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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #46315
Title: REGISTRATION OF VAVILOV SIBERIAN CRESTED WHEATGRASS

Author
item ASAY K H - 5428-10-00
item JOHNSON D A - 5428-10-00
item JENSEN K B - 5428-10-00
item CHATTERTON, N
item HORTON W H - 5428-10-00
item HANSEN W T - 5428-10-00
item YOUNG S A - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Since it was first introduced from Eurasia in 1906, crested wheatgrass has been widely used to improve western rangelands. The popularity of this cool-season grass is enhanced by its ease of establishment, persistence, resistance to plant pests, drought resistance, and productivity of nutritious forage during the spring and early summer. The Siberian form of crested wheatgrass is particularly noted for its adaptation to dry sand soils. The variety 'P-27' of Siberian crested wheatgrass has been used to revegetate dry range sites for many years. A new variety 'Vavilov' has now been developed and released by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station and the Soil Conservation Service. This variety has consistently demonstrated improved seedling vigor and productivity on harsh range sites when compared to P-27. It is recommended that Vavilov be used in combination with other native and introduced grasses and forbs to improve temperate rangelands receiving from 6 to 12 inches of precipitation annually.

Technical Abstract: Crested wheatgrass has been widely used to improve western rangelands. The popularity of this cool-season grass is enhanced by its ease of establish- ment, persistence, resistance to plant pests, drought resistance, and productivity of nutritious forage during the spring and early summer. The Siberian form of crested wheatgrass is noted for its adaptation to dry sandy soils. The variety 'P-27' was previously the only available variety of Siberian crested wheatgrass, and it has been used to revegetate dry range sites for many years. A new variety 'Vavilov' has now been developed and released by the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-SCS. This variety has consistently demon- strated improved seedling vigor and productivity on harsh range sites when compared to P-27. The original parental materials were selected from a genetically broad-based population on the basis of green-color retention and vegetative vigor during the late summer under extreme drought condi- tions. This base population was then screened for three cycles to improve its vegetative vigor, response to drought, resistance to insects and and diseases, seedling vigor, and seed yield potential. It is recommended that Vavilov be used in combination with other native and introduced grasses and forbs to improve temperate rangelands receiving from 150 to 300 mm of precipitation annually. Breeder, Foundation, and Certified seed classes will be recognized. Foundation seed will be produced by the USDA- ARS at Logan and distributed to seed growers by the Utah Crop Improvement Association. Protection has been applied for under the Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970. Conditions of this license specify that seed of th cultivar Vavilov can be marketed only as a class of certified seed.