DESERT ZINNIA a Selected Class of Germplasm

NOTICE OF RELEASE OF A SELECTION OF DESERT ZINNIA A selected class of germplasm

E Ramona Garner and Mary E Hershdorfer

A selected germpasm of desert zinnia (Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray) [Asteraceae]) has been released for restoration and reha- bilitation of disturbed areas, for wildlife habitat improvement, and for increasing plant diversity in southeastern Arizona (Major Land Resource Area 41, EPA Level 3 Ecoregion 79).

Garner ER, Hershdorfer ME. 2010. Notice of release of a selection of desert zinnia: a selected class of germplasm. Native Plants Journal 11(1);33-36.

KEY WORDS Zinnia acerosa, Asteraceae

NOMENCLATURE USDA NRCS (2008)

NATIVEPLANTS 1 11 1 1 1 SPRING 2010 Species I Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray Common Name I Desert zinnia Plant Symbol I ZIAC Accession number I 9094064

A selected class of desert zinnia (Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray) [Asteraceae]) has been developed for use in southeastern Arizona (Major Land Resource Area 41, EPA Level 3 Ecoregion 79). This germplasm will be referred to as Batamote Germplasm desert zinnia to document general collection location. It has been assigned the USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) accession number 9094064. Batamote Germplasm is released as a selected class of certified seed.

JUSTIFICATION METHOD OF SELECTION

Batamote Germplasm is released as a selected class of certified Batamote Germplasm was developed from collections made seed. This alternative release procedure is justified by the lack of at 9 sites within southeast Arizona (Table 1; map). Accessions existing commercial sources of desert zinnia. Propagation materi- were planted in a 0.08-ha (0.2-ac) field at the USDA NRCS al of this species is needed for ecosystem restoration and enhance- Tucson Plant Materials Center during September 2005. Plugs ment in southern Arizona. The potential for immediate use is of each accession were planted into a randomized complete high. There is currently no released gerinpiasm of desert zinnia. block design with 4 replicates. Visual evaluations revealed no discernible differences among accessions for flowering dates, number of flowers, size, or vigor. The assemblage contained COLLECTION SITE INFORMATION no observable detrimental characteristics, therefore no selection was made. Efforts were made to avoid direct and indi- Batamote Germplasm is a composite of 9 accessions collected rect selection in order to maintain the genetic diversity of the from native desert zinnia stands in southeastern Arizona, Major Land Resource Area 41 (MLRA 41) (Table 1). MLRA 41 corre- c . ';• sponds with EPA Level 3 Ecoregion 79. Plant materials were collected from distinct locations in southeastern Arizona to devel- op a population of desert zinnia with a broad genetic base and adaptation to the range of conditions in southeastern Arizona. P4 /

DESCRIPTION

Desert zinnia is a small shrublike perennial forb. It typically 3i I grows 10 to 26 cm (4 to 10 in) tall with numerous branches and scores of narrow leaves 2 to 4 c (0.75 to 1.5 in) long. The flowers have 5 to 7 white to off-white ray flowers and 8 to 13 yellow disc flowers. The ray flowers are lightly dentate at the tips (Tor- res 1963; Kearney and Peebles 1969). Desert zinnia flowers from spring to fall. It is found on rocky open slopes and flats, often occurring on calcareous soils. Desert zinnia is completely self- incompatible with a chromosome number of n = 10 (Torres 1962). Batamote Germplasm desert zinnia is not distinguish- able from in situ populations of desert zinnia occurring in southern Arizona. Legend Zinnia collection locations MLRA41 MLRA4O

NATIVEPLANTS 1 11 1 1 1 SPRING 2010 DESERT ZINNIA GERMPLASM TABLE 1 Tallgrass Prairie Accession number and origin of collections for Batamote Germplasm desert zinnia. Native Seed Production Manual The 'l'allgrass Prairie (dnt r \ tti\ Seed Accession number Collection site Landmark ...... Pi()dij('tjOti \fanual [at long provides basic information for native - ..- seed Production of 9092477 31.81910 111.37720 Palo Alto Ranch 11carly.5 of

