Two upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) germplasm pools, WS4U (Reg. no. GP-92, PI 639191) and WS8U (Reg. no. GP-93, PI 639192), were released cooperatively on 18 July 2002 by the University of Wisconsin, University of Nebraska, and the USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE. These germplasms were developed as source material to be used in developing cultivars with increased biomass yield and geographic adaptation for bioenergy production in USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4 in the northern USA and similar geographic regions of southern Canada. WS4U is a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) and WS8U is an octoploid (2n = 8x = 72)

Beal, A. C.

Casler, M. D.

Vogel, Kenneth P.

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska 
2006 
Registration of WS4U and WS8U Switchgrass Germplasms 
M. D. Casler 
USDA-ARS, michael.casler@ars.usda.gov 
Kenneth P. Vogel 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, kvogel1@unl.edu 
A. C. Beal 
University of Wisconsin-Madison 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub 
Casler, M. D.; Vogel, Kenneth P.; and Beal, A. C., "Registration of WS4U and WS8U Switchgrass 
Germplasms" (2006). Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty. 1945. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/1945 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research 
Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in 
Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of 
Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Registration of WS4U and WS8U
Switchgrass Germplasms
Two upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) germplasm
pools, WS4U (Reg. no. GP-92, PI 639191) and WS8U (Reg.
no. GP-93, PI 639192), were released cooperatively on 18 July
2002 by the University of Wisconsin, University of Nebraska,
and the USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE. These germplasms were
developed as source material to be used in developing cultivars
with increased biomass yield and geographic adaptation for
bioenergy production in USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4 in the
northern USA and similar geographic regions of southern
Canada. WS4U is a tetraploid (2n5 4x5 36) and WS8U is an
octoploid (2n 5 8x 5 72).
Spaced-plant nurseries were established at Arlington and
Marshfield, WI, using switchgrass seedlings from 135 germ-
plasm sources. Plant spacing was 0.9 by 0.9 m. Twenty seed-
lings of each germplasm source were transplanted at each
location in spring 1997. The germplasm sources consisted of
21 cultivars or experimental populations and 114 plant intro-
ductions from USDA-NPGS-GRIN. All but 13 of the plant
introductions were collected from prairie remnants in eastern
South Dakota. The experimental design was a randomized
complete block with four replicates and five plants per plot.
Plants were visually evaluated for vigor, lodging resistance,
large stem size, and rust (caused by Puccinia spp.) reaction in
1998 and 1999.
A third nurserywas established atMarshfield in 1998 using 56
plants each of 41 germplasm sources. The germplasm sources
consisted of 20 cultivars or experimental populations and 21
collections from native prairie remnants in Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Seeds of the prairie remnant
populations were collected by USDA-NRCS-PMC personnel
in autumn 1997 (Casler, 2005). The experimental designwas a
randomized complete block with four replicates and 14 plants
per plot. Plants were visually evaluated for vigor, lodging
resistance, large stem size, and rust reaction in 1999.
In September 1999, 260 plants were selected from the
three spaced-plant nurseries. One leaf per plant was sent to
the USDA-ARS Forage Research Laboratory, Lincoln, NE,
for ploidy level determination by the University of Nebras-
