Proc. 57th Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference, Athens, GA April 23-25, 2002
New (2000-2003) Forage Varieties for the Southeast
D. M. Ball and A. R. Blount
Auburn University and University of Florida
Forage/livestock producers are always interested in learning about the characteristics of new forage varieties. Evidence of this is provided by the fact that each year Extension Forage Crop Specialists and County Agents get many questions about recent or anticipated forage variety releases.
Several regular participants in the SPFCIC Extension Work Group suggested that an update on new forage varieties would be a good topic to include in the program at the 2002 meeting. Consequently, university forage breeders in the states that constitute the SPFCIC group were contacted for information regarding varieties released during 2000 or later or that are expected in the near future. (Due to difficulties associated with obtaining information pertaining to proprietary varieties, no attempt was made to contact commercial breeders).
Brief statements regarding new university-developed varieties are provided the remainder of this article. There are many criteria that can be important in making good forage variety selection decisions including adaptation, yield, forage quality, pest resistance, seasonal distribution of growth, and grazing tolerance. The information presented in this paper is obviously not comprehensive and should be viewed as an attempt to enhance awareness of new varieties and certain particularly prominent associated traits.
Arrowleaf Clover
‘Apache’ is a new arrowleaf clover with better resistance to bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) disease and that produces higher forage yields than ‘Yuchi’. It was developed from Yuchi, ‘Meechee’, and ‘Amclo’ germplasm through restricted recurrent phenotypic selection for tolerance to BYMV. Developed by G. Smith, F. Rouquette, Jr., I. Pemberton, and the Texas A & M University. Foundation seed of Apache will be maintained by the Texas Foundation Seed Service (released).
Bahiagrass
‘Sand Mountain’ is a new bahiagrass cultivar, similar in appearance to ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass. It has improved cold tolerance compared to Pensacola and ‘Argentine’, but lower total season forage production than ‘Tifton 9’. It is best adapted for northern Alabama and Georgia, and other areas with similar climatic conditions. Developed by E. van Santen and Auburn University (released).
Bermudagrass
‘Ozarka’ is a new hybrid bermudagrass. Ozarka exhibits excellent cold tolerance and has yielded well in Oklahoma and the northern part of the bermudagrass belt. Ozarka’s superior cold tolerance, stand persistence, adaptation, production and quality when grown in southern Missouri and Kansas make it unique among released bermudagrass varieties. Developed by C. Taliaferro and W. Richardson. Three classes of planting stock (breeder, foundation, and certified) of Ozarka will be recognized. Breeder stock will be maintained by the OAES. Foundation stock will be produced by the Missouri Foundation Seed Stocks in Missouri and the Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks (OFSS) in Oklahoma (released).
‘Midland 99’ is a hybrid bermudagrass that traces to crosses of bermudagrass accessions from Afghanistan, Ghana, and Oklahoma. It produces few seed and must be propagated vegetatively. Midland 99 is similar to ‘Midland’ and ‘Tifton 44’ in morphological traits and growth habit. It produces tall, upright growth with forage yields equal to or greater than Tifton 44, Midland, or ‘Greenfield’. It also produces better forage quality compared to those check varieties. It has a freeze tolerance equal to Greenfield and greater than Midland and Tifton 44. It is highly disease resistant, tolerates low pH soils, and exhibits excellent stand persistence. Three classes of planting stock (breeder, foundation, and certified) will be recognized. Midland 99 was developed by the Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri Agricultural Experiment Stations; the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (released).
Fescue, Tall:
“MaxQ: is the name of a novel endophyte that has been inserted in the tall fescue varieties ‘Jesup’ and ‘Georgia 5’. These novel endophyte-containing varieties are stress tolerant and persistent and have not caused the typical animal toxicity problems associated with endophyte-infected tall fescue. They are best adapted to areas where toxic tall fescue persists, but are being tested in the Coastal plain. Developed by J. Bouton and the University of Georgia. Marketing is through Pennington Seeds (released).
Eastern Gamagrass
The NRCS has released several new eastern gamagrass germplasms from several of the Plant Material Centers in the Southeastern U.S. These are:
Brooksville Plant Materials Center: ‘Martin’ and ‘St. Lucie’ germplasms
East Texas Plant Materials Center: ‘Medina’ germplasm
Knox City Plant Materials Center: ‘San Marcos’ germplasm
Though little acreage of this warm season perennial native grass exists in the Southeast at present, there seems to be increasing interest in using it for pasture, hay, and for wildlife purposes. It is widely adapted but is best suited to soils having good moisture availability. Forage yield and quality are good but establishment is difficult.
Oats
‘Horizon 314’ is a new full season, winter hardy, disease resistant winter oat variety adapted to the southeastern U.S. Developed by R. Barnett, J. Johnson, A. Blount, P. Pfahler, B. Cunfer, G. Buntin, the University of Florida and the University of Georgia. Marketed by Plantation Seeds (released).
‘FLX474’ is a new early maturing, high-test weight, early season forage producing, winter oat variety adapted to the southeastern U.S. It is winter hardy and has excellent disease resistance. FLX474 will be released, named, and a licensee will be selected during the summer of 2002. Developed by R. Barnett, J. Johnson, A. Blount, P. Pfahler, B. Cunfer, G. Buntin, the University of Florida and the University of Georgia (for release in 2003).
‘LA9339E45’ is intended as a forage oat, although it also has good grain yield. It has the highest two-year mean forage yield across Louisiana and has done well in Florida and other Gulf coast states. Developed by S. Harrison and Louisiana State University. It will be marketed by Ragan & Massey (for release in 2003).
