheses made of fluorocarbon polymers such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) suffer from early thrombosis and require periodic replacement. A great number of attempts have already been made to improve blood compatibility of artificial surfaces, but only few of them found commercial implementation. One of the surfaces under intensive research for cardiovascular use is amorphous carbon-based coatings produced by means of the plasma-assisted deposition. However, this class of coatings can be produced using various techniques leading to a number of coatings with different properties. Carbon coatings produced in different plasmas may be of hard diamond-like type or soft graphite-like type, doping with different elements also changes the surface structure and properties. Taking this into account, the search for blood-compatible coating requires the understanding of surface composition and structure and its influence on blood-compatibility. This work attempts to advance our knowledge of this field. Here, commercial PTFE thin film was used as a working material, which composition corresponds to the composition of modern ePTFE vascular grafts and which compatibility with blood we tried to improve by deposition of nitrogenated amorphous carbon (a-CN) coatings in the plasma. Biocompatibility was assessed by a number of tests including the interaction with whole blood and various cells such as platelets, endothelial cells, neutrophils, and fibroblasts. Most of tests showed the blood compatibility of coated surface is better than that of untreated PTFE. Physico-chemical and morphological properties of coated surfaces were studied in parallel using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM). Some correlation between the structure of coatings and blood compatibility was inferred. It was found that at first nitrogen incorporation into amorphous carbon film stimulates blood compatibility. However, when nitrogen fraction increases over 23-25 %, no further improvement but reduction of blood compatibility was observed. Conclusion is made that for best biomedical performance, nitrogen percentage in a-CN coatings must be adjusted to the optimum value.

Biocatalysts are important tools for harnessing the potential of wood fibres since they can perform specific reactions with low environmental impact. Challenges to bioconversion technologies as applied to wood fibres include low accessibility of plant cell wall polymers and the heterogeneity of plant cell walls, which makes it difficult to predict conversion efficiencies. White-rot fungi are among the most efficient degraders of plant fibre (lignocellulose), capable of degrading cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Phanerochaete carnosa is a white-rot fungus that, in contrast to many white-rot fungi that have been studied to date, was isolated almost exclusively from fallen coniferous trees (softwood). While several studies describe the lignocellulolytic activity of the hardwood-degrading, model white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, the lignocellulolytic activity of P. carnosa has not been investigated. An underlying hypothesis of this thesis is that P. carnosa encodes enzymes that are particularly well suited for processing softwood fibre, which is an especially recalcitrant feedstock, though a major resource for Canada. Moreover, given the phylogenetic similarity of P. carnosa and P. chrysosporium, it is anticipated that the identification of pertinent enzymes for softwood degradation can be more easily conducted. In particular, this project describes the characterization of P. carnosa in terms of the growth conditions that support lignocellulolytic activity, the effect of enzymes secreted by P. carnosa on the chemistry of softwood feedstocks, and the characterization of the corresponding secretome using proteomic techniques. Through this study, cultivation methods for P. carnosa were established and biochemical assays for protein activity and quantification were developed. Analytical methods, including FTIR and ToF-SIMS were used to characterize wood samples at advancing stages of decay, and revealed preferential degradation of lignin in the early stages of growth on all softwoods analyzed. Finally, an in depth proteomic analysis of the proteins secreted by P. carnosa on spruce and cellulose established that similar sets of enzyme activities are elicited by P. carnosa grown on different lignocellulosic substrates, albeit to different expression levels.

