Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T02:43:32.394Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Quantitative carbon distribution in clonal plants of white clover (Trifolium repens): source-sink relationships during undisturbed growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. F. Chapman ,
M. J. Robson  and
R. W. Snaydon
D. F. Chapman
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 5LR, UK
M. J. Robson
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 5LR, UK
R. W. Snaydon
Affiliation:
Agricultural Botany Department, The University, PO Box 217, Reading, Berks RG6 2AH, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The assimilation and distribution of carbon in laterally spreading white clover plants was quantified in a controlled environment using CO2 exchange rate measurements and 14C as a tracer. Plants were restricted to three mature leaves on the main stolon apex, and the movement of 14C from these leaves (and one immature, but carbon-exporting, leaf) to meristematic zones throughout the plant was determined by detailed plant dissection.

Sinks throughout the plant drew small to moderate proportions (typically 1–8%) of the 14C exported by all mature leaves. The three mature leaves displayed similar export patterns, and no specific source-sink relationships involving any of these leaves were observed. However, 14C exported by the developing leaf moved predominantly to the main stolon apex, and to adjacent young stolon tissue. Estimated respiratory losses over 24 h accounted for 40–49% of the 14C fixed. Of the total amount of C exported by all four leaves and utilized in new growth or reserve storage, 22% moved to the main stolon apex, 16% to stolon tissue of the main stolon, 34% to adventitious roots on the main stolon (most of which was utilized in older, nodulated roots) and 29% to branches. The apex received the greatest amount of C/unit weight, reflecting its high sink activity, its proximity to the source leaves and, possibly, apical dominance. Subtending leaves provided 46–51% of the C utilized by young branches. Older branches continued to import significant quantities of C from parent stolon leaves despite having their own C sources, though parental support for branches was seen to decrease as branches aged, when the quantity of C they imported was expressed as a function of their weight.

Relative sink strength and distance between sources and sinks contributed to the observed patterns of C distribution. No apparent restriction on C movement was imposed by the vascular architecture of stolons.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 116 , Issue 2 , April 1991 , pp. 229 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bazzaz, F. A. (1984). Demographic consequences of plant physiological traits: some case studies. In Perspectives on Plant Population Ecology (Eds Dirzo, R. & Sarukhan, J.), pp. 324–346. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.Google Scholar
Beinhart, G., Gibson, P. B., Halpin, J. E. & Hollowell, E. A. (1963). Selection and evaluation of white clover clones. III. Clonal differences in branching in relation to leaf area production and persistence. Crop Science 3, 89–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brock, J. L., Hay, M. J. M., Thomas, V. J. & Sedcole, J. R. (1988). Morphology of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) plants in pastures under intensive sheep grazing. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 111, 273–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brougham, R. W., Ball, P. R. & Williams, W. M. (1978). The ecology and management of white clover-based pastures. In Plant Relations in Pastures (Ed. Wilson, J. R.), pp. 309–324. East Melbourne: CS1RO.Google Scholar
Canny, M. J. (1973). Phloem Translocation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Carlson, G. E. (1966). Growth and development of clover leaves-developmental morphology and parameters at ten stages. Crop Science 6, 293–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, D. F. (1983). Growth and demography of Trifolium repens stolons in grazed hill pastures. Journal of Applied Ecology 20, 597–608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, D. F. (1986). Development, removal, and death of white clover leaves under 3 grazing managements in hill country. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 39–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, D. F. (1987). Natural reseeding and Trifolium repens demography in grazed hill pastures. 2 Seedling appearance and survival. Journal of Applied Ecology 24, 1037–1043.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, D. F. & Clark, D. A. (1984). Pasture responses to grazing management in hill country. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 45, 168–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, D. F., Robson, M. J. & Snaydon, R. W. (1989). Interactions between parent stolons and branches in assimilate partitioning in white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Proceedings of the XVI International Grassland Congress, pp. 1047–1048. Versailles: The French Grassland Society and INRAGoogle Scholar
Chapman, D. F., Robson, M. J. & Snaydon, R. W. (1990). The carbon economy of developing leaves of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Annals of Botany 66, 623–628.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cook, R. E. (1985). Growth and development in clonal plant populations. In Population Biology and Evolution of Clonal Organisms (Eds Jackson, J. B. C., Buss, L. W. & Cook, R. E.), pp. 259–296. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Danckwerts, J. E. & Gordon, A. J. (1989). Long-term partitioning, storage and remobilization of 14C assimilated by Trifolium repens (cv. Blanca). Annals of Botany 64, 533–544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Devadas, C. & Beck, C. B. (1972). Comparative morphology of the primary vascular systems in some species of Rosaceae and Leguminosae. American Journal of Botany 59, 557–567.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gifford, R. M. & Evans, L. T. (1981). Photosynthesis, carbon partitioning, and yield. