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The objectives of this study were to identify the vascular connections from roots to upper axial bundles in one genotype ofTrifolium repensL. ‘Grasslands Kopu’, identify pathways followed by the transpiration stream, and establish whether these pathways could account for previously-observed patterns of clonal integration. The study provides new information on vascular connections between root and parent and branch stolons at nodes possessing both a root and a branch, and to the first two leaves on branch stolons. A nodal root is connected to the lower nearside axial bundle of the parent stolon but to both lower and upper nearside axial bundles of the branch. Upper sympodia provide a long-distance transport pathway from a parent stolon to the apex of branch stolons. Lower sympodia are functionally different, providing short-distance transport to structures in close proximity to the source root. This is consistent with observed patterns of clonal integration inT. repensand may provide a simple architectural mechanism facilitating foraging. |
