Description:
'Ahring' little bluestem was selected from little bluestem germplasm UO-2 (PI 676267, Native Plants Journal 21:45-53. 2020) through two cycles of phenotypic recurrent selection for increased seven-day laboratory seed germination in simulated dry conditions. Selection cycle 1: Selection pressure consisted of germinating 3,500 pure-seeds (a spikelet containing a caryopsis) of little bluestem germplasm UO-2 in water of a ‒0.8 megapascal potential for seven days. All seeds that germinated in seven days (approximately 250) were removed from the germination container, washed with deionized water, and planted into greenhouse cavity trays containing a soil mix. The selected plants were transplanted into an isolated field plot where they produced seeds for the next generation. The harvested seeds were designated as ‘UO-2 C1’.