Description:
The 20 source plants of FirstStrike originated from four germplasm collections: Ruth 21 _ Fort Carson Training Center, CO [53_54 (N/S), 15_16 (E/W)]; Ruth 26 _ Fort Carson Training Center, CO [71_72 (N/S), 14_15 (E/W)]; Ruth 31 _ 10 mi. north of Rawlings, WY on HWY 287; and Ruth 37 _ Gillette, WY near Roadway Inn between Wyoming Highway numbers 14/16 & Railand. A source nursery was established in 1995 at Fort Carson Training Center near Pueblo, CO. Collections of Ruth 21, 26, 31, and 37 were planted in a space_planted nursery with 10 plants per plot and eight replications (320 plants). Based on persistence and overall vigor in 1997 selections were made from Ruth 21 (7 plants), Ruth 26 (9 plants), and Ruth 31 (4 plants). Vegetative sprigs (clones) from the 20 plants selected were established at a nursery near Snowville, ID (Curlew Grasslands) in 1998. This nursery was comprised of two plants per plot with five replications. In 2000, seed from each line was equally bulked by weight to form the breeder seed. A foundation seed field was established in North Logan, UT in 2001 and foundation seed was harvested 2002, 2003, and 2004.