Characterization of Adult Functional Traits of Local Populations and Cultivars of Sandberg Bluegrass and Bottlebrush Squirreltail Perennial Bunchgrasses

Solomon, Juan K. Q.

doi:10.3390/plants8060166

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 89 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While it is clear that the process of plant selection and commercial production for restoration can impact both trait values and variation relative to wild populations, studies to date have largely focused on changes in aboveground traits. Of the few studies available, one found little evidence for root trait differences between cultivar and wild‐collected accessions in two grass species native to the western United States ( Poa secunda and Elymus elymoides ), despite substantial differences in aboveground biomass (Solomon 2019). Conversely, a study of two grass species native to the tallgrass prairies of North America ( Sorghastrum nutans and Schizachyrium scoparium ) found that cultivars had larger root systems and used more nitrogen than wild‐collected accessions, while no differences were detected in shoot traits between collection types (Klopf & Baer 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden variation: cultivars and wild plants differ in trait variation with surprising root trait outcomes

Foxx

Kramer

2021

Restoration Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Restoration practitioners have many seed material choices when restoring plant communities, and cultivars may be the most affordable and accessible material available for some species. However, the process of plant selection and commercial seed production can limit trait variability critical to survival and persistence in heterogeneous environments. Several studies show the impacts of plant selection and commercial production on trait values and variation in aboveground traits. Yet, researchers rarely assess impacts on root traits in wild‐collected material relative to cultivars. This is a critical gap, especially in arid environments where root traits play key roles in plant survival. We grew Pseudoroegneria spicata seedlings from three wild accessions and three cultivars (the cultivars “Whitmar” and “Goldar,” and the “selected germplasm polycross” “P‐7”) to compare root and shoot traits and variability. We grew seedlings in a growth chamber for 4 weeks in sand, which had low moisture content and few added nutrients, resulting in stressful conditions. We harvested the plants and compared trait variation and averages between wild‐collected versus cultivars for four shoot and four root traits. We found that wild accessions had marginally greater variation in root tip count, root mass fraction, and shoot mass fraction. Importantly, wild‐collected plants had 51% more root tips on average, greater variability in four of seven traits that exhibited differing variability between collection types, and greater survival compared to cultivars. These results indicate differences in traits and variation in wild and cultivated accessions that should be considered when choosing material for restoration use.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden variation: cultivars and wild plants differ in trait variation with surprising root trait outcomes

Foxx

Kramer

2021

Restoration Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…P . secunda variability in response to temperature (Monaco et al, 2005), tree cover, and added resources among sites (Bates et al, 2000; Williams et al, 2017) may be associated with its ecotypic variation (Solomon, 2019), and could explain the lack of response to early spring water in our model.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Interestingly, we found a negative association between pretreatment phosphorous and posttreatment cover of P. secunda (Figure 3), supporting Aanderud et al (2017), who reported a negative association between phosphorous and P. secunda cover after tree mastication. P. secunda variability in response to temperature (Monaco et al, 2005), tree cover, and added resources among sites (Bates et al, 2000;Williams et al, 2017) may be associated with its ecotypic variation (Solomon, 2019), and could explain the lack of response to early spring water in our model.…”

Section: Early Spring Water and Grassesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Piñon and juniper tree removal increases available soil water, driving understory response in a sage‐steppe ecosystem

