Appearance bromus tectorum is an erectstemmed annual grass that grows to about 825 in. Annual bromes grow until the stems are erect and slender. Integrated management of downy brome bromus tectorum. It is widely distributed throughout the united states and has been reported to be the dominant species. Downy brome seed is a reddish color at maturity while japanese brome is tan in color. Downy brome has an open drooping panicle with long straight awns attached to the seed.
Cheatgrass identification and management background. Leaves both leaf surfaces and sheath are densely hairy. Stands of cheatgrass on western rangeland are highly flammable in late spring through early fall after maturation, which usually occurs long before native species mature and enter summer and autumn dormancy. Downy brome is extremely problematic in cereal crops, particularly fall planted wheat and barley. Japanese brome tends to grow in wetter sites than downy brome. It is especially troublesome in alfalfa, winter wheatfallow rotations, continuous winter wheat, rangeland, waste areas, roadsides, shelterbelts, fence rows, and railroad rightsofway. The coleoptile node is located next to the seed in both downy brome and wheat so this is not a factor in the selective control of downy brome. Rangelandpasture recommendations cheatgrass identification and management commonly referred to as cheatgrass, bromus tectorum it is also known as downy brome, downy cheat and bronco grass. Downy brome bromus tectorum is a widely distributed weed across north america, and the population genetics of the species has been well characterized. Downy brome is capable of producing a second seed crop per season from additional tillers. Grays manual of botany in 1889 it was the authoritative19th century resource. Downy brome is an annual or winter annual grass that reproduces by their seeds. Downy brome provides the bulk of early spring forage.
Timing of downy brome herbicides on wheat 5312 crop. Japanese brome seed is somewhat shorter than downy brome seed and has a twisted awn. Target early fall and early spring control of downy brome. Preemergence herbicides for downy brome management zuger, r. Leaves are rolled in the shoot and are densely soft hairy on both surfaces. Downy brome cheatgrass colorado parks and wildlife. Downy brome has a dual role as a serious weed and important early season forage for cattle and sheep upadhyaya et al. Each plant contains multiple stems that are erect in nature. Its now the dominant plant on over 100 million acres in the western united states, making it the most common plant on the continent.
Downy brome or cheatgrass is an annual or winter annual, native to the mediterranean region. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern united states and. Population structure and genetic diversity of bromus tectorum. Downy brome is a winter annual grass that has an upright growth habit. Even the swollen nodes on the stem are covered with soft straight hairs. Cheatgrass identification and management background information history and impacts cheatgrass, bromus tectorum is also known as downy brome. Therefore understanding the plastic response of downy brome to the environment is a useful tool for management. Downy brome densities of 108 538 plants m2 reduced winter wheat yield by 40 and 92% respectively. Downy brome bromus tectorum and japanese brome bromus. The introduction and dispersal of downy brome bromus tectorum l. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Using pyroxasulfone for downy brome bromus tectorum l. Downy brome is one of the most troublesome weeds in notill wheat production systems of the us great plains. It can displace native grasses that are much more nutritious for cattle.
Stems erect and clumpforming, up to 24 inches tall. Oust controls downy brome and japanese brome very well. Japanese brome has a panicle with the spikelets borne at the ends of long branches. Control of downy brome is particularly challenging because of its impacts to the. The leaves can be from 24 mm wide and up to 20 cm long. Cheatgrass is an annual or winter annual grass that can range in height from 4 to 30 inches tall. Two other annual bromes often are confused with downy brome.
An annual grass having hairy leaves, used as fodder and occurring as a weed in western north american grasslands. Downy brome bromus tectorum interference and economic. Plant size and morphology can vary greatly, depending on site conditions. This may result in a larger infestation of downy brome than before the fire occurred. Foliage the leaf sheaths and blades are covered with soft short hairs. Acetolactate synthase inhibitor resistance continues to spread, and there are very few herbicide options remaining. Seeds germinate in late fall or early spring, and rapid spring growth produces mature seed roughly 2 months later. Economic thresholds varied with changes in downy brome density, cost of control, wheat price, and potential wheat yield. Smooth brome has many desirable characteristics to function as a useful turfgrass species. It is especially troublesome in alfalfa, winter wheatfallow rotations, continuous winter wheat, rangeland, waste areas, roadsides, shelterbelts, fence rows, and. Downy brome definition of downy brome by the free dictionary.
