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Large variation in waterlogging tolerance and recovery among the three subspecies of Trifolium subterranean L. is related to root and shoot responses

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Abstract

Aims

Tolerance to waterlogging and recovery ability was compared among the three subspecies of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) to identify tolerance mechanisms, in order to guide future subclover breeding activities.

Methods

Three cultivars each of ssp. yanninicum, subterraneum and brachycalycinum were grown in a controlled environment glasshouse with T. michelianum as a waterlogging-tolerant control. After 28 days of growth two treatments were imposed for 35 days: free-draining (control) and waterlogged. A 21-day recovery period followed.

Results

After 35 days, waterlogging reduced shoot dry weight (DW) to 58–27% and root DW to 35–21% of respective controls in each subspecies. Shoot relative growth rate (RGR) of yanninicum was least affected (78–104% of control), compared to subterraneum (51–100%) and brachycalycinum (45–69%). The subterraneum cv. Denmark had a similar response to subspecies yanninicum. Shoot RGR of T. michelianum was 138% of its control. After recovery, all traits (except tap root length) recovered to control values. Up to 21 days, the main traits associated with waterlogging tolerance (shoot and root growth) were high petiole length, less petiole anthocyanin pigmentation and high leaf chlorophyll content, but by 35 days these were a high proportion of leaf biomass, high stomatal conductance and enhanced root porosity. Average root diameter and nodulation rates were unrelated to waterlogging tolerance.

Conclusions

Subspecies yanninicum had superior waterlogging tolerance. Priority traits for easily-assessed indicators of waterlogging tolerance are less reduction of leaf size and high stomatal conductance.

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted as part of the Annual Legume Breeding Australia (ALBA) Joint Venture between PGG Wrightson Seeds and UWA. The project is under the International Collaborative Program in Agricultural Sciences between Nagoya University and UWA. G.E. is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship and a Science Industry PhD Fellowship from the Government of Western Australia. We gratefully acknowledge Greg Cawthray, Robert Creasy, Evonne Walker, John Quealy, Daniel Kidd, Kirsty Brooks, Bradley Wintle, Timothy Colmer, Mikio Nakazono and Ole Pedersen for technical advice, and Bill Piasini, Gabriel Pang and Robert Jeffery for technical help.

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  1. UWA School of Agriculture and Environment and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Gereltsetseg Enkhbat, Megan H. Ryan, Kevin J. Foster, Phillip G. H. Nichols, Lukasz Kotula, Ann Hamblin & William Erskine

  2. Graduate School of Bioagricultural Science at Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    Gereltsetseg Enkhbat & Yoshiaki Inukai

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  1. Gereltsetseg Enkhbat
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Enkhbat, G., Ryan, M.H., Foster, K.J. et al. Large variation in waterlogging tolerance and recovery among the three subspecies of Trifolium subterranean L. is related to root and shoot responses. Plant Soil 464, 467–487 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-04959-0

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