Project Number: 5428-21000-012-14
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Dec 01, 2008
End Date: Nov 30, 2012

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to develop technologies associated with grass endophytes and evaluate plant germplasm for use in irrigated and non-irrigated pastures.

Approach:
Collaborative experiments will be designed and implemented either in the laboratory or the open-field depending upon the objective. Laboratory experiments will be conducted jointly in Logan, Utah, and Christchurch, New Zealand, where endophytes are involved. Where experiments involve the construction of molecular markers for endophyte identification, work will be performed in Logan, Utah. Germplasm evaluation of Cropmark grass accessions (cultivars and lines) will be conducted in the Great Basin region of Utah in appropriate growing areas. This research will attempt to: 1) Develop methodologies associated with the identification and mutagenesis of endophytes and their inoculation into grass plants; 2) Construct markers which will identify specific endophytes; and 3) Evaluate agronomic performance of endophyte and non-endophyte containing Cropmark grass germplasm along with appropriate + or - endophyte containing control germplasm.