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Title: Black grama grass under the microscope; Anatomical features of a native plant from southwestern United States

Author
item O'DONNELL, BRIGIT - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item KERSEY, SCOTT - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item GALLEGOS, LILIA - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item Barrow, Jerry
item GHOSHROY, SOUMITRA - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Microscopy and Microanalysis
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: O'Donnell, B., Kersey, S., Gallegos, L., Barrow, J.R., Ghoshroy, S. 2003. Black grama grass under the microscope; Anatomical features of a native plant from southwestern United States [abstract]. Microsc Microanal 9(Suppl 2), 2003: 1348-1349.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Black grama grass (Bouteloua eriopoda) is a perennial desert grass native to the arid Southwestern United States. It is most common in the Chihuahuan Desert, occupying large areas of New Mexico and Arizona, where occurrence of drought conditions are high. Black grama tends to grow in sandy loam soils low in organic matter. However, it contains one of the highest protein contents of any desert grass, thus offering very nutritious forage for livestock and wildlife. Due to its bunchgrass-like nature, black grama aids in reducing soil erosion from rainfall. Some drought tolerance adaptive features include a root system that extends four or more feet into the soil and a small leaf blade size (2mm wide). Unfortunately, abundance of black grama is being greatly reduced by factors such as overgrazing and invasion of Honey mesquite plants. Due to the importance of black grama grass and its easily observable adaptive features, we investigated its cellular structures to find more specialized components of this plant that allow it to survive in drought conditions.