2006 Annual Report 4d.Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and Utah State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5428-21000-006-00D, titled "Improved Plant Genetic Resources for Pastures and Rangelands in the Temperate Semiarid Regions of the Western U.S." The objectives of this SCA include (1) identify germplasm sources within the genus Poa that have potential for low-maintenance turf, (2) genetically characterize the Poa germplasm, and (3) evaluate drought and salt tolerance of the Poa germplasm for use in development of low-maintenance turf varieties. During FY2006, the most significant accomplishment made was the progress in evaluating Poa germplasm from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and additional collections for presence of apomixis. Currently, 74 lines representing 31 species have been tentatively characterized using flow cytometry seed screening techniques. The majority of the species (approximately 2/3rds) are apomictic, but significant numbers are sexual. Several (at least. 7)of the apomictic lines are not solely apomictic, and have significant amounts of sexual reproduction as well. These results will be presented in a poster at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings in Indianapolis, Indiana. This work, along with the other objectives of the research program, will determine which species to use in initial hybridization efforts. Germplasm sources within the genus Poa have been identified for additional evaluation regarding their potential as low-maintenance turf. All Poa collections in the NPGS system from dry or salty regions of the world were requested and established a field evaluation study near Logan, Utah. In addition, in February/March of 2006, a visit was made to the turfgrass breeding program at Rutgers University to learn their breeding methods and the scope of work. Arrangements were made to share Poa germplasm for evaluation in the western U.S. environment, which could be significant in that Rutgers University has the largest collection of turfgrass germplasm in the world. Many of these lines do not contribute to their program because of very different trait selection goals, but may have significant value in the western U.S. Poa species (including P. pratensis) were collected from old turf sites in very droughty environments during travels across the Front Range of the Rockies and western Great Plains (CO, WY, NE, SD) and will be included in future evaluations of our program. Drought tolerant, low-maintenance turf grass cultivars with high turf quality may potentially result in huge economic and societal impacts as savings in water, pesticides, and other cultural management practices are realized. Projected accomplishments for the next year: (1) Complete the apomixis study by adding additional species and confirming the results of the methods with ovule dissection and comparison to the literature. The additional species will allow us to combine apomixis results with genomic composition data reported Jason Patterson. Ovule dissection work will involve assistance of the Dept. of Plants, Soils, & Biometeorology, USU. (2) Measure ploidy level of the Poa lines analyzed in the apomixis study. (3) Conduct drought tolerance and turfgrass quality evaluations on the germplasm currently at a farm. (3) Assist ARS with salt tolerance screening of a subset of the germplasm. Once the initial screens are accomplished, a more detailed and rigorous evaluation of salt tolerance and candidate gene identification will be started. (4) Continue working with Rutgers University to acquire additional germplasm. (5) Continue making Poa collections in the Intermountain West. If available, we may work with material collected by one of our Unit scientists during a recent trip to Kyrgyzstan. Technology transfer: Presentations on the current status and goals of the Poa germplasm project have been given to turfgrass industry groups in Utah. Publication: Hanks, J.D., P.G. Johnson, and B.L. Waldron. 2006. Recommended seeding rates for reduced-maintenance, turf-type wheatgrasses. Online. Applied Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-2006-0808-01-RS.