Relationships among rate and duration of flowering and seed yield components in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum)

1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
CM Francis ◽  
JS Gladstones

Time of flowering, duration of flowering, rate of inflorescence production per unit area, viability of seeds harvested 20 and 30 days after anthesis, and seed yield and its components were measured on 24 subterranean clover strains grown as irrigated swards. Seed yield was unrelated to time or duration of flowering, but positively correlated with rate of inflorescence production, total inflorescence, burr and seed numbers, number of seeds per burr, and seed size. Rate of inflorescence production was the main determinant of total inflorescence numbers per unit area and an important determinant of total burr and seed numbers per unit area. It was negatively related to flowering duration, and weakly so to seed size. Seed size was unrelated to strain maturity. Seeds of small-seeded and fast-flowering strains on average attained viability faster than those of large-seeded and slow-flowering strains. Number of seeds per burr increased slightly with lateness of flowering, but was unrelated to seed size or flowering rate. It is concluded that rapid flowering and high seed number per burr should be useful primary selection criteria in selecting subterranean clovers for seed yield and general adaptation in southern Australia.

1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Hebblethwaite ◽  
A. Burbidge ◽  
D. Wright

SummaryThe effects of lodging on the seed yield of S. 23 and S. 24 perennial ryegrass were investigated in a series of field experiments from 1973 to 1976. Natural lodging severely reduced seed yield in all years as a result of a decrease in the number of seeds per unit area. Controlled lodging at different stages of crop growth produced more variable results, indicating that lodging may affect both pollination and seed development. Disturbance of the crop during anthesis in order to aid pollination did not improve seed yields, possibly as a result of damage incurred.


1977 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Hebblethwaite

SUMMARYThe effects of irrigation and nitrogen on S. 23 perennial ryegrass grown for seed were investigated in a series of field experiments from 1972 to 1974. Irrigation significantly increased seed yield by 16% in 1972 and 52% in 1974 but had no effect in the wet year of 1973. In 1972 maximum deficit reached 110 mm at the end of July and coincided with anthesis. Consequently the yield response was due to an increase in number of seeds per unit area and no other seed yield component was affected. In 1974 peak deficit also reached about 100 mm but started to build up rapidly very early in the season and had reached 80 mm by the time that the first ears emerged. Consequently the yield response was due to increases in number of fertile tillers, number of seeds per unit area and 1000-seed weight.Irrigation had no significant effect on number of florets or seeds, except in 1974 when percentage of florets which produced seed was increased by 2%.Irrigation had some effect on threshed straw yields, total dry matter, harvest index and total number of tillers but where this occurred the response was much smaller than that of seed yield which indicates that irrigation had greater effects on the reproductive development of the crop than on yield of dry matter and tillering patterns. Increasing the quantity of nitrogen from 0 to 80 kg/ha increased seed yields, all seed yield components except 1000-seed weight, threshed straw yields and total dry matter and number of tillers at most sampling dates. Increasing the quantity of nitrogen from 80 to 160 kg/ha had little further effect on the above components except in 1972 where seed yields were significantly decreased.In 1972 number of florets was increased and percentage of florets which produced seed decreased with increasing quantities of nitrogen.


1958 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 286 ◽  
Author(s):  
EH Lawson ◽  
RC Rossiter

The results of a field experiment are presented in which large and small seeds of two strains of subterranean clover, Dwalganup and Mt. Barker, were sown at equal weights of viable seed per unit area. Two seeding rates were examined, and four harvests made during the winter-early spring period. The general conclusion is drawn that seed size has no effect on the growth rate of a subterranean clover sward, provided that sowing rate is held constant. It was found that the earlier strain Dwalganup outyielded the mid-season Mt. Barker strain in terms of total tops weight per unit area, although leaf production was higher in the mid-season strain. Root production, however, was consistently greater in Mt. Barker than in Dwalganup, and in fact total yields (of both tops and roots) were very slightly higher in the Mt. Barker strain. Growth rates are discussed in relation to net assimilation rates and leaf weights, and it is suggested that differences in root weight ratios between subterranean clover strains have not received adequate attention in the past.


1961 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Rossiter

Six defoliation treatments were imposed on two strains of subterranean clover (Dwalganup and Yarloop) grown in dense swards. Seed yield (weight per unit area) was increased by 27% over controls by July, or July plus early September, defoliations. With progressively later defoliation, yields fell to the control level, then to 15% below it. The number of seeds per unit area showed an increase of almost 40% with early defoliation, whereas with later defoliation the numbers fell to the control level. The increase was due primarily to larger numbers of inflorescences per unit area and a greater proportion of buried burrs. Supplementary data from grazed swards confirmed the promotive effect of early defoliation on seed production. The promotive and detrimental effects of defoliation are discussed, and brief consideration is given to practical implications.


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.


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Palta ◽  
C. Ludwig

The effect of pod number on the seed yield and components of seed yield was examined for narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) grown at a plant density of 36 plants/m2 in both the glasshouse and the field. Diflerent numbers of pods per plant in the glasshouse-grown lupin were generated by the application of N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) to a specific number of flowers to ensure artificially that they set pods, and the subsequent removal of the remaining untreated flowers. Pod number ranged from 6 to 65 pods/plant in the glasshouse and was naturally distributed from 2 to 22 pods/plant in the field. Increases in seed yield per plant occurred as pod number per plant increased from 2 to 30 pods. No further increases in seed yield resulted when pod number per plant increased from 30 to 55 pods. Seed yield per plant was depressed as pod number increased from 55 to 65 pods. Seed size fell as pod number per plant increased over 20 pods and was less affected once the number of seeds per pod was reduced. The reduction in seed number per pod resulted from an increase in the number of seeds that aborted during seed filling. The data suggest that at a plant density of 36 plants/m2 there is potential for improving seed yield per plant by increasing the number of pods that reach maturity, provided it does not exceed 30 pods/plant. However, if consideration is given to producing large seeds, often preferred by buyers, the number of pods per plant should not exceed 20 pods.


