Flowering of Contrasting White Clover Varieties in Relation to Temperature in Controlled Environments

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Abstract
Effects of temperature on floral initiation of ten white clover varieties growing in controlled environments are described. Plants grown under long days (16 h) were subjected to constant temperatures of 26, 18 and 10 °C. Relationships between morphological and physiological traits and flowering were examined. Most plants flowered at the two higher temperatures but only 10 per cent of plants flowered at 10 °C. Larger leaved types tended to produce more reproductive buds per stolon at the higher temperatures than did smaller leaved varieties. Of the floral characters studied, floret number was least affected by temperature. Ovule number and peduncle length were greatest at 18 °C. Variation in, and absolute level of nectar secretion was greatest at the highest temperature.