Passivation of the crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafer surface and decreasing the number of interface defects are basic requirements for development of high efficiency a-Si:H/c-Si heterojunction solar cells. Surface passivation is generally achieved by development of detailed silicon wafer cleaning processes and the optimization of PECVD parameters for the deposition of intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer. a-Si:H layers are grown in UHV-PECVD system. Solar cells were deposited on the p type Cz-silicon substrates in the structure of Al front contact/a-Si:H(n)/a-Si:H(i)/c-Si(p)/Al back contact. Solar cell parameters were determined under standard test conditions namely, using 1000 W/m2, AM 1.5G illumination at 25 oC. Growth of (i) a-Si:H, films on the clean wafer surface was investigated as a function of substrate temperature, RF power density, gas flow rate, hydrogen dilution ratio and deposition time and was characterized using SEM, HRTEM, AFM, SE, ATR-FTIR and I/V measurements. Structural properties of the films deposited on silicon wafer surface are directly effective on the solar cell efficiency. Morphological characterization of the grown films on the crystalline surface was found to be very complex depending on the deposition parameters and may even change during the deposition time. At 225 oC substrate temperature, at the beginning of the deposition, (i) a-Si:H films was found grown in epitaxial structure, followed by a simultaneous growth of crystalline and amorphous structure, and finally transforming to complete amorphous structure. Despite this complex structure, an efficiency of 9.2% for solar cells with total area of 72 cm2 was achieved. In this cell structure, TCO and back surface passivation do not exist. In the

Biocatalysts are important tools for harnessing the potential of wood fibres since they can perform specific reactions with low environmental impact. Challenges to bioconversion technologies as applied to wood fibres include low accessibility of plant cell wall polymers and the heterogeneity of plant cell walls, which makes it difficult to predict conversion efficiencies. White-rot fungi are among the most efficient degraders of plant fibre (lignocellulose), capable of degrading cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Phanerochaete carnosa is a white-rot fungus that, in contrast to many white-rot fungi that have been studied to date, was isolated almost exclusively from fallen coniferous trees (softwood). While several studies describe the lignocellulolytic activity of the hardwood-degrading, model white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, the lignocellulolytic activity of P. carnosa has not been investigated. An underlying hypothesis of this thesis is that P. carnosa encodes enzymes that are particularly well suited for processing softwood fibre, which is an especially recalcitrant feedstock, though a major resource for Canada. Moreover, given the phylogenetic similarity of P. carnosa and P. chrysosporium, it is anticipated that the identification of pertinent enzymes for softwood degradation can be more easily conducted. In particular, this project describes the characterization of P. carnosa in terms of the growth conditions that support lignocellulolytic activity, the effect of enzymes secreted by P. carnosa on the chemistry of softwood feedstocks, and the characterization of the corresponding secretome using proteomic techniques. Through this study, cultivation methods for P. carnosa were established and biochemical assays for protein activity and quantification were developed. Analytical methods, including FTIR and ToF-SIMS were used to characterize wood samples at advancing stages of decay, and revealed preferential degradation of lignin in the early stages of growth on all softwoods analyzed. Finally, an in depth proteomic analysis of the proteins secreted by P. carnosa on spruce and cellulose established that similar sets of enzyme activities are elicited by P. carnosa grown on different lignocellulosic substrates, albeit to different expression levels.

This thesis aims to investigate the formation of deposits from thermally degraded biodiesel on a hot metal surface under the influence of sodium or copper contaminations. Biodiesel or Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) is a widely utilized biofuel with the potential to replace fossil fuels, however, issues regarding the thermal and oxidative stability prevent the progress of biodiesel for utilization as vehicle fuel. The thermal degradation of biodiesel causes formation of deposits often occurring in the fuel injectors, which could result in reduced engine efficiency, increased emissions and engine wear. However, still have no standard method for evaluation of a fuels’ tendency to form deposits been developed. In this study biodiesel deposits have been formed on aluminum test tubes utilizing a Hot Liquid Process Simulator (HLPS), an instrument based on the principle of the Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Tester (JFTOT). Quantitative and qualitative analyses have been made utilizing an array of techniques including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (ATR-FTIR). A multi-factorial trial investigating the effects of sodium hydroxide and copper contaminations at trace levels and the impact of a paraffin inhibitor copolymer additive on three different FAME products, two derived from rapeseed oil and one from waste cooking oil as well as a biodiesel blend with mineral diesel, was conducted.The results exhibited that FAMEs are the major precursor to deposit formation in diesel fuel. The SEM analyses exploited the nature of FAME deposits