A WHITE CLOVER BRED FOR SOUTHERN REGIONS

Abstract

Between 1975 and 1982, 320 white clover lines from overseas and New Zealand were evaluated for agronomic potential in southern regions of New Zealand. Two distinct types showed promise. Persistent ecotypes with small leaves and many stolons had an active spring-summer growth pattern suited to the climate of OtagwSouthland Productive types ('Grassland Huia' selections, Mediterranean and French material) had larger leaves with fewer stolons, competed well with grass, were tolerant to leaf diseases but lacked persistence. In 1983, a hybridisation programme combined the desirable features of both persistent and productive types. The best Fl and F2 hybrid lines had a dense morphology, produced 20% greater sprinpsummer yields than the standard Huia and showed good leaf disease tolerance. In 1985, 58 superior plants were selected and polycrossed. The bulk seed from this isolation formed a new we-release cultivar called Southern selection. The selection is being compared with HUM in wards under rotational grazing at Gore. In the 1987/00 year, the selection produced 9% greater spring-summer and annual clover yields than Huia. Improved clover herbage yield was a consequence of rapid stolen development over spring. Grass and total herbage yields from the two clover-based pastures were similar. The trial will be continued in order to obtain long-term production data Keywords: white clover, 'Grasslands Huia'. Southern selection, ryegrass, breeding, productivity, persistence