The effect of shoot and root genotype on phosphorus concentrations of shoots and roots

Genotypes of two morphologically different populations of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were reciprocally and self-grafted. Ungrafted stolon tips were also grown as controls. Grafting per se had no significant effect on shoot size, root size, leaflet width or shoot and root % P. The scion genotype had a significant effect on shoot and root size, and leaflet width. Neither scion nor rootstock genotype had a significant effect on either shoot or root % P. However, there was a significant scion × rootstock × P level interaction for shoot % P. This along with other evidence suggests that conflicting results regarding effects of scion and rootstock on % P content of plants within species is probaby due to the interaction of scion and rootstock with environment.This work was undertaken at the Department of Agricultural Botany, University of Reading, Reading, England.This work was undertaken at the Department of Agricultural Botany, University of Reading, Reading, England.