The effect of colchicine and indolyl acetic acid on diploid and tetraploid strains of red and white clovers in aseptic and pot culture

Abstract

The effect of different concentrations of colchicine and indolyl acetic acid (IAA) on diploid and tetraploid strains of red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (Trifolium repens) was tested in both non-sterile pot culture and in aseptic culture. It was found that in pot culture, concentrations of one in ten thousand and one in five thousand colchicine considerably increased nodulation of both the diploid and the tetraploid plants. This was equally true of red and white clovers. In aseptic culture a concentration of one in five thousand had adverse effects on growth of white clover plants though concentrations of one ppm colchicine or one in ten thousand colchicine again produced higher nodule numbers than untreated, control plants. This was regarded as probably due to a slower breakdown of the colchicine in aseptic culture than in the soil.