The assessment of herbage legume varieties: IV. The potential of 64-chromosome white clover

Abstract

SUMMARYColchicine induced 64-chromosome white clover was compared at a number of centres with control material (2n = 32), as spaced plants and in broadcast plots with and without companion grasses.The chromosome-doubled material generally conformed to the well-known reaction of polyploids; the plants were later flowering, had thicker petioles and stolons, broader leaflets and spread less vigorously. Yield of green matter of spaced plants was much less, and in broadcast plots the gross yield (grass + clover) and that of the clover fraction was 7% less than in comparable S. 100 plots. The Finlay-Wilkinson analysis indicated that the chromosome-doubled form did not respond to improved conditions to the same extent as did the control varieties. The presence of grass in the mixture partly compensated for low clover yield, but was insufficient to increase total yields to that of S. 100 controls.