Native Plant Releases Adaptable, Competitive in South Texas

Kingsville, Texas – December 6, 2007.   Two recent native plant releases from the South Texas Natives project, coordinated by the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute of Texas A&M-Kingsville, were developed for their adaptability to soil and climate conditions in south Texas and ability to compete with introduced species.

The South Texas Natives project was the primary researcher for the release of La Salle Germplasm Arizona cottontop and Dilley Germplasm slender grama and worked in cooperation with the Plant Materials Center in Kingsville, operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Beeville.

La Salle Germplasm Arizona cottontop is a blend of 12 collections from the Rio Grande plains of Texas. Collections comprising this release were selected for seed quality and production, plant vigor, forage production, and adaptability throughout the south Texas area.

According to John Lloyd-Reilley, NRCS plant materials manager in Kingsville, Arizona cottontop is a warm season perennial bunchgrass native to southern Texas. “Arizona cottontop was developed for use in native rangeland restoration and wildlife plantings in the Rio Grande plains of Texas,” he said.

In addition, Arizona cottontop provides good forage for livestock and cover and food for many species of native wildlife. It performs well on most soil types, including sandy loam, clay, and clay loam soil types, with the exception of very sandy soils. This germplasm is compatible in plantings with other native species.

La Salle Germplasm Arizona cottontop has shown good performance in the south Texas plains, Gulf prairie and marshes, and coastal sand plains regions of south Texas.

“The good seedling vigor and rapid germination make Arizona cottontop an excellent choice for planting after brush control or other disturbance,” Lloyd-Reilley said.

Dilley Germplasm slender grama is a blend of four collections from the Rio Grande plains of Texas. Collections comprising Dilley Germplasm were selected for long-term survival, seed production and quality, and adaptation across the south Texas area.

Dilley Germplasm slender grama is a warm season perennial grass native to southern Texas.

Lloyd-Reilley said Dilley Germplasm was developed for use in highway right-of-way seeding, native rangeland restoration, and wildlife plantings in the Rio Grande plains of Texas. Dilley Germplasm will persist on sand, sandy loam, clay, and clay loam soil types, and it is compatible in plantings with other native species. Slender grama is considered an early invader or increaser plant on most range sites, and it competes well with introduced species.

Dilley Germplasm has performed well in the south Texas plains, Gulf prairie and marshes, and coastal sand plains regions of south Texas. “Dilley Germplasm’s fast seed production, establishment, and spreading habit make it an excellent planting choice for highly disturbed sites like highway rights-of-way or areas susceptible to erosion,” Lloyd-Reilley said.

Scientists at NRCS plant materials centers seek out plants that show promise for meeting an identified conservation need and test their performance. After species are proven desirable through testing and further selection, they are released to the private sector for commercial production.

The E. “Kika” de la Garza Plant Materials Center in Kingsville was established in 1981. The center sits on 91 acres and serves a 27-million acre area in south Texas. The center has developed and released 13 plants for commercial production.

Additional information about the plant materials program in Texas can be found on the NRCS Texas Web site at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/pmc/index.html.

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