Switchgrass sward establishment selection is consistent across multiple environments and fertilization levels

Abstract

Background Strong selection can occur during switchgrass sward establishment. Differences in establishment selection due to environment or management could provide information on genotype‐by‐environment variation and could influence strategies for breeding perennial grasses. Methods Leaf samples were collected before sward establishment and from 3‐year‐old swards for two breeding groups (lowland and hybrid) at three locations. Within two locations, samples were collected from paired fertilized (112 kg N ha−1) and unfertilized plots. Allele frequencies from pooled DNA samples were studied through multivariate analysis of variance, genomewide trait predictions (heading date and winter survivorship), and genomically estimated breeding values (GEBVs) for individual sward survival within an independent data set. Results This study found only minor variations in selection due to location or management. Predicted heading dates of the hybrid population had significant changes due to fertilization and location. There were strong correlations among sward establishment survival GEBVs between growing environments (hybrid r = 0.77; gulf r = 0.97). Interestingly, this study found a small number of genotypes that were over‐represented in established swards across all growing environments. Conclusions This study reinforces a prior report of selection during sward establishment and indicates that only a small degree of establishment selection is location‐specific within these diverse growing conditions.