Selecting for high carbohydrate production in Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) through direct and indirect evaluation
Author(s)
Nancy J. Campbell And George S. Ayers
Abstract
The nectar of 190 accessions of Lotus was examined directly using Robert's spectrophotometric method of carbohydrate analysis. Nectar carbohydrates of L. corniculatus, L. tenuis and L. caucasicus were indirectly evaluated by measuring their floret receptacle. A 14-fold difference in nectar carbohydrates was found between the lowest and highest carbohydrate producers in the original Lotus population. All three floret indices proved valuable as indicators of nectar production for the three species examined. Receptacle volume was the best indicator of carbohydrate production for 2 out of the 3 species tested.
Keywords
Nectar, carbohydrate analysis, carbohydrate production, Birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L