ka’s Flow Cytometry Center (Lu et al., 1998). Expected DNA
content was 3.0 pg nucleus21 for tetraploids (2n 5 4x 5 36),
4.5 pg nucleus21 for hexaploids (2n 5 6x 5 54), and 6.0 pg
nucleus21 for octaploids (2n 5 8x 5 72). The use of DNA
content for ploidy classification is less precise than chro-
mosome counts and these classifications should not be taken
as a warranty that all plants within each population have the
designated euploid chromosome number. Each population
may contain aneuploids and/or hexaploids. Based on nuclear
DNA content, plants were classified as tetraploid (n 5 162)
or octaploid (n 5 98). WS4U is composed of six plants from
‘Blackwell’ (2.90 6 0.30 pg DNA nucleus21), one plant from
‘Carthage’ (3.16), two plants from ‘Cave-in-Rock’ (2.936 0.46),
three plants from ‘Falcon’ (3.10 6 0.10), two plants from ‘Path-
finder’ (3.016 0.25), one plant from ‘Shawnee’ (3.14), four plants
from ‘Sunburst’ (2.656 0.59), one plant from ‘KY1625’ (2.87),
three plants from germplasm in the USDA breeding pro-
gram at Lincoln, NE (3.10 6 0.15), six plants from NRCS
collections (3.11 6 0.22), and 133 plants from USDA-NRCS
Plant Introductions originating from southeastern South Da-
kota (2.87 6 0.37). WS8U is composed of two plants from
Blackwell (6.246 0.15), 12 plants from Carthage (6.046 0.59),
14 plants from Cave-in-Rock (6.08 6 0.46), two plants from
‘Dacotah’ (6.34 6 0.05), one plant from ‘Forestburg’ (6.35),
two plants from Pathfinder (6.32 6 0.49), seven plants from
Shawnee (5.93 6 0.50), three plants from ‘Shelter’ (6.13 6
0.13), one plant from Sunburst (6.24), two plants from ‘Trail-
blazer’ (6.26 6 0.03), four plants from ‘KY1625’ (6.16 6 0.39),
19 plants from germplasm in the USDA breeding program
at Lincoln, NE (5.94 6 0.58), 12 plants from NRCS collec-
tions (6.15 6 0.47) (Casler, 2005), and 17 plants from USDA-
NRCS Plant Introductions originating from southeastern
South Dakota (5.47 6 0.72).
Selected plants were transplanted into a tetraploid (WS4U)
or octaploid (WS8U) crossing block in early May 2000. Cross-
ing blocks were well watered and fertilized with 112 kg N ha21.
Seedwas harvested from each plant in September 2000. Threshed
and cleaned seed from each plant was bulked in equal quan-
tities to create the WS4U and WS8U germplasm pools.
Seeds of these two germplasms were deposited in the Na-
tional PlantGermplasm System. Seed samples (|1000 seeds) of
each germplasm will be distributed on written or email request
to M.D. Casler, USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research
Center, Madison, WI 53706–1108 (mdcasler@wisc.edu).
M.D. CASLER,* K.P. VOGEL, ANDA.C. BEAL
References
Casler, M.D. 2005. Ecotypic variation among switchgrass populations
from the northern USA. Crop Sci. 45:388–398.
Lu, K., S.M. Kaeppler, K.P. Vogel, K. Arumuganathan, and D.J. Lee.
1998. Nuclear DNA content and chromosome numbers in switch-
grass. Great Plains Res. 8:269–280.
M.D. Casler, USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center,
Madison, WI 53706-1108; K.P. Vogel, USDA-ARS, Dep. of Agron-
omy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583,
A.C. Beal, Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
53706. The authors thank Dave Burgdorf, Tony Bush, Bob Berken-
meier, Bob Hanson, and Michael Knudson of USDA-NRCS for their
assistance in organizing collecting expeditions and collecting switch-
grass seed. The development of both germplasm pools was funded in
part by the U.S. Dep. of Energy Biomass Fuels Program via the Oak
Ridge National Lab. Contract No. DE-A105-900R2194. Registration
by CSSA. Accepted 31 Aug. 2005. *Corresponding author (mdcasler@
wisc.edu).
doi:10.2135/cropsci2005.04-0020
Published in Crop Sci. 46:998–999 (2006).
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998 CROP SCIENCE, VOL. 46, MARCH–APRIL 2006
 Published online February 24, 2006


