Registration of ‘Sims’ little bluestem

Abstract

Abstract‘Sims’ (Reg. no. CV‐17, PI 700041) little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash] was selected for greater 7‐d laboratory seed germination and superior field emergence. Two cycles of recurrent selection were used to develop Sims from little bluestem germplasm UC‐2 (PI 676265). Cycle 1 consisted of germinating 3,500 open‐pollinated pure seed (spikelets) of germplasm UC‐2 (designated UC‐2 C0) in water of –0.8 MPa potential for 7 d. All seed that germinated in 7 d were selected to create population UC‐2 C1. Cycle 2 selection was identical to Cycle 1 selection except that population UC‐2 C1 was used to create population UC‐2 C2 = Sims. The 7‐d seed germination of Sims in deionized water averaged 68% compared with 39, 53, and 71 for ‘Cimarron’, ‘Aldous’, and ‘Ahring’, respectively. Sixty days after field planting, plant population density of Sims averaged 8.9 plants m−2 compared with 7.1, 8.4, and 9.4 plants m−2 for Aldous, Cimarron, and Ahring, respectively. Thus, recurrent selection for increased seed germination in a negative water potential resulted in a little bluestem population capable of rapid seed germination and field emergence. Sims little bluestem is useful for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, soil and water conservation, renewable energy, and horticultural landscapes in the U.S. southern Great Plains. Sims was released cooperatively by the USDA‐ARS and USDA‐NRCS.