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the past century, piñon and juniper trees have encroached into sagebrush steppe lands of the interior United States, and managers have for many years removed trees to stimulate the favored understory. While consistent understory response to tree removal in these semiarid lands suggests that trees outcompete other plants for water, no studies have linked increased soil water to understory response after tree removal. We tested the hypothesis that tree removal at six sagebrush steppe sites increased soil water, leading to increased understory plant cover. Using a structural equation model, we found that before tree removal, trees suppressed shrubs (standardized coefficient [SC] = −0.87), perennial deep‐rooted (SC = −0.50) and shallow‐rooted bunchgrasses (SC = −0.36), but had no influence on cheatgrass. The model explained between 2% (cheatgrass) and 40% (shrubs) of pretreatment cover variation. Measurement of the same plots six years post‐treatment showed that most cover variation was due directly to plant growth, with standardized coefficients between 0.51 (perennial shallow‐rooted grasses) and 0.72 (cheatgrass). Competition between cheatgrass and perennial deep‐rooted grasses was evident, with perennials having twice the influence on cheatgrass than vice‐versa (SC = −0.24 vs. −0.11). Spring soil water (wet‐degree days) increased significantly after tree removal, measured as cumulative over 6 years (SC = 0.30), and in the early Spring of year six (SC = 0.16). Treatment‐induced increase of cumulative Spring wet degree‐days explained variation in shrub cover at year 6 (SC = 0.12) and the increase of early Spring wet degree‐days at year 6 led to increases in perennial deep‐rooted grasses (SC = 0.24) and cheatgrass (SC = 0.23). We detected no influence of Spring wet degree‐days on perennial shallow‐rooted grasses. The post‐treatment model explained between 34% (shallow‐rooted perennial grasses) and 69% (deep‐rooted perennial grasses) of variation in understory cover. Most variation was explained by re‐measurement of the same populations, followed by treatment effects mediated through increased soil water availability, soil factors, and direct effects of the treatment itself. In conclusion, our model is consistent with the a priori hypothesis that additional wet degree‐days due to tree removal is a significant mechanism behind observed increases in understory cover.

show abstract

“…Maize yields were not satisfactory without groundcover suppression when using fescue, even under irrigation (Carreker et al., 1972). Significant genetic variation exists among cultivars, accessions, and populations for Kentucky bluegrass (Honig et al., 2012; Wieners et al., 2006), red fescue (Wang et al., 2017) and Sandberg bluegrass (Johnson et al., 2015; Solomon, 2019). Therefore, screening wild or unimproved accessions of Kentucky bluegrass, red fescue, and Sandberg bluegrass may allow identification of suitable candidates for perennial groundcovers and to inform grass breeders of traits or trait combinations that are important for perennial groundcovers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating cool‐season grass species as potential perennial groundcover for maize production

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Removal of crop residue poses negative consequences for soil health, nutrient leaching, and runoff. Perennial groundcovers (PGC) provide a method of maintaining soil health while allowing the sustainable intensification of maize (Zea mays L.) systems for biofuel production by providing groundcover for several years. However, previous studies have only evaluated a few varieties of PGC. We conducted a 2‐yr study to evaluate the compatibility of cool‐season turfgrass PGCs under maize. Maize was interplanted into 20 accessions of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda J. Presl), and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) in a randomized complete block design in Boone, IA. Data on maize grain yield, maize grain quality, and ground coverage of PGC were collected. There were no differences in maize grain yield across species in 2017. In 2018, maize grain yield under red fescue was 1.0, 1.8, and 2.1 Mg ha–1 less than Kentucky bluegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, or the no‐grass control, respectively. Maize under red fescue produced 2.3, 4.8, and 3.9 g kg–1 more protein than Kentucky bluegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and the no‐grass control, but produced 878 L ha–1 and 758 L ha–1 less ethanol than the no‐grass control and Sandberg bluegrass, respectively. In both years, Kentucky bluegrass groundcover declined approximately 22%, while Sandberg bluegrass groundcover remained below 10%. Red fescue maintained groundcover over 22% in 2017 and 34% in 2018. These results indicate that maize under Kentucky bluegrass and Sandberg bluegrass can perform similarly to conventional maize.

show abstract

Characterization of Adult Functional Traits of Local Populations and Cultivars of Sandberg Bluegrass and Bottlebrush Squirreltail Perennial Bunchgrasses

Cited by 4 publications

References 89 publications

Hidden variation: cultivars and wild plants differ in trait variation with surprising root trait outcomes

Hidden variation: cultivars and wild plants differ in trait variation with surprising root trait outcomes

Piñon and juniper tree removal increases available soil water, driving understory response in a sage‐steppe ecosystem

Evaluating cool‐season grass species as potential perennial groundcover for maize production

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About