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Hotspots and gaps in the world collection of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2014

K. GHAMKHAR ,
P. G. H. NICHOLS ,
W. ERSKINE ,
R. SNOWBALL ,
M. MURILLO ,
R. APPELS  and
M. H. RYAN
K. GHAMKHAR*
Affiliation:
Centre for Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia Gin Silico Pty Ltd, PO Box 1159, Blackburn North, 3130 Victoria, Australia Margot Forde Forage Germplasm Centre, Forage Improvement, AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
P. G. H. NICHOLS
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia, Australia School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
W. ERSKINE
Affiliation:
Centre for Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
R. SNOWBALL
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia, Australia
M. MURILLO
Affiliation:
Servicio de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Badajoz, Spain
R. APPELS
Affiliation:
Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
M. H. RYAN
Affiliation:
School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: kioumars.ghamkhar@agresearch.co.nz or kkiou@yahoo.com
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Summary

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) is the most important annual pasture legume in the winter-dominant rainfall areas of Southern Australia. Systematic germplasm collections of subterranean clover from its centre of origin have been made since the 1950s, particularly by Australian scientists, in order to broaden the genetic base of the species. The present study reports on a meta-analysis of the distribution of the world collection of subterranean clovers and their relationships to eco-geographic variables of the collection sites in their native habitat. Diversity hotspots (areas rich in number of accessions and containing a high diversity of sub-species) and also gaps (areas with particular traits un- or under-represented in collections) were identified. This was achieved using a stratified data system to evaluate eco-geographical and agro-morphological data which incorporated three tiers of information for the subterranean clover collection: (1) information from each collection site, including ecological data; (2) information on the phenotypic diversity within each collection site; and (3) plant agro-morphological data from each sample grown under controlled conditions. Correlations were found between some eco-geographic conditions and agronomic performance. These included correlations between latitude and flowering time, mean temperature in winter and winter productivity and precipitation in summer and seed dormancy. The present study concluded that subterranean clover versatility is greater than suggested in the past. The results of the current analysis provide a guide for future collecting missions to specific regions towards areas of maximum diversity (hotspots) and unknown diversity (gaps).

Type
Crops and Soils Research Papers
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 153 , Issue 6 , August 2015 , pp. 1069 - 1083
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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