Keith A Pawelek

Notice of Release of Maverick Germplasm pink pappusgrass: selected class of natural germplasm

A selected germplasm of pink pappusgrass (Pappophorum bicolor Fourn. [Poaceae]) has been released for rangeland seeding, highway rights-of-way revegetation, and wildlife habitat restoration plantings in south Texas. Maverick Germplasm pink pappusgrass is a blend of 7 accessions selected from an evaluation at multiple sites in the intended area of use. Selections were made based on multi-year evaluation of plant characteristics and germination tests of seed collected from each location. Following selection, components of the germplasm were increased in isolation and blended following harvest to ensure seed was included from each of the selected accessions. Accessions included in the blend originate from 7 different counties and distinct soil types. This germplasm represents the first commercial release of pink pappusgrass, an important component of native rangeland plant communities in south Texas.

Notice of Release of La Salle Germplasm Arizona Cottontop Selected Class of Natural Germplasm

A selected germplasm of Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica (Benth.) Henr. [Poaceae]) has been released for rangeland reseeding and wildlife habitat enhancement plantings in the Rio Grande Plain of Texas. La Salle Germplasm Arizona cottontop is a blend of 12 selected accessions from an extensive evaluation at multiple sites in southern Texas. The release comprises accessions that are increased from the original seed collections of native populations to maintain the genetic integrity of each accession. This germplasm represents the first commercially available release of Arizona cottontop that originates from the intended area of use.

Notice of Release of Divot Tallow Weed Blend: Selected Class of Natural Germplasms

A blend of 2 selected germplasms of tallow weed or plantain (Plantago spp. [Plantaginaceae]) has been released for wildlife habitat restoration, rangeland seed mixes, and wildlife food plot plantings in south Texas. Divot Tallow Weed Blend comprises the releases STN-561 Germplasm Hookers plantain (Plantago hookeriana Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) and STN-496 Germplasm redseed plantain (Plantago rhodosperma Decne.). Tallow weeds are cool-season, annual native plants that provide winter forage to wildlife and livestock and produce seed eaten by game birds and other wildlife. These releases are being marketed as a blend to facilitate commercial production and ease of use for consumers. Selection of STN-496 and STN-561 Germplasms was based on seedling vigor, superior seed production in comparison with other collections from the target ecoregion, and growth characteristics facilitating commercial seed production and harvest. Commercial seed producers are required to grow the releases that make up Divot Tallow Blend separately and to blend seed in equal quantities following harvest. The releases can also be marketed independently as source-identified seed.

Notice of release of Dilley Germplasm slender grama

A selected germplasm of slender grama (Bouteloua repens (Kunth) Scribn. & Merr. [Poaceae]) was released for rangeland reseeding, highway rights-of-way plantings, and wildlife habitat enhancement plantings in southern Texas. Dilley Germplasm slender grama is a blend of 5 accessions selected from evaluation at multiple sites in southern Texas. Accessions comprising the release are increased from the original collection of a native population to maintain the genetic integrity of each accession. Dilley Germplasm slender grama has shown consistent early emergence and establishment in rangeland plantings and is highly competitive with several problematic exotic grass species.Smith FS, Ocumpaugh WR, Maywald PD, Lloyd-Reilley J, Maher SD, Pawelek KA. 2009. Notice of release of Dilley Germplasm slender grama. Native Plants Journal 10(3): 295–298.

Notice of Release of Zapata Germplasm Rio Grande Clammyweed: Selected Class of Natural Germplasm

A selected germplasm of Rio Grande clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra (L.) DC. ssp. riograndensis Iltis [Capparaceae]) has been released for rangeland restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement plantings in south Texas. Zapata Germplasm Rio Grande clammyweed is a warm-season annual forb originating from seed collected from native plants in Dimmitt and Zapata counties of south Texas. Collections were selected based on high proportion of full seed, low levels of seed dormancy, and high seed production potential. Zapata Germplasm is a fastestablishing native plant in rangeland plantings, provides excellent habitat to butterflies and other pollinators, and produces seed eaten by a variety of game birds. This release will provide a competitive annual forb useful for providing quick cover in rangeland plantings and will contribute to quality habitat for many wildlife species and pollinators. Zapata germplasm represents the first release of this species.

Evaluation of Locally-Adapted Native Seed Sources and Impacts of Livestock Grazing for Restoration of Historic Oil Pad Sites in South Texas

Oil and gas activities, particularly road and drilling pad construction, impact large acreages of native rangelands across the country. Many landowners attempt to restore the pad sites of historic wells to native vegetation with varying results. To test the ability of a locally-adapted, native seed mix, made up of grasses, forbs, and legumes, we attempted to restore four former oil and gas wells to their historic grassland state. Adding to the complexity of the restoration process, these pads were located within large grazing units, making it unfeasible to exclude grazing. We evaluated the ability of the native seed mix to establish and persist, and the effects of grazing by cattle the on the restored sites for two years after planting. By seven months post seeding, we were able to establish restored species density of ≥ 0.9 seeded plants/m2, comprising of an average of eight different species. Cattle grazing had little effect on the density of seeded species. Cattle grazing did have minor effects on species composition; however, these effects are not likely to create any long term effects on species composition. These results are promising to landowners attempting to perform native grassland restoration following oil and gas activities in South Texas, even when livestock exclusion is impractical.

Notice of Release of Chaparral Germplasm Hairy Grama: Selected Class of Natural Germplasm

Chaparral Germplasm hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta Lag. var. hirsuta [Poaceae]) was released as a Texas Selected Native Plant Germplasm in 2007. This germplasm is a blend of 4 selections of hairy grama originating from native populations in the Edwards Plateau, Rio Grande Plain, Sandsheet Prairie, and Gulf Coast Prairies ecoregions of Texas. Chaparral Germplasm comprises plants representative of the considerable ecotypic variation of B. hirsuta found across the intended area of use and contains ecotypes originating from a variety of soils where the species occurs. This germplasm has high potential for use in rangeland seed mixtures and in highway rights-of-way plantings. Chaparral Germplasm represents the first release of selected plant material of this widespread native grass.

Notice of Release of Atascosa Germplasm Texas Grama: Selected Class of Natural Germplasm

A blend of selected germplasms of Texas grama (Bouteloua rigidiseta (Steud.) Hitchc. [Poaceae]) has been released for roadside revegetation and wildlife habitat restoration in south Texas. This release will be referred to as Atascosa Germplasm Texas grama. The 6 accessions constituting the release were selected from an evaluation of plants grown from seed obtained at 21 locations in the Rio Grande Plain of south Texas. Texas grama is a low-growing, early successional native bunchgrass that grows well on shallow, rocky soils, making it an ideal plant for roadside revegetation. Accessions making up the blend have been increased in isolation, and seed is blended following harvest to ensure genetic diversity in seed distributed to commercial producers. Selections were made based on perennial habit, seed germination, and good performance at multiple evaluation locations. A critical need for ecotypic native seed for restoration and revegetation exists in south Texas, especially for roadsides and degraded rangelands. Texas grama should meet these needs because of its natural adaptation to disturbed sites, and prolific seed production and colonization ability.