Russian Wildrye Research Articles

Cytology, fertility, and morphology of Elymus kengii (Keng) Tzvelev and E. grandiglumis (Keng) A. Löve (Triticeae: Poaceae)

This study reports on the cytogenetics, fertility, mode of reproduction, and morphological variation of two perennial Triticeae grasses, Elymus kengii (Keng) Tzvelev and Elymus grandiglumis (Keng) A. Löve, from west central China. Both species are allohexaploids (2n = 42), self-fertile, and morphologically distinct on the basis of their plant color, glume length, and lemma and rachis vestiture. F1 hybrids between these two species are partially fertile and morphologically intermediate to their parents. Analysis of chromosome pairing in hybrids between E. grandiglumis or E. kengii and the following "analyzer" species, Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski (NN), Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (NN), Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. &Smith) Gould (SSHH), Elymus dentatus (Hook. f.) Tzvelev ssp. ugamicus (Drob.) Tzvelev (SSYY), Elymus ciliaris (Trin.) Nevski (SSYY), Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A Löve (SS), and Pseudoroegneria tauri (Boiss. &Bal.) A. Löve (SSPP), suggested that both taxa contain the S, Y, and P genomes. This represents a new genome combination not previously reported and shows that the P genome from the crested wheatgrasses (Agropyron) has been involved in polyploid evolution within the. Triticeae.Key words: genome, meiosis, chromosome pairing, interspecific hybrids, Elymus, Triticeae.

Plant Regeneration and Chromosomal Stability in Tissue Cultures of the Hybrids of Elymus canadensis with Psathyrostachys juncea and Secale cereale

AbstractCallus was induced from segments of immature inflorescences of Elymus canadensis×Psathyrostachys juncea and Elymus canadensis×Secale cereale F1 hybrids on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l of 2,4‐D and plants were regenerated from the calluses on a hormone free MS medium. The plants regenerated from both the hybrids exhibited a high degree of stability in morphology, chromosome number and chromosome pairing. The reasons for this are discussed.

EFFECT OF ROW SPACING ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND ABOVEGROUND HARVESTABILITY OF RUSSIAN WILDRYE

Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea [Fischer] Nevski) was grown in 15- and 60-cm row spacings at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Beginning in the third year after establishment and continuing for 4 yr, dry matter yields taken by machine were compared to yields taken by hand in a two-cut system. The machine harvested 54% of the available dry matter in the 60-cm rows but only 27% in the 15-cm rows. Apart from one cut in 1 yr, there were no significant yield differences due to row spacing when the forage was harvested by hand. The results indicate the need for more research on the effects of row spacing, especially with regard to the grazing animal.Key words: Psathyrostachys juncea (Fischer) Nevski in Komarov, hand sampling, machine harvesting, plant morphology, forage yield

Intergeneric hybrids and an amphiploid between Elymus canadensis and Psathyrostachys juncea

Fifty four hybrid plants between Elymus canadensis and Psathyrostachys juncea were obtained by handpollination and embryo culture. The average cross compatibility between both species was 31.2 percent. One amphiploid plant was induced by colchicine treatment. The hybrid and amphiploid plants resembled P. juncea in appearance but showed a higher plant height and dry matter yield than the parents. The hybrids showed extremely low pollen stainability and were completely sterile. With the exception of one plant (2n=3x+1=22), all hybrid plants were allotriploids (SHN, 2n=3x=21). The amphiploid plant (SSHHNN, 2n=6x=42) showed 58.9% pollen stainability and 11.6% seed fertility.

Meiotic associations at metaphase I in diploid, triploid, and tetraploid Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski.

Meiotic associations were studied at metaphase I in PMCs of autotetraploid and autotriploid plants of Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea). Autoploidy without the presence or action of the bivalentization system was demonstrated. In light of the meiotic behaviors in these autoploids, breeding strategies for Psathyrostachys juncea were suggested. Possible uses of these materials are described.

TETRACAN, RUSSIAN WILD RYEGRASS

Tetracan is the first tetraploid cultivar of Russian wild ryegrass registered for sale in Canada. The large seed, large heads and wide leaves are visual characters that distinguish Tetracan from diploid cultivars of Russian wild ryegrass. Tetracan is superior to the diploid cultivar Swift in establishment vigor as evidenced by excellent ability to emerge from deep seedings. It is equal to Swift in dry matter and seed yield.Key words: Psathyrostachys juncea, cultivar description, wild ryegrass (Russian, tetraploid)

A novel intergeneric hybrid in the Triticeae: Triticum aestivum x Psathyrost achys juncea

Two hybrid embryos of intergeneric origin between Triticum aestivum cv Fukuho (2n=6x=42, AABBDD) and Psathyrostachys juncea (2n=2x=14, NN) were successfully rescued. One hybrid plant had the expected chromosome number of 28 (ABDN), whereas the second plant had 35 chromosomes. The average meiotic chromosome pairing in the 35-chromosome hybrid was 21.87 univalents + 6.38 bivalents + 0.11 trivalents + 0.009 quadrivalents, which indicates that two copies of the N genome were present. Chromosome pairing in the 28-chromosome hybrid was low (1.35 bivalents), and pointed out the lack of homology between the wheat genomes and the P. juncea genome. These new hybrids showed some necrosis and chlorosis, which caused severe floral abortion in the plant that had 35 chromosomes. These problems became gradually less severe after 18 months.

