HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weaver, R. W. Articles by Smith, G. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Weaver, R. W. Articles by Smith, G. R. Agricola Articles by Weaver, R. W. Articles by Smith, G. R.

Specificity of Arrowleaf Clover for Rhizobia and Its Establishment on Soil From Crimson Clover Pastures

Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843

G. R. Smith

Texas A&M Univ., Agric. Res. and Extension Ctr., Drawer E. Overton, TX 75684

* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Successful establishment of clover (Trifolium spp.) on soil requires that the appropriate rhizobia are present to establish an N₂ fixing association. Experiments were undertaken in the laboratory to determine if the rhizobial requirements of arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) were different from those of crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) because arrowleaf clover is often being sown in pastures that have previously grown crimson clover. Generally, rhizobia capable of nodulating crimson clover were also able to nodulate arrowleaf clover but fixed little N₂. Soil collected from nine pastures that were growing crimson clover and had never been planted to arrowleaf clover contained rhizobia capable of effectively (nodules fixed N₂) nodulating arrowleaf clover. Protein profiles of rhizobia isolated from nodules of arrowleaf and crimson clover grown on soil from one of the nine locations indicated that at least 12 rhizobial strains were present, and those that selectively nodulated crimson clover generally were not able to fix N₂ or showed delayed nodulation on arrowleaf clover. When arrowleaf clover was grown on the same soil, four of the five strains that formed nodules on its roots were effective. It appears that arrowleaf clover was able to select effective rhizobia from a mixed population and that it may be successfully established on fields that have grown crimson clover, even though the rhizobial requirements for the two hosts are different.

The research was partially supported by regional project S-170.

Received for publication July 21, 1988.