LEAFLET 80 ARL17 APRIL 1970 - Iiterstrate Sericea LeipedIeza A Ahilti-Piirpoi-e Legumiie INTILH'I XI L SLEtI(E fplltlti( g. \iali(t ot ]- it~hsa apere il specia hIs just - plia ii gs. ats Iioa1 5 idf( em01111 11 0t1 ft(e flsis (of dcso a] Hilts aolii fo1 eroslii \(yetatioll tile 5ccoc. DucX loped~ spe oil (lfica15 to 111(01 1( oSStll reqii(l~its i 5I itIlts (II \\it\, tilt, lic\\ AXofon is Exper\)0imen(t Stat tiiis ersits Agillturit tioti valic jos \w i leleaC(I inl itlrstate log~ of' tie fic swas theO miost p101015s v arieties II ill State? coincIt( hllat((f (trgi055tfl Altho(llgll de(1(5oIpedl I(m- mi \Sci 1501 ,\( , Ill it, as of' lpfearliI al li 1)(((Iilwi sholt (,)tilfties ;HIC COholeht(( lleee for at roadside( crop 5(1 1(1,. Ihabit prms Ol desired, grim InOterstate ((((C oid goes il also hats criop to ill it ill Iliitcti te It hals ;111ttti acti\C I Seits erosjoii oil (()literl12il )iillaliCe Cffetti\C 1)l 1)1 steep slop~es. m(id glo\s aN . It is \S 0111 Sotheaistern Statt(", itla states llth 1 5 oIther oif Origill Inlterstate bac~k lomy iglit.l\ 1(ift0 l it(' Iii\ IV plihso the0 1e011. The Mid1 new5 for- sc(5Ol is slcitca 1(10 shor1ter thait) b~randties (1)0(1 prhol'isels, has filter stemos Illtol stilte ss as identtified ill ftle ,iatiohl after seed1 \\ (1i treatedi fotntf lill Ils 1t I(lilt jot). Details aboutt the new5 sct it a ate preselit01f oil till fofloss itig palges. 10(11110e gi 055 (i lilil 011(115 ill A~ilabama. vai etiels testedl Its textur(e TITLE PHOTO. Interstate sericea (right) is contrasted with common (left) on 1-59 near Photo was made on Fort Payne, Alabama. September 16, 1967. 115o1) [)~l05 shuperioh ill an d apptil iiill 1 th tests. Stand(s of lotci state sswere Op)) to or better than11 other svarieties ill ioirthi Al illmill a test I(1* celtrd a] Z1a o (litheri AG R IC ULTU R AL E. V. Smith, Director E X PER I M rNT ST A TIO N Auburn, Alabama t.V.SmthDecar AUBURN UNIVERSITY Interstate Sericea LespedezaA Multi-Purpose Legume E. D. DONNELLY, Professor of Crops RAY DICKENS, Assistant Professor of Crops D. G. STURKIE, Professor Emeritus of Crops J. D. MILLER, Former Research Associate Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don, has been used for many years as a forage, soil conserving, soil improving, and seed crop in the Southeast. It protects sloping land, waterways, and gullies, and is used in field borders and longtime rotations. 2 Sericea has also been used extensively for the protection of roadbanks as highway systems have been expanded in recent years. Like most plants used for vegetation on road cuts, fills, and medians, current sericea varieties were developed for other uses. However, the new Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station variety, Interstate, was developed primarily for roadside vegetation and other conservation uses where an attractive, shorter growing plant is desirable. VARIETY DEVELOPMENT SERICEA, Development of the new variety dates back to 1950 when a breeding program was begun at Auburn to improve sericea. Early in this project it was found that steers preferred grazing plants with fine, soft textured stems to those with medium or coarse textured stems.' 'Opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Alabama Highway Department or the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads that supported portions of this research. 