Date of Award:

8-2012

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Plants, Soils, and Climate

Committee Chair(s)

Paul G. Johnson

Committee

Paul G. Johnson

Committee

Jack E. Staub

Committee

Steven R. Larson

Abstract

Fine-leaved Festuca valesiaca has stress tolerance. However, its agronomic performance in the western United States and its genetic relationship to species of the Festuca ovina complex has not been investigated. Also, natural hybridization makes them difficult to identify. Given the species' potentials, our project was designed to identify Festuca valesiaca accessions that possess high biomass and seed yield and to examine their relatedness with the Festuca ovina complex.

The Festuca valesiaca accessions examined produced many small seeds. Seed production was correlated with the total biomass, plant height, and plant vigor. The Festuca valesiaca accessions examined were shorter than the control 'Cascade' with higher biomass, spring green-up, and seed production. Given their morphological attributes, Festuca valesiaca accessions PI 659923, W6 30575, and W6 30588 should be considered for low-maintenance applications and use in plant improvement. Broad-leaf species (Festuca arundinacea, Festuca pratensis, and Lolium perenne) were different from fine-leaved Festuca species in genetic analysis. Festuca valesiaca is closely related to Festuca ovina and should be considered as one species. Festuca trachyphylla is a subcluster under Festuca ovina and Festuca valesiaca. Festuca idahoensis is closely related to Festuca roemeri but not to Festuca ovina. The Festuca ovina complex is genetically different from Festuca rubra and the other reference taxa.

Checksum

058763d2af32d029f31670dabb89ab34

Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on October 19, 2012.

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