Project Number: 5428-21000-012-06
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 15, 2006
End Date: Sep 14, 2011

Objective:
The objectives are: 1) develop an understanding of the ecology and physiology of promising plant materials for the western U.S., 2) evaluate promising North American and Asian plant materials for their use on public and private lands, and 3) facilitate germplasm exchange with Asian scientists.

Approach:
Field, laboratory, and greenhouse studies will be conducted to evaluate the ecological and physiological responses of various grass and legume species that hold promise for use in conservation and reclamation, recreation, and forage production. Accessions of promising species will be compared for their ecological, physiological, and morphological responses to drought and other environmental stresses for identifying accessions with desirable characteristics and superior performance. Characteristics such as seedling establishment, plant vigor, forage yield and quality, seed yield, and disease resistance will be examined. Scientific exchanges with Asian scientists will be undertaken to collect and evaluate promising germplasm for use in the western U.S.