2BAILEY, A vigorous variety with soft stems was developed in this program and released as Serala.' This synthetic variety is composed of six lines, one of which (Alabama 1373) is soft textured, branches well, and has uniform plant type. The Alabama 1373 line was used in an irradiation breeding program begun in 1957 in efforts to increase the rate of mutation and thereby to increase variability in the population. Self pollinated dormant seed of this line were treated with ionizing radiation 5, in cooperation with University of Tennessee-Atomic Energy Commission Agricultural Research Program at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Pure line breeding was followed after irradiation. In X4 (fourth generation following irradiation) a mutant was identified that appeared to have traits needed in sericea for highway vegetation and similar conservation uses, Figure 1. This mutation resulted from exposing seed to neutrons for 2 hours. Selections were made within this plant type in the X4 , X 5 , and X6 generations and progeny were grown in spaced plant nurseries at the Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee. In 1967, X5 plants of the mutant type that varied in total vigor or size were progeny tested in replicated DONNELLY, E. D. 1963. Serala-A New of Botany R. Y. 1951. Sericea in ConSome Factors servation Farming. No. 2033. DONNELLY, USDA Farmers' Bull. Sericea Variety. Auburn Univ. (Ala.) Agr. Exp. Sta. Leaf. 70. 1E. M. CLARK, Department E. D. 1954. that Affect Palatability in Sericea Lespedeza, L. cuneata. Agron. J. 46:96-97. [2] and Plant Pathology, cooperated on the initial phases (X1 and X2 generations) of this work. I - FIG. 1. Left-an X mutant type plant from which Interstate variety was developed; -plant of the variety Serala. Photos were mode August 2, 1966. right ill '0)1.111 1} laitlt plaiitiiigX oil lliglXX IX itid size iii giln (ileXX iated of 1967, 19-68, aod( 1969 i-ewhel(ther1 tie N, paiieilt \\it TitX it wXas 110) thlat pilot typ I)atkXsllot'X .11( otiher sites, 111011 t 2. im(1jg 966-69, bul1k X., thlat wXas testedt seetdt thet froto lii t' illspaced IHi- lowX or high~1 inl X 114. coolidd'd 10(1 had m111(1( iii 96 inl altitipaltiolll of N a)it ilitX. Fi rst cer tified seett 1970. iiilar\ HOW VARIETY [First 1becam 0e aX ail abl)1 ill XIollit'. 1il(' X ,ritv XXIX CX aIltei ti iti- WAS TESTED (tilelii im A.ahalla. It wa tilt alsoAX testedt ('ai olillI 111 .1110)1 I8 states tiom to Sohitiio tes.thilg of tile X alietx- llilti ) X\\as dolle ill 19661 \vhen blked( FIG. 2. Highway blackslope on 1-59 shown ready for Planting on May 25, 1966. [3]1 FIG. 3. Differences in texture and height of dormant plants between Interstate sericea (left) and common variety (right) ore shown by this comparison on 1-59 backslope near Fort Payne, Alabama. Photos were made January 1, 1968. I I%\as a XI ls 'Xt au1i'i ( three ill ( at 1,1(1,1 il (othe 969. \ill Xi Itil'X ill I 96S. X8 AsnnI as ' lour1 om1fparedl othler at ]oc(8till %% itti useI ill tll(Xt. X('li((a \ arieti'X tor a r ate X (getatilig se('l l roadides'. wer il b'P' (81(8t Ill all tesXts, of tile at 50) lilwe( aperaw X'I IolIITIII (If mlies' \\ low 1 SeedI pe aer1 C 81 ths ere usedI: nor11thern Alaam 1a1l III' the,( .3. filpi I(1('d 11N :i.e'lit ral area'~ Mleat X tor,6 'liu'X it heiht of' iti Ci' iX o i PERFORMANCE OF VARIETY repor~tedi ill Tales( I 7 XX11(,h are t 'I'(1I's ocl'e 6. 