Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Seed production trait associations and inheritance in interspecific hybrids between Trifolium repens (white clover) and Trifolium uniflorum

Muhammad Naeem A B , I. M. Verry C , P. D. Kemp A , J. P. Millner A and W. M. Williams A C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

B Current address: Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Islamabad, Pakistan.

C AgResearch Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

D Corresponding author. Email: warren.williams@agresearch.co.nz

Crop and Pasture Science 68(9) 885-892 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP17048
Submitted: 3 February 2017  Accepted: 11 September 2017   Published: 18 October 2017

Abstract

Trifolium repens L. (white clover) is an important component of temperate pastures, but its root morphology makes it vulnerable to drought and pest attack. T. uniflorum is a wild species, adapted to dry environments, with deep woody roots but poor vegetative growth and only 1–3 florets per inflorescence (head). Interspecific hybridisation to incorporate the drought tolerance and root characteristics of T. uniflorum into white clover led to primary hybrids (F1 and BC1) with poor seed production. Advanced-generation hybrids expressed high variation for almost all seed-production traits, and seed production responded to selection. To inform future breeding programs, trait associations and heritabilities were analysed. Numbers of heads per plant, florets per head and seeds per floret were important factors with moderate–high heritabilities. The derived traits, numbers of seeds per head, florets per plant and seeds per plant, expressed low–moderate heritabilities. No negative associations between seed production and root traits were found in the hybrids, nor were there any negative associations among head production, persistence and foliage production. Selection for improved seed-production traits should be effective without adversely affecting vegetative traits.

Additional keywords: inflorescence size, floret number, seed yield.


References

Annicchiarico P, Piano E, Rhodes I (1999) Heritability of, and genetic correlations among, forage and seed yield traits in Ladino white clover. Plant Breeding 118, 341–346.
Heritability of, and genetic correlations among, forage and seed yield traits in Ladino white clover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barrett BA, Baird IJ, Woodfield DR (2004) Genetic tools for increased white clover seed production. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 66, 119–126.

Cain ML, Kahn B, Silander JA, Reynolds HL (1995) Genetic variability and tradeoffs among reproductive traits in white clover (Trifolium repens). Canadian Journal of Botany 73, 505–511.
Genetic variability and tradeoffs among reproductive traits in white clover (Trifolium repens).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Caradus JR, Woodfield DR (1998) Genetic control of adaptive root characteristics in white clover. Plant and Soil 200, 63–69.
Genetic control of adaptive root characteristics in white clover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXktVKktLc%3D&md5=2f61630477f936adb9cf8357ce288fc6CAS |

Chen C-C, Gibson PB (1972) Chromosome relationships of Trifolium uniflorum to T. repens and T. occidentale. Canadian Journal of Genetics and Cytology 14, 591–595.
Chromosome relationships of Trifolium uniflorum to T. repens and T. occidentale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Clifford PTP (1985) Effect of leaf area on white clover seed production. In ‘Producing herbage seed’. Grassland Research and Practice Series No. 2. (Eds MD Hare, JL Brock) pp. 25–31. (New Zealand Grasslands Association: Palmerston North, New Zealand)

Clifford PTP, Baird IJ (1993) Seed yield potential of white clover: characteristics, components and compromise. In ‘Proceedings of the XVII International Grassland Congress’. Palmerston North, New Zealand. pp. 1678–1679. (International Grassland Congress)

Dymock JJ, Caradus JR, Lane GA, van den Bosch J (1989) Growth and survival of grass grub, Costelytra zealandica, (White) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on Trifolium species and T. repens × T. uniflorum hybrids. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 32, 389–394.
Growth and survival of grass grub, Costelytra zealandica, (White) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on Trifolium species and T. repens × T. uniflorum hybrids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fehr WR (1987) ‘Principles of cultivar development. 1. Theory and techniques.’ pp. 89–91. (Macmillan: New York)

