Seed Yield Variation in Blue Grama and Little Bluestem Plant Collections in Southern Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

Inadequate seed supplies of adapted blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.] and little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash.] cultivars limits the use of these two species in the northern Great Plains of Western Canada. This study examined variation in seed yield traits of 11 blue grama and 14 little bluestem plant collections obtained from southern Manitoba, Canada to facilitate development of improved germplasm of these species. Measurements of seed yield traits including harvested air‐dried biomass, culm number, seedhead number, seed yield, caryopsis weight, and kernel index were taken from randomized complete block spaced‐plant nurseries. Tests were conducted for 2 yr at Winnipeg and 1 yr at Carman, MB, Canada. Collections within both species differed significantly for all traits. Significant collection × year (Winnipeg) and collection × location interactions were present for biomass and seed yield, and many of the seed yield‐component traits. While significant, the interactions resulted in few changes in rank among collections. Generally, the most northern collection in both species showed earlier anthesis, produced less biomass, and had lower seed yield than more southern collections. These findings indicate that indigenous plant collections of blue grama and little bluestem show high levels of genetic diversity for biomass, seed yield, and seed yield components, which provide opportunity for development of adapted cultivars with enhanced forage and seed production capability for the region.

Morphology and Genetics of Biomass in Little Bluestem

“…Phan and Smith (2000) found differences among ecotypes for yield components of biomass including culms per plant (range was 176–302 culms plant −1 ) and seedheads per culm (range was 5.5 to 10.1 seedheads culm −1 ) in 3‐yr‐old spaced plants of little bluestem from 14 collection sites in Manitoba. They concluded that genetic diversity among indigenous collections was adequate for development of adapted cultivars with enhanced forage production.…”

“…Cornelius (1947) found spaced plants of all of the 26 ecotypes survived the winters at Manhattan, but severe winter injury occurred on Texas and Oklahoma ecotypes in seeded plots. Phan and Smith (2000) evaluated 14 ecotypes of little bluestem from Manitoba at Winnipeg and found biomass was highest for the southern ecotypes (138 g plant -1 ) and lowest for the northern ecotypes (50 g plant -1 ). Camper was chosen for this study because of its putative higher yield potential than northern strains and its high winter survival in seeded trials in the northern Great Plains (Jacobson et al, 1984).…”

AFLP Variation in Four Blue Grama Seed Sources

“…These adaptive features have stimulated interest in cultivar development of this species (May et al, 1997; Smith and Phan, 1999). Since 1992, breeding efforts in blue grama have been made in Canada and shown the potential of generating an additional source of abundant, high‐quality seed specifically adapted to western Canada (Phan, 2000; Phan and Smith, 2000). However, challenges remain in improving seed production while simultaneously maintaining genetic diversity for adaptation in nonlocal environments (Smith and Whalley, 2002).…”

Rangelands, Volume 28, Number 5 (October 2006)

“…[28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Substantial research resources are often available for agronomic and horticultural crops and specifi c adaptation information is developed by extensive testing. Similar information is needed for native plants.…”