SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR RELEASE OF JACKSON-FRAZIER GERMPLASM MEADOW BARLEY (Hordeum brachyantherum) (source identified class pre-varietal release, natural track) compiled and written by Dale C. Darris (with sections of part D co-authored by Peter Gonzalves and Oregon State University researchers) (August 2008) A. Pre-Variety Name: Jackson-Frazier germplasm. Experimental Designations: PI-645564 and NRCS accession number 9056373. Species: Hordeum brachyantherum Nevski. Symbol: HOBR2. Synonyms include: Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. brachyantherum, Critesion brachyantherum, Critesion jubatum ssp. breviaristatum, Hordeum boreale, Hordeum jubatum ssp. breviaristatum, Hordeum jubatum var. boreale, Hordeum nodosum, Hordeum nodosum var. boreale. The common name is meadow barley. B. Origin and Breeding History of the Variety (Source Identified Class Germplasm): Jackson-Frazier Germplasm (9056373) meadow barley originates from a large population (several acres in size) growing in a wetland prairie within the Jackson- Frazier Wetland natural area in Benton County, Oregon: Sec 24 and 13, Township 11S, Range 5W, elevation 69 m (225 ft) above mean sea level. Coordinates: 123°14 min. 30 seconds west longitude, 44°37 min. north latitude. Mean annual precipitation: 107 cm (42 inches). Habitat: clay soil (Bashaw series), level exposure, wetland prairie plant community dominated by grass and grass-like herbaceous species including sedges (Carex spp.), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa), western sloughgrass (Beckmannia syzigachne), spiked bentgrass (Agrostis exarata), western mannagrass (Glyceria occidentalis) and cattail (Typha latifolia) . No information exists to suggest that this population was not naturally occurring at the time of initial and subsequent wild seed collections. Seed was originally collected In 1997 by Dale Darris then recollected in 1998 and 2000 by Dale Darris and in 2006 by Sonja Johnson. Jackson-Frazier germplasm was not purposefully selected, bred, or hybridized. The material has not been directly compared to other populations of meadow barley but has been evaluated for seed yield, production techniques, ability to establish from seed in fields and a grassed waterway, and tolerance to soil saturation and flooding. Jackson-Frazier Germplasm represents a single natural population consisting in large part of one predominant and one secondary phenotype with distinct morphological and phenological traits. From observations of the G0 parent population and G1 seed increase and the experimental evaluation of G2 plants and 1 plots established from seed, there is no reason to believe growth and reproductive characteristics are not stable. C. Description of the Variety: Jackson-Frazier Germplasm (9056373) falls within the taxonomic limits for Hordeum brachyantherum Nevski described in Hitchcock and Cronquist “Flora of the Pacific Northwest” (1973) pages 645-646, Hitchcock et al. “Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest” (1969), Part 1, page 603, and Hickman (editor) “The Jepson Manual Higher Plants of California” (1993), page 1266. On April 8, 1998 and again on August 15, 2008, the identification of Jackson-Frazier germplasm as Hordeum brachyantherum was confirmed by Richard Halse, Curator of the Herbarium, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. Jackson-Frazier germplasm meadow barley grows 24 to 54 inches (60-138 cm) tall in a loose to moderately dense tuft. Plant height is greater than typically described (20-100 cm) for meadow barley. Culms (stems) are erect to spreading and usually bent at the base. Leaves lack auricles, have a short ciliolate ligule, and are glabrous (hairless) or with a few, scattered fine hairs. Leaf blades are 2 to 9 (11) mm wide (Hitchcock 1969), and mostly basal except for 1-3 (4) short leaves midway up the culm (Guard 1995). Additional leaves occur along upright to spreading vegetative tillers arising from the base. The inflorescence (seedhead or panicle) is a narrow, flattened spike. Spikes are mostly erect, narrow, and 1.5 to 4 inches (4-10 cm) long, with three spikelets per node and one floret per spikelet. The central spikelet is fertile and sessile (stalkless) and the lateral ones reduced, on a short pedicel about 1 mm long, and usually sterile but sometimes staminate (Hitchcock, et. al. 1969, Hickman 1993). Both spikelet bracts (glumes) and fertile floret bracts (lemmas) are bristle or awn-like (USDA Forest Service 1937). The brittle central axis (rachis) of the spike easily breaks off (shatters) in segments from the top down at maturity. By mid-summer only the lowest spikelets remain (Guard 1995). Some plants of Jackson-Frazier germplasm have strictly green stems with purple joints, but the predominate phenotypes have blue-green stems (due to a bluish-white waxy coating). Seed maturity also differs by several days between phenotypes. Leaves and spikes range from green to purple-green. These colors may or may not be typical of the species. This cool season grass actively grows during the winter within its area of origin and year round if sufficient moisture is present. It may flower more than once each year under moist conditions, especially if clipped. 2 D. Evidence Supporting the Identity of the Variety and Statements or Claims Concerning the Variety’s Performance Characteristics: Evaluation and Increase of Three Populations of Meadow Barley Dale Darris Introduction Meadow barley (Hordeum brachyantherum Nevski) is a native, perennial, cool season bunchgrass. Two subspecies are currently recognized: ssp. brachyantherum and ssp. californicum (Hickman 1993, USDA NRCS 2008). The latter is referred to as California barley. Older synonyms include H. boreale and H. nodosum. Another common name is little barley. This widespread and broadly adapted species occurs from central Canada and Alaska south to California and west to Montana and New Mexico, as well as parts of the midwest, northeast and southeast US. Its elevation range is from sea-level to over 12,000 ft. (3650 m) in the mountains. Classified as a facultative wetland plant (FACW) in Regions 0 and 9 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Reed 1988), meadow barley tolerates poorly drained, anerobic soil conditions (USDA NRCS 2008), for lengthy, if not indefinate periods. Studies by the Corvallis Plant Materials Center indicate that mature plants of certain populations such as Jackson-Frazier germplasm can also tolerate shallow spring and summer inundation (water up to 7 inches deep for several months) or winter flooding (water up to 16 inches for five months)(manuscript). However, the ability to survive both conditions consecutively or indefinately is yet uncertain and may be unlikely. Typical habitats include moist to wet prairies, salt marshes, and streambanks, as well as drier knolls and rocky ridges (Guard 1995). Meadow barley is found on acid to alkaline soils (pH 5.5- 8.5) with textures ranging from sand to clay. Salinity tolerance is considered moderate or high (USDA NRCS 2008, Forest Service 1987). High tolerance may especially be the case for ecotypes found along coastal beaches and in brackish, estuarine habitats of the Puget lowlands where it can be locally abundant. While described as long-lived (Jackman 1965), some individuals and entire stands appear to be naturally short-lived (3-5 years), even under favorable growing conditions. The species is considered shade intolerant and fire tolerant (USDA NRCS 2008). Meadow barley grows 20-100 cm tall in a loose to moderately dense tuft. The culms (stems) are erect to spreading and usually bent at the base. The leaves lack auricles, have a short ciliolate ligule, and are glabrous (hairless) or with a few, scattered fine hairs, 2 to 9 mm wide (Hitchcock 1969), and mostly basal except for 1-2 short leaves midway up the culm (Guard 1995). Additional leaf blades extend along vegetative tillers arising from the base. The infloresence (flowerhead or panicle) is a narrow, flattened spike. Spikes are mostly erect, narrow, and 1.5-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, with three spikelets per node and one floret per spikelet. The central spikelet is fertile and sessile (stalkless) and the lateral ones reduced, on a short pedicel about 1 mm long, and usually sterile but sometimes staminate (Hitchcock, et. al. 1969, Hickman 1993). Both 3 spikelet bracts (glumes) and fertile floret bracts (lemmas) are bristle or awn-like (USDA Forest Service 1937). The central axis (rachis) of the spike becomes brittle and the seed head easily breaks off in pieces (shatters) from the top down as it matures. The seed heads are bristly and often purplish in color, becoming stubby at maturity which distinguishes it from timothy (Phleum pretense), meadow foxtail (Alopecuris pratensis), or other grasses with narrow spikes. It loosely resembles common barley (Hordeum vulgare) which is an annual usually confined to cultivated areas. Meadow barley is upright, while its closest relative, California barley, is shorter and more spreading. Meadow barley readily hybridizes with other Hordeum species (Baum and Bailey 1990), as well as certain members of the genera Elymus (wildrye) and Agropyron (Pojar 1994, USDA NRCS 1997). Hybrids with other genera are apparently sterile, but this could be a consideration when determining isolation guidelines for certified seed production, especially with other Hordeum species. As an important wetland grass in western Oregon, western Washington, and northwestern California, uses for meadow barley include restoration of native freshwater and estuarine plant communities, erosion control along streambanks