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Heritability of frost tolerance in white clover (Trifolium repens)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. R. Caradus
Affiliation:
Grasslands Division
A. C. Mackay
Affiliation:
Grasslands Division
J. Van Den Bosch
Affiliation:
Grasslands Division
S. Wewala
Affiliation:
Applied Mathematics Division
D. H. Greer
Affiliation:
Plant Physiology Division, DSIR, Private Bag, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Summary

White clover genotypes selected for frost tolerance and susceptibility were pair-crossed in various combinations with unselected genotypes of Grasslands Huia. Progeny lines and parent genotypes were artificially frosted at −8°C and scored for percentage of leaves damaged. Progeny from crosses between frost-tolerant genotypes were less damaged by frost than progeny from crosses involving either susceptible genotypes or unselected Grasslands Huia genotypes. Heritability estimates for frost tolerance or susceptibility were high, ranging from 0·75 to 0·93, depending on method of calculation. Removal of leaf-size effects from scores of frost damage reduced heritability estimates to 0·54–0·73. It was concluded that, because heritability for frost tolerance was high, selection for this character and incorporation of frost tolerance into agronomically suitable but frost-sensitive cultivars by breeding would be successful.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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References

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