Publication Date
1989
Description
Seed yield in both Lotus corniculatus L. and Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr. (syn. L. pedunculatus Cav.) is considered to be limited by the indeterminate growth habit which results in a protracted (2-4 month) flowering period (Witchwoot, 1987; Li and Hill, 1988) leading to wide variation in seed maturity and seed loss through pod shattering. In both species seed yield is determined primarily by the number of inflorescences (Mos, 1983 ; Witchwoot, 1987), and thus treatments which alter or remove apical dominance, enhance shoot production or main stem branching thereby increasing inflorescence numbers (Clifford et al., 1983 ; Li and Hill, 1988), and reduce the spread of flowering, could be expected to increase seed yield. The plant growth regulator paclobutrazol (PP333) has successfully increased seed yields in a number of grass species (Hampton, 1988) and in white clover (Hampton, unpub. data) through decreasing apical dominance, promoting tillering or branching, preventing lodging, synchronising flowering and delaying leaf senescence. Preliminary results from trials where we examined the effect of PP333 on seed yield in L. corniculatus and L. uliginosus are reported in this paper.
Citation
Hampton, J G.; Li, Qingfeng; and Hare, M D., "Growth Regulator Effects on Seed Production of Lotus corniculatus L. and Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr." (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 2.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session5/2
Included in
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Growth Regulator Effects on Seed Production of Lotus corniculatus L. and Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr.
Seed yield in both Lotus corniculatus L. and Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr. (syn. L. pedunculatus Cav.) is considered to be limited by the indeterminate growth habit which results in a protracted (2-4 month) flowering period (Witchwoot, 1987; Li and Hill, 1988) leading to wide variation in seed maturity and seed loss through pod shattering. In both species seed yield is determined primarily by the number of inflorescences (Mos, 1983 ; Witchwoot, 1987), and thus treatments which alter or remove apical dominance, enhance shoot production or main stem branching thereby increasing inflorescence numbers (Clifford et al., 1983 ; Li and Hill, 1988), and reduce the spread of flowering, could be expected to increase seed yield. The plant growth regulator paclobutrazol (PP333) has successfully increased seed yields in a number of grass species (Hampton, 1988) and in white clover (Hampton, unpub. data) through decreasing apical dominance, promoting tillering or branching, preventing lodging, synchronising flowering and delaying leaf senescence. Preliminary results from trials where we examined the effect of PP333 on seed yield in L. corniculatus and L. uliginosus are reported in this paper.
