USDA ARS
ARS geneticist Sarah Hake and University of California, Berkeley colleague George Chuck study juvenile traits of corngrass. They have found that inserting a specific corngrass gene into switchgrass keeps it in its juvenile form. Scientists from WSU, UC, Arizona involved in ongoing effort to improve the emerging bioenergy crop switchgrass.
Feb 22, 2021
Researchers from Washington State University, the University of California and the Arizona Genomics Institute are part of a large team that announced the genome sequence for switchgrass, a major bioenergy crop.
Laura Bartley, an associate professor in WSU’s Institute of Biological Chemistry, worked for 15 years on the project, which could lead to larger, easier to process switchgrass plants.
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New season of Oklahoma Gardening returns
Trisha Gedon
STILLWATER – Green-thumbed Oklahomans don’t have to wait for good weather to jump into a new season of Oklahoma Gardening, which kicked off again Feb. 13.
Oklahoma Gardening airs every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. and Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. on local OETA-TV (PBS) channels across the state. Viewers who are unable to watch on television can subscribe to the Oklahoma Gardening YouTube channel and see full shows or search for specific segments at their convenience.
Casey Hentges, host of the longest-running gardening show on television, said the 47th season will introduce viewers to new topics and revisit some old favorites.
January 28, 2021
A field technician wrestling a large switchgrass plant during fall harvest (photo credit: Jason Bonnette).
A Washington State University researcher is part of a large team that announced the genome sequence for switchgrass, a major bioenergy crop.
Laura Bartley, an associate professor in WSU’s Institute of Biological Chemistry, worked for 15 years on the project, which could lead to larger, easier to process switchgrass plants.
“Making switchgrass cultivars more economically successful and competitive is a key to decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels,” Bartley said.
Gardeners and farmers around the country recognize that crop varieties grow best in certain regions. Most plant species have adapted to their local environments; for example, crop and ornamental seeds sold for the upper Midwest are often very different than those bred for Texas. Identifying and breeding varieties that have high productivity across a range of environments is becoming increas