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UTDG‐101, a Late‐Maturing Orchardgrass Germplasm with Increased Winter Hardiness and Forage Quality
Author(s) -
Jensen Kevin B.,
Robins Joseph G.,
Bushman B. Shaun,
Johnson Douglas A.,
Stratton Samuel D.,
Heaton Kevin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of plant registrations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1940-3496
pISSN - 1936-5209
DOI - 10.3198/jpr2014.04.0018crg
Subject(s) - hardiness (plants) , biology , germplasm , forage , agronomy , dactylis glomerata , cultivar , poaceae
The USDA–ARS announces the public release of the orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) UTDG‐101 germplasm (Reg. No. GP‐5, PI 672006) as a late‐maturing grass with excellent forage quality and increased winter tolerance for use in orchardgrass breeding programs. Selection emphasis in UTDG‐101 was for late maturity, winter hardiness, and dry matter yield. UTDG‐101 traces back to polycross seed that originated from crosses among four orchardgrass collections (PI 659612, PI 659613, W6 20243, and W6 20247) made within 100 km west‐southwest of Zhaosu County, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. UTDG‐101 is more genetically distinct than orchardgrass cultivars Paiute, Pennlate, and Benchmark. UTDG‐101 has significantly ( P < 0.05) longer flag leaves than the orchardgrass cultivars examined in this study. Based on mitotic root counts, UTDG‐101 is an autotetraploid (2 n = 4 x = 28). In forage harvested May 2011, UTDG‐101 had significantly higher crude protein, relative feed value, sugars, water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC; sugars + fructans), and digestibility and significantly lower acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Forage of UTDG‐101 harvested July 2011 had significantly lower NDF and increased fructan, sugar, and WSC concentrations. UTDG‐101 exhibited significantly less winter injury than other orchardgrass, tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.], and perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) cultivars. Due to the high combining ability, late maturity, increased forage quality, and winter hardiness of UTDG‐101, this source of germplasm could provide genetic resources for developing late‐maturing orchardgrass with increased forage quality and reduced winter injury for management with alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) mixtures or for grazing.