The early vegetative growth of three strains of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) in relation to size of seed

1957 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Black

Three strains of subterranean clover (Bacchus Marsh, Clare, and Mount Barker) were grown in pot culture at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute; for each strain, seed of four widely separated sizes mere sown. Dry weight a t any one time in the early vegetative stage was linearly related to embryo weight, but was independent of strain. Hence differences in early growth noted under uniform environmental conditions between strains are the result not of differing relative growth rates, but of differences in the size distribution within the seed populations; evidence is presented suggesting that there may well be little difference in the size distribution of seed of Bacchus Marsh and Mt. Barker, but that Clare contains a higher proportion of large seed, and thus as a strain would be expected to give greater early production. Leaf area per plant was also linearly related to embryo weight but independent of strain; but for a common embryo weight, Clare was found to have fewer leaves than the other two strains. Examination of the areas of successive leaves showed that the maintenance of similar total leaf areas depended on a balance of rate of leaf production and size of individual leaves; in relation to Bacchus Marsh and Mt. Barker, Clare has fewer but large1 leaves.

1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 206 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Black

This paper describes two experiments analysing the recovery from defoliation of subterranean clover varieties grown in swards in large seed boxes at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide. The first experiment examined the way in which the six common commercial varieties recovered from a single severe defoliation, and showed that under these conditions they can be placed in three groups: Yarloop and Clare are tall, high-yielding varieties with few, large leaves, recovering slowly from defoliation; Tallarook and Dwalganup are prostrate varieties, lower-yielding, with many small leaves, recovering rapidly after defoliation; Bacchus Marsh and Mount Barker are intermediate in all respects. In the second experiment mixed swards of equal numbers of Yarloop and Tallarook plants were grown under three treatments: A, no defoliation; B, defoliated twice at a height which removed the higher Yarloop canopy but left the lower Tallarook plants untouched; C, defoliated twice at a height which removed the canopies of both varieties. Measurement of dry weight on four occasions after each defoliation showed that in the undefoliated treatment, all Tallarook plants died by the end of the experiment. In the defoliated treatments, the removal of the Yarloop canopy resulted in only a temporary improvement in the illuniination in which the Tallarook plants grew, and their dry weight and plant numbers progressively declined. Dry weight changes in the Tallarook component were shown to be dependent on the light energy available to it, which was in turn determined by the light-absorbing capacity of the superior Yarloop canopy. In mixed swards, the ability of Yarloop to re-establish quickly a leaf canopy above that of Tallarook appeared to explain its success when defoliated.


1955 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 330 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Black

An experiment is described in which the growth of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) in the early vegetative stage was measured over 52 consecutive weekly periods. To eliminate possible trends of growth rates with age, plants of comparable morphological stage were used for each period. The variety Bacchus Marsh was grown in pot culture in the open at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia.


1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 628 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Black ◽  
GN Wilkinson

An experiment was carried out which enabled a separate assessment to be made of the influence of, firstly, pre-emergence growth rate, and secondly, the competitive environment at emergence on the subsequent growth of individual plants of subterranean clover. Swards of the Bacchus Marsh variety were grown in large seed boxes at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide. Four different sowing treatments were applied whereby the sowing of alternate plants in a checkerboard grid was delayed by 0, 2, 4, and 8 days. Emergence date and final dry weight were recorded individually for each plant in the experimental swards. There was considerable overlap in emergence times between the earlier and the later-sown plants. Consequently by a comparison of the separate regressions for earlier and later-sown plants of yield per plant on day of emergence for each treatment, it could be demonstrated that plants with very different pre-emergence growth rates but emerging on the same day in the same sward, and hence into the same competitive environment, gave essentially the same subsequent growth. In other words, in the absence of differential competitive effects, there was no detectable influence of pre-emergence growth rate on subsequent growth. On the other hand, the final dry weights of individual plants were very strongly related to day of emergence. A delay in emergence of 5 days brought about a reduction in final yield of about 50%, and a delay of 8 or 9 days of at least 75%. In view of the negligible influence of pre-emergence growth rate, per se, this reduction is attributable solely to the increased severity of competition from plants already emerged. In spite of the wide variation in emergence patterns, the total yields of all swards were very similar, indicating an almost complete compensation between plants in the utilization of available growth factors.


