New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Morphology and agronomic performance of white clover with increased flowering and condensed tannin concentration
V. T. Burggraaf1,*
S. L. Woodward1
D. R. Woodfield2
E. R. Thom1
G. C. Waghorn1
P. D. Kemp3
1Dexcel
Private Bag 3221
Hamilton, New Zealand
vicki.burggraaf@agresearch.co.nz
2AgResearch Ltd
Private Bag 11 008
Palmerston North, New Zealand
3Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
*Present address: AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Abstract High tannin (HT) white clover (Trifolium repens),
bred for increased floral condensed tannin (CT) and flowering
prolificacy, was assessed under dairy grazing in the Waikato region of
New Zealand. HT and ‘Grasslands Huia’ white clover
monocultures sown in April 2001 were monitored until November 2003. HT
grew 1 t DM ha–1 less than ‘Huia’
each year and both had similar CT concentrations in flower heads across
sampling dates (13–80 g kg–1
DM). HT had more flowers per plant and per node than
‘Huia’, but similar numbers of stolon branches per node.
Higher flower densities in HT than ‘Huia’ swards from
October 2001 to January 2003 resulted in higher clover CT
concentrations, reaching 12 g kg–1
clover DM, but contamination of HT swards by clover plants arising from
the seedbank reduced treatment differences. Future attempts to increase
CT concentration in white clover should involve CT expression in
foliage rather than flowers to maintain agronomic performance.
Keywords condensed tannin; cyanogenesis; flowering; morphology; stolon branching; Trifolium repens; white clover
A05036; Received 23 August 2005; accepted 20 January 2006; Online publication date 9 May 2006
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2006, Vol. 49: 147–155
0028–8233/06/4902–0147 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2006
PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality (291K) | screen-quality (443K)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
