Tober Germplasm virginia wildrye: selected class of natural germplasm

Abstract

Tober Germplasm Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L. [Poaceae]) is a selected class of natural germplasm released for conservation uses that include livestock forage, wildlife habitat, riparian plantings, and erosion control from wind and water. It fills the need for a selected, named release of Virginia wildrye for the indicated area of adaptation. It is a genetically diverse selection originating from 78 native seed collections from 37 counties in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Virginia wildrye provides added diversity, including shade tolerance and vigorous early establishment, to perennial herbaceous seed mixes. Its shorter life span fits in well with mixes that contain slowerestablishing warm-season species. An excellent seed producer that consistently produces seed when allowed to mature in its northern environment, Tober Germplasm Virginia wildrye is best adapted to the Northern Great Plains and Central Region of the US. Based on all field trial data, this release is expected to perform well wherever Virginia wildrye is recommended, particularly in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.