Summary
The variability in nodulation and nitrogen fixation traits ofTrifolium repens (cv. S. 100) supplied with abundant nitrate nitrogen was examined using an aseptic tube culture technique. Nodule numbers varied from 0 to 20 per plant and acetylene reduction activity from 0 to 49 nmol C2H4/plant per h. Plants were selected from this variable population for high, low and zero nodule numbers. Plants within groups were intercrossed and progeny used to establish high, low and zero nodule families. These were subsequently tested for nodulation and acetylene reduction activity in the presence and absence of combined nitrogen. When grown with nitrate the control populations (unselected S. 100 and Pronitro) averaged 3.05 nodules per plant, the high family averaged 4 per plant while the low line averaged 1 nodule per plant (P<0.05). Nodule numbers were strongly correlated with acetylene reduction activity (r= +0.92) but C2H4 production was generally low, averaging respectively 4.9 and 3.1 nmol/plant per h in the high and low lines.
In the absence of nitrate nodule numbers increased to an average of 50 per plant and acetylene reduction activity rose to 175.5 nmol/plant per h. There was no correlation between ability of selection lines to nodulate in the presence and absence of nitrate.
The results demonstrate the existence of heritable genetic factors controlling nodulation and nitrogenase activity in the presence of nitrate, but the phenotypic expression of these characters is so strongly inhibited by nitrate that increases in nitrogen fixation in the presence of combined nitrogen which are likely to be of agricultural significance would require much greater genetic improvements than those demonstrated here. The possibilities for such improvements are discussed.
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Mytton, L.R., Rys, G.J. The potential for breeding white clover (Trifolium repens L.) with improved nodulation and nitrogen fixation when grown with combined nitrogen. Plant Soil 88, 197–211 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02182446
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02182446