Gibson PB (1957) Effect of flowering on the persistence of white clover. Agronomy Journal 49, 213–215.
Effect of flowering on the persistence of white clover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gibson PB, Chen C-C, Gillingham JT, Barnett OW (1971) Interspecific hybridization of Trifolium uniflorum L. Crop Science 11, 895–899.
Interspecific hybridization of Trifolium uniflorum L.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hill J, Norris IB, Michaelson-Yeates TPT (1989) The inheritance of floral characters in white clover (Trifolium repens). Annals of Applied Biology 115, 101–113.
The inheritance of floral characters in white clover (Trifolium repens).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hollington PA, Marshall AH, Hides DH (1989) Effect of seed crop management on potential seed yield of contrasting white clover varieties. II. Seed yield components and potential seed yield. Grass and Forage Science 44, 189–193.
Effect of seed crop management on potential seed yield of contrasting white clover varieties. II. Seed yield components and potential seed yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hussain SW, Williams WM, Verry IM, Jahufer MZZ (2012) A morphological and cytological analysis of interspecific hybrids: Trifolium repens L. × T. uniflorum L. In ‘Proceedings Australian Legume Symposium’. pp. 67–69. (Australian Grasslands Association: Melbourne)

Jahufer MZZ, Gawler FI (2000) Genotypic variation for seed yield components in white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 657–663.
Genotypic variation for seed yield components in white clover (Trifolium repens L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jahufer MZZ, Ford JL, Widdup KH, Harris C, Cousins G, Ayres JF, Lane LA, Hofmann RW, Ballizany WL, Mercer CF, Crush JR, Williams WM, Woodfield DR, Barrett BA (2012) Improving white clover for Australasia. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 739–745.
Improving white clover for Australasia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marshall AH (1995) Peduncle characteristics, inflorescence survival and reproductive growth of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Grass and Forage Science 50, 324–330.
Peduncle characteristics, inflorescence survival and reproductive growth of white clover (Trifolium repens L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marshall AH, Holdbrook-Smith K, Michaelson-Yeates TPT, Abberton MT, Rhodes I (1998) Growth and reproductive characteristics in backcross hybrids derived from Trifolium repens L. × T. nigrescens Viv. interspecific crosses. Euphytica 104, 61–66.
Growth and reproductive characteristics in backcross hybrids derived from Trifolium repens L. × T. nigrescens Viv. interspecific crosses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marshall AH, Michaelson-Yeates TPT, Abberton MT (2008) Introgression of reproductive traits from Trifolium nigrescens increases the seed yield of white clover (T. repens). Plant Breeding 127, 597–601.
Introgression of reproductive traits from Trifolium nigrescens increases the seed yield of white clover (T. repens).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Montardo DP, Dall’Agnol M, Crusius AF, Paim NR (2003) Path analysis for seed production in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Brazilian Journal of Animal Science 32, 1076–1082.

Naeem M (2013) Analysis of seed production traits in interspecific hybrids between Trifolium repens (white clover) and Trifolium uniflorum. PhD Thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Naeem M, Verry IM, Kemp PD, Millner JP, Williams WM (2017) Comparing mating designs to restore seed production of interspecific hybrids between Trifolium repens (white clover) and T. uniflorum. Plant Breeding 136, 420–426.
Comparing mating designs to restore seed production of interspecific hybrids between Trifolium repens (white clover) and T. uniflorum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2sXhtVaktLbF&md5=8f70e368434191f635244addd6451b10CAS |

Nichols SN, Hofmann RW, Williams WM (2014a) Drought resistance of Trifolium repens × Trifolium uniflorum interspecific hybrids. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 911–921.
Drought resistance of Trifolium repens × Trifolium uniflorum interspecific hybrids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nichols SN, Hofmann RW, Williams WM, Crush JR (2014b) Nutrient responses and macronutrient composition of some Trifolium repens × Trifolium uniflorum interspecific hybrids. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 370–381.
Nutrient responses and macronutrient composition of some Trifolium repens × Trifolium uniflorum interspecific hybrids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXotVKnsbo%3D&md5=7676a8aa4d25d7f0cfaa8bd0589c696dCAS |

