Response to selection for node appearance rate of white clover

Abstract Genotypes were selected for high and low node appearance rate within cultivars of white clover, and populations were generated by polycrossing in isolation. Cultivars of white clover were significantly different for node appearance rate, with a breeding line Isolation V having the highest, and cultivars ‘Dusi’ and ‘Grasslands Challenge’ the lowest node appearance rates of 11 cultivars. Node appearance rate of cultivars is negatively associated with leaf size. Selected genotypes, and progeny from them, selected for high node appearance rate had significantly higher node appearance rate than genotypes and their progeny selected for low node appearance rate when re‐tested. Selection for high node appearance rate within some cultivars resulted in increased stolon elongation rate and proportion of nodes branching. In white clover node appearance rate is highly heritable.