Effect of seed type on the growth and dry matter production of polymorphous clover amphicarpic species

Abstract

Trifolium polymorphum is a legume that occurs naturally in the natural pastures of the southern half of Rio Grande do Sul and combines vegetative reproduction and reproduction by aerial and subterranean seeds (amphicarpy). However, studies on the growth and productivity of plants from both types of seeds are unknown. With the aim of increase knowledge about this species, morphological characteristics and dry matter production in plants originating from aerial and subterranean seeds in populations of T. polymorphum were evaluated. Within populations, subterranean seed plants were larger in length in the Pinheiro Machado (21.2 cm) and Vila Nova do Sul (17.20 cm) populations. In the comparison between populations, aerial seed plants had greater length in the Santana do Livramento population (15.00 cm) and shorter length in the Vila Nova do Sul population (6.80 cm), while in plants of subterranean origin, the greatest length was in the Pinheiro Machado population (21.20 cm) and the smallest in the São Vicente do Sul population (9.39 cm). For the other characteristics, regardless of seed type, T. polymorphum plants showed little variation between populations. These results showed that T. polymorphum plants grown from aerial seeds and subterranean seeds had a similar general growth pattern, and although dry matter production was low, this species is important because it appears in winter when natural pastures have limited growth.