VASCULAR ARCHITECTURE OF A LARGE-LEAFED GENOTYPE OF TRIFOLIUM-REPENS

The objectives of this study were to identify the vascular connections from roots to upper axial bundles in one genotype of Trifolium repens L. 'Grasslands Kopu', identify pathways followed by the transpiration stream, and establish whether these pathways could account for previo usly-observed patterns of clonal integration. The study provides new i nformation on vascular connections between root and parent and branch stolons at nodes possessing both a root and a branch, and to the first two leaves on branch stolons. A nodal root is connected to the lower nearside axial bundle of the parent stolen but to both lower and upper nearside axial bundles of the branch. Upper sympodia provide a long-d istance transport pathway from a parent stolen to the apex of branch s tolons. Lower sympodia are functionally different, providing short-dis tance transport to structures in close proximity to the source root. T his is consistent with observed patterns of clonal integration in T. r epens and may provide a simple architectural mechanism facilitating fo raging. (C) 1998 Annals of Botany Company.