Genetic variation in a Norwegian germplasm collection of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Phenotypic (r(p)), genotypic (r(g)), genotype x location (r(gl)) and error (r(e)) correlations for important agronomic characters were estimated for eleven Norwegian populations of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), originating from between 58°52'N and 69°30'N lalitude, and from altitudes of 10 to 450 m a.s.l. The populations were evaluated in monoculture clonal field plots for two years at two locations in Norway. All pairwise correlations between foliage height, leaflet length, dry matter yield (DMY) and general performance were positive and significant. Winter survival was positively correlated with general performance, spring growth and DMY, but negatively associated with internode length, while seed yield showed a small positive genotypic correlation with foliage height. Considerable differences were, however, revealed among populations with regard to sign and magnitude of the estimated correlations. Within-population estimates of r(g) were consistently positive between DMY, general performance and most other characters; between foliage height on the one hand and leaflet length, winter survival and seed yield on the other hand, and between internode length and leaflet length, indicating pleiotropy. Correlations involving other character-combinations varied substantially among populations, and imply presence of linkage and/or coadaptation. Path coefficient analysis was used to partition the genotypic correlations between some of the characters into direct and indirect effects. Path coefficients revealed that foliage height had the highest positive direct effect on DMY, followed by winter survival and internode length. Leaflet length, which showed a positive, significant simple correlation with DMY, exhibited a negligible direct influence, counterbalanced nearly completely by the positive indirect effect on DMY via foliage height. Positive indirect effects on DMY via foliage height were also found for winter survival and internode length. The coastal populations from North and Middle Norway, and a southern highland population showed the largest expected response to phenotypic selection for most of the characters. The results demonstrate that there is enough genetic variation in adapted local populations to develop new improved cultivars adapted to high-latitude environments that combine upright growth habit with sufficient winter-hardiness and persistency.