Rate of Genetic Gain for Persistence to Grazing and Dry Matter Yield in White Clover across 90 Years of Cultivar Development

• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2018.07.0471
• Publication Date: 2019-01-17T22:03:29Z
• Authors: V. Hoyos-Villegas; J. R. O'Connor; A. D. Heslop; A. Hilditch; M. Z. Z. Jahufer; B. A. Barrett
• Keywords: Trifolium repens; Genetic gain

White clover ( Trifolium repens L.) is a major contributor of productivity and ecological services in pastures rangelands worldwide. breeding recognized as priority many countries with pastoral‐based livestock system. The objective this study was to provide an updated estimate the rate change genotypic value attributable population improvement white clover, using set 80 cultivars released between 1920 2010 by public private plant programs across 17 countries, experiment evaluate forage yield three locations New Zealand. Overall, some Zealand 2000s were highly adapted more stable testing environments. Geographic origin resulted differential rates gain. A segmental regression comparing pre‐1965 post‐1965 gain performed. line for dry matter absolute increase 0.031 g m −2 yr −1 decade or 0.087% , whereas 0.058 0.162% . content 0.011% 0.032% on average, indicated 0.04% 0.121% average. comparisons twofold fourfold sward since 1965; however, remains below theoretical potential.