Abstract
Presence of adequate variation is known to be a prerequisite for genetic improvement of a crop species. Experiments were performed in lysimeters to characterize 29 accessions of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) for forage yield and contributing traits through redundancy analysis. Germplasm was also subjected to growth analysis. Correlation analysis showed positive relationships of seedling traits such as emergence percentage, emergence speed, and seedling vigor index with total forage yield. Green leaf area index estimated by the Image Analysis technique at various growth intervals was also positively correlated with forage yield. Redundancy analysis was performed to group accessions on the basis of similar forage yield and seedling traits. Accessions in Group GI had the highest emergence percentage, emergence speed, and seedling vigor. These accessions produced high forage yield, but a low growth rate throughout the growth cycle. Schwarz's Bayesian criterion was used to predict forage yield production through growth analysis. Results indicated that growth rate of the plants 21 d after first harvest was the best predictor of forage yield at the second harvest. A high green leaf area index had positive effects on forage yield at the second harvest, while relative or absolute growth rate 21 d after the first harvest had a negative impact on the fresh forage yield at the second harvest. These results show an overall trend of accessions to accumulate high biomass through high population density.