1966. III) O alpIas. the1 Xast hi)' Northern Alabama I(X)X\aiut 8 iI' XXeiII seeedI \ I 25, 1966, oIl ha(kslopes of' 1-5~9 norlth oIt Fort olef 1 I I, k hieiae' N I t(Ilk tbdllks were I ad(lte ('IICI, rae 811(1 Table andiil~ NibIX X XI(OXX( (I HOI tIll' prac~tical eastX side (1111(1 Ie I. oil ostrate1111 FIG. 4. Typical heights of the sericea varieties tested are illustrated by these photos, mode August 15, 1967, at Auburn, Alabama. Top left- I nte rstate, top right-N. C. Prostrate, bottom left-Serala, and bottom right-common. I'll\el-lic soil t'\pes had pool" lloljlilliforill sUll)(Is of all \arieties ill (lic test. Interstate \vas shortest and cominoti thc alld tallest varietv, \vith the other three hchw illtennediate ill lici(dit. 'I'vpical hei(rilts of the \ tiictics ill Southern Alabama Ceutral ALthama H(' 7 1N66, oil Alabai 22-5 hackslopcs eai1(1 FIG. 5. Density and texture differences of common (leftt, Serala (center), and Interstate (right) varieties of sericea are apparent in these plots on Alabama 225 near Spanish Fart, Albm.Photos were made May 21, 1968. [5] Spanish Fort on Luverne soil type, with bahiagrass seeded as a companion crop just before planting sericea. Good initial stands of all varieties except common were obtained on the east side of the highway, Table 4. Common had thinned considerably more than other entries by 1968 in the east side plantings, when all other varieties had good stands. On the west side, initial stands of Gasyn and N.C. Prostrate were poorer than other entries, and by 1968 these two varieties had relatively thinner stands. Interstate produced more stems per crown than other varieties, Figure 5. There was no height difference among varieties in 1966 and 1967, Table 5. In 1968, however, Interstate had the shortest true height (stem length) and, along with N.C. Prostrate, had the shortest apparent height when both sides of the highway were considered, Table 6. Interstate was rated best in overall appearance when all dates were considered, followed by Serala and N.C. Prostrate, Table 7. It was concluded that sericea is suitable for roadside vegetation in southern Alabama, and that Interstate is the best of the varieties tested. Evaluation from Other States Cooperators in other states tested Interstate for 1 to 4 years, and 33 from 12 states replied to a questionnaire. TwentyTABLE 1. STANDS OF SERICEA AT three reported stands of Interstate equal to other sericeas, but 7 got poorer stands. Interstate generally was judged to be one-half to three-fourths as tall as common and Serala. In texture, 19 rated it superior to other varieties and 7 said it was about the same. Summer appearance of Interstate was judged superior to other sericeas by 14, with 12 rating it about the same. Interstate's winter appearance was judged superior by 8 and about the same as other varieties by 12 respondents. In general, seedling vigor and ability to compete with weeds were rated about the same for Interstate as for other sericea varieties (3 superior, 19 about the same, and 5 inferior). Second- and third-year early spring growth and ground coverage of Interstate were rated superior by 5 respondents and about like other varieties by 12. Seventeen saw Interstate as having potential for grazing and 19 as a possible hay crop in their areas. Three thought it had no potential for either use. Twenty-five of 27 responding thought Interstate to be different enough in appearance and performance for release as a variety. Of 25 replying, 24 believed the variety would be recommended in their areas for highway vegetation and other conservation uses. 1-59 LOCATION NORTH OF FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA Sericea variety East side Interstate .... Serala Common GasynN.C. Prostrate_ West side Interstate Serala Common Gasyn ....... N.C. Prostrate- 8-11-66 