Kernza intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) response to a range of vernalization conditions

Expansion of perennial grain and forage Kernza intermediate wheatgrass to temperate regions may be limited by its vernalization requirements. We compared vegetative and reproductive traits of Kernza plants grown in greenhouse under four environmental treatments of temperature and daylength for a 7 week induction period. Percent of plants which flowered and spikes per plant decreased from 83% and 8.2 at 4C and 10 h to 15% and 0.4 at 26C and 15 h, respectively. The variability observed suggests that there is potential for selection for reduced vernalization requirements in Kernza populations.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author