Phenotypic characterization of drought responses in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.).

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a protein-rich, short-lived perennial forage crop that can achieve high yields, but suffers increasingly from drought in different cultivation areas. Breeding for increased adaptation to drought is becoming essential, but at this stage it is unclear which traits breeders should target to phenotype responses to drought that allow them to identify the most promising red clover genotypes. In this study, we assessed how prolonged periods of drought affected plant growth in field conditions, and which traits could be used to distinguish better adapted plant material.

Methods

A diverse panel of 395 red clover accessions was evaluated during two growing seasons. We simulated 6-to-8-week drought periods during two consecutive su

SUBMITTER: Vleugels T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10811260 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature