ARS | Publication request: AN ASSESSMENT OF GRASS REGENERATION NURSERIES AT THE WESTERN REGIONAL PLANT INTRODUCTION STATION

Submitted to: International Grasslands Congress
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: February 11, 2001
Publication Date: February 11, 2001
Citation: Bradley, V.L., Johnson, R.C. An assessment of grass regeneration nurseries at the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station, 1994-1997. In Proceedings of the XIX International Grasslands Congress, Sao Pedro, Sao Paulo, Brasil. 2001. p. 883-884.

Interpretive Summary: The Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) maintains more than 17,000 accessions of forage and turf grasses. To keep plant genetic resources available for research, periodic seed regeneration is needed on a portion of this material each year. For most grass accessions, seed regeneration is complicated by the need to maintain adequate population size for isolation to limit genetic drift and mixing of wind borne pollen. Approximately 78% of the grass regenerations over the last few years are considered successful in providing high quality seed. Both population number and isolation distance have been increased but some regenerations are still considered unsuccessful. The reasons for unsuccessful regenerations mainly include low plant number associated with poor germination or low seeds numbers, disease problems, and apparently unsuitable environmental conditions. Solution to these problems are being identified and pursued.

Technical Abstract: The Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS), Pullman, WA, USA, maintains over 17,000 accessions of forage and turf grasses that are mostly wind cross-pollinated and highly heterogenic. Regeneration procedures have been refined over the past nine years to include improved isolation distance and increased plant populations for regeneration. The grass regeneration nurseries planted from 1994 through 1997 were evaluated using data recorded in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) and it was found that approximately 78% of the regenerations were successful. Reasons for failures were contributed to inadequate plant number, presence of disease, seed shattering, and unsuitable growing environment. Several solutions have been identified and implemented.