Third generation progress in breeding white clover for resistance to root-knot nematode

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

Author(s):  
J. Van den Bosch ◽  
C.F. Mercer

Clover cyst nematode (Heterodera trifolii) reduces growth and nutrient uptake of white clover (Trifolium repens) in New Zealand, and breeding resistant cultivars is the preferred control method for ecological and economic reasons. Resistant and susceptible selections were taken from a wide range of white clover seedlines. Selected plants were intercrossed and reselected over two cycles of selection. Cysts per gram of root dry weight (cysts/ g) was the measure of resistance used, with low cysts/g plants being more resistant. The mean cysts/ g value of the progenies from resistant parents was 69% of the mean value of the progenies from susceptible parents in the first generation, and 38% in the second generation. Root weights were similar, while the resistant selections had 58% and 34% (first and second generations respectively) of the number of cysts in the susceptible selections. There were no immune plants (0 cysts) in the first generation and only two in the second. Counts were made of cysts, eggs per cyst and eggs per plant on clones of two resistant and two susceptible genotypes. The resistant genotypes had lower counts than the susceptible genotypes in terms of cysts per plant (means of 6 cf. 108), eggs per cyst (11 cf. 21) and eggs per plant (35 cf. 1650). The differences in numbers of cysts between resistant and susceptible lines increased during two generations of selection, supporting earlier results that indicated that progress in breeding for resistance was possible. Furthermore, the resistance is also acting on clover cyst nematode egg production which would further reduce recruitment to later generations of clover cyst nematode. Keywords: breeding, Heterodera trifolii, resistance, screening, selection, Trifolium repens


Author(s):  
C.F. Mercer ◽  
D.R. Woodfield

Clover cyst nematode (Heterodera trifolii Goffart, 1932) and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) were found throughout summer-dry hill country in the North Island. Clover cyst nematode was found at 50% of sites in the corresponding South Island hill country regions sampled but no root knot nematode was found at South Island sites. The implication for white clover breeding programmes is discussed. Keywords: Pasture, dry hill country, clover cyst nematode, root knot nematode, Heterodera trifolii, Meloidogyne sp., white clover, Trifolium repens.


Author(s):  
K.H. Widdup ◽  
T.L. Knight ◽  
C.J. Waters

Slow establishment of caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum L.) is hindering the use of this legume in pasture mixtures. Improved genetic material is one strategy of correcting the problem. Newly harvested seed of hexaploid caucasian clover germplasm covering a range of origins, together with white and red clover and lucerne, were sown in 1 m rows in a Wakanui soil at Lincoln in November 1995. After 21 days, the caucasian clover material as a group had similar numbers of emerged seedlings as white clover and lucerne, but was inferior to red clover. There was wide variation among caucasian clover lines (48-70% seedling emergence), with the cool-season selection from cv. Monaro ranked the highest. Recurrent selection at low temperatures could be used to select material with improved rates of seedling emergence. Red clover and lucerne seedlings produced significantly greater shoot and root dry weight than caucasian and white clover seedlings. Initially, caucasian clover seedlings partitioned 1:1 shoot to root dry weight compared with 3:1 for white clover. After 2 months, caucasian clover seedlings had similar shoot growth but 3 times the root growth of white clover. Between 2 and 5 months, caucasian clover partitioned more to root and rhizome growth, resulting in a 0.3:1 shoot:root ratio compared with 2:1 for white clover. Both clover species had similar total dry weight after 5 months. Unhindered root/ rhizome devel-opment is very important to hasten the establishment phase of caucasian clover. The caucasian clover lines KZ3 and cool-season, both selections from Monaro, developed seedlings with greater shoot and root growth than cv. Monaro. KZ3 continued to produce greater root growth after 5 months, indicating the genetic potential for improvement in seedling growth rate. Different pasture estab-lishment techniques are proposed that take account of the seedling growth characteristics of caucasian clover. Keywords: establishment, genetic variation, growth, seedling emergence, Trifolium ambiguum


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.


1988 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Brock ◽  
M. J. M. Hay ◽  
V. J. Thomas ◽  
J. R. Sedcole

SummaryThere has been little study on the growth and morphology of individual plants constituting the population of white clover in mixed swards under grazing. Such information is required if the mechanisms governing plant productivity and persistence are to be understood.Intact white clover plants were sampled from intensively sheep-grazed pastures under set stocking, rotational grazing, and a combination of both systems, by taking turves (250 × 250 mm), and washing out the plants, every month for a year. Characters measured for every stolon of each plant were: presence of a growing point; numbers of leaves, roots and axillary buds; stolon length. Total plant leaf and stolon dry weight were also recorded. Plants were classified according to degree of branching, and the contribution of each branching order to the population determined.There were strong seasonal variations in plant size (leaf and stolon dry weight, stolon length, and numbers of stolons and leaves per plant) which showed a significant decrease in spring with recovery over the following summer. This was paralleled by a rapid increase in the proportion of less branched plants (1st and 2nd branching order) in the population from 60 to 80% in spring, as higher-order plants broke up into smaller- and lower-ordered plants at this time. Numbers of roots per plant increased over winter to peak in early spring then declined in the following summer-autumn. While system of grazing management had no significant effect on branching structure of plants, it had a large effect on plant dry weight; rotationally grazed plants were 2·5 times larger than set stocked plants (0·182 cf. 0·073 g respectively).Other general features of plant morphology were that each successive order of branch stolons was shorter and length before branching was less than that of their preceding parent stolon. The highest branching order observed was 6th order. There was no relationship between branching and numbers of roots; in branched plants only 55% of stolons were rooted regardless of plant order, but rooted stolons accounted for 85% of total stolon length and carried 62, 48 and 90% of the leaves, growing points and axillary buds per plant, respectively.Comparison with other studies suggests that the processes outlined in this report may be common to white clover growth under grazing over a wide range of favourable environments.


