Effects of early defoliation on the seedling growth of subterranean clover

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted in an open-sided glass shelter at Perth during winter. Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum, L.) seedlings were grown in shallow seed boxes at low plant densities, 2 4 and 2 0 plants/dm2. The effects of a single defoliation involving mainly the removal of cotyledons only, on shoot growth and leaf production were measured at harvest, c. 5 weeks after sowing. Total shoot dry weights were reduced by 15-30% when 40-60% of the leaf area was removed by single defoliations from days 7 to 19 after planting. However, the growth was reduced by almost 70% when both cotyledons were removed (days 7 to 9) before emergence of the unifoliate leaf, i.e. when all of the leaf area was removed. In general, the relative reduction in growth largely depended on the percentage of leaf area removed, rather than on time of removal. Defoliation also reduced the size of trifoliate leaves, and total numbers of trifoliate leaves at harvest. There was a linear relationship between total leaf numbers and shoot dry weights. In the field, these findings are probably of more relevance in terms of insect damage, especially from redlegged earth mites, than for grazing by sheep.