Publication Date
1993
Description
The paper outlines the problems associated with the use of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in northern Europe and describes the potential for, and progress in, overcoming these problems through genecic improvement. Special emphasis is placed on progress in breeding for tolerance to climatic stresses, particularly high and low temperacure and water stress which also provides options for coping with future climate change. Breeding for response to environmental and biotic factors has improved general compatibility and produced varieties with increased flexibility in grazing tolerance. Such tolerance has been achieved by changing plant morphology and also by utilising greater levels of intraplant plasticity. Other factors such as Cota! sward yield can be increased by improved companion grass yield in mixture without an. associated penalty in clover yield, while seed production and particularly harvestability of seed in adverse climates has been improved, by selection for long, strong peduncles, without loss of agronomic performance. Genetic resources are extensive and largely untapped providing opportunities for major improvements in white clover. Exciting new opportunities also exist in the novel variation created by biotechnological procedures. Recent progress in this area is outlined.
Citation
Rhodes, I; Webb, K J.; Evans, D R.; and Collins, R P., "Problems, Potentialities and Progress in White Clover Breeding" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 15.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/15
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Problems, Potentialities and Progress in White Clover Breeding
The paper outlines the problems associated with the use of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in northern Europe and describes the potential for, and progress in, overcoming these problems through genecic improvement. Special emphasis is placed on progress in breeding for tolerance to climatic stresses, particularly high and low temperacure and water stress which also provides options for coping with future climate change. Breeding for response to environmental and biotic factors has improved general compatibility and produced varieties with increased flexibility in grazing tolerance. Such tolerance has been achieved by changing plant morphology and also by utilising greater levels of intraplant plasticity. Other factors such as Cota! sward yield can be increased by improved companion grass yield in mixture without an. associated penalty in clover yield, while seed production and particularly harvestability of seed in adverse climates has been improved, by selection for long, strong peduncles, without loss of agronomic performance. Genetic resources are extensive and largely untapped providing opportunities for major improvements in white clover. Exciting new opportunities also exist in the novel variation created by biotechnological procedures. Recent progress in this area is outlined.
