Evaluating basin wildrye seed sources across provisional seed zones, native forb sowing depth on species performance and improving the accuracy of collection site and seed lot identification for big sagebrush

Abstract

Identifying genetically appropriate plant materials for seed based restoration relies on the principle of local adaptation where the objective is to match adaptive genetic characteristics to variation in ecological clines pertinent to plant establishment and persistence. In this study, basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve) sources from 25 wild populations and 4 commercial varieties were planted at 4 test sites. We assessed initial establishment and short term persistance. Plantings failed at 2 sites in both 2013 and 2014, with too few plants to quantify differences. At the remaining 2 sites, local sources had higher initial establishment in just 1 of 10 comparisons. Among commercial sources, the cultivars Magnar and Trailhead initially outperformed local pooled materials at Fountain Green but not at Nephi. Initial establishment under row cover was dramatically better than uncovered controls at both sites, but only persisted for 4 years after planting at the Fountain Green site.

Citation

Jensen, Scott L. 2020. Evaluating basin wildrye seed sources across provisional seed zones, native forb sowing depth on species performance and improving the accuracy of collection site and seed lot identification for big sagebrush. Dissertation. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 84 p.