Registration of ‘Colony’ Lowland Switchgrass

Abstract

‘Colony’ (Reg. No. CV‐256, PI 658520) is a lowland cytotype of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) developed and released by the USDA‐ARS and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service. Colony was developed from three cycles of selection with random cross‐pollination occurring in cycle 0, index selection for forage dry matter yield and in vitro dry matter disappearance and crude protein concentrations in open‐pollinated isolation in cycles 1 and 2. Replicated yield trials were conducted for 5 yr in Piedmont and 4 yr in Coastal Plain soils of North Carolina. Associated nutritive value estimates were obtained for the last 3 yr from the Coastal Plain site. The quality of Colony hay was evaluated in replicated animal trials. Colony was released because of its greater dry matter concentration of cellulose and greater cellulose yield per hectare with potential for biomass purposes.