Nutrient responses and macronutrient composition of some Trifolium repens×Trifolium uniflorum interspecific hybrids

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 370 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Nichols ◽  
R. W. Hofmann ◽  
W. M. Williams ◽  
J. R. Crush

Interspecific hybridisation is being utilised in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) breeding programs to overcome factors currently restricting productivity and persistence. Valuable new traits that may be introduced from the wild relative T. uniflorum include root characteristics and other adaptations to its natural, Mediterranean habitat. This study examined the effect of hybridisation on growth and macronutrient composition of white clover compared with T. uniflorum and T. repens × T. uniflorum backcross 1 (BC1) hybrids in two glasshouse sand culture experiments. Shoot and root dry weights of BC1 hybrids were greater than of white clover in low-concentration nutrient treatments but not in a more concentrated treatment. Decreases in dry weight with decreasing nutrient treatment strength were also smaller for some BC1 hybrids compared with white clover and other hybrid families. Most foliar macronutrient levels were adequate for white clover growth, but mean shoot or leaf phosphorus (P) concentrations were below published critical levels. Higher dry matter production under these low internal P concentrations suggests that some T. repens × T. uniflorum BC1 hybrids may be more tolerant of lower soil P levels than white clover. Such adaptations are likely to have been inherited from T. uniflorum. However, transgressive segregation may also be occurring, as T. uniflorum was larger than white clover in some, but not all, cases of low nutrient supply.

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 382 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Nichols ◽  
J. R. Crush ◽  
L. Ouyang

Previous studies in sand culture suggested that some white clover (Trifolium repens) × T. uniflorum interspecific hybrids were more tolerant than white clover of low external phosphate (P) supply. Here, P acquisition and growth responses were determined in soil for two T. repens × T. uniflorum backcross hybrids and their parental white clover cultivar, grown in a glasshouse pot experiment at Olsen P of 6, 7, 9, 14, or 20 mg P kg–1 soil. Growth of all of the clover entries responded strongly to increasing soil P levels, and one hybrid clover grew, on average, 17% better than the white clover control cultivar at Olsen soil P 9–20 mg kg–1. Internal P concentrations and shoot growth per unit P absorbed did not differ among the clovers. Instead, improved growth of the hybrid resulted from a greater ability to acquire soil P. This hybrid had the longest, most frequently branched roots. Frequent branching and growth of root tips into fresh soil would reduce the limitations to P uptake imposed by slow diffusion of P to the root surface. The results confirm previous observations that interspecific hybridisation is a useful strategy for increasing the range of P responsiveness in breeding populations for white clover.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 885
Author(s):  
Muhammad Naeem ◽  
I. M. Verry ◽  
P. D. Kemp ◽  
J. P. Millner ◽  
W. M. Williams

Trifolium repens L. (white clover) is an important component of temperate pastures, but its root morphology makes it vulnerable to drought and pest attack. T. uniflorum is a wild species, adapted to dry environments, with deep woody roots but poor vegetative growth and only 1–3 florets per inflorescence (head). Interspecific hybridisation to incorporate the drought tolerance and root characteristics of T. uniflorum into white clover led to primary hybrids (F1 and BC1) with poor seed production. Advanced-generation hybrids expressed high variation for almost all seed-production traits, and seed production responded to selection. To inform future breeding programs, trait associations and heritabilities were analysed. Numbers of heads per plant, florets per head and seeds per floret were important factors with moderate–high heritabilities. The derived traits, numbers of seeds per head, florets per plant and seeds per plant, expressed low–moderate heritabilities. No negative associations between seed production and root traits were found in the hybrids, nor were there any negative associations among head production, persistence and foliage production. Selection for improved seed-production traits should be effective without adversely affecting vegetative traits.


2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 911 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Nichols ◽  
R. W. Hofmann ◽  
W. M. Williams

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a widely used and highly valued temperate legume; however, its productivity and survival are restricted under dryland and drought conditions. This study investigated whether drought resistance of white clover could be improved by interspecific hybridisation with Trifolium uniflorum L. After almost 4 months without irrigation in a rain-shelter facility, shoot dry weight (DW) decreased significantly less in first-generation backcross (BC1) hybrids (–47%) than second-generation backcross (BC2) hybrids (–68%) and white clover (–69%). Stolon morphological parameters such as internode length and leaf lamina area also decreased less under water stress in the BC1 hybrids than in BC2 and white clover. There was also lower senescence in BC1 under water stress than in the other clover types. Genotypes with smaller changes in leaf lamina area, internode length, senescence and lateral spread had smaller changes in shoot DW, and there were significant correlations between constitutive levels of some characteristics and the effect of water stress on shoot DW. Under water stress, the growth form of the BC1 hybrids was compact, dense and prostrate, whereas white clover was more spreading and open. Increased allocation of dry matter to roots under drought, and greater root diameter, may also have influenced the ability of BC1 hybrids to maintain water uptake and key physiological processes. Overall, the data confirm that the drought resistance of white clover can be improved through hybridisation with T. uniflorum.