Cytogenetic studies of the hybrid between Psathyrostachys juncea and P. huashanica (Poaceae)

The interspecific diploid hybrid between Psathyrostachys juncea (2x = 14) and the Chinese endemic species P. huashanica (2x = 14) was obtained and although completely sterile, developed normally. Chromosome pairing observed at MI in the hybrid was high, i.e. 6.57 chiasmata per cell. The average number of bivalents was 4.04 ranging from 2–7. These results indicate a close relationship between the genome of P. huashanica and that of P. juncea.

Coenocytism, ameiosis, and chromosome diminution in intergeneric hybrids in the perennial Triticeae

Three different pathways of ameiotic microsporogenesis were observed in some intergeneric hybrids of the perennial Triticeae grasses. In one of the hybrids between Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. inermis and Psathyrostachys juncea, pollen mother cells remained as premeiotic interphase cells when the pollen grain wall started to form. The microspores in such an ameiotic plant are presumably unreduced. Coenocyte formation coupled with ameiosis occurred in two hybrid plants of Psathyrostachys huashanica × Secale montanum. Less than 10% of the pollen mother cells had one nucleus. An average of 4.44 nuclei, ranging from 1 to 25 per pollen mother cell, was observed. The nuclei in coenocytes remained unfused when the pollen grain wall was formed. Nucleus splitting followed by cytoplasmic budding or cleavage, possibly a process of chromosome diminution or elimination, replaced meiotic divisions in most of the pollen mother cells in one plant of Leymus angustus × Hordeum bulbosum and two plants of Thinopyrum elongatum × Psathyrostachys juncea. It is evident that these meiotic abnormalities are under genetic control. Probable locations for these genes controlling these phenomena are suggested.Key words: coenocyte, ameiosis, chromosome diminution, chromosome elimination, microsporogenesis, unreduced gamete, polyploidy, intergeneric hybrid.

Root Excision and Dehydration Effects on Water Uptake in Four Range Species

Germinating seeds of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum), Russian wildrye (Elymusjunceus), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and cicer milkvetch (A stragalus cicer) were dehydrated for 4 days at -22 MPa, and/or their roots were excised, and used as treated materials. In an experiment in root growth boxes, where the seedlings depended for 60 days on the initial soil water supply, seminal primary and seminal lateral roots of grasses penetrated to the same depth. Both types of roots were similarly effective in taking up water, mainly from the upper 50 cm of the soil profile. In a sealed pot experiment under favorable moisture conditions, water uptake increased with seedling age up to 34 and 41 days for crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye, respectively, and up to the end of the experiment (53 days) for the legume species. Leaf area of grasses was not affected by root excision alone, but it decreased due to the combined effects of root excision and temporary dehydration. Leaf area was generally proportional to water uptake within each species. In all 4 species, root excision and temporary dehydration did not affect transportation rates, while transportation rate decreased as a function of age. Transportation rates were higher in legumes than grasses and were higher in Russian wildrye than crested wheatgrass.

Amplification and dispersion of repeated DNA sequences in theTriticeae

Four representatives of a family of dispersed repetitive sequences which were prominent and dispersed in the E genome ofThinopyrum elongatum but poorly represented in wheat, were studied in detail. The 1.4kb sequences were present both as part of tandem and more complex arrays and appeared to have resulted from repeated amplification of the sequence and their dispersion throughout the genome. Subcloning of sections of the 1.4 kb sequences resulted in probes which improved the resolution of the E genome from the genomes in wheat and enabled identification of single E genome chromosomes introduced into wheat. The generality of these types of sequences in the tribeTriticeae was confirmed by isolating analogous sequences from the R (rye,Secale cereale), V (Dasypyrum villosum), and N (Psathyrostachys juncea) genomes. — The cloned repetitive sequences from the R, V, and N genomes each showed characteristic fluctuations in amount within the grasses examined in addition to being virtually absent from wheat. It is thus possible that these sequences may provide useful taxonomic indicators for establishing relationships within theTriticeae, as well as valuable probes for tracing alien chromatin introduced into wheat.

