Performance of white clover cultivars and breeding lines in a mixed species sward

In grazing trials, 158 different cultivars and breeding lines of white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) were evaluated in mixed species swards for yield and persistence over 3 or 4 years. Plant type and flower abundance were also recorded. Cultivars and breeding lines were clustered into groups on the basis of proportion of clover in the sward. A consistently high proportion of clover was observed for New Zealand material (cultivar Grasslands Huia) crossed with predominantly Mediterranean germ plasm, for germplasm originating from Crau Plains in France, an ecotype from Syria, and a ladino line from Japan. Breeding lines were also identified that combined high yield with relatively high stolon growing point density which ensured improved persistence for such large‐leaved material.