Response to selection for node appearance rate of white clover

Genotypes were selected for high and low node appearance rate within cultiv ars of white clover, and populations were generated by polycrossing in isol ation. Cultivars of white clover were significantly different for node appe arance rate, with a breeding line Isolation V having the highest, and culti vars 'Dusi' and 'Grasslands Challenge' the lowest node appearance rates of 11 cultivars. Node appearance rate of cultivars is negatively associated wi th leaf size. Selected genotypes, and progeny from them, selected for high node appearance rate had significantly higher node appearance rate than gen otypes and their progeny selected for low node appearance rate when re-test ed. Selection for high node appearance rate within some cultivars resulted in increased stolen elongation rate and proportion of nodes branching. In w hite clover node appearance rate is highly heritable.