Notice of release of Turkey Lake germplasm of bottlebrush squirreltail

Turkey Lake Germplasm of bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey ssp. californicus (J.G. Smith) Barkworth [Poaceae]) was released by USDA Agricultural Research Service in 2015 as a selected class of pre-variety germplasm (natural track). This new plant material originates in Gooding County in southern Idaho’s Snake River Plain. In replicated rangeland trials at 3 locations (Juab County, Utah; Sanpete County, Utah; White Pine County, Nevada), Turkey Lake Germplasm displayed substantially better establishment frequency than Toe Jam Creek Germplasm, a previous release of E. elymoides ssp. californicus (origin: Elko County, Nevada), as well as other released squirreltail plant materials. Comparative trials were also conducted in Cache County, Utah, and Bingham County, Idaho.