Registration of WS4U and WS8U
Switchgrass Germplasms

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska 2006 Registration of WS4U and WS8U Switchgrass Germplasms M. D. Casler USDA-ARS, michael.casler@ars.usda.gov Kenneth P. Vogel University of Nebraska-Lincoln, kvogel1@unl.edu A. C. Beal University of Wisconsin-Madison Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub Casler, M. D.; Vogel, Kenneth P.; and Beal, A. C., "Registration of WS4U and WS8U Switchgrass Germplasms" (2006). Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty. 1945. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/1945 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Registration of WS4U and WS8USwitchgrass GermplasmsTwo upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) germplasmpools, WS4U (Reg. no. GP-92, PI 639191) and WS8U (Reg.no. GP-93, PI 639192), were released cooperatively on 18 July2002 by the University of Wisconsin, University of Nebraska,and the USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE. These germplasms weredeveloped as source material to be used in developing cultivarswith increased biomass yield and geographic adaptation forbioenergy production in USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4 in thenorthern USA and similar geographic regions of southernCanada. WS4U is a tetraploid (2n5 4x5 36) and WS8U is anoctoploid (2n 5 8x 5 72).Spaced-plant nurseries were established at Arlington andMarshfield, WI, using switchgrass seedlings from 135 germ-plasm sources. Plant spacing was 0.9 by 0.9 m. Twenty seed-lings of each germplasm source were transplanted at eachlocation in spring 1997. The germplasm sources consisted of21 cultivars or experimental populations and 114 plant intro-ductions from USDA-NPGS-GRIN. All but 13 of the plantintroductions were collected from prairie remnants in easternSouth Dakota. The experimental design was a randomizedcomplete block with four replicates and five plants per plot.Plants were visually evaluated for vigor, lodging resistance,large stem size, and rust (caused by Puccinia spp.) reaction in1998 and 1999.A third nurserywas established atMarshfield in 1998 using 56plants each of 41 germplasm sources. The germplasm sourcesconsisted of 20 cultivars or experimental populations and 21collections from native prairie remnants in Indiana, Michigan,Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Seeds of the prairie remnantpopulations were collected by USDA-NRCS-PMC personnelin autumn 1997 (Casler, 2005). The experimental designwas arandomized complete block with four replicates and 14 plantsper plot. Plants were visually evaluated for vigor, lodgingresistance, large stem size, and rust reaction in 1999.In September 1999, 260 plants were selected from thethree spaced-plant nurseries. One leaf per plant was sent tothe USDA-ARS Forage Research Laboratory, Lincoln, NE,for ploidy level determination by the University of Nebras-ka’s Flow Cytometry Center (Lu et al., 1998). Expected DNAcontent was 3.0 pg nucleus21 for tetraploids (2n 5 4x 5 36),4.5 pg nucleus21 for hexaploids (2n 5 6x 5 54), and 6.0 pgnucleus21 for octaploids (2n 5 8x 5 72). The use of DNAcontent for ploidy classification is less precise than chro-mosome counts and these classifications should not be takenas a warranty that all plants within each population have thedesignated euploid chromosome number. Each populationmay contain aneuploids and/or hexaploids. Based on nuclearDNA content, plants were classified as tetraploid (n 5 162)or octaploid (n 5 98). WS4U is composed of six plants from‘Blackwell’ (2.90 6 0.30 pg DNA nucleus21), one plant from‘Carthage’ (3.16), two plants from ‘Cave-in-Rock’ (2.936 0.46),three plants from ‘Falcon’ (3.10 6 0.10), two plants from ‘Path-finder’ (3.016 0.25), one plant from ‘Shawnee’ (3.14), four plantsfrom ‘Sunburst’ (2.656 0.59), one plant from ‘KY1625’ (2.87),three plants from germplasm in the USDA breeding pro-gram at Lincoln, NE (3.10 6 0.15), six plants from NRCScollections (3.11 6 0.22), and 133 plants from USDA-NRCSPlant Introductions originating from southeastern South Da-kota (2.87 6 0.37). WS8U is composed of two plants fromBlackwell (6.246 0.15), 12 plants from Carthage (6.046 0.59),14 plants from Cave-in-Rock (6.08 6 0.46), two plants from‘Dacotah’ (6.34 6 0.05), one plant from ‘Forestburg’ (6.35),two plants from Pathfinder (6.32 6 0.49), seven plants fromShawnee (5.93 6 0.50), three plants from ‘Shelter’ (6.13 60.13), one plant from Sunburst (6.24), two plants from ‘Trail-blazer’ (6.26 6 0.03), four plants from ‘KY1625’ (6.16 6 0.39),19 plants from germplasm in the USDA breeding programat Lincoln, NE (5.94 6 0.58), 12 plants from NRCS collec-tions (6.15 6 0.47) (Casler, 2005), and 17 plants from USDA-NRCS Plant Introductions originating from southeasternSouth Dakota (5.47 6 0.72).Selected plants were transplanted into a tetraploid (WS4U)or octaploid (WS8U) crossing block in early May 2000. Cross-ing blocks were well watered and fertilized with 112 kg N ha21.Seedwas harvested from each plant in September 2000. Threshedand cleaned seed from each plant was bulked in equal quan-tities to create the WS4U and WS8U germplasm pools.Seeds of these two germplasms were deposited in the Na-tional PlantGermplasm System. Seed samples (|1000 seeds) ofeach germplasm will be distributed on written or email requestto M.D. Casler, USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage ResearchCenter, Madison, WI 53706–1108 (mdcasler@wisc.edu).M.D. CASLER,* K.P. VOGEL, ANDA.C. BEALReferencesCasler, M.D. 2005. Ecotypic variation among switchgrass populationsfrom the northern USA. Crop Sci. 45:388–398.Lu, K., S.M. Kaeppler, K.P. Vogel, K. Arumuganathan, and D.J. Lee.1998. Nuclear DNA content and chromosome numbers in switch-grass. Great Plains Res. 8:269–280.M.D. Casler, USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center,Madison, WI 53706-1108; K.P. Vogel, USDA-ARS, Dep. of Agron-omy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583,A.C. Beal, Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI53706. The authors thank Dave Burgdorf, Tony Bush, Bob Berken-meier, Bob Hanson, and Michael Knudson of USDA-NRCS for theirassistance in organizing collecting expeditions and collecting switch-grass seed. The development of both germplasm pools was funded inpart by the U.S. Dep. of Energy Biomass Fuels Program via the OakRidge National Lab. Contract No. DE-A105-900R2194. Registrationby CSSA. Accepted 31 Aug. 2005. *Corresponding author (mdcasler@wisc.edu).doi:10.2135/cropsci2005.04-0020Published in Crop Sci. 46:998–999 (2006).ReproducedfromCropScience.PublishedbyCropScienceSocietyofAmerica.Allcopyrightsreserved.998 CROP SCIENCE, VOL. 46, MARCH–APRIL 2006 Published online February 24, 2006

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Registration of WS4U and WS8U Switchgrass Germplasms

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