20
ERDC/CRREL SR-02-2
Introduced
Crested wheatgrass
(SERDP-selected `RoadCrest' & `CD-II'
commercial releases)
Siberian wheatgrass
(SERDP selected)
Russian wildrye
(SERDP-selected Tetra-1 commercial release
and Syn A)
Native
Bluebunch wheatgrass
(`P-7' Multi-line & SERDP selected)
Snake River wheatgrass
(SERDP selected)
Basin wildrye
(SERDP selected)
Western wheatgrass
(SERDP selected)
Slender wheatgrass
(two SERDP-selected populations)
Sandberg bluegrass
(SERDP multi-line)
Western yarrow
(SERDP multi-line)
Native germplasms
Following is information about natives selected for improvement. Table 3
compares traits from original populations with those of the selected populations.
Bluebunch wheatgrass is difficult to establish and sensitive to grazing. The
SERDP-select bluebunch population originated from collections near Yakima,
Washington. This particular population has had two cycles of selection for seed
germination, seedling vigor, and plant vigor. A Selected Class Germplasm
release is expected in 2004. Within the selected population, the seedling emer-
gence rate from a deep seeding was double that of the original population (see
Table 3). Bluebunch wheatgrass `P7' is a multi-origin germplasm bringing
together 25 ecotypic lines from Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada,
Montana, and British Columbia. With its broader genetic base it is adapted to
a wider range of environments. Foundation seed was produced in 1999 and com-
mercial seed is now available.
Western wheatgrass is a strongly rhizomatous grass. SERDP-select popu-
lations originated from collections near and on Fort Carson, Colorado, and from
already existing cultivars. In the first cycle, collections were selected for plant
vigor and persistence; in the second cycle, plant vigor and seedling vigor; and in
the third cycle, plant vigor, seed weight, seed yield, and seedling vigor (see Table
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