Shelly D Maher

Notice of Release of Catarina Blend Bristlegrass: Selected Class of Natural Germplasm

Four selected germplasms of bristlegrass (Setaria vulpiseta (Lam.) Roem. & Schult. and S. leucopila (Scribn. & Merr.) K. Schum. [Poaceae]) have been released for rangeland plantings and wildlife habitat enhancement plantings in the Rio Grande Plain of Texas. Catarina blend bristlegrass is a mix of 4 bristlegrass releases (Kika648 Germplasm, Kika819 Germplasm, Kika820 Germplasm, and Kika677 Germplasm) selected from an extensive evaluation at multiple sites in south Texas. Accessions included in the blend are increased in isolation and blended prior to sale in order to maintain the genetic integrity of each release. These germplasms represent the first commercially available release of bristlegrass that has been tested and is adapted to south Texas.

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.

Improving Germination in Windmillgrass Ecotypes

Abstract Hooded windmillgrass (Chloris cucullata Bisch.) and shortspike windmillgrass (C. subdolichostachya Muell.) are native perennial grasses with potential for planting on highly erodible sites and on sites where introduced species are not desired. However, in both species, seeds are dormant resulting in poor germination. The objectives of this study were to evaluate effects of lemma and palea removal and caryopsis scarification on seed germination of 8 outstanding ecotypes selected in previous studies for survival and growth characteristics. Seed treatments were 1) whole seed, 2) naked caryopsis, 3) scarified naked caryopsis (30 s), 4) scarified naked caryopsis (50 s), and 5) scarified naked caryopsis (60 s). Germination conditions were 12 h dark 20°C and 12 h light 30°C. Seed lot viability varied from 55% to 62% for shortspike windmillgrass ecotypes and from 71% to 78% for hooded windmillgrass ecotypes. Initial germination index (MIR10) of naked caryopsis for shortspike windmillgrass ecotypes ranged from 16.3 to 21.6, compared to range from 0.2 to 0.6 to whole seed; whereas hooded windmillgrass ecotypes MIR10 ranged from 30.6 to 33.0 to naked caryopsis, compared to range from 5.8 to 8.0 to whole seed. The greatest total germination (P < 0.05) was obtained with naked caryopsis for all ecotypes and the scarification treatments did not have a positive effect on this parameter. As scarification time increased the total germination decreased. Lemma and palea removal improved (P < 0.05) total germination for all studied ecotypes.

Notice of Release of Mariah Germplasm Hooded Windmillgrass: Selected Class of Natural Germplasm

A selected germplasm of hooded windmillgrass (Chloris cucullata Bisch. [Poaceae]) has been released for roadside plantings, critical site revegetation, and rangeland plantings in the Rio Grande Plain of Texas. Mariah Germplasm hooded windmillgrass is a selected accession collected from Kenedy County, Texas, and evaluated at multiple sites across south Texas. This germplasm represents the first commercially available release of hooded windmillgrass.

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.

Effects of Depth and Duration of Burial on Tanglehead ( Heteropogon contortus ) Seed Viability and Germination in Southern Texas

and is freely available online at: http://er.uwpress.org Effects of Depth and Duration of Burial on Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) Seed Viability and Germination in Southern Texas Joshua L. Grass (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363), Aaron D. Tjelmeland (The Nature Conservancy, Texas City Prairie Preserve, Texas City, TX, 77590), Forrest S. Smith, (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363), Scott L. Mitchell (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363), Sandra Rideout-Hanzak (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and Dept. of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363-8202), John Lloyd-Reilley (E. “Kika” de la Garza Plant Materials Center, USDA NRCS, Kingsville, TX, 78363-2704), Shelly D. Maher (E. “Kika” de la Garza Plant Materials Center, USDA NRCS, Kingsville, TX, 783632704) and David B. Wester (corresponding author: Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and Dept. of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M UniversityKingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, david.wester@tamuk.edu).

Notice of release of Welder Germplasm shortspike windmillgrass: selected class of natural germplasm.

A selected germplasm of shortspike windmillgrass (Chloris x subdolichostachya Müll. Berol. (pro sp.) [Poaceae]) has been released for roadside plantings, critical site revegetation, and rangeland plantings in the Rio Grande Plain of Texas. Welder Germplasm shortspike windmillgrass is a selected accession collected from San Patricio County, Texas, and evaluated at multiple sites across south Texas. This germplasm represents the first commercially available release of shortspike windmillgrass.

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.