Selection for Establishment Capacity in Reed Canarygrass

Abstract

Establishment of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is seriously impaired by relatively low seeding vigor and growth rate. Poor soil-seed contact, intense competition from annual weeds, and infrequent clipping during the establishment year exacerbate this problem. The objectives of this study were (i) to select reed canarygrass populations for establishment capacity in the presence of annual weeds, (ii) to evaluate progeny for progress from selection, and (iii) to determine mechanisms for improved establishment potential in selected populations. Two cycles of selection for survival under clipping and weed competition were completed, the first involving selection among spaced plants and the second involving selection within seeded plots. Selection for increased establishment capacity increased ground cover in October of the seeding year by 29% and tiller density in May of the following year by 36%, averaged over five cultivars. Seed mass consistently decreased with selection for increased establishment capacity, but emergence rate increased in all cultivars by an average of 18.1%. Three of the five cultivars (Palaton, Vantage, and Venture) responded to selection with increased shoot and/or root fresh mass, with shoot-mass responses generally larger than root-mass responses. Selected populations of Vantage and Venture also had small decreases in the time required for tiller initiation. Bellevue and Rival showed no responses of seedling traits to selection. Seedling fresh mass was the most important factor regulating genetic variability for establishment capacity, but there was some variation in the mechanism of improved establishment capacity among populations.

Variation Among Genotypes and Source Habitats in Growth and Fecundity of the Wetland Invasive Plant Phalaris arundinacea L

“…Wetzel and van der Valk (1998) Bold lines with asterisks at the endpoints indicate significant simple effect differences between the wet and dry soil moisture treatments within the habitat of origin factor indicated by the line. Bold text and asterisks on the x-axis labels indicate significant simple effects of habitat of origin within wet or dry soil moisture treatments low establishment capacity from seed complicates the establishment of new forage crops of Phalaris (Casler and Undersander 2006). If Phalaris is similarly limited in seedling recruitment in non-cultivated upland conditions, the limiting factor for upland invasions may be competition at the early seedling stage.…”

Improvement of Perennial Forage Species as Feedstock for Bioenergy

“…Seedling vigor and establishment potential can be improved by selection and breeding (Casler and Undersander 2006). There is considerable genetic variation for biomass yield (Sachs and Coulman 1983) and for quality traits that relate to fermentation characteristics of plant biomass .…”

Biomass Production in Northern Great Plains of USA – Agronomic Perspective

“…In addition to environmental factors, seedling vigor is believed to the single most important trait controlled by genetic variability in establishment capacity of perennial forage crops. Many researchers have used some measure of seedling vigor as a selection criterion to improve establishment capacity, while others have used more indirect measures, such as seed mass or germination rate [54]. As mentioned in the above, seed size is positively related to seeding vigor.…”