Author
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Beuselinck, Paul |
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Submitted to: Identification of Germplasm for Successful Forage Grass and Legume Interact
Publication Type: Government Publication Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L., is a popular cross-pollinated, perennial legume cultivated for pasture, or hay and silage production. It does not cause bloat and can be managed to reseed to maintain stands. Early cultivars have influenced the perception of what researchers expect from interactions between birdsfoot trefoil and companion grasses. This paper examines the perceptions and misconceptions that have evolved for birdsfoot trefoil persistence with grasses and the role that exotic germplasm may have to change those perceptions. Grasses are generally more competitive than birdsfoot trefoil in any birdsfoot trefoil-grass system, so a successful system maintains a balance of competition between the two forages. Development of new grass cultivars with characteristics that promote birdsfoot trefoil survival could offer opportunities to develop new management strategies for improved productivity and quality. Strategies using germplasm to resolve the persistance problem are presented. Technical Abstract: Broadleafed birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L., is a cross-pollinated Birdsfoot trefoil naturalized with grasses that did not overly compete for essential components needed for persistence and survival. Plantings in new environments and in mixtures with more aggressive grasses to meet the demands of agriculture made it apparent that the first cultivar, 'Empire', had biological limitations in its ability to fulfill all expectations. Th breeding and introduction of new birdsfoot trefoil germplasm from Europe led to solutions to problems encountered with Empire. Novel populations resulting from mixtures of diverse germplasm, often from intercrossing Empire and European germplasm, resulted in improved birdsfoot trefoil performance for areas of the USA and Canada. Strategies utilizing introduced germplasm will seek to improve the persistence of birdsfoot trefoil through earlier flowering, improved disease resistance, and the introduction of rhizomes. Some plant introductions can be expected to perform as well as or better than the commercial cultivars for many traits. The development of new grass cultivars with characteristics that promote birdsfoot trefoil survival could offer opportunities to develop new management strategies for improved productivity and quality. |