forming porous structures on hot metal surfaces. Sodium hydroxide proved to participate in the deposit formation by forming carboxylic salts. However, the copper contamination exhibited no enhancing effect on the deposits, possibly due to interference of the blank oil in which copper was received. The paraffin inhibitor functioning as a crystal modifier had significant reducing effect on the deposit formation for all biodiesel samples except for the FAME product derived from waste cooking oil. Further studies are needed in order to investigate the influence of glycerin and water residues to the biodiesel deposit formation. Mechanisms involving oxidative or thermal peroxide formation, polymerization and disintegration have been suggested as degradation pathways for biodiesel. The involvement of oxidation intermediates, peroxides, was confirmed by the experiments performed in this thesis. However, the mechanisms of biodiesel deposit formation are complex and hard to study as the deposits are seemingly insoluble. Nevertheless, ATR-FTIR in combination with JFTOT-processing has potential as standard method for evaluation of deposit forming tendencies of biodiesel.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy has shown promise as an analytical tool for detecting changes in cells and tissues, such as those due to viral infection, apoptosis induction or malignancy. In many cases, diagnosis via FTIR microscopy can be undertaken on a timescale shorter than that required for other physical or histological techniques. In this work we have used FTIR microscopy to study Vero cells that have been infected with herpes simplex virus (type I) and adenovirus. We have studied cellular samples at various time intervals following exposure to the virus. Several spectral regions were identified that allow discrimination between infected and uninfected Vero cell samples at 24 hours post exposure to both HSV1 and adenovirus. Spectral features were also identified that could be used to discriminate infected cells within 2-6 hours after exposure to both viruses. FTIR microscopy is therefore a useful tool for following the kinetics of viral infection in the 2-24 hours time range, at least at the levels of infection used in this study. In a second type of study, FTIR microscopy was used to study apoptosis induction in acute lymphoblastic leukemia T-cells. Apoptosis was induced in T-cells in three different ways. We show that FTIR microscopy can be used to distinguish T-cells in the early stages of apoptosis from normal cells. We also provide data that may suggest that FTIR microscopy can distinguish cells that have undergone apoptosis via different pathways. For most of the FTIR microscopic studies on cellular samples we have focused on the collection of spectral data in the 1500-800 cm-1 region. Spectra were collected for control cells and variously treated cells. The two sets of cells were then analyzed statistically using: 1) pair-wise comparison, 2) logistic regression, 3) partial least square regression, 4) principle component fed linear discriminant analysis and 5) hierarchical cluster analysis. The statistical analyses rigorously quantify to what extent treated and untreated cells can be distinguished. Since different statistical methods give differing results for the same data, it is important the right statistical method should be applied. The basis for these differences is discussed.

STUDIES OF INTERACTION OF SMALL MOLECULES WITH WATER CONDENSED MEDIA<br /><br /> The present work reports experimental and theoretical studies of the intermolecular interactions in condensed water media. The chemical objects comprise pristine ice and polar organic substances: acetone, acetaldehyde, methanol and chloroform and bi-component water-organic deposits. The experimental part of the studies includes the Fourier Transform Infrared Reflection Absorption spectral (FTIR RAS) examination of the processes of film growth by vapor deposition on cold metal substrate and subsequent annealing. The theoretical studies include <em>ab initio</em> (<em>MP2</em>) and semi-empirical (<em>B3LYP</em>) calculations on the small water and water-organic clusters and classical molecular dynamics simulations of the adsorption of inert guests (Xe/Rn) on the ice surface. The FTIR RA spectral studies reveal that depending on the deposition conditions condensed water media exist in two principal structural forms: noncrystalline and polycrystalline. The former is characterized by porous structure while the latter exists as a non-porous medium with smooth external interface. On annealing, characteristic spectral changes indicate on a rapid crystallization occurring at a certain temperature range. The initial adsorption of organic molecules is accompanied by the hydrogen-bonded coordination between the functional group of organic species and non-coordinated hydroxyl group of the ice surface, the topology of which depends on the electronic properties of the functional group. The computational studies of small water-organic clusters reveal, in particular, two major coordination minima for carbonyl group: a single hydrogen-bonded in-plane complex and a double hydrogen-bonded in-plane complex. The classical molecular dynamics of Xe/Rn species on the ice interface is consistent with two distinctly different surface adsorption sites: one that delocalized over the entire surface and one that confined to small opening in the top ice layer, disrupted by the thermal molecular motion. The penetration barrier is associated with van der Walls repulsion of guest species from the ordered water hexagonal arrangement. A thermo-disruption of latter leads to a rapid diffusion of guest species inside ice medium.

