Inflorescence initiation inTrifolium repensL.: influence of natural photoperiods and temperatures

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Abstract
Plants of ‘Grasslands Huia’ white clover were grown under natural conditions in New Zealand over a 12-month period and the time of flower initiation recorded. At various times during the year groups of plants were transferred from natural conditions to artificial environments in which photoperiod and temperature were modified. Reciprocal transfers were also made. The single most effective environmental parameter to cause flowering was low temperature (between 0° and 10°c), flower initiation at natural temperatures being most prolific during winter. No vernalisation effect of low temperature was apparent in mature plants. Flowering did not occur during warm short days; at higher temperatures a transfer from short to long days was necessary to induce flower initiation. Initiation effected by such a transfer did not continue in long days for more than 4 weeks. These results are discussed in relation to previous findings with other cultivars of Trifolium repens.