Publication Date
1993
Description
White clover (Trifolium repens L.) domestication began in the 16th century in Europe. However, it was not until the early 1920s that broad • agronomic groups were recognised, and not until the early 1930s that selections for improved agronomic performance were made within major ecotypes. Since then more than ·230 cullivars and commercial ecotypes have been developed. Data from 4 trials, 2 from Czechoslovakia, l from New Zealand and I from South Africa, were used io determine whether breeding since the 1930s had significantly improved in white clover performance. Cultivars were coded by decade in which they were developed and mean cultivar performance by decade calculated. Data from all 4 trials showed that since 1930 white clover agronomic performance has improved by about 4% per decade through breeding; this translates to a 25% increase in performance since breeding efforts began - a significant linear advance.
Citation
Caradus, J R., "Progress in White Clover Agronomic Performance Through Breeding" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 30.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/30
Included in
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Progress in White Clover Agronomic Performance Through Breeding
White clover (Trifolium repens L.) domestication began in the 16th century in Europe. However, it was not until the early 1920s that broad • agronomic groups were recognised, and not until the early 1930s that selections for improved agronomic performance were made within major ecotypes. Since then more than ·230 cullivars and commercial ecotypes have been developed. Data from 4 trials, 2 from Czechoslovakia, l from New Zealand and I from South Africa, were used io determine whether breeding since the 1930s had significantly improved in white clover performance. Cultivars were coded by decade in which they were developed and mean cultivar performance by decade calculated. Data from all 4 trials showed that since 1930 white clover agronomic performance has improved by about 4% per decade through breeding; this translates to a 25% increase in performance since breeding efforts began - a significant linear advance.
