Registration of 'USDA-Basin' and 'USDA-Wasatch' bluebunch wheatgrass, originating from and adapted to the Central Great Basin of the western USA

Authors: Waldron, Blair; Larson, Steven; VERNON, JASON - Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources; SUMMERS, DANIEL - Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources; Monaco, Thomas; Jones, Thomas; Jensen, Kevin

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/5/2025
Publication Date: 7/9/2025
Citation: Waldron, B.L., Larson, S.R., Vernon, J.L., Summers, D.D., Monaco, T.A., Jones, T.A., Jensen, K.B. 2025. Registration of 'USDA-Basin' and 'USDA-Wasatch' bluebunch wheatgrass, originating from and adapted to the Central Great Basin of the western USA. Journal of Plant Registrations. 19(2). Article e70005. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.70005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.70005

Interpretive Summary: USDA-Basin and USDA-Wasatch are being released for their proven seedling establishment and drought tolerance, and as the first bluebunch wheatgrass cultivars that geographically and genetically originate from the Central Great Basin ecoregion of the western USA. Due to the invasive annual grass-wildfire cycles, restoration re-seeding in the intermountain Western USA is greater than anywhere else in the world. Therefore, improved seed supplies and successful stand establishment of regionally sourced native grasses is considered a national priority for rangeland restoration. The predominantly used variety, ‘Anatone’, and other Columbia Plateau-originated bluebunch wheatgrass varieties do not originate from the Central Great Basin but have high relative fitness thereby threatening the genetic base of Great Basin bluebunch wheatgrass. USDA-Basin and USDA-Wasatch geographically and genetically originate from the Central Basin and Range Level III ecoregion, including two seed transfer zones that comprise over 65% of reseeding efforts and the two major phylogeographic genetic groups found within this ecoregion. USDA-Basin and USDA-Wasatch both exhibited enhanced adaptation to drought, and good seedling vigor and seedling establishment that was comparative to Anatone. Thus, these releases will contribute important components to region-specific wildfire restoration projects in the Central Great Basin.

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS and the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources announce the release of bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh.) A. Löve.] cultivars ‘USDA-Basin’ and ‘USDA-Wasatch’ (Reg. no. ______, PI ______) (Evaluated as: Basin and Basin-STZ4; and Wasatch and Basin-STZ3a, respectively) for their proven seedling establishment and drought tolerance, and as the first bluebunch wheatgrass cultivars that geographically and genetically originate from the Central Great Basin of the western USA. Regionally sourced native grasses with successful stand establishment are considered a national priority for rangeland restoration. However, commonly used, ‘Anatone’, and other commercial bluebunch wheatgrass varieties do not originate from the Central Great Basin but have high relative fitness threatening the genetic base of Great Basin bluebunch wheatgrass. USDA-Basin and USDA-Wasatch were evaluated at multiple Great Basin sites and compared to commercial varieties. Genotyping by sequencing and morphological measurements demonstrated that USDA-Basin and USDA-Wasatch are significantly (P < 0.05) different from each other and all other varieties. In response to drought, seedling root growth for both were like (P > 0.05) Anatone, but greater (P < 0.05) than Columbia and P-7; whereas they had decreased (P < 0.05) specific leaf area, indicative of enhanced drought tolerance. USDA-Basin and USDA-Wasatch were similar (P > 0.05) to each other and Anatone for stand establishment (mean of 38%), and both had greater (P < 0.05) establishment at two sites (25 and 24% vs. 13 and 11%) than Columbia and Goldar, respectively. USDA-Basin and USDA-Wasatch originate from the two seed transfer zones that comprise over 65% of reseeding efforts within the Central Great Basin. Thus, these releases will contribute important components to region-specific restoration projects in this region.