Description
Broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is a popular crosspollinated, perennial legume cultivated for pasture, or hay and silage production. It does not cause bloat and can be managed to reseed to maintain stands, but significant losses occur when stands decline from disease. Wild birdsfoot trefoil with underground rhizomes was discovered in Morocco. This paper describes research to: 1) compare the morphology and anatomy of rhizomes with aerial stems, 2) determine if rhizomes could be successfully transferred to domesticated germplasm, and 3) determine the inheritance of rhizomes. Morphological and anatomical differences between rhizomes and aerial shoots of five accessions L. corniculatus from Morocco are described. Rhizomes were successfully transferred from the Moroccan germplasm to domesticated cultivars. Rhizome initiation and production was variable and may be affected by plant age and size. Full expression of rhizomes was observed under field conditions. Rhizome expression in L. corniculatus is controlled by the single dominant gene, R, but number and length of rhizomes may be influenced by quantitative effects with additive gene action. Since rhizome production and plant persistence are related, rhizomes may aid persistence of birdsfoot trefoil, lessening reliance on reseeding to maintain productive stands.
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The Expression of Rhizomes in Lotus Corniculatus L.
Broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is a popular crosspollinated, perennial legume cultivated for pasture, or hay and silage production. It does not cause bloat and can be managed to reseed to maintain stands, but significant losses occur when stands decline from disease. Wild birdsfoot trefoil with underground rhizomes was discovered in Morocco. This paper describes research to: 1) compare the morphology and anatomy of rhizomes with aerial stems, 2) determine if rhizomes could be successfully transferred to domesticated germplasm, and 3) determine the inheritance of rhizomes. Morphological and anatomical differences between rhizomes and aerial shoots of five accessions L. corniculatus from Morocco are described. Rhizomes were successfully transferred from the Moroccan germplasm to domesticated cultivars. Rhizome initiation and production was variable and may be affected by plant age and size. Full expression of rhizomes was observed under field conditions. Rhizome expression in L. corniculatus is controlled by the single dominant gene, R, but number and length of rhizomes may be influenced by quantitative effects with additive gene action. Since rhizome production and plant persistence are related, rhizomes may aid persistence of birdsfoot trefoil, lessening reliance on reseeding to maintain productive stands.
