Performance of Indigenous and Introduced Slender Wheatgrass in Alaska, and Presumed Evidence of Ecotypic Evolution

Abstract

Objectives of this study were to evaluate forage and seed production, winter hardiness, and stand longevity of several collections of native Alaskan slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum (Link) Malte), and to compare their performance with introduced cultivars of slender wheatgrass and standard Alaska forage grasses in other species. Eight experiments at the Matanuska Research Farm (61.6° N. Lat.) near Palmer, Alaska demonstrated the superior winter hardiness and forage productivity of indigenous Alaskan slender wheatgrass lines (collected from 62° to 67° N. Lat.) over introduced cultivars ‘Revenue’ (originating at 52° to 53° N) from Saskatchewan and ‘Primar’ (adapted at 46° to 48° N) from the Pacific Northwest.