Seedling Root Development and Morphology of Cool‐Season and Warm‐Season Forage Grasses

A detailed description of grass seedli ng root morphology is essential to understand the differences in the establishment process among grasses. A repeated greenhouse study using a 1:1 mixture of Sharpsburg silty clay loam (fine, montmorillonit|c, mesic Typic Argiudolls) and coarse sand was conducted to determine root morphology differences at the third‐leaf stage among nine cool‐season forage grasses, creeping foxtail (A1opecurus arundinaceous Poir., reed canarygrass, (Phalaris arundinacea L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), russian wildrye (Elymus junceus Fish.), crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.], intermediate wheatgrass [A. intermedium (Host) Beauv.], and western wheatgrass (A. smithii Rydb.); and nine warm‐season forage grasses, sideoats grama [Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Tort.], blue grama [B. gracillis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex. Steud.], sand lovegrass [Eragrostis trlchodes (Nutt.) Wood], big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii) Vitman), sand bluestem [A. gerardii var. paucipilus (Nash) Fern.], little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash], caucasian bluestem [Bothriochloa caucasica (Trin.) C.E. Hobb.], indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). These grasses were selected as representative forage grasses of the northern USA. Andropogoneae species reached third leaf emergence 3 to 5 days earlier than other warm‐season grasses and 3 to 15 days earlier than cool‐season grasses. Most cool‐season grasses had no or little subcoleoptile internode elongation except Aveneae species. Aveneae species and warm‐season grasses, except Chlorideae species, had root development from the subcoleoptile internode. Sand bluestem had less subcoleoptile internode root development than big bluestem. Seminal root development was greater in species of the Triticeae tribe. Adventitious root development occurred by the three‐leaf stage on species of all tribes except for Andropogoneae members. Most grasses were in a juvenile period of root growth at third leaf emergence. Stage of root development did not coincide with stage of shoot development among species.

EFFECT OF ROW SPACING ON SEED AND HAY PRODUCTION OF ELEVEN GRASS SPECIES UNDER A PEACE RIVER REGION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The effect of row spacing on seed and hay yields of 11 perennial grass species, including crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.), intermediate wheatgrass (A. intermedium (Host.) Beauv.), a northern biotype of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a southern biotype of bromegrass, Russian wildrye (Elymus junceus Fisch.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Hudson), creeping red fescue (F. rubra var. genuina L.), chewings fescue (F. rubra var. commutata Gaud), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), a turf-type timothy (Phleum bertolonii DC (P. bulbosum auct.)) and hexaploid timothy (Phleum pratense L.), was studied under a system with limited inputs of fertilizer and no weed control. The width of the row spacings ranged from 16 to 104 cm where seed yields were measured and from 27 to 93 cm where hay yields were measured. The seed yield of all grasses was greater at a row spacing of 16 cm than at row spacings of 60 cm or more. Hay yields of all grasses, averaged over four production years, were also greatest at narrow row spacings (27 cm). These yields decreased as row spacings increased to 49 through 93 cm. Row spacing had its greatest effect on hay yields during the first production year. After this period the effects of row spacing on hay yields were small.Key words: Row spacing, perennial grasses, seed yields, hay yields

Effect of Time of Grazing in First Crop Year on Subsequent Productivity of Russian Wildrye

Effect of Time of Grazing in First Crop Year on Subsequent Productivity of Russian Wildrye

Nitrogen Cycling in Seven Cool‐Season Perennial Grass Species1

AbstractAmong cool‐season grasses few comparisons have been made of the effects of N fertilization over an extended time period. An experiment was established at Mandan, ND, to study the effects of low (45 kg N ha−1) and excessive (225 kg N ha−1) fertilizer N rates for 9 yr on growth, N uptake, and fertilizer N accounted for in forage, roots, and soil inorganic N by seven temperate cool‐season grass species: western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii Rybd. (Lõve)], crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.], intermediate wheatgrass [Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski], smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski], green needlegrass (Stipa viridula Trin.), and Garrison creeping foxtail (Alopecurus arundinaceus Poir). Total N concentrations of forage were increased with 225 kg N ha−1 annually only, and were often lowest for higher‐yielding species (B. inermis, A. desertorum, and E. intermedia). Cumulative total N uptake was usually greatest for those species plus P. smithii. Total N concentration and uptake in roots were increased by 225 kg N ha−1 annually, with few differences among species. Total N in roots gradually increased with the season, and by fall was double the spring levels. Minimum root‐N concentrations were at the 20‐ to 50‐cm soil depth. Soil inorganic N concentrations for the check and 45 kg N ha−1 rate were < 60 kg N ha−1 compared with 300 to 500 kg N ha−1 for the 225 N rate. For higher‐yielding species, 70 to 90% of the fertilizer N was initially accounted for in forage, roots, and inorganic N compared with 40 to 50% by the ninth year after extreme drought. At the higher fertilizer rate, 820 kg ha−1 fertilizer N was found in soil organic N. For all species and fertilizer N rates, 200 to 250 kg fertilizer N was not accounted for.