2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
G. A. Sandral ◽  
J. M. Virgona ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
B. A. Orchard ◽  
...  

The effect of the density of 3 perennial species, phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia richardsonii Kunth), and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), on seed set, regeneration, and the relative competitiveness of 3 cultivars of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was examined in 2 environments in the south-eastern Australian wheatbelt. Seed yields of subterranean clover were inversely related to perennial density at both sites over the first 2 years, the relationship varying with perennial species. Phalaris depressed the seed yield of clover more than lucerne and wallaby grass in the second and third year at equivalent densities. Clover seed yield was positively related to clover herbage yield in late spring at both sites, and inversely related to perennial herbage yield. Clover seed yield displayed an increasing linear relationship with the proportion of light reaching the clover understorey in spring, which in turn was inversely related to perennial density and perennial herbage yield. Clover seedling regeneration in mixed swards in autumn was positively related to the size of the summer seed bank, but negatively related to perennial density. Clover seedling survival following a premature germination at Kamarah was inversely correlated to the density of phalaris and lucerne in the sward. The relative competitiveness of the 3 subterranean clover cultivars varied between sites, with climatic conditions (rainfall and growing-season length) having a greater effect on the relative cultivar performance than companion perennial species or density. The later maturing subterranean clover cv. Goulburn became the dominant cultivar at the wetter site, constituting 72% of the seed bank, but declined to only 3–8% of the seed bank at the drier site. The proportion of the early flowering cultivar Dalkeith in the seed bank increased over time at the drier site and was highest (53%) in plots with the highest perennial density. We concluded that although perennial pasture species will depress clover seed yield and subsequent regeneration, these effects could be minimised by reducing perennial densities and exploiting variations in competitiveness between perennial species as identified in this study. Sowing earlier maturing subterranean clover cultivars would only be an advantage in increasing clover content in low-rainfall environments. The findings suggest that clover seed reserves and regeneration could also be increased by using grazing management to reduce the level of shading of clover by perennials, a factor associated with reduced clover seed yield.


1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
WJ Collins ◽  
RC Rossiter ◽  
MA Ramas

Swards of three strains of subterranean clover (Woogenellup, Clare and Seaton Park) were subjected to three shading treatments (30%, 55% and 100% of daylight) from the beginning of flowering onwards. For the 100% daylight (unshaded) treatment the incoming daily solar radiation averaged between 20 and 30 MJ/m2. In the unshaded treatment, seed yields for the three strains ranged from about 120 to almost 200 g/m2. These yields were invariably decreased by shading. Moreover the evidence indicated a curvilinear relationship between seed yield and light supply such that at 50% of daylight there was a reduction of rather more than 50% in seed yield. Shading mainly affected the number of inflorescences produced per unit area, although other components of seed yield were also affected adversely. Even late shading (towards the end of flowering) led to lower seed yield, partly associated with lower inflorescence numbers and partly with lower seed numbers per burr. The results are considered to have significance for clover regeneration in mixed clover/grass pastures and also in the cloveritree associations of agro-forestry.


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Ru ◽  
J. A. Fortune

The nutritive value of 26 cultivars of dry, mature subterranean clover was evaluated at Shenton Park, Perth, Western Australia. The cultivars were divided into 3 maturity groups according to flowering time and each cultivar was sown in blocks comprising 4 replicates. The plots were grazed by sheep at 2-week intervals during the growing season. Dry mature plant material and soil were sampled in summer to examine the effect of grazing and cultivar on seed yield and nutritive value of feed residues. Cultivars heavily grazed in spring had a low herbage mass. There was no difference in seed yield and seed weight between heavily and lightly grazed cultivars. Dry matter digestibility and mineral content of dry residues was inconsistent for the 2 grazing treatments. The dry matter digestibility of dry, mature subterranean clover ranged from 40 to 56%, with a wide range of crude fibre, nitrogen and mineral content for the 26 cultivars. While most minerals in the dry residues were above the requirement for sheep, 7 cultivars had a zinc content less than the maintenance requirement for sheep. There was an imbalance for all cultivars in calcium: phosphorus with a range of 4–10: 1. Concurrent estimates on the yield and composition of seed indicated that seed can be resource of minerals for grazing animals in summer. Most cultivars had a seed yield over 100 g/m2 with that of 9 cultivars being over 130 g/m2. Seed was rich in nitrogen, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc and copper, and poor in sodium, calcium and manganese. However, there were no cultivars with an appropriate ratio of calcium and phosphorus. The imbalance in nitrogen and sulfur was a result of high nitrogen content with the ratio ranging from 19: 1 to 29: 1.


1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
GB Taylor ◽  
RC Rossiter

Seed production and persistence of the Carnamah, Northam A, Dwalganup, and Geraldton strains of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were examined in undefoliated swards in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. The early flowering characteristic of Carnamah was not always associated with higher seed yields. Only when there was a well-defined, early finish to the growing season, or when flowering was very much earlier in Carnamah (viz., following an early 'break' to the season), did this strain clearly outyield both Northam A and Geraldton. The seed yield of Dwalganup was generally inferior to that of the other strains. Factors affecting regeneration are discussed. Under low rainfall conditions, poorer germination-regulation of Carnamah, compared with Geraldton and Northam A, would be expected to result in poorer persistence unless offset by higher seed yields in the Carnamah strain.


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