Phenotypic variability in Holcus lanatus L. in southern Chile: a strategy that enhances plant survival and pasture stability

Lopez, IF; Balocchi, OA; Kemp, PD; Valdés C.

Abstract

Holcus lanatus L. can colonise a wide range of sites within the naturalised grassland of the Humid Dominion of Chile. The objectives were to determine plant growth mechanisms and strategies that have allowed H. lanatus to colonise contrasting pastures and to determine the existence of ecotypes of H. lanatus in southern Chile. Plants of H. lanatus were collected from four geographic zones of southern Chile and established in a randomised complete block design with four replicates. Five newly emerging tillers were marked per plant and evaluated at the vegetative, pre-ear emergence, complete emerged inflorescence, end of flowering period, and mature seed stages. At each evaluation, one marked tiller was harvested per plant. The variables measured included lamina length and width, tiller height, length of the inflorescence, total number of leaves, and leaf, stem, and inflorescence mass. At each phenological stage, groups of accessions were statistically formed using cluster analysis. The grouping of accessions (cluster analysis) into statistically different groups (ANOVA and canonical variate analysis) indicated the existence of different ecotypes. The phenotypic variation within each group of the accessions suggested that each group has its own phenotypic plasticity. It is concluded that the successful colonisation by H. lanatus has resulted from diversity within the species. © 2009 CSIRO.

Más información

Título según WOS: Phenotypic variability in Holcus lanatus L. in southern Chile: a strategy that enhances plant survival and pasture stability
Título según SCOPUS: Phenotypic variability in Holcus lanatus L. in southern Chile: A strategy that enhances plant survival and pasture stability
Título de la Revista: CROP AND PASTURE SCIENCE
Volumen: 60
Número: 8
Editorial: Published by CSIRO Publishing
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 768
Página final: 777
Idioma: English
URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=CP09001
DOI:

10.1071/CP09001

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS