USDA-ARS Multicolored Ornamental Festuca Grass Cultivars “Freedom
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HORTSCIENCE 52(6):925–931. 2017. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI11832-17 lat., 106°58#25$W long.) in Big Horn County, MT. The seed of the initially col- lected population was field increased by the USDA-ARS Multicolored Ornamental NRCS-BPMC in 1994 and was received by the USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Festuca Grass Cultivars ‘‘Freedom Fire’’ Laboratory (FRRL) in 2004. Although the ancestry of plants in this population is un- ‘Francy’, ‘Vida’, ‘Heidi’, and ‘Kim’ for known, indigenous, fine-leaved F. ovina L. (2x; sheep fescue), and F. idahoensis L. (4x; Idaho fescue) populations exist throughout Low-input Applications in Semiarid this region of Montana (Barkworth et al., 2007) and, thus, could be progenitors of FEID Environments 9025897. Therefore, in 2006, a preliminary 1 molecular analysis of this population (five Jack E. Staub, Matthew D. Robbins , and Steven R. Larson plants) was conducted by the FRRL using U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Forage and amplified fragment length polymorphism Range Research Laboratory, 696 N. 1100 E, Logan, UT 84322 (AFLP) markers to characterize its genetic relatedness to other Festuca species. Data Paul G. Johnson indicated that FEID 9025897 plants pos- Plant, Soils, and Climate Department, Utah State University, Old Main Hill, sessed relatively close genetic similarities Logan, UT 84322 with F. ovina L. (sheep fescue) (Jones et al., 2008). In 2009, a visual inspection of 270 Additional index words. ornamental breeding, naturally occurring hybrid, landscape archi- FEID 9025897 cloned plants examined under tecture, abiotic stress tolerance replication in a Logan UT field nursery showed that the vast majority (>98%) were sterile (degenerated pistils and stamens) Over half of the world’s population lives D.R. Dewey], prairie Junegrass [Koeleria (Staub et al., 2014). Moreover, subsequent in an urban setting (Worldwatch Institute, macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult.; synom. K. cris- broad-based AFLP and cytogenetic examina- 2007), where ornamental plants provide en- tata auct.], needle grass [Stipa spartea (Trin.) tions of these FEID 9025897 plants indicated vironments that encourage the presence of Barkworth], buffalo grass [Buchloe dactylo- that this population likely originated from wildlife and plant diversity (Damschen et al., ides (Nutt.) Engelm.], and blue grama [Bou- a naturalized mating between F. idahoensis 2006) and offer a myriad of social and teloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths] (4x) and F. ovina (2x), resulting in partially economic benefits (Lohr et al., 2007; Wolf, are being increasingly used for low-input and fully sterile triploid (3x) and possibly 2004). However, continued reduction in lim- urban horticultural applications (Wilson, aneuploid progeny (Staub et al., 2014). ited natural resources worldwide increasingly 2011). necessitates novel approaches for the incor- Drought tolerant, tall-statured (>40 cm Plant Evaluation poration of low maintenance and low-input tall), western U.S. indigenous grasses with plant materials into urban landscapes (Cook, intense multicolored culms and panicles are Of the 270 plants examined by Staub et al. 1996; Dewey et al., 2006). not commercially available for low-input (2014), 19 were comparatively vigorous, The popularity of ornamental grasses for ornamental applications. The genus Festuca relatively tall, and possessed multicolored use in urban landscapes, parks, median strips, contains about 300 genetically diverse, wide- culms suggesting their potential for low- parking lot borders, and for erosion control and narrow-leaved perennial, tufted and rhi- input western U.S. urban horticultural appli- on slopes has increased in recent years zomatous grass species, of which several cations. These 19 plants were lifted from (Loram et al., 2008; Wilson and Knox, possess drought tolerance and have attributes a field and cloned in the greenhouse to 2006). Although native and nonnative useful for low-input applications (Ruemmele compare their cytology, genetic structure, grasses are considered central to many U.S. et al., 2003). For instance, some fine-leaved relative plant vigor (size, color, and transition urban landscapes (Beard and Green, 1994; Festuca species [e.g., F. rubra var. commu- from winter to spring growth), aboveground Fender, 2006), there is an increasing con- tata Gaud.; F. ovina var. duriuscala (L.) dry weight (biomass), persistence, and plant sumer demand for low-input naturally occur- Koch] remain relatively green under high habit and coloration with commercial range- ring grass species for various horticultural temperatures (e.g., >30 °C) and drought land cultivar controls Nezpur (4x; F. idaho- applications, especially in semiarid regions conditions, and have been useful for a variety ensis L.), Joseph (4x; F. idahoensis), Bighorn of the western United States (Dewey et al., of turf applications (Aronson et al., 1987; (2x; F. ovina), Covar [2x; F. valesiaca 2006; Thetford et al., 2009). In such regions Ruemmele et al., 2003). In 1982, the U.S. Schleich. ex Gaudin subsp. valesiaca (Volga (USDA hardiness zones 3–5; annual precip- Natural Resources Conservation Services fescue)], and Durar [6x; F. trachyphylla itation 254–610 mm) relatively short-statured (NRCS) Bridger Plant Materials Center (Hack.) Krajina (hard fescue)] in replicated (15–30 cm tall) perennial grasses such as (BPMC) collected seed from an indigenous trials. These Festuca controls were chosen little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium fine-leaved Festuca population in a semiarid because of their taxonomic relationships to (Michx.) Nash], Western wheatgrass [Pasco- region near Busby, MT, and designated it plants of FEID 9025897 (Jones et al., 2008; pyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Love; synom. FEID 9025897. This population possesses Staub et al., 2014) and their adaptation to and Agropyron smithii (Rydb). Barkworth & tall-statured genotypes with multicolored widespread use on western U.S. semiarid stems (Staub et al., 2014) and is the source rangelands. To compare experimental mate- for the naturally occurring ornamental Fes- rial to available and taxonomically appropri- tuca germplasms described herein for use in ate material in the USDA-ARS Germplasm Received for publication 16 Feb. 2017. Accepted semiarid growing environments. Resources Information Network (GRIN; for publication 8 May 2017. http://www.ars-grin.gov/), five U.S. native Mention of a trade name, proprietary product, or PI accessions (F. idahoensis; PIs 344597, specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee Origin or warranty by the USDA and does not imply its 344604, 344609, 344614, and 344631) were approval to the exclusion of other products that Seed of FEID 9025897 was originally also evaluated. In addition, three ornamental may be suitable. collected (>10 plants) by the BPMC on the grasses, Red Spire [Melica transsilvanica 1Corresponding author. E-mail: matthew.robbins@ Charles E. Helvey Ranch east of the Rosebud Schur., abbreviated MeTr; obtained from ars.usda.gov. River (T7S R39E NW1/4Sec 3; 45°31#39$N Seedman.com (Gulf Coast, MS)], Florist HORTSCIENCE VOL. 52(6) JUNE 2017 925 switchgrass (synom. tall switchgrass) (Pani- moderate biomass or leaf blade length with base (tussock), 2) lower third, 3) middle third, cum virgatum L., ‘Strictum’; abbreviated green (light to dark) foliage (tussock evi- and 4) top third of inflorescences of all plants PaVi; obtained from Seedman.com), and dent), and 5 = green plants having compara- within a plot. To avoid intense sunlight and Chinese fountaingrass [Pennisetum alope- tively abundant aboveground biomass and/ standardize for daytime light levels, all rat- curoides (L.) Spreng; abbreviated PeAl; ob- or long leaf blade length. During the last ings were taken for all entries in a trial on tained from Outsidepride.com (Salem, OR)] 2 weeks of June of each year, the height a single, clear day between 0800 and 1100 HR. were included as horticultural controls be- (centimeters) of each plant was measured as Trials were rated separately on different days cause they exhibit panicle coloration at ma- the distance from the plant base (soil surface) and, where possible, with the same judges. turity. Of the 19 selections, ARS FEID-2, to the top of the highest floret at full anthesis Logistically, however, it was not possible for ARS FEID-64, and ARS FEID-98 did not (florets were gathered and straightened up- all judges to rate all three trials. Colors produce enough clones and were eliminated ward for measurement). Leaves and inflo- assigned by judges were based on approxi- from the evaluation. rescence spikes were harvested 10 cm mate alignments with Royal Horticulture Cloned plants and seedlings of the aboveground when inflorescences were dry, Society (RHS) color chart designations (edi- checks were evaluated in a randomized then oven-dried at 60 °C to estimate plant tion V; rhscf.orgfree.com). Judges identified complete block design with four replica- biomass as total aboveground dry weight green (RHS 140A), blue-green (RHS 125A), tions of five plants per plot for 2 years (grams/plant). After aboveground harvesting, gray (RHS N187D), brown (RHS 165A), (2014–15) in field nurseries at the Utah plant width was measured as the diameter of yellow (RHS 4A), gold (RHS 7C), orange State University Greenville Research farm in the remaining leaves and stems. Persistence (RHS N25C), pink (RHS 67D), salmon (RHS Logan (41°45#56.01## N lat., 111°48#39.69## W and flowering percentage was determined 58C), maroon (RHS N79C), and purple (RHS long.; 1407 m elevation, average July tem-