1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG McIvor ◽  
DF Smith

A comparison of the relative growth rates (RGR) of plants of capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) under high soil fertility conditions showed capeweed to have a higher RGR in the early weeks of growth, offsetting the effect of smaller seed size. However, when grown in mixed swards with the clover, under conditions of high NPK and water availability, capeweed did not readily suppress clover growth. If the capeweed and clover began growth together, clover growth was reduced by associated capeweed only after twelve weeks of growth, and then only slightly. If the capeweed was established four weeks before the clover there was a marked reduction of clover growth at the harvest eight weeks after the clover was sown. The results suggest that 'smothering' of clover by capeweed through competition for light is unlikely in grazed pastures in southern Australia.


1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 520 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Millington ◽  
CM Francis ◽  
NR McKeown

The grazing of pasture swards of Cyprus barrel medic and of four strains of subterranean clover resulted in increases of wether teat length similar to those produced by injections of a synthetic oestrogen, diethylstilboestrol. Oestrogenic activity of the medic, as measured by increase in wether teat length, was less than that of the Yarloop and Dwalganup strains of subterranean clover, but similar to that of the Mt. Barker strain. Coumestrol appears to be the principal oestrogenic substance in the medic. The coumestrol contents of Cyprus and commercial barrel medics were similar but varied at different localities. The low coumestrol content of the subterranean clovers suggests that it is not an important oestrogen in this species. ____________________ *Cyprus barrel medic. During the joint FAO–CSIRO collecting expedition in 1950–1951, J. F. Miles collected barrel medic, C.P.J. 13914, in Cyprus, and portion of the seed was passed to D. Symon at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide. A programme, commenced in 1950, to extend the legume belt into the lower rainfall districts of Western Australia, indicated the need for an earlier-flowering medic, and Symon suggested testing the Cyprus introductjon. Encouraging results from sward tnals conducted by the Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, resulted in a programme of seed increase and large-scale commercial production of the Cyprus strain. The Cyprus strain flowers 4 weeks earlier than the commercial and 5 weeks before M. tr ibuloides 173, and is proving a very satisfactory legume on a wide range of soils in Western Australia.


1956 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Black

Changes in the pre-emergence distribution of dry matter in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) variety Bacchus Marsh were followed at 21°C, using three sizes of seed and three depths of sowing, ½, 1¼, and 2 in. Decreasing seed size and increasing depth of sowing both reduce the weight of the cotyledons a t emergence. Seed of the three sizes were sown a t three depths in pot culture a t staggered intervals so that emergence was simultaneous. Dry weight in the early vegetative stage was proportional to seed size, and total leaf area and leaf numbers showed similar trends. Plants of each seed size grew at the same relative rate. No effect of depth of sowing could be detected, and this was shown to be due to the cotyledon area a t emergence being constant for any given seed size, regardless of varying depth of sowing and hence of cotyledon weight. It was concluded that seed size in a plant having epigeal germination and without endosperm is of importance: firstly, in limiting the maximum hypocotyl elongation and hence depth of sowing, and secondly, in determining cotyledon area. Cotyledon area in turn influences seedling growth, which is not affected by cotyledon weight. Once emergence has taken place, cotyledonary reserves are of no further significance in the growth of the plants.


1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Eagling ◽  
RJ Sward ◽  
GM Halloran

Measurements were made on the effect of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infection on the early growth of four commercial cultivars of ryegrass (Lolium spp.) under two different temperatures (24�C and 16�C). At 24'C, BYDV infection was associated with reduced root dry weight (30-40%) in all cultivars; the effect of infection on shoot dry weight and leaf area was variable. At 16�C, the effect of BYDV infection was variable, being associated with increases in root dry weight, shoot dry weight, and leaf area in one cultivar (Grasslands Ariki) and decreases in another (Victorian). In two other cultivars, root dry weight, shoot dry weight and leaf area were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by infection with BYDV.At 24�C, the reductions in root dry weight associated with BYDV infection were not concomitant with reductions in the root relative growth rates. Up to at least 28 days after inoculation (46-50 days after germination) reductions in root dry weight were associated with both aphid-feeding damage and virus infection. Experiments with the cultivar Victorian, showed that shoot dry weight was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by feeding with viruliferous (BYDV) or non-viruliferous aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi L.). At 16�C, changes in root and shoot dry weight were associated with changes in the root and shoot relative growth rates.


