ARS | Publication request: Improved Establishment Characteristics of 'Vavilov II' Siberian Wheatgrass

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 1, 2008
Publication Date: December 13, 2008
Citation: Jensen, K.B., Palazzo, A.J., Waldron, B.L., Robins, J.G., Bushman, B.S., Johnson, D.A., Ogle, D.G. 2009. Improved Establishment Characteristics of 'Vavilov II' Siberian Wheatgrass. Journal of Plant Registrations 3:61-64.

Interpretive Summary: Vast areas of semiarid rangeland in the western U.S. are severely disturbed, frequently burned, increasingly eroded, and subsequently infested with troublesome weeds such as cheatgrass and medusahead rye. The USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory developed a new Siberian wheatgrass cultivar Vavilov II for reseeding these severely disturbed rangelands. This new cultivar is faster establishing on these dryland ranges and persists longer than other commercially available Siberian wheatgrass cultivars. Seed of Vavilov II is available through the Utah Crop Improvement Association and the University of Idaho Foundation Seed Program.

Technical Abstract: 'Vavilov II' Siberian wheatgrass (Agropyron fragile (Roth) Candargy) was developed for reseeding disturbed rangelands dominated by annual weeds as a result of severe disturbance, frequent fires, and soil erosion. Selection emphasis in Vavilov II was on seedling establishment and plant persistence. During the establishment year, Vavilov II had significantly (P<0.05) higher numbers of seedlings per unit area (m2) using a frequency grid when planted at a rate of one pure live seed (PLS) cm-1 than Vavilov at Yakima, WA (est. fall 2002; 52 vs 23%); Fillmore, UT (est. fall 2004; 79 vs 54%); Dugway, UT (est. fall 2005; 79 vs 52%); and Curlew Valley, ID (est. fall 2002; 70 vs 40%). In persistence after establishment, Vavilov II was significantly more persistent than Vavilov at Yakima, WA (68 vs 44%); Fillmore, UT (84 vs 62%); Curlew Valley, ID (69 vs 55%), and Malta, ID (97 vs 91%). Seed of Vavilov II is available through the Utah Crop Improvement Association and the University of Idaho Foundation Seed Program.