Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

Conclusion

There were statistically significant differences between clones regarding all recorded characteristics. The clones differed regarding and distribution of biomass between above and below ground parts. The differences in performance were not connected to geographical origin; neither by correlation to the north-south gradient, nor by formation of clusters. My conclusion of this result is that, regarding the investigated characteristics, there is no certain adaptation to environmental circumstances in any specific region of E. arvense within Sweden.

Thus, the performance of a E. arvense clone in any specific environment is mostly a result of its genome - E. arvense performes as it use to do.

When amining at providing advice for weed control, the fact that E. arvense perform in clone-specific ways, and thus the respons to treatment may differ markedly, can cause problems. Advisers need to take into consideration to what extent a weed control treatment targets a general trait (like growing during summer) or one that differ between clones in the treated area (as development of tubers).