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Title: A THREE YEAR SUMMARY OF SEED PRODUCTION, AGRONOMIC FITNESS AND FORAGE PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE COOL-SEASON GRASSES IN OKLAHOMA

Author
item Kindiger, Bryan

Submitted to: United States Japan Natural Resources Forage Seed Panel
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2003
Publication Date: 5/1/2003
Citation: Kindiger, B.K. 2003. A three year summary of seed production, agronomic fitness and forage performance of Japanese cool-season grasses in Oklahoma. United States Japan Natural Resources Forage Seed Panel. 5:11-25.

Interpretive Summary: Millions of stocker cattle are brought into the southern Great Plains annually for low-cost post-weaning gains prior to entering feedlots for finishing. Winter wheat and warm-season perennial grasses are the primary forage available for grazing. During the periods of March-June and September-November, there remains a lack of palatable and productive cool-season grass forages in the southern Plains. A cooperative three year study between the Grazinglands Research Laboratory USDA-ARS, the Japanese Grassland Farming and Forage Association and the Japanese National Grassland and Livestock Research Institute was initiated to evaluated 13 Japanese annual and perennial cool-season grass forages which may have potential to fill this void. The study examined potential adaptation, persistence, seed production, drought tolerance, heat tolerance and forage production on various cultivars of orchardgrass, fescue, ryegrass and meadow fescue. The Japanese cultivars were compared to U.S. cultivars exhibiting adaptation to central Oklahoma. The study identified that Akimordi orchardgrass, Nanyro tall fescue and Shiwasuaoba Italian ryegrass are palatable and productive cool-season forages and also exhibit a satisfactory level of adaptation to the climatic extremes of central Oklahoma. These materials are under additional cycles of selection and breeding for drought and heat tolerance with the aim of utilizing these materials as new breeding resources for Japan and the USA.

Technical Abstract: A three year cooperative research study evaluated 13 Japanese annual and perennial cool-season grass forages in Oklahoma. The study examined issues regarding potential adaptation, persistence, seed production, drought tolerance, heat tolerance and forage production on several cultivars of orchardgrass, fescue, ryegrass, meadow fescue and compared these Japanese materials to a similar set of U.S. cultivars. Materials showing some or significant adaptation to the Oklahoma climate are undergoing further selection and breeding for drought and heat tolerance with the aim of utilizing these materials as new breeding resources for Japan and the USA. The study identified that Akimordi orchardgrass, Nanyro tall fescue and Shiwasuaoba Italian ryegrass exhibit adaptation to the climatic extremes of central Oklahoma and are competitive in forage quality and forage production when compared to similar U.S. materials. The study also indicates that carefully selected Japanese cool-season germplasm can provide excellent genetic resources for the development of new and productive cool-season grass forages for the southern Plains.