Open AccessEffect of canopystructure and light intensity on seed production in white clover
Author(s) -
S. V. Pasumarty,
R. G. Thomas
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand grassland association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1179-4577
pISSN - 0369-3902
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.1990.52.1964
Subject(s) - canopy , shading , biology , agronomy , pollination , overcast , light intensity , horticulture , thinning , botany , pollen , geography , ecology , physics , optics , art , sky , meteorology , visual arts
A field experiment was structure and light intensity on seed production A field experiment conducted during the summer of 1989-90 to determine to what extentand under what growing conditions the seed yield of white clover flower heads is influenced by canopy density and overcast weather conditions in plants of 'Grasslands Pitau'. Overcast weather was simulated by artificially shading the plants. The flower heads developed in a dense canopy produced 37% fewer seeds per head than those formed in an open canopy. Seed yield per flower head was also strongly affected by artificial shading. When plants were shaded only before pollination there was a 3 1% reduction in seed number per head; when shade was given only after pollination there was a reduction of 25%. It is argued that a major advantage of the practice of defoliation at the time of closing for seed production is enhancement of flower fertility; and that decreased seed set in duller, wetter summers is probably, at least in part; attributable to increased ovule sterility in the dense canopies formed under those conditions, Keywords: white clover, canopy, light intensity, seed yield