Author
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Venuto, Bradley |
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Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2006 Publication Date: 11/16/2006 Citation: Venuto, B.C. 2006. Vegetative and reproductive characteristics of trifolium rubens. American Society of Agronomy Meetings, November 12-16, 2006, Indianapolis, IN. 2006 CD-ROM. Interpretive Summary: ABSTRACT ONLY Technical Abstract: Evaluation of introduced or native legumes with forage, biomass or nitrogen producing potential continues to be a priority need. Trifolium rubens (L.) is a perennial legume with an origin and distribution of Eurasia, southern Europe from Poland to Albania and Italy, southern Russia, and Turkey (Gillett & Taylor, 2001). The research objective was to evaluate all available T. rubens accessions for morphological and reproductive traits including seed production. Seed of 10 accessions was provided by the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System, Regional Plant Introduction Station, Pullman, Washington. The quantity of seed ranged from 30 to 100 seed per PI. Two replications of 10 spaced plants were established for each entry on 5 May 2004. At the end of the establishment year, plant survival was not different among PIs and ranged from 85 to 100%. Survival ratings taken on 5 April 2006 also were not different with a mean of 83.5% and a range of 70 to 93% (PIs 542923 and 31559, respectively). Establishment year survival and second year survival were correlated (R = 0.57; P < 0.0001). Differences were observed among PIs for all vegetative characters evaluated including height, vigor, growth habit and leaf characteristics. Dry matter yield per plant averaged 67.1 g and ranged from 48.6 to 86.6 g (PIs 542923 and 325507, respectively). Harvested dry matter was not different among PIs. Date of flowering and seed production varied among accessions. Seed per plant ranged from 0 to 0.6g per plant in the establishment year (PIs 255396 and 314123, respectively) and from 0 to 27.5 seed per flower in 2005 (PIs 255396 and 314123, respectively). Results from evaluation of this limited number of plants revealed significant useful variation existed among plant introductions of this species. Further work in progeny evaluation of T. rubens is needed. |