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.


Author(s):  
Fernando González-Cerón ◽  
María Alejandra Padilla-Jiménez ◽  
Arturo Pro-Martínez ◽  
José Isidro Alejos de la Fuente ◽  
Leodan Tadeo Rodríguez-Ortega ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate two types of concentrate (homemade and commercial), in laying percentage (LP, %), weight (EW, g), and egg mass (EM, g bird-1 d-1), among hens in a cage-free system. Methodology: Sixty hens aged 37 weeks (Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock) were assigned two treatments: COM, 150 g of commercial concentrate bird-1 d-1and CAS, 150 g of homemade concentrate bird-1 d-1. The birds were managed in a cage-free system with access to a meadow of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). LP, EW and EM were evaluated for 11 weeks. Results: LP was different between treatments (P<0.05) in the last four weeks of observation. In this time, the COM birds laid 17 to 24% more than CAS birds. The EW produced by birds from the COM group (59.1 to 60.7 g) was greater (P<0.05) than that of the CAS birds (55.0 to 57.0 g). In the second half of the study period, a lower EM (P<0.05) was observed in the CAS treatment (24.7 to 31.8 g bird-1 d-1) compared to the COM treatment (39.7 to. 41.8 bird-1 d-1). Study Implications: The results obtained are only valid for the types of concentrate evaluated and under the specified experimental conditions. Conclusions: The homemade concentrate reduces the productive performance of hens in a cage-free system in terms of LP, EW, and EM, when compared to the commercial concentrate.


2014 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 183-188
Author(s):  
Keith Widdup ◽  
Shirley Nichols ◽  
Warren Williams ◽  
Isabelle Verry ◽  
Ben Harvey

Abstract White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is valued for its contribution to pasture quality and utilisation by animals, compatibility with grass, and fixation of nitrogen. However, it is limited by poor adaptation to drought. Hybridisation with Trifolium uniflorum L. may have potential to improve the drought resistance of white clover. An experiment in a rain shelter facility with contrasting moisture treatments, and a field evaluation under dryland conditions, were used to compare the agronomic potential of these interspecific hybrids (ISH) with white clover in moisture limited conditions. In the rain shelter experiment, there were smaller effects of water stress on shoot dry weight (DW), leaf area, internode length and senescence of first backcross generation hybrids compared with white clover and second backcross generation hybrids. Differences in photosynthetic responses were possibly influenced by the effect of root DW allocation on water uptake. In the field evaluation, growth scores of a wider range of hybrid families during summer moisture stress concurred with the results under water stress in the rain shelter. Growth of some ISH families outperformed the best white clover cultivars, particularly in the third and most stressful summer and this result was a key performance indicator of the value of the hybrids for drought prone areas. These findings using early, unselected, hybrid populations indicate the potential for further selection of elite, adapted cultivars from ISH breeding strategies. Keywords: Interspecific clover hybrid, drought resistance, rain shelter, field evaluation


1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Blair ◽  
DC Godwin

Lack of data on root growth and relationships between root parameters and P uptake are major limitations to understanding and modelling P efficiency in crop and forage plants. An experiment was conducted whereby two accessions of white clover (Trifolium repens, Chiswick and Ladino) were grown in pots in a P deficient soil fertilized with a low (P5 [kg ha-1]) or high (P40) P application rate. Plants were harvested at 10, 16, 22, 28, 34 and 40 days after transplanting and tops harvested and roots recovered from the pots. Detailed measures of root members were made at 10, 16 and 22 days and these correlated with P uptake. Dry weight of tops of accessions was the same between the two rates of P until day 28. At 40 days, the tops yield of Ladino was higher than Chiswick at P40. Root dry weight increased with increasing P application rate and time from day 16 onwards. Significant differences in root growth only occurred at the 16 and 34 day harvests at P5. Ladino tended to have a greater mean P uptake over time than did Chiswick at both P levels. P uptake was found to be positively correlated with shoot and root dry weight, root length, root number, root volume and surface area, and negatively correlated with mean root diameter and mean length per root. Root extension rate at low P in Ladino was greater than that in Chiswick, which may explain the greater P uptake by Ladino at low P at later harvests in this experiment. The changes in length, diameter and number of roots in the two accessions examined in this study, with time, in response to P, reflect some form of coordination. Chiswick tended to produce many short roots whilst Ladino fewer long roots. Only small differences in P uptake per unit root length were measured, which suggest that total root length or root extension rate is the primary determinant of total P uptake in these accessions of white clover.


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.


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