1 Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture (FAL), CH-8046 Zurich, Switzerland. Fax +41 (0)1 377 72 01, andreas.luescher{at}fal.admin.ch
The greater sensitivity of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) to low temperature compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a major problem in sustaining the relative contributions to yield of the two species in mixed swards. The objectives of this investigation were to examine the dynamics of leaf development of two white clover cultivars, AberHerald and Grasslands Huia, under field conditions, and to determine the significance of leaf area in winter, and of competition by perennial ryegrass, for the overwintering and regrowth of white clover in spring. Undefoliated white clover plants developed 3·8–6·6 new leaves between late autumn and early spring, and stolon dry matter and total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) content increased by 262 and by 68% respectively. In contrast, white clover plants that were defoliated frequently during the winter showed a 28% decrease in stolon dry matter and an 82% decrease in the content of TNC. Frequent defoliation in winter caused severe reduction in the rates of emergence of nodes (by 60%) and of buds (by 67%), and the rate of death of nodes and buds increased by a factor of 10, leading to small stolon systems of individual plants in spring. Competition had similar, but weaker, effects to those of winter defoliation, presumably caused by shading of white clover leaves. AberHerald had a higher cumulative leaf emergence (by 22%), a higher mean leaf number (by 23%), a higher stolon DM (by 36%) and a higher TNC content per plant (by 115%) than Grasslands Huia. Results demonstrate the crucial positive role of leaf area during winter, the negative effect of grass competition, and the importance of the clover cultivar, for the overwintering and subsequent spring regrowth of white clover.
Trifolium repens L., white clover, Lolium perenne L., perennial ryegrass, leaf development, death rate, stolon, carbohydrates, nodes, buds, competition, defoliation
Submitted on January 31, 2001
© 2001 Annals of Botany Company
Leaf Area, Competition with Grass, and Clover Cultivar: Key Factors to Successful Overwintering and Fast Regrowth of White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) in Spring
Revised on April 15, 2001
Accepted on June 25, 2001
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  H. Seker, D. E. Rowe, and G. E. Brink White Clover Morphology Changes with Stress Treatments Crop Sci., November 1, 2003; 43(6): 2218 - 2225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|