Morphophysiological characterization on white clover genotypes (Trifolium repens L.))

Abstract

The objective of this trial was to characterize seven white clover populations, originated forn the Universidades Federal do Rio Grande do Sul breeding program, using the Pitau and Ladino Regal cultivars as checks. The plants were grown in the field and individually evaluated in the summer of 2002. The populations presented a forage yield potential similar to the commercial cultivars. The phenology was he character with the greatest relative divergence (19,03%) to genetic divergence. In comparison to the growing habit, the populations diverged from the checks being more horizantaly expanded; with long stolons and internodes. The cultivars were more compact, with short and short internodes. The variability present for the different characters allow its utilization white clover breeding pragrams aiming to obtain genotyoes with morphological characters related to forage yield and persistence.