PATTERNS OF NODAL ROOTING IN TRIFOLIUM-REPENS (L) AND CORRELATIONS WITH STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AXILLARY BUDS

Forty per cent of white clover nodes had roots when a pasture was rota tionally grazed by sheep compared with 29% when grazed continuously by set stocking. Nodal roots were most frequent during spring and least frequent during summer. About 5% of nodes had a root primordium which had not developed but was still viable. A high proportion of nodal roo ts (66%) occurred within 10 nodes of the apex. Root presence was highl y correlated with the establishment and survival of branches but was l ess closely related to branch initiation or the viability of axiallary buds. It is suggested that the association between nodal roots and br anches is strongest when resources are limited, and that root survival at a node is enhanced by the presence of a branch originating at the same node.