ARS | Publication request: Characterization and Evaluation of Snake River Wheatgrass Germplasm

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 4, 2007
Publication Date: November 4, 2007
Citation: Jensen, K.B., Robins, J.G., Waldron, B.L., Peel, M. 2007. Characterization and Evaluation of Snake River Wheatgrass Germplasm. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts.

Technical Abstract: The ability to germinate and establish quickly on arid-rangelands is critical if revegatation plantings are to be successful. Native grasses generally have reduced seed production and are often difficult to establish (poor seedling vigor). Snake River wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. wawawaiensis) is a native perennial bunchgrass that is prevalent on the rangelands of the lower Snake River drainage where it can survive down to 24 cm of annual precipitation. In 2004, 28 half-sib families selected for seedling vigor and all National Plant Germplasm System collections (PIs) were established at Nephi, UT, for evaluation of forage and seed yield and seedling vigor (emergence from a deep planting depth). The half-sib families produced significantly more dry matter forage (301 vs 223 g plant-1) and total seed yield (32 vs 19 g plant-1) than PIs. There was no significant difference between the half-sib families and the PIs in their ability to emerge from a deep planting depth (2.3 vs 1.8 seedling day-1). Narrow-sense heritability estimates will be presented.