Open AccessHeritable differences in white clover for response to phosphorus: new prospects for low input pastoral systems
Author(s) -
J. R. Caradus,
A. D. Mackay,
S. Wewala,
Jeffrey D. Hart,
M. G. Lambert,
J. Van Den Bosch,
M. J. M. Hay
Publication year - 1991
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.1991.53.2006
Subject(s) - trifolium repens , biology , cultivar , heritability , phosphorus , agronomy , white (mutation) , genotype , chemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , gene , biochemistry
Three large glasshouse experiments were conducted to identify white clover (Trifolium repens L.) genotypes, and develop experimental seed lines, with increased tolerance of low-phosphorus (P) soils. The first compared the P response of 119 white clovercultivars; the second, the P response of 110 white clover genotypes from 11 selected cultivars; and the third the P response of progeny from crosses between genotypes selected for differences in response to added P. There were significant differences among cultivars and genotypes for shoot dry weight response to added P. Evaluation of progeny showed that high P response was dominant over low P response, the general combining abilities of all high P response genotypes were greater than that of the low P response genotypes, and that narrow sense heritabilities for P response were moderate (~0.4). The chances of manipulating differences in P response by breeding, application of the results to dateandfuturedirectionsofthisworkarediscussed. Keywords white clover, Trifolium repens, phosphorus response, low-phosphorus tolerance, heritability, breeding, combining ability