Influence of boron on the reproductive growth of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars

The effect of boron on the reproductive growth of four contrasting white clover cultivars was examined in a controlled environment and glasshouse experiment. Plants grown under a nutrient regime excluding boron and those receiving 0.5 mg/litre boron had fewer stolons, reproductive stolons and inflorescences than those receiving 1, 2 or 3 mg/litre. Inflorescences were also smaller and had fewer seeds per floret. A boron concentration of 1 mg/litre gave optimum reproductive growth, higher levels of boron giving no further increase. Peduncle length and nectar quantity, but not nectar quality, were also influenced by boron indicating a possible beneficial effect of this element on pollinator activity.

Cultivars differed in both vegetative and reproductive growth. Cv. Gwenda, a small leaved cultivar, had more stolons but fewer inflorescences than cv. Menna and smaller inflorescences than cv. Olwen, a large leaved cultivar. Generally, these cultivars responded similarly to boron.

The implications of these results for the reproductive growth of white clover are discussed