XVI International Botanical Congess
Abstract Number: 4498
Session = Modularity of growth of clonal plants provides the basis for plasticity of phenotype and hence adaptation to environmental variation. Adaptation to an environment is expressed through modification of (1) the number of new phytomers produced via changes in phytomer appearance rate and branching, (2) the size of phytomers, (3) the relative distribution of resource to organs comprising a phytomer and (4) the allocation to reproductive growth. We use information on Trifolium repens to identify how developmental phenology constrains or promotes its fitness within heterogeneous pastoral environments. We describe the impact of variation in resource availability on plasticity of, preformation, timing of root/shoot meristem outgrowth, reproductive effort, phytomer and organ size and the impact this has on fitness. The extreme intraspecific variation in initiation of reproductive effort (genotypes range from short-to long-day plants) is discussed in relation to adaptation to environment.
DOES DEVELOPMENTAL PHENOLOGY IN
TRIFOLIUM REPENS INFLUENCE ADAPTATIONTO LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS?
M. J. M. Hay and P. C. D. Newton, AgResearch Grasslands, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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