Forage Yield and Quality of Warm- and Cool-Season Grasses

Forage Yield and Quality of Warm- and Cool-Season Grasses

Effects of Adenosine Monophosphate on Germination of Forage Species in Salt Solutions

Seed germination can be a limiting step in the establishment of plant species on saline soils. There are indications that the level of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in the seed may be a limiting factor in seed germination under stress. The objective of this research was to determine if added AMP would improve germination of grass and legume seeds under saline conditions. The seeds of tall fescue (J’esfucu arundinaceae Schreb. ‘K-311, bluegmma [Bouteloua grucilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.], crested wheatgrass [Agropyron c&a&m (L) Goertn ‘Nordanl, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. ‘Blackwell’), perennial ryegrass (Lo&m perenne L. ‘Lynn’), tall wheatgrass [Agropyron ehgatum (Host) uv. ‘Platte’], Russian wildrye (Elymus iunceus F&h.), western wheatgrass (Agropyron smifhii Rydb.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativu L. ‘Dawson’) were germinated in petri dishes at varying levels of salinity with and without AMP. Time required for germination was shortened for all species, except switchgrass and western wheatgrass, with added AMP. Percent germination of alfalfa was increased with AMP at 14 days in 0.068 M sodium chloride and of tall fescue in the same concentration of sodium sulfate (dibasic). Perennial ryegrass, Russian wildrye and alfalfa demonstrated similar responses at 0.102 M sodium chloride. The germination of alfalfa was improved with AMP at 14 days in 0.034 M sodium sulfate. Adenosine monophosphate tended to have little effect when severe germination depression occurred from high salt concentrations.

Diploid Perennial Intergeneric Hybrids in the Tribe Triticeae. I. Agropyron cristatum ✕ Pseudoroegneria libanotica and Critesion violaceum ✕ Psathyrostachys juncea1

Twelve Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner (2n=14; PP) ✕ Pseudoroegneria libanotica (Hack.) D. R. Dewey (2n=14; SS) brids and nine Critesion violaceum (Boiss. & Hohen.) A. Löve (2n=14; HVHV) ✕ Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski (2n=14; NN) hybrids were produced to synthesize new genome combinations for production of amphiploids. These hybrids were obtained by controlled pollination and embryo culture on orchid agar medium. Spikes of these two diploid intergeneric hybrids were intermediate to those of their respective parents. The A. cristatum ✕ P. libanotica hybrids (2n=14; PS) averaged 7.71I, 2.77II, 0.22III, 0.01IV, and 0.01V per cell at metaphase I, 3.06 laggards per cell at anaphase I, and 3.35 micronuclei per quartet. Chromosome pairings were mainly allosyndetic between the Pgenome (large) and the S‐genome (small) chromosomes. Hybrid plants of C. violaceum ✕ P. juncea (2n=14; HVN) averaged 12.18I, 0.79II, and 0.01III per cell at metaphase I, 3.12 laggards per cell at anaphase I, and 1.30 micronuclei per quartet. Neither hybrid combination produced stainable pollen grains. Meiotic pairing in these hybridsuggests that the relationship between the P and S genomes is closer than that between the HV; and N genomes.

Winter feed quality of some grasses in the high country

Abstract Feed quality of 13 grasses was compared on a dry Streamlands soil after regrowth from January, February, or March, and sampled monthly from May to September in three successive years. The grasses were: ryecorn; ‘Grasslands Kara’, ‘Grasslands Wana’, and ‘Grasslands Apanui’ cocksfoot; ‘Grasslands Nui’ and ‘Grasslands Ariki’ ryegrass; ‘Grasslands Maru’ phalaris; ‘Grasslands Roa’ and ‘Syn II’ tall fescue; ‘Grasslands Hakari’ mountain brome; ‘Grasslands Matua’ prairie grass; ‘Grasslands Tiki’ smooth brome; and Russian wildrye. Species and cultivars differed in their prewinter (May) yields, and in their loss in yield, percentage living tissue, and digestibility of living tissue throughout the winter. May yields were highest for ryecorn, cocksfoot, and ryegrass. There was a marked decline in yield of tall fescue, ryegrass, and smooth brome throughout winter. The percentage living tissue in August ranged from 80 (ryecorn) to 26% (smooth brome). The digestibility of living tissue in August was 82–70%.

Effects of Tillage and Manure on Emergence and Establishment of Russian Wildrye in a Saltgrass Meadow

Effects of Tillage and Manure on Emergence and Establishment of Russian Wildrye in a Saltgrass Meadow