Orchardgrass
‘Persist’ orchardgrass is a six clone synthetic originating from a seed collection made from 6- year old or older stands throughout Tennessee. It produced high dry matter in both Tennessee and Kentucky and higher seed yields than ‘Potomac’ when grown in Oregon. It is similar in maturity date to currently grown cultivars. Persist is easily established, has excellent seedling vigor, and is persistent. Persist will have good adaptation throughout all regions of the United States where orchardgrass is grown, but will be especially productive and persistent in the southern portion of the mid-south states. Developed by B. Conger and the University of Tennessee. Marketing arrangements to be made (released).
Red Clover
‘FLMR 7’ is an improved ‘Cherokee’ with increased resistance to root knot nematode resistance and powdery mildew, similar to Cherokee in dormancy response and high, early forage yield. Developed by K. Quesenberry, A. Blount, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, D. Wofford, and the University of Florida (for release in 2003).
‘Cinnamon Plus’ is a grazing-tolerant red clover that is an excellent forage yielder. Developed by J. Bouton and the University of Georgia. Marketed by FFR and available from Southern States Co-op (released).
‘RedlanGraze II’ is a grazing tolerant red clover that produces good forage yields. Developed by J. Bouton and the University of Georgia. Marketed by ABI (released).
‘Freedom!’ is a new red clover that has no pubescence (non-glandular trichomes or hairs), and was developed to permit faster drying and to reduce dustiness of hay. Freedom! is a medium red clover adapted to the central region of the United States. Developed by N. Taylor and the University of Kentucky (released).
Ryegrass
‘Fantastic’ ryegrass is an early maturing, crown rust resistant diploid annual ryegrass derived from ‘Fla 80’ X ‘FL Rust Resistant’. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by Ampac (released).
‘King’ ryegrass is a medium maturing, high forage and seed yielding diploid with good crown rust resistance. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by Lewis Seed Company (released).
‘Surrey II’ ryegrass is a late, high forage and seed yielding diploid with good crown rust resistance. Derived from ‘Surrey’. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by CEBECO International Seeds (released).
‘Ed’ ryegrass is a late maturing, high forage and seed producing diploid with good crown rust and some gray leaf spot resistance. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by Smith Seed Services (released).
‘Graze-N-Gro’ ryegrass is a late maturing, high forage and seed yielding diploid with good crown rust resistance. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by American Seed Producers (released).
‘Prine’ ryegrass is a late maturing tetraploid ryegrass with good disease resistance. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A.Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by East Texas Seed Company (released).
‘Brigadier’ ryegrass is an early maturing diploid ryegrass with good crown rust resistance. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by East Texas Seed Company (released).
‘Florlina’ ryegrass is a late, cold tolerant, crown rust resistant diploid. It was co-developed by University of Florida and North Carolina State University. Developed by P. Muellar, the North Carolina State University, G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by Johnson Seed Company (released).
‘Jumbo’ ryegrass is a late maturing, high forage and seed yielding tetraploid ryegrass with good crown rust and gray leaf spot resistance traceable to Sucrey. Developed by G. Prine, L. Dunavin, P. Mislevy, A. Blount, and the University of Florida. Marketed by Barenbrug USA (released).
Sericea Lespedeza
‘AU Grazer’ is the name of a new grazing-tolerant variety of sericea lespedeza that resulted through use of techniques similar to those used in developing grazing-tolerant alfalfa varieties. It can be used for hay, but its main attribute is that it should increase the feasibility of using sericea as a pasture species. It was developed by Jorge Mosjidis and Auburn Univeristy and is being marketed by Sims Seed Company (released).
Soybean, Forage
‘Hinson’ is a Group VIII, non-GMO, forage soybean for the southeastern U.S. It produces more tonnage, from trials conducted in Florida, than ‘Tyrone’. Hinson has good seed yield, excellent seed quality and resistance to several root-knot nematode species. It is ideal for staggered summer plantings because of the juvenile trait, which allows it to remain in a vegetative state longer than conventional soybeans. This variety also works well in wildlife food plots. Developed by A. Blount, K.Hinson, R. Barnett and R. Kinloch and the University of Florida. Currently marketed through the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. (released).
White Clovers
‘GA43’ is a white clover that is highly tolerant of close grazing. Growth habit is prostrate with small leaves and many flowers. The plant is a heavy stolon producer and appears to be a good seed producer with a slightly higher hard seed content than usual. Yields are about half of ladino clovers during the establishment year, but 3-year yields are equal due to ladino clover stand declines. Developed by J. Bouton and the University of Georgia (for release in 2002-3).
‘GA2ll59’ is a cross of GA43 and a ladino clover. This line appears to be a true intermediate, which yields between GA43 and ladino during the establishment year. Its persistence is better than ladinos but not as good as GA43. Developed by J. Bouton and the University of Georgia (for release in 2002-3).
Wildrye
‘Lavaca’ Canada Wildrye was released for South Texas by the Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center. Canada wildrye is a native, cool season, perennial grass, and Lavaca is a selected release that can be used as component in native seed mixtures for range restoration. It is also suitable for cool-season pastures, especially in wooded riparian areas. Lavaca was selected from a collection of 60 accessions for its vigorous vegetative growth, total biomass, persistence, drought resistance, heat tolerance, and good seed production. Plant material was originally collected from a stand near Hallettsville, Lavaca County, Texas. Lavaca wildrye is intended for use in south Texas. Foundation seed is available from the Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center, Kingsville, Texas.