Stem rust became a significant problem for grass seed producers of Oregon's Willamette Valley in 1987. Growers in this valley produce 97 percent of the country's certified tall fescue seed. If unchecked, the rust can reduce grass seed yields by 80 percent. In laboratory tests, more than 50 percent of the plants in the new germplasm lines demonstrated resistance to the rust. Only about 5 percent of the plants in existing commercial cultivars showed this resistance.
Field tests are underway.
Researchers cross-bred 1,400 plants representing 20 tall fescue cultivars over two generations to develop the two germplasm lines. Small quantities of seed are available for researchers and industry to further develop the lines into rust-resistant cultivars. A new corn cultivar with diamond-shaped seeds is ideal for poultry feed. The cultivar was released after six years of selection by ARS researchers in Puerto Rico. A new viburnum, Conoy, was recently selected for the 1997 Gold Medal Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.