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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Livestock, Forage and Pasture Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415193
Research Project: Integrated Research to Enhance Forage and Food Production from Southern Great Plains Agroecosystems

Location: Livestock, Forage and Pasture Management Research Unit

Title: Notice of release of USDA Gunrange germplasm eastern gamagrass

Author
item Boerman, Nicholas
item Kiniry, James
item Witt, Travis

Submitted to: Native Plants Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2025
Publication Date: 5/1/2025
Citation: Boerman, N.A., Kiniry, J.R., Witt, T.W. 2025. Notice of release of USDA Gunrange germplasm eastern gamagrass. Native Plants Journal. 25(3):200-204. https://doi.org/10.3368/npj.25.3.200.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/npj.25.3.200

Interpretive Summary: Eastern gamagrass is a highly palatable range grass native to the Great Plains and Eastern United States. Stand persistence is a critical issue in eastern gamagrass because it is preferentially grazed by livestock, leading to overgrazing and in some cases, complete stand extinction. USDA Gunrange germplasm eastern gamgrass is an ecotype selection that has been recently released by USDA-ARS-LFPMRU. It was collected from a wild population growing in Woodward County, OK in an area that was mowed frequently throughout the growing season. USDA Gunrange germplasm has shown significantly higher stand persistence than the cultivar ‘Pete’ and has similar agronomic performance to ‘Pete’ when grown in Woodward, OK.

Technical Abstract: Germplasm of a collected ecotype of eastern gamagrass (Tripscum dactyloides (L.) [Poaceae]) was released for reseeding waterways, wildlife habitat enhancement, and rangeland revegetation in the Southern Great Plains. USDA Gunrange germplasm eastern gamagrass is a naturally occurring germplasm collected in Woodward County, Oklahoma. USDA Gunrange germplasm eastern gamagrass has shown improved persistence over commercially available cultivars and similar agronomic performance and seed yield as commercially available cultivars.