DIFFERENCES IN ALUMINUM TOLERANCE OF RYEGRASS AND WHITE CLOVER PLANTSGROWN FROM SEED OR PROPAGATED VEGETATIVELY

The effect of aluminium (Al) on the relative yield of plants grown fro m seeds of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) or white clover (Trifolium rep ens L.) and either tillers (ryegrass) or stolen tip cuttings (white cl over) were investigated using a low ionic strength (2.7 x 10(-3) M) so lution culture technique. In ryegrass, plants grown from tillers had h igher relative yields than plants grown from seedlings in the tops whe n solution Al concentrations were greater than 16 mu M and in the root s when solution Al concentrations were greater than 7 mu M. In white c lover, relative yields in the tops and roots plants were higher in pla nts grown from stolen tip cuttings than from seedlings when solution A l concentrations were greater than 10 mu M. There were no significant cultivar effects. The results indicate that plants used in Al-toleranc e experiments can be grown from seed or vegetatively propagated, provi ded solution Al rates are adjusted to reflect differences in Al tolera nce.