Identification, distribution and population variability of great brome (Bromus diandrus Roth) and rigid brome (Bromus rigidus Roth)

Abstract

Seventeen populations of Bromus spp. were sampled from across southern Australia and accessions in the state herbaria of Western and South Australia were examined. Rigid brome (B. rigudus) differed from great brome (B. diandrus) in having shorter, sparser hairs on leaf laminae, more compact and erect panicles with shorter spikelet branches. In rigid brome, the abscission scars on the rachillae were elliptical and the lemma calluses were elongated (> 1 mm), while in great brome, these characters were circular and short (5 1 mm). Rigid brome was further differentiated into a long and short-awned biotype. Rigid brome was hexaploid, 2n = 42, and great brome an octoploid, 2n = 56. Rigid brome is widely distributed across southern Australia, often growing unrecognized in association with great brome. Rigid brome matured earlier than great brome, and there was high genetic variation (26-34% of total variation) in the time of maturity of both species. Seed production in rigid brome and great brome ranged from 1156 to 2908 and 661 to 3380 seeds per plant respectively. A short-awned ecotype of rigid brome from Geraldton, W.A., had 30% residual innate dormancy. This, together with the earlier maturity of ecotypes of rigid brome, may make it more difficult to control than a great brome when both species coexist in the field. Leaves of great brome were susceptible to rust (Puccinia bromoides Guyot), but associated ecotypes of rigid brome were rust free.