With growing demand for cardiovascular implants, improving the performance of artificial blood-contacting devices is a task that deserves close attention. Current prostheses made of fluorocarbon polymers such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) suffer from early thrombosis and require periodic replacement. A great number of attempts have already been made to improve blood compatibility of artificial surfaces, but only few of them found commercial implementation. One of the surfaces under intensive research for cardiovascular use is amorphous carbon-based coatings produced by means of the plasma-assisted deposition. However, this class of coatings can be produced using various techniques leading to a number of coatings with different properties. Carbon coatings produced in different plasmas may be of hard diamond-like type or soft graphite-like type, doping with different elements also changes the surface structure and properties. Taking this into account, the search for blood-compatible coating requires the understanding of surface composition and structure and its influence on blood-compatibility. This work attempts to advance our knowledge of this field. Here, commercial PTFE thin film was used as a working material, which composition corresponds to the composition of modern ePTFE vascular grafts and which compatibility with blood we tried to improve by deposition of nitrogenated amorphous carbon (a-CN) coatings in the plasma. Biocompatibility was assessed by a number of tests including the interaction with whole blood and various cells such as platelets, endothelial cells, neutrophils, and fibroblasts. Most of tests showed the blood compatibility of coated surface is better than that of untreated PTFE. Physico-chemical and morphological properties of coated surfaces were studied in parallel using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM). Some correlation between the structure of coatings and blood compatibility was inferred. It was found that at first nitrogen incorporation into amorphous carbon film stimulates blood compatibility. However, when nitrogen fraction increases over 23-25 %, no further improvement but reduction of blood compatibility was observed. Conclusion is made that for best biomedical performance, nitrogen percentage in a-CN coatings must be adjusted to the optimum value.

Grazing cattle on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) would be economically beneficial, but its rapid initial rate of protein degradation results in pasture bloat, low efficiency of protein utilization and excessive N pollution into the environment. Introducing a gene that stimulates the accumulation of mono/polymeric anthocyanidins might reduce the ruminal protein degradation rate and reduce bloat related foam stability. The overall objective of this thesis was to evaluate newly developed anthocyanidin-accumulating Lc-alfalfa progeny for nutritional properties (composition, site of degradation and molecular structure), environmental emissions and bloat characteristics. The objective of the first study was to determine survival and phytochemical and chemical profiles of Lc-alfalfa progeny (BeavLc1, RambLc3 and RangLc4) and their non-transgenic (NT) parental cultivars (Beaver, Rambler and Rangelander). Lc-alfalfa forage accumulated enhanced amounts of anthocyanidin, with an average concentration of 197.4 µg/g DM, while proanthocyanidin (i.e. condensed tannins) were not detected. Both of these metabolites were absent in the NT-parental varieties. Lc-alfalfa progeny had ~3 % less crude protein (CP) and ~3 % more carbohydrates (CHO), which resulted in their 11 g/kg lower N:CHO ratio compared with NT-alfalfa. Total rumen-degradable N:CHO ratio based on chemical analysis was 12.9 g/kg lower in Lc-alfalfa compared with NT-alfalfa. The objective of the second study was to evaluate in vitro degradation, fermentation and microbial-N partitioning of three forage color phenotypes [green, light purple-green (LPG) and purple-green (PG)] within Lc-progeny and their parental green NT-alfalfa varieties. Purple-green-Lc alfalfa accumulated more anthocyanidin than Green-Lc with LPG-Lc intermediate. Gas, methane and ammonia accumulation rates were slower for the two purple-Lc phenotypes