Correlated response in growth potentiality, tillering capacity, and leafiness of Barseem clover "Trifolium Alexandrium, L" following selection for frequent-cutting tolerance

Abstract EN

The main objective of the recent study was to trace barseem clover "Trifolium alexandrium, L" landraces with potential resistance to frequent cutting stress.

Cumulative correlated realized gains in plant height over cuttings due to first cycle (C1) of selection for frequent cutting tolerance relative to base population (C0) reached 2.94, 16.84 and 36.73 % when evaluated under infrequent, frequent and very- frequent cutting regimes, respectively.

The first cycle of selection for frequent-cutting tolerance (C1) gave a correlated positive improvement in stem girth reached 15.22% of the respective base population mean, over cutting regimes.

Meanwhile, the second cycle (C2) added another positive correlated improvement in stem girth reached 13.12% of first cycle's mean.

Also, a correlated realized gains in stem girth due to selection for frequent cutting tolerance relative to the average of check varieties, reached 17.65 and 43.95% for cycles one (C1) and two (C2) respectively.

Correlated realized gains in leaves weight.

Plant-1 of the first cycle (C1) following selection for frequent cutting tolerance, reached 53.34, 106.7 and 31.37% relative to the base population, when evaluated under infrequent, frequent and very frequent cutting regimes, respectively.

Meanwhile, the substantial correlated realized gains after the second cycle of selection (C2) reached 31.79, 23.93 and 10.53% of first cycle's (C4) mean, when evaluated under infrequent, frequent and very frequent cutting regimes, respectively.

Over the studied cutting regimes, selected populations gave similar leaves/ stem ratio (fresh weight) (27.24 and 30.81% for C1 and C2, respectively).

Those values were not different from any of the evaluated check varieties.