The effect of seed weight on the early growth and nodulation of white clover

SUMMARY The results of growing, in agar culture, nodulated and un‐nodulated white clover seedlings from three seed‐weight categories, and the subsequent growth of selected plants in soil in pots, are reported. Seed‐weight variations greatly influenced plant growth, made substantial differences in nodulation parameters and nitrogen fixation, and contributed appreciably to the observed variability. The relationship of such effects to nitrogen fixation and the relevance to breeding for superior symbiosis are discussed. The growth of plants, as determined by agar culture technique, was not predictive of their subsequent performance in the soil in pots, and restricting seed weight variations did not improve the prediction. The importance of such effects and the relevance of tube culture to breeding work are discussed.