Summary
A wide range of clover accessions were screened for reaction to manganese (Mn) in solution culture. Growth was supported with ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) or symbiotic nitrogen to assess Mn effects on symbiosis and the suitability of NH4NO3 dependent growth for assessing Mn tolerance in clover.
Reduction of dry matter at Mn 45 ppm varied 0–70%, at Mn 90 ppm, 38–92%, the extent depending on genotype. Tolerant clovers tended to restrict the movement of Mn from roots to shoots. Several previously untested lines were the most tolerant while some commercial lines possessed poor tolerance.
Ranks of tolerance for the two nitrogen (N) sources at Mn 45 ppm were correlated suggesting no dominant, discriminatory effects of N source on Mn tolerance; but inclusion of symbiotic effectiveness in a multiple correlation improved the relation between relative tolerances of genotypes under different N sources.
Mn affected some aspects of symbiosis. Total nodule nitrogenase activity mainly reflected effects of Mn on nodule number but nitrogenase activity per nodule also contributed.
To establish relative tolerances of subterranean clover to Mn growth with NH4NO3 is suitable and useful when symbiotic effectiveness is unknown.
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Evans, J., Scott, B.J. & Lill, W.J. Manganese tolerance in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) genotypes grown with ammonium nitrate or symbiotic nitrogen. Plant Soil 97, 207–215 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374943
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374943