Differential responses of red clover germplasms to aluminum stress

Toxic levels of aluminum can cause severe yield reduction in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), especially in the presence of drought stress. Aluminum tolerances of 17 red clover cultivars and germplasms representing a broad genetic base were evaluated in a Monmouth soil 26.2% Al saturation (pH 4.8) vs. 2.8% Al saturation (pH 5.7)] and in nutrient solutions (0 vs 111 μM Al; pH 4.5). The soil and nutrient culture studies were harvested 29 and 27 d after seeding, respectively.

Aluminum stress reduced shoot and root growth significantly in soil but not in nutrient culture. Entries differed significantly in shoot vigor in both media and in root vigor in nutrient culture; responses to the two media were positively correlated. Relative weights (dry weight stressed/dry weight unstressed) in soil and nutrient culture were not correlated.

In soil, Al stress significantly reduced shoot growth of all entries except ‘Tristan’, whereas root growth was not affected significantly in ‘Atlas’, ‘Lakeland’, ‘Persist’, ‘Reddy’, ‘Redman’, or Tristan. Reddy, ‘Redland II’, Redman, and Tristan had the highest relative shoot and root weights whereas ‘Kenstar’ had the lowest. In nutrient culture, only the shoot growth of Atlas, Lakeland, Redman and ‘YKYC’ and the root growth of Redman were significantly reduced under Al stress. Atlas, ‘Kenland’, and Redman had among the lowest relative shoot and root weights and Kenstar among the highest. Some entries exhibited a positive growth response to Al.