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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #236113
Title: Genepool of Wild Populations of Forage and Grain Legume Crops of Northwest and Central Regions of Russia

Author
item BURAVTSEVA, TAMARA - N.I. VAVILOV, RUSSIA
item CHAPURIN, VLADIMIR - N.I. VAVILOV, RUSSIA
item MALYSHEV, LEONID - N.I. VAVILOV, RUSSIA
item Johnson, Douglas
item KIR'YAN, VICTOR - USTIMIVS'KA RESEARCH

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2008
Publication Date: 7/22/2008
Citation: Buravtseva, T.V., Chapurin, V.F., Malyshev, L.L., Johnson, D.A., Kir'Yan, V.M. 2008. Genepool of Wild Populations of Forage and Grain Legume Crops of Northwest and Central Regions of Russia. Plant Genetic Resources 5: 35-43. (Russian with English abstract)

Interpretive Summary: An expedition to the northwest and central regions of Russia was undertaken in 2007 to collect seed of wild-growing perennial grass and legume species that have potential for turf and forage applications. These collections are of interest in forage and turf breeding and selection programs to improve growth and production stability under limiting environmental conditions. Participants in the expedition included scientists from the Russia, Ukraine, and USA. Collections were made in seven oblasts of Russia including Vladimir, Vologda, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Novgorod, Tver, and Yaroslavl. Seeds were collected at 46 sites, and the collection route traversed a total of 4,000 km. Seed collections were made in a variety of sites including upland meadows, river terraces, transition sites, and wet meadows. A total of 197 seed collections were made. Collections of perennial forage grasses included: orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), timothy (Phleum pretense L.), and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis L.). Collections of turf grasses included: bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and bentgrass (Agrostis spp.). Collections of perennial forage legumes included: sweetclover (Melilotus spp.), alfalfa (Medicago spp.), clover (Trifolium spp.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus spp.). In addition, interesting collections were made of flat peavine (Lathyrus sylvestris L.). These collections will be beneficial in plant breeding programs to improve turfgrass and forages for winter hardiness, low-maintenance turf conditions, and resistance to acidic soils.

Technical Abstract: An international plant collection expedition to the northwest and central regions of Russia was undertaken in 2007 to collect seed of wild-growing perennial grass and legume species that have potential for forage and turf applications. These collections are of interest in breeding and selection programs to improve growth and production stability under limiting environmental factors. Participants in the expedition included scientists from the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Industry (Russia), Ustimivs'ka Research Station for Plant Industry (Ukraine), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service's Forage and Range Research Laboratory (USA). The terrain of seven oblasts of Russia were covered including Vladimir, Vologda, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Novgorod, Tver, and Yaroslavl. Seeds were collected at 46 sites, and the collection route traversed a total of 4,000 km. Collection sites included upland meadows with varying degrees of soil water content that included upland meadows, river terraces, transition sites, and wet bottomland meadows. During the expedition, a total of 197 seed collections were made. Collections of perennial forage grasses included: orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), timothy (Phleum pretense L.), and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis L.). Collections of turf grasses included: bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and bentgrass (Agrostis spp.). Collections of perennial forage legumes included: sweetclover (Melilotus spp.), alfalfa (Medicago spp.), clover (Trifolium spp.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus spp.). Interesting seed collections of flat peavine (Lathyrus sylvestris L.) were also made. The collections of species made in northwest and central regions of Russia will be of interest in plant breeding and improvement efforts for winter hardiness, low-maintenance turf conditions, and resistance to acidic soils.