Nichols SN, Hofmann RW, Williams WM (2015) Effect of hybridisation with Trifolium uniflorum on tap root survival in white clover. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 58, 371–383.
Effect of hybridisation with Trifolium uniflorum on tap root survival in white clover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhvFKks7bI&md5=1a18168b3ce508edcca9887c5b88e6c2CAS |

Pandey KK, Grant JE, Williams EG (1987) Interspecific hybridisation between Trifolium repens and T. uniflorum. Australian Journal of Botany 35, 171–182.
Interspecific hybridisation between Trifolium repens and T. uniflorum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pederson GA (1989) Taproot and adventitious root growth of white clover as influenced by nitrogen nutrition. Crop Science 29, 764–768.
Taproot and adventitious root growth of white clover as influenced by nitrogen nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pederson GA, Windham GL (1989) Resistance to Meliodogyne incognita in Trifolium interspecific hybrids and species related to white clover. Plant Disease 73, 567–569.
Resistance to Meliodogyne incognita in Trifolium interspecific hybrids and species related to white clover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Piano E, Annicchiarico P (1995) Persistence of Ladino white clover ecotypes and its relationship with other agronomic traits. Grass and Forage Science 50, 195–198.
Persistence of Ladino white clover ecotypes and its relationship with other agronomic traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

SAS (2013) Principal component analysis. SAS Institute. Available at: http://support.sas.com/publishing/pubcat/chaps/55129.pdf (accessed 5 January 2013).

Thomas RG (1987) Vegetative growth and development. In ‘White clover’. (Eds MJ Baker, WM Williams) pp. 65–106. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)

Thomas RG (1996) Maximising seed production potential in white clover: factors influencing seed set per floret. In ‘White clover: New Zealand’s competitive edge’. Grassland Research and Practice Series 6. (Ed. DR Woodfield) pp. 41–44. (New Zealand Grassland Association: Palmerston North, New Zealand)

UCLA (2012) Institute for Digital Research and Education, UCLA. Multiple imputation in SAS Part 2. Available at: https://stats.idre.ucla.edu/sas/seminars/multiple-imputation-in-sas/mi_new_2/ (accessed 5 January 2013).

Van Bogaert G (1977) Factors affecting seed yield in white clover. Euphytica 26, 233–239.
Factors affecting seed yield in white clover.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williams WM (1987a) Genetics and breeding. In ‘White clover’. (Eds MJ Baker, WM Williams) pp. 300–355. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)

Williams EG (1987b) Interspecific hybridization in pasture legumes. Plant Breeding Reviews 5, 237–306.

Williams WM, Nichols SN (2011) ‘Wild crop relatives: genomic and breeding resources: Trifolium.’ (Ed. C Kole) pp. 249–272. (Springer: Heidelberg, Berlin)

Williams TA, Abberton MT, Thornley WJ, Evans DR, Rhodes I (1998) Evaluation of seed production potential in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) varietal improvement programmes. Grass and Forage Science 53, 197–207.
Evaluation of seed production potential in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) varietal improvement programmes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williams WM, Easton HS, Jones CS (2007) Future options and targets for pasture plant breeding in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 223–248.
Future options and targets for pasture plant breeding in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Woodfield DR, Caradus JR, Cousins GR, Dunn T (1996) Response to selection for increased taproot diameter. Agronomy Society of New Zealand Special Publication No. 11/Grassland Research and Practice Series No. 6. pp. 141–144. Available at: www.agronomysociety.org.nz/files/SP11_30._Selection_for_increased_taproot_diameter.pdf

Woodfield DR, Baird IJ, Clifford PTP (2004) Genetic control of white clover seed yield potential. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 66, 111–117.