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 32, 485–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, A. J., Ryle, G. J. A., Mitchell, D. F. & Powell, C. E. (1985). The flux of 14C-labelled photosynthate through soyabean root nodules during N2 fixation. Journal of Experimental Botany 36, 756–769.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, A. J., Mitchell, D. F., Ryle, G. J. A. & Powell, C. E. (1987). Diurnal production and utilisation of photosynthate in nodulated white clover. Journal of Experimental Botany 38, 84–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harper, J. L. (1977). Population Biology of Plants. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hartnett, D. C. & Bazzaz, F. A. (1983). Physiological integration among intraclonal ramets in Solidago canadensis. Ecology 64, 779–788.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harvey, H. J. (1970). Patterns of assimilate translocation in Trifolium repens. In White Clover Research (Ed. Lowe, J.), pp. 181–189. British Grassland Society Occasional Symposium No. 6.Google Scholar
Harvey, H. J. (1979). The regulation of vegetative reproduction. PhD thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Hay, M. J. M., Brock, J. L. & Thomas, V. J. (1989). Density of Trifolium repens plants in mixed swards under intensive grazing by sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 113, 81–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoshino, M. (1974). Translocation and accumulation of assimilates and phosphorus in Ladino clover. Bulletin of the National Grassland Research Institute 5, 35–84.Google Scholar
Hoshino, M., Nishimura, S. & Okubo, T. (1964). Studies on the assimilation and translocation of 14CO2 in Ladino clover. Proceedings of the Crop Science Society of Japan 33, 130–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoshino, M., Matsumoto, F. & Okubo, T. (1971). Studies on the assimilation and translocation of 14CO2 in Ladino clover. V. Relation between leaf age and ability of assimilation and translocation. Proceedings of the Crop Science Society of Japan 40, 468–473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutchings, M. J. & Bradbury, I. K. (1986). Ecological perspectives on clonal perennial herbs. BioScience 36, 178–182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moran, C. H., Sprague, V. G. & Sullivan, J. T. (1953). Changes in the carbohydrate reserves of Ladino white clover following defoliation. Plant Physiology 28, 467–474.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newton, P. C. D. (1986). The establishment, growth and fate of white clover plants, with special reference to the physiology of stolon growth. PhD thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Pitelka, L. F. & Ashmun, J. W. (1985). Physiology and integration of ramets in clonal plants. In Population Biology and Evolution of Clonal Organisms (Eds Jackson, J. B. C., Buss, L. W. & Cook, R. E.), pp. 399–347. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Robin, C., Chone, T. & Guckert, A. (1987). Role of leaf position in carbon assimilation and transport in white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Agronomie 7, 599–605.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robson, M. J. & Polniaszek, T. (1984). Effect of contrasting light regimes on the growth and morphology of individual plants of white clover and different stolons on the same plant. In Forage Legumes (Ed. Thomson, D. J.), pp. 189–190. British Grassland Society Occasional Symposium No. 16.Google Scholar
Ryle, G. J. A., Powell, C. E. & Gordon, A. J. (1981 a). Patterns of 14C-labelled assimilate partitioning in red and white clover during vegetative growth. Annals of Botany 47, 505–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryle, G. J. A., Powell, C. E. & Gordon, A. J. (1981 b). Assimilate partitioning in red and white clover either dependent on N2 fixation in root nodules or utilising nitrate nitrogen. Annals of Botany 47, 515–523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryle, G. J. A., Powell, C. E. & Gordon, A. J. (1985). Defoliation in white clover: regrowth, photosynthesis and N2 fixation. Annals of Botany 56, 9–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryle, G. J. A., Powell, C. E., Timbrell, M. K. & Jackson, J. P. (1989). Carbon and nitrogen yield, and N2 fixation in white clover plants receiving simulated continuous defoliation in controlled environments. Annals of Botany 63, 675–686.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sackville Hamilton, N. R. & Harper, J. L. (1989). The dynamics of Trifolium repens in a permanent pasture. I. The population dynamics of leaves and nodes per shoot axis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, series B237, 133–173.Google Scholar
Sasaki, N. (1969). Studies on the regrowth of the Ladino clover. Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, Hirosaki University 15, 148–153.Google Scholar
Thomas, R. G. (1987). Vegetative growth and development. In White Clover (Eds Baker, M. J. & Williams, W. M.), pp. 31–61. Wallingford: CAB International.Google Scholar
Turkington, R., Cahn, M. G., Vardy, A. & Harper, J. L. (1979). The growth, distribution and neighbour relationships of Trifolium repens in a permanent pasture. III. The establishment and growth of T. repens in natural and perturbed sites. Journal of Ecology 67, 231–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wardlaw, I. F. (1968). The control and pattern of movement of carbohydrates in plants. Botanical Review 34, 79–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, M. A. & Casper, B. B. (1984). Morphogenetic constraints on patterns of carbon distribution in plants. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 15, 233–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, J. (1979). The plant as a metapopulation. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 10, 109–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, J. (1984). Plant metamerism. In Perspectives on Plant Population Ecology (Eds Dirzo, R. and Sarukhan, J.), pp. 15–47. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.Google Scholar