No. Plants per square foot,1 by dates 8-1-67 5-30-68 10-15-66 5-12-67 No. No. No. No. 28 10-5-68 No. 24 21 22 20 24 12 14 24 14 29 13 18 25 25 25 17 21 23 20 21 15 18 24 22 23 34 32 33 31 9 12 10 8 16 10 11 9 8 11 3 8 4 9 6 7 4 7 12 9 * Averages of counts made in five 2-foot-square areas per plot, and [61 31 17 21 29 20 18 21 18 19 14 reported as number per square foot. TABLE 2. TRUE HEIGHT OF SERICEA AT 1-59 LOCATION NORTH OF FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA Sericea variety 10-15-66 In. Interstate Serala Common Gasyn N.C. Prostrate_ 8 9 11 8 8 True plant height 1 on each side of highway East side West side 8-1-67 1-25-68 10-15-66 8-1-67 In. In. In. In. 26 37 40 35 27 33 49 52 45 38 8 9 8 5 6 25 31 35 27 27 1-25-68 In. 30 42 41 44 42 Average height measured from the ground to the tips of extended plant stems. TABLE 3. APPARENT HEIGHT OF SERICEA ON 1-59 1 NORTH OF FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA Sericea variety 8-1-67 In. Interstate-----Serala........ Common-----Gasyn--------N.C. Prostrate'Average 19 34 35 30 21 Apparent plant height on each side of highway East side West side 1-25-68 In. 22 31 34 33 24 5-30-68 In. 20 27 25 23 22 10-5-68 In. 33 44 47 36 88 8-1-67 In. 17 26 29 24 12 1-25-68 In. 20 28 34 30 23 5-30-68 In. 20 25 29 24 24 10-5-68 In. 27 40 42 37 29 of five random measurements of the standing plant material. TABLE 4. STANDS OF SERICEA ON ALA. 225 NORTH OF SPANISH FORT, ALABAMA Sericea variety East side Interstate Common Serala Gasyn N.C. Prostrate 7-19-66 No. 40 20 40 45 45 Plants per square foot,1 by dates 8-10-66 11-5-66 3-23-67 7-29-67 No. 20 11 27 30 35 No. 18 12 25 32 30 33 No. 21 16 25 32 22 No. 20 8 13 26 5-7-68 No. 30 6 23 22 25 West side Interstate---------Common---------Serala Gasyn N.C. Prostrate 1Averages of counts per square foot. 16 21 45 30 55 42 25 22 42 30 26 55 25 11 5 17 4 35 25 14 made in five 2-foot-square areas per plot, and 26 24 21 20 18 24 13 11 12 13 reported as number [7] TABLE 5. TRUE HEIGHT OF SERICEA ON ALA. 225 NORTH OF SPANISHFORT, ALABAMA True plant height' on each side of highway varicey1a ~ East side I -- 6 5-7-67 In. In. 12 15 10 10 8 7-29-67 In. 16 22 21 18 17 11-5-66 In. 5 West side 5-7-67 In. 7-29-67 In. 19 18 22 24 20 Interstate ----Common-----Serala ------- 712 610 716 515 612 Gasyn------ -N.C. Prostrate- Average height measured from the ground to the tips of extended plant stems. TABLE 6. HEIGHT OF SERIcRA ON ALA. 225 East side NORTH OF SPANISH FORT, ALABAMA, 1968 Sericea variety Interstate ----Common ----- Serala------ -Gasyn------ -N.C. Prostrate- 5-7-68 Apparent' height In. 15 16 17 13 11 9-12-68 Apparent True' height Iheight E In. In. 22 13 21 38 29 18 25 13 11 28 5-7-68 Apparent height In. 17 12 14 19 14 West side 9-12-68 Apparent height In. 11 18 18 22 12 True height In. 23 30 27 34 28 'Average of five random measurements of the'standing plant material. 2 Average height measured from the ground to the tips of extended plant stems. TABLE 7. APPEARANCE OF SERICEA ON ALA. 225, NORTH OF SPANISH FORT, ALABAMA., 1968 Sericea variety Appearance rating' on each side of highway East side West side 4-24-68 Av. 7-30-68 Av. 4 4 2 2 9-12-68 Av. 5 1 3 2.2 5 4-24-68 Av. 5 3 4 3 7-30-68 Av. 5 2 4 1 2 .9-12-68 Av. 5 2 3 1 5 Interstate -----------------5 Common -------------1 1Serala---------------------3 Gasyn ------3 N.C. Prostrate---------2 'Visual ratings by trained observers (two in most cases) on basis of color, fineness of stems, and uniformity: 5S- best appearance, 1 - poorest appearance.