compared with NT-alfalfa with Green-Lc intermediate. Effective degradable DM and N were lower in the three Lc-phenotypes compared with NT-alfalfa. Anthocyanidin concentration correlated negatively with gas and methane production rates and effective degradability of DM and N. The objectives of the third study were to evaluate in situ ruminal degradation characteristics and synchronization ratios, and to model protein availability to dairy cattle and net energy for lactation of three Lc-alfalfa progenies, BeavLc1, RambLc3 and RangLc4 and the cultivar AC Grazeland (selected for a low initial rate of ruminal degradation). Anthocyanidin accumulation was on average 163.4 ìg/g DM in the three Lc-progeny while AC Grazeland did not accumulate anthocyanidin. The basic chemical composition of the original samples, soluble and potentially degradable fractions and degradation characteristics of crude protein and carbohydrates were similar in Lc-alfalfa and AC Grazeland. The undegradable in situ crude protein and neutral detergent fiber fraction were, respectively, 1.3 %CP and 4.8 %CHO lower in the three Lc-progeny compared with AC Grazeland. Lc-alfalfa had a 0.34 MJ/kg DM higher net energy for lactation and tended to have a 11.9, 6.9 and 8.4 g/kg DM higher rumen degradable protein, rumen degraded protein balance and intestinal available protein, respectively, compared with AC Grazeland,. The hourly rumen degraded protein balance included an initial and substantial peak (over-supply) of protein relative to energy which was highest in RangLc4 and lowest in RambLc3. The hourly rumen degraded protein balance between 4 and 24 h was similar and more balanced for all four alfalfa populations. The objective of the fourth study was to determine foam formation and stability in vitro from aqueous leaf extracts of three Lc-alfalfa progeny (BeavLc1, RambLc3, RangLc4), parental NT-alfalfa and AC Grazeland (bloat reduced cultivar) harvested in the field at 07:00 or 18:00 h. Anthocyanidin accumulation averaged 247.5 ìg/g DM in the leaves of the three Lc-progeny. There was an interaction between population and harvest time for the foam parameters. Initial foam volume (0 min) and final foam volume (150 min) at 07:00 h were lower for AC Grazeland compared with all other treatments and lower for RangLc4 compared with the other two Lc-progeny at 0 min and NT-alfalfa at 150 min; while from the 18:00 h harvest, initial foam volume was larger for NT-alfalfa and final foam volume was larger for RambLc3 compared with AC Grazeland, BeavLc1 and RangLc4. Foam formation correlated positively (R = 0.30 to 0.44) with leaf DM content, leaf extract protein and ethanol-film content, spectroscopic vibration intensity due to all carbohydrates (CHOVI) and amide I:amide II ratio and negatively (R = -0.33 and -0.34; P<0.05) with á-helix:â-sheet ratio and amide I:CHOVI. Final foam volume correlated negatively (R = -0.53 to -0.25; P<0.05) with leaf extract pH, spectroscopic vibration intensity due to all protein structures, structural carbohydrates (SCVI) and lipids (CH2 and CH3 asymmetric stretching) and amide I:CHOVI ratio and corelated positively (R = 0.39 to 0.44; P<0.05) with CHOVI, amideI:SCVI ratio and CHOVI:SCVI ratio. In conclusion, all Lc-alfalfa progeny and phenotypes accumulated anthocyanidin in their forage. Lc-alfalfa progeny had lower protein and higher carbohydrate content which improved the nitrogen to carbohydrate balance compared to their parental NT-alfalfa cultivars. Rate of fermentation and effective degradability in vitro reduced for both purple anthocyanidin-accumulating Lc-alfalfa phenotypes compared with NT-alfalfa. Intestinal protein availability tended to be higher and net energy for lactation was higher from Lc-alfalfa progeny for dairy cattle compared with AC Grazeland. Foaming properties were reduced in Lc-alfalfa progeny compared with parental non-transgenic alfalfa but not compared with AC Grazeland. However, differences between the Lc-alfalfa progeny and other cultivars were small. Therefore, further increases in mono/polymeric anthocyanidin accumulation in alfalfa are required in order to develop an alfalfa cultivar with superior nutritional and bloat preventing characteristics compared to currently available alfalfa cultivars.