ADAPTATION OF WHITE CLOVER TO MOISTURE STRESS

Abstract

In a series of four experiments, the w-seeding ability and shoot and root characteristics of dryland white clover populations (Trifolium repens L.), and the effect of selection for root characteristics within white clover were examined. There was little evidence that dryland populations were better at re-seeding than Huia, but dryland populations were more taprooted than populations collected from moister environments. Root morphologies of dryland populations were similar to that of Huia but were smaller leaved, although not as small leaved as Tahora. Evidence that selection for more taprooted, smaller-leaved types of white clover would be successful is also presented. Keywords: root type, drought, re-seeding, plant breeding, survival