1958 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. M. Langer

1. Swards of S. 48 timothy and S. 215 meadow fescue growing alone or together were sampled at intervals of 3 weeks throughout the season. The number and weight of leaves, stems and ears were determined, and leaf area was estimated.2. Despite high rainfall, the total number of tillers in both species declined from the beginning of the experiment until early July, but increased again from then onwards until the original complement had been approximately restored. The number of leaves failed to show a corresponding increase in the autumn because each tiller carried fewer leaves than earlier in the year.3. In the spring total dry weight increased more rapidly in meadow fescue than in timothy which in turn out-yielded meadow fescue later in the season. Both species attained their greatest dry weight soon after ear emergence, a period which was marked by considerable crop growth and relative growth rates.4. Leaf area index reached a maximum before total dry weight had increased to its highest level, but then declined in both species. Meadow fescue differed from timothy by producing a second crop of foliage after the summer with a leaf area index of about 7. This second rise appeared to be due mainly to increased leaf size in contrast to timothy whose leaves became progressively smaller towards the end of the season.5. The differences in growth between the species discussed with reference to their dates of ear emergence which in this experiment differed by about 6 weeks.


1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Black

Three strains of subterranean clover differing in leaf development were grown in pure swards and in all combinations in mixtures. The strain Yarloop has relatively few large leaves held on long petioles; Tallarook has many small leaves and short petioles; Bacchus Marsh is intermediate in all these respects. The swards were grown in boxes and were sampled on four occasions during the period of vegetative growth. Leaf area in each 2 cm layer of the sward was determined separately, and for both strains in the mixed swards, and measurements of the light intensity reaching each layer were obtained. Root weights were determined for all swards and separately for each component of the mixed swards. Examination of the dry weights showed that the growth of the strain having the lesser petiole elongation was suppressed. In the extreme instance Tallarook was so suppressed when grown with Yarloop that in the final inter-sampling period it grew completely in the dark, and lost about half its dry weight. Bacchus Marsh also suppressed Tallarook, but to a lesser extent, while Bacchus Marsh was itself suppressed in competition with Yarloop. The amount of light energy intercepted by the two components of the mixed swards was calculated from the leaf area and light profiles, and confirmed the importance of the spatial distribution of leaves in plant competition. It was concluded that, in the absence of defoliation, the success of a strain under competition was associated with its potential petiole elongation.


1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Wroth ◽  
RAC Jones

In 1989 and 1990, infection with subterranean clover mottle sobemovirus (SCMV) was widespread in subterranean clover ( Trifolium subterraneum L.) pastures in the south-west of Western Australia. The virus was detected in 61% of the pastures sampled and incidences of infection ranged from 1 to 50%. The virus was more common in old pastures than in pastures resown with newer cultivars during the preceeding 5 year period. When 12 isolates of SCMV were inoculated to subterranean clover plants grown in the glasshouse, symptoms varied from mild to severe. SCMV isolates P23 and F4 decreased the herbage dry weight of cw. Daliak and Woogenellup grown in plots as spaced plants by 81-88% while the Type isolate caused losses of 92%. By contrast, losses were 37-49% with cv. Karridale, a cultivar in which systemic infection was either delayed or prevented during winter. Infection decreased seed yield by c. 90% in cvv. Karridale and Woogenellup with all three isolates; seed weight was decreased 21-55%. A small proportion of cv. Woogenellup transplants outgrew the infection in new shoots during late spring to produce abundant healthy foliage. SCMV seed transmission rates in seed collected from infected transplants of cv. Woogenellup were 0.06, 0.07 and 0.43% for the Type, P23 and F4 isolates respectively. It was concluded that SCMV was present in most pastures, but at low incidences, and that it persists in them from year to year. Extended growing seasons and hard grazing are likely to increase its incidence.


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