VERL EASTERN GAMAGRASS
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Verl Eastern Gamagrass, Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L., is unique among
commercial eastern gamagrass cultivars in that it is a fertile triploid
(2n = 3x = 54) that reproduces predominantly via apomixis. Verl is
recommended for pasture or hay in the eastern and southern United States
where appropriate management is used to prevent damage to the plant
stands. Verl was released in February 2005 by the USDA-ARS in cooperation
with the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Small plot field evaluations of
Verl were conducted in the eastern and southern United States in
2001-2003. Averaged across locations, the forage dry matter yield of Verl
(7890 kg ha-1) was 11% greater than that of `Pete' eastern gamagrass (P <
0.05). Depending on the length of growing season and the amount of
available moisture, Verl can be harvested 2-to-4 times yr-1 on a 45-d
harvest interval. The seasonal average crude protein (95 g kg-1) and in
vitro digestible dry matter (520 g kg-1) was not significantly different
from `Pete' in field trials (P > 0.05) in 2001-2002. Verl has excellent
seed production. In a replicated experiment at Woodward in 2001, Verl
produced 178 kg pure seed ha-1. This was significantly greater than Pete
eastern gamagrass (P > 0.01) which produced 122 kg ha-1. Similarly at
Woodward in 2003, Verl produced an equivalent seed yield of 170 kg ha-1
from a 0.25 ha seed increase block. Verl is susceptible to feeding damage
of the maize billbug, Sphenophorus maidis (Chittenden) and the southern
corn stalk borer, Diatraea crambidoides (Grote). These insects reduce seed
production of eastern gamagrass as their populations increase in the
field. Verl is possibly susceptible to Rhizoctonia, Pythium, and Bipolaris
species. These organisms were recovered from dying plants at Coffeeville,
MS, in April 2003, but inoculations of these organisms would be required
to verify if they were the causal organisms responsible for death of the
plants.
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| NAME | ADDRESS | PHONE | COUNTY | CLASS |
| JOHNSTON SEED CO | ENID OK 73702 | 580-233-5800 | GARFIELD | F |