1996 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 163-166
Author(s):  
J. Van den Bosch ◽  
C.F. Mercer

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne sp.) reduces growth and nutrition of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in New Zealand, and breeding resistant cultivars (with low galls per gram of root) is the preferred control method. Resistant and susceptible selections were bred from a wide range of white clover lines for three generations. In the third generation there were significant differences between seed lines from the selections for number of galls, root dry weight, visual growth score and galls/gram of root dry weight. Resistant selections had 43% of the susceptible selections' galls per gram, and 50% of the number of galls. Germplasm showing resistance to Meloidogyne spp. in the USA showed partial resistance to the local Meloidogyne sp. Two resistant and two susceptible genotypes were also compared for nematode egg production; resistant genotypes had a mean of 3,460 eggs/plant, compared to 25,030 for susceptible genotypes. Keywords: breeding, Meloidogyne sp., resistance, rootknot nematode, screening, selection, Trifolium repens, white clover


1989 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. M. Hay ◽  
J. L. Brock ◽  
V. J. Thomas

SUMMARYDensities of physiologically independent plants of white clover were studied in New Zealand in pastures stocked at 22·5 ewes plus lambs/ha by set stocking, rotational grazing or a combination of both systems. Plants were sampled once a month for 1 year (1984/85) by taking turves and washing out the plants. Numbers of growing points and stolon dry weight per plant were obtained. At each sampling fifty, 50 mm diameter pasture plugs were taken from each sward and growing point density and stolon mass/m2 of white clover were measured. The density of white clover plants in the swards was estimated on the basis of both stolon dry weight and number of growing points.The two estimates gave similar results. There was a trend of lowest densities in set-stocked pastures (334/m2), intermediate densities in combination management pastures (431/m2) and highest densities in the rotationally grazed pastures (553/m2). The overall mean density of white clover plants was 439/m2 and the range was 193–811/m2.The structure of swards under the three systems of grazing differed and this was considered to contribute towards the variation in density of white clover plants in the various swards.


1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1591-1595 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Murray ◽  
D. J. Hatch ◽  
J. B. Cliquet

The impact of root herbivory by larvae of the weevil Sitona flavescens (Marsh.) on the growth and carbon and nitrogen economies of seedlings of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and the nature and extent of nitrogenous compounds found in the root exudates taken from the rhizosphere were investigated. The seedlings were grown in sand culture in a system of microlysimeters that enabled sequential sampling of root exudates. Weevil infestation significantly reduced foliar biomass and total N and C contents and impaired N-fixation. The C:N ratios of the infested plants were significantly increased compared with those of uninfested seedlings. The most abundant amino acids in the exudates were aspartic acid and serine. Keywords: nitrogen fixation, Sitona spp., root exudates, white clover.


1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 500 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Spencer

Plants of white clover (Trifolium repens L. var. Ladino) were grown in sand culture with four levels of sulphur supply. Growth increased with increasing sulphur supply, all plants except those at the highest sulphur level showing deficiency symptoms. As the severity of the deficiency increased, the root system formed a proportionately larger part of the plant, and the stems and petioles smaller proportions; the proportion of the whole plant formed by the laminae was reduced to only a slight extent. Nitrogen and sulphur fractions were examined in the laminae, nitrogen at each of three harvests and sulphur at the second harvest. The percentages of protein nitrogen and of total nitrogen increased as sulphur supply increased, protein nitrogen forming a greater proportion of the total nitrogen at the higher sulphur levels. In contrast, protein sulphur formed the bulk of the total sulphur in deficient plants, but as sulphur supply approached an adequate level for growth, there was a marked increase in non-protein organic sulphur and a smaller increase in sulphate sulphur. In this respect, white clover appears to differ from legumes other than Trifolium spp. and from non-legumes, all of which accumulate sulphur mainly as sulphate.


Nematology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris F. Mercer ◽  
John Van Den Bosch ◽  
Kylie J. Miller

