The growth and asymmetry of neighbouring plants of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Summary Transplants of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were grown isolated from each other and in pairs placed at different distances apart. The paired plants developed asymmetrically and at the interface between paired clones both the density of nodes and of stolons appeared to reach ceiling values that were of the same order as those achieved in isolated clones. It is argued that the growth of plants of T. repens is controlled by the local conditions experienced by the plant parts and not by integrated growth of the whole. Transplants of three different genotypes of T. repens, which differed in growth form, were grown as neighbouring pairs and the calculated asymmetry of the plants was used to compare their mutual aggressivenes. The more compact (phalangeal) genotypes induced greater asymmetry in their neighbours than the more diffuse forms.