Genetic variation in five populations of strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum cv. Palestine) in Western Australia
K. S. McDonald A C , P. S. Cocks B and M. A. Ewing BA Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, 10 Dore Street, Katanning, WA 6317, Australia.
B CRC for Plant Based Management of Dryland Salinity and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: kmcdonald@agric.wa.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(11) 1445-1451 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04154
Submitted: 30 July 2004 Accepted: 15 February 2005 Published: 16 December 2005
Abstract
Genetic variation within and among populations of an outcrossing stoloniferous perennial legume, strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.), was studied using seed collected from 5 different locations in Western Australia. The sites ranged from Badgingarra to the north of the wheatbelt to Karridale in the southwest of the state. Seed was collected randomly at each site and was grown out at the University of Western Australia Field Station at Shenton Park, Perth. Thirteen morphological plant traits were measured and analysed. Results show that within-population variation was extremely high. In contrast, among-population variation was generally low with most characters showing only 8–15% of the total variation. Despite this, all but 1 of the measured plant traits differed among populations. Principal components analysis highlighted the large amount of variation within the populations with the first 3 principal components accounting for only 59% of the total variation. We suggest that the populations have begun to differentiate into ecotypes more suited to those habitats into which they have been sown but that within-population variation remains high due to the outcrossing nature of strawberry clover.
Additional keywords: ecotypic variation, population genetics.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the assistance of Mr Glenn McDonald in managing the field experiment, Ms Sarita Bennett and Mr Andrew Van Burgel for help with statistical analyses and Dr Megan Ryan for assistance with preparation of the manuscript. We must also thank Mr David Monks, Mr Greg Mathews, Mr Len Read and Dr Clive Francis for allowing us access to strawberry clover pastures on their properties. The Grains Research and Development Corporation provided financial assistance for this project.
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