New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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Cultivar release
‘Grasslands Dixon’ prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl.)

W. Rumball
J. E. Miller

AgResearch Grasslands
Private Bag 11 008
Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract   ‘Grasslands Dixon’ (Bromus catharticus Vahl.) was selected from 72 Bromus seedlines evaluated in Texas, United States, between 1995 and 1998. The aim was to produce a cultivar of B. catharticus that would be more able to withstand the summer stress of southern United states, than does the currently marketed cultivar ‘Grasslands Matua’, which was bred in New Zealand. A trial was established at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, in which the lines were evaluated for production and survival over the summers of 1996 and 1997. From 1996, all 72 lines were screened at Palmerston North, New Zealand, for uniformity and distinctiveness, and for seed production. In March 1998, the data from both sites were collated. They showed that three lines, all with a common origin from dairy farms near New Plymouth, New Zealand, dominated the best performers in Texas, and were also good seed producers in New Zealand. The best of these lines was put into a spaced plant block and made uniform by roguing. It was increased by seed at Lincoln and has since been commercialised. The selection was named ‘Grasslands Dixon’ and was given Plant Variety Rights in New Zealand in 1999 and Plant Variety Protection in the United States in 2001. Compared with the New Zealand cultivar ‘Grasslands Matua’, ‘Grasslands Dixon’ is more erect and c. 6 days later in heading. Compared with the other new cultivar, ‘Grasslands Lakota’ simultaneously released for use in the northern regions of the United States, it is more erect and c. 2 days later to head.

Keywords  ‘Grasslands Dixon’; prairie grass; Bromus catharticus Vahl.

A02040 Received 24 June 2002; accepted 5 November 2002; published 26 March 2003
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2003, Vol. 46: 65-66
0028-8233/03/4601-0065 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2003Cultivar release

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