Abstract Selections of white clover resistant or susceptible to Heterodera trifolii in earlier rounds of a recurrent selection programme were intercrossed and selected in three further rounds of selection. Resistance and susceptibility were measured by comparisons of cysts per gram of root dry weight (cpg). In the third, fourth, and fifth rounds of recurrent selection, the mean cpg of progenies from resistant parents was 23% (n = 974), 6% (n = 870) and 11% (n = 98) of that of progenies from susceptible parents. In each selection round, the resistant selections had 31, 4 and 7% of the number of cysts on susceptible selections. The percentages of immune plants (i.e. with 0 cysts) in the resistant groups were 1, 39, and 50% after the third, fourth, and fifth rounds of recurrent selection, respectively. Inoculum from 16 populations of H. trifolii from around New Zealand was added to two resistant and two susceptible white clover lines. After one generation of nematode development there were fewer cysts on the resistant lines for each population tested. Two resistant and two susceptible lines were compared in a glasshouse trial for their reaction to parasitism by H. trifolii . Infection reduced the shoot weight of all four lines but resistant lines grew better than either one or both susceptible lines at 109, 126, and 160 days after inoculation. In contrast, the uninfected lines did not differ in shoot weight over five samplings. More cysts were recovered from susceptible lines (means of 370 and 430 cysts per plant) than from resistant lines (means of 41 and 56 cysts per plant). Results indicate that development of a white clover cultivar resistant to H. trifolii is achievable and that the resistance will be effective against the nematode in most of New Zealand. The growth study indicated that advantages will be conferred in pastures where the presence of H. trifolii causes major limitations to white clover growth and persistence. Zusammenfassung- Die Wirksamkeit einer mehrfach wiederholten Selektion von Weissklee (Trifolium repens) auf Resistenz gegen das Kleezystenalchen (Heterodera trifolii)- In einem fruheren Selektionsprogramm gegen Heterodera trifolii resistente oder anfallige Weisskleeselektionen wurden gekreuzt und in weiteren Selektionsrunden selektiert. Resistenz und Anfalligkeit wurden durch Vergleich der Anzahl der Zysten je Gramm Wurzeltrockengewicht (cpg) bestimmt. In der dritten, vierten und funften Runde der Wiederholungsselektion betrugen die cpg-Werte bei Nachkommen von resistenten Eltern 23% (n = 974), 6% (n = 870) und 11% (n = 98) der Werte bei Nachkommen anfalliger Eltern. In jeder der Selektionsrunden hatten die resistenten Selektionen nur 31, 4 und 7% der Zystenzahlen an den anfalligen Selektionen. Nach der dritten, vierten bzw. funften Selektionsrunde betrugen die Anteile immuner Pflanzen (d.h. mit 0 Zysten) 1, 39 bzw. 50%. Das Inoculum von 16 Populationen aus ganz Neuseeland wurde an zwei resistente und zwei anfallige Weisskleelinien gegeben. Nach einer Generation der Nematodenentwicklung waren an den resistenten Linien bei jeder der untersuchten Populationen weniger Zysten. Die Reaktion von zwei resistenten und zwei anfalligen Linien auf einen Befall mit H. trifolii wurde in einem Gewachshausversuch gepruft. Der Befall verringerte das Sprossgewicht aller vier Linien, doch wuchsen die resistenten Linien nach 109, 126 und 160 Tagen besser als die beiden anfalligen Linien. Im Gegensatz dazu unterschieden sich die Linien bei Nichtbefall bei funf Probenahmen im Sprossgewicht nicht voneinander. An den anfalligen Pflanzen wurden mehr Zysten gefunden (im Mittel 370 und 430 je Pflanze) als an den resistenten Pflanzen (im Mittel 41 und 56 je Pflanze). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Entwicklung einer gegen H. trifolii resistenten Weisskleesorte erreichbar ist, und dass diese Resistenz gegen die Nematoden im grossten Teil Neuseelands wirksam sein wird. Die Wachstumsuntersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass die Vorteile besonders auf solchen Weideflachen deutlich werden, wo die Anwesenheit von H. trifolii erhebliche Einschrankungen des Wachstums und des Uberdauerns von Weissklee verursacht.


2014 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 197-202
Author(s):  
S.N. Nichols ◽  
J.R. Crush

Abstract Strategies to reduce the economic and environmental costs of phosphate (P) fertiliser use in mixed pastures through plant breeding are focussed on inefficiencies in the legume component. One approach is breeding within white clover for root systems with improved P acquisition properties. Selection for root length per unit root weight (specific root length, SRL) showed that higher SRL plants could retain more biomass in the above ground fraction with decreasing soil P, whereas plants with lower SRL diverted more biomass to roots. Back cross 1 (BC1) generation interspecific hybrids between white clover and a wild relative, Trifolium uniflorum L., may possess additional root traits influencing P acquisition. In glasshouse experiments, some T. repens × T. uniflorum hybrids, back-crossed to white clover, also exhibited higher shoot dry weight than their white clover cultivar parents at low nutrient supply levels and low to intermediate soil Olsen P. This, combined with low internal P concentrations, suggests some BC1 hybrids may be more tolerant of low soil P than white clover. Differences in both P acquisition ability and internal P use efficiency may contribute to the observed yield differences. There are good prospects for delivery of new-generation clover cultivars with improved phosphate use efficiency to New Zealand farmers. Keywords: phosphorus, white clover, Trifolium uniflorum, interspecific


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