9092478 31 .67770 -109.93300 Near Thompson Tank lb ira of the 11l)J)C \ lirl-wcst. Coiis1,ilecl 9092479 31.91180 110.83260 Santa Rita ,.-T ç 3 ':' ii ins native seed Experimental Range pi oduct ion experience a the 'lallgrass Prairie 9092483 31.34390 110.09340 Near Ladd field v'.. .;'iø . - (enter, published planting rt-warch articles and tech uieal notes. and Internet resources. Botanical nomenclature follows USDA PLANI'S Database 9092614 31.74410 -111.17110 Near the intersection (hup://Jiiantv.u.sda.gra). of Batamote and Arivaca Roads • To Order: Send sh ip n I1 address along wills check or ni' ) cieV order fur S13 payable to: 9092632 32.07920 -110.29420 Pomerene Road Taligrass Prairie Center

• Mail to: 'l'allgra-cs Prairie Center, University of 9092662 32.62140 -110.10110 Klondyke Road North(-ric Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA. USA. 50614-0294 near Bonita • Email: gregory.houscaiuni.edu 9092681 11.35080 109.39920 Ceronimo hail (mile marker 5)

9064149 32.25000 -111.18330 Saguaro National Park West NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOd I ElY assemblage. Seeds were hand-harvested from each plant within the plot. Seeds from this harvest were compiled to produce the composite population of Batamote Germplasm. Because of 9 hybridization that may occur within the assemblage, it should not be assumed that this germplasm may be reproduced by repeating collections from the original collection sites. Compos- ite populations are not simply mixtures of the genotypes present in the field; they are expected to have a continuously changing genetic makeup (Fehr 1987).

Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS 508-877-7630 Open daily April-October

Nasami Farm & Sanctuary in Whately, MA Batamote Germplasm is lc()11osite of naturally occurring 413-397-9922 Open spring and fall Thursday-Sunday germplasm and the composite population has undergone no purposeful selection. Batarnote Germplasm does not differ sig- Quantity pre-orders for local pick-up Contract growing programs available nificantly in rate of spread, seed production, or vigor from nat- [email protected] urally occurring desert zinnia. Batamote Germplasm desert zin- 550+ nursery-propagated native species & cultivars nia was determined "OK to release" when evaluated through the America's largest public native plant education program Worksheet for Conducting an Environmental Evaluation of NRCS Plant Releases. 35

E RAMONA GARNER AND MARY £ HERSHDORIER NATIVEPLANTS 1 11 1 1 1 SPRING 2010 ANTICIPATED REFERENCES CONSERVATION USE Fehr WR. 1987. Principles of cultivar devel- The potential uses of Batamote Germ- opment, Vol 1. Theory and technique. plasm desert zinnia include restoration New York (NY): Macmillan Publishing of disturbed areas, wildlife habitat Company. improvement, and for increasing plant Flora of North America Editorial Committee. diversity on lands in southeastern Ari- 2003. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol 25. New York (NY): Oxford zona (Major Land Resource Area 41). University Press. Batamote Germplasm desert zinnia Hickman JC, editor. 1993. The Jepson manu- reproduces through seed. This release al: higher plants of California. Berkeley provides land managers with a forb for (CA): University of California Press. 1400 use in conservation plantings in south- P. eastern Arizona. Jones TA, Johnson DA. 1998. Integrating genetic concepts into planned rangeland seedings. Journal of Range Management ANTICIPATED AREA 51:594-606. OF ADAPTATION Kearney TH, Peebles RH. 1969. Arizona flora. Berkeley (CA): University of California Batamote Gcrmplasrn desert zinnia was Press. Phillips SL, Wolfe MS. 2005. Evolutionary plant developed for use in southeast Arizona breeding for low input systems. Journal of (MLRA 41). Agricultural Science 143:245-254. Torres AM. 1962. Cytotaxonomy of cespitose zinnias. American Journal of Botany AVAILABILITY OF PLANT 49(10):1033-1037. MATERIALS Torres AM. 1963. Taxonomy of zinnia. Britto- nia 15(l):1-25. Seed production will be maintained by the Torres AM. 1964. Hybridization studies in USDA NRCS Tucson Plant Materials Cen- perennial zinnias. American Journal of ter. Limited quantities of seed are available Botany 51(5):567-573. to seed producers for increase and to other [USDA NRCS] USDA Natural Resources Con- interested parties, as available. servation Service. 2008. The PLANTS Database. URL: http://plants.usda.gov. Baton Rouge (LA): National Plant Data Center.

NATIVEPLANTS 1 11 1 1 1 SPRING 2010 DESERT ZINNIA GERMPLASM