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The effect of stolon burial and defoliation early in the growing season on white clover performance
Author(s) -
GRANT S. A.,
TORVELL L.,
SIM E. M.,
SMALL J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1991.tb02220.x
Subject(s) - stolon , axillary bud , biology , loam , growing season , trifolium repens , agronomy , horticulture , soil water , ecology , explant culture , biochemistry , in vitro
Abstract A factorial pot‐experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of burial of stolons (stolons unburied or buried to a depth of 0·5–1 cm at day 0), with and without defoliation (plants uncut or all unfolded laminae removed at weekly intervals) on the growth of two varieties of white clover (cv. Kent or cv. Milkanova) harvested on three dates (14 d, 28 d and 42 d after burial). The soil used was a 3:2:1 mixture of clay loam:peat:sand, and there were three replicates of each variety for each treatment at each harvest date. Burial of stolons in the absence of defoliation had no effect on stolon extension, leaf appearance, or the concentration of water‐soluble carbohydrate in the stolons. The number of axillary buds developing (new branches plus flowers) was increased on the new surface‐growing tips of primary stolons but was reduced on branch (i.e. secondary) stolons. The proportion of branches to flowers was largely unaffected by burial. Defoliation caused substantial reductions in the concentration of water‐soluble carbohydrates in stolons and stolon extension growth, a reduction in number of axillary buds developing, and in the proportion of buds which were floral, but had only a small effect in reducing leaf appearance. The combination of stolon burial and defoliation resulted in the death of secondary stolons; 42% of all secondary stolons had died by day 42, and stolon extension, leaf appearance and numbers of axillary buds developing on secondary stolons were severely reduced. The numbers of axillary buds developing on primary stolons was increased owing to more buds developing on the resurfaced stolon tips, but the increase was inadequate to compensate for the reduced growth, and death of secondary stolons. Differences between clover varieties in response to treatments were small. In general, the smaller variety, cv. Kent, was more adversely affected by burial than the larger variety, cv. Milkanova. A variety x defoliation interaction occurred for senescence of leaves; petiole senescence of cut leaves was reduced or similar to that of intact leaves for cv. Kent, but was increased for cv. Milkanova. The results are discussed in relation to treatment effects on carbon sources and sinks, and in relation to climate‐soil interactions.