Project Number: 6607-21000-009-08
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 02, 2006
End Date: Mar 01, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this non-funded cooperative agreement is to develop additional cultivars of little bluestem specifically for use as an ornamental.

Approach:
The National Plant Germplasm System currently has 42 accessions of little bluestem that have been collected from various locations in the United States. These accessions will be grown out for observation in the summer of 2006. Plants with ornamental potential will be selected from this population based on various factors including plant height, width, and habit, summer and winter foliage color, quality of inflorescence, potential invasiveness, and cold-hardiness. From these observations, a breeding population will be selected for use in developing a little bluestem cultivar. Seed will be harvested from selected plants, and individual plants will be chosen to remain in the field for further observation in subsequent years. UGA will work closely with ARS to identify highly desirable material for potential ornamental use and select accessions with the highest ornamental value based on the combination of observed traits. Both investigators will be involved in the collection and analysis of the descriptor data and the selection of the breeding population.