Elevation effectiveness and cost of downy brome bromus. Downy brome is very aggressive in dry grasslands, especially when accompanied by over grazing. Our research was aimed at determining the multiple resistance pattern in the downy brome biotype, establishing its physiological basis, and investigating its fitness. Despite the wealth of information regarding the genetic diversity of downy brome, previous studies have not focused on, or made comparisons of downy brome genetic structure in agronomic fields. Burke downy brome continues to be a problematic and widespread weed in inland pnw wheatfallow rotations. Downy brome density ranged from 500 to 6,800 individuals m22 46.
Light green leaves have a distinctive twist and are soft to the touch. Predicting timing of downy brome bromus tectorum seed. Specifically, we evaluated the effect of herbicide type, application rate, and plant size target plant height and leaf number at time of application on different downy brome and japanese brome accessions in a controlled setting. The history and distribution of downy brome bromus tectorum in north america. They appear in a slender, dense, and usually drooping manner.
This weed has an extensive shallow root system and roots with many hairs that enable the plant to extract much of the. Secondary induced seed dormancy through the action of wettingdrying and freezethaw, seed can acquire a strong secondary dormancy. On the pasture and rangelands it crowds out native grasses. Downy brome is a winter annual and thrives in all soils. Downy brome can greatly alter the species composition of dry native rangeland vegetation by competitive exclusion of reproduction of native plant species and by facilitation of wildfires mosky et al. Other names include downy chess, and cheatgrass, can reduce agricultural production and is a fire hazard in roadside ditches.
Rehabilitating downy brome bromus tectoruminvaded shrublands using imazapic and seeding with native shrubs suzanne m. While the stand of downy brome thins often with fire, it is able to compensate by producing a greater number of stems and seeds per plant. Downy brome reproductive phenology is largely determined by the unpredictable annual weather. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title downey. Preplant glyphosate applications are somewhat effective at keeping downy brome populations from getting out of hand as this weed will germinate in the fall. The leaves are rolled in the bud and are hairy on both sides. Poaceae grass family life cycle prostrate winter annual. Stands of cheatgrass on western rangeland are highly. Timing of downy brome herbicides on wheat 5312 the more commonly used brome herbicides goldsky, powerflex, olympus, and maverick are most effective on bromes when applied in the fall, especially for control of downy brome. One possible factor may be the seed size of downy brome as it relates to the vigor of the germinating seedling.
It was first found in the united states where it is known as downy brome or cheatgrass in 1861 in new york and pennsylvania, and by 1928 b. There simply are no herbicides that control downy brome incrop. Both brome species smooth and downy can act as weeds in high quality turf areas. Brome, downy cheat grass bromus tectorum poaceae grass family category. Ourfirstobjectivewastoevaluatetheefficacyofglyphosate. Downy brome is known by a variety of names including cheatgrass, cheatgrass brome, downy bromegrass, military. This is due to the fact that its germination period is typically in the fall and winter months. Downy brome, cheatgrass grass family bromus tectorum annual or winter annual grass rises 2 to 28 inches from a fibrous root system.
Densities of 24, 40, and 65 downy brome m 2 reduced wheat yield by 10, 15, and 20%, respectively. Pdf file early detection and rapid response, npdn and ipmpipe ficmnew presentation robert nowierski ppt. Downy brome panicles loose, irregularly compound flowering part of plant. Downy brome is known by a variety of names including cheatgrass. Control options for downy brome on prairie reclamation sites d owny brome, bromus tectorum l. Thatch accumulation or shallow burial favors establishment of germinating seeds. Downy brome can be a troublesome weed in winter wheat and other crops. Variation and genetic controls article pdf available in weed science 663. The inflorescences are born and the end of the stems, and are multibranched.
Invasion of downy brome is greatest in drier environments. It is known for being an aggressive weed that has become a threat for winter and spring crops such as winter wheat. Smooth and downy brome identification and control turfgrass. Seedlings are bright green with conspicuously hairy leaves. A weed report from the book weed control in natural areas in the western united states ripgut, red, and downy brome cheatgrass 2 of 4 20 survive in soil 2 to 3 years under field conditions, but some seeds may survive up to 5 years. Any clovers or alfalfa in treated areas will be severely injured or killed. There are several identification traits distinguishing brome grass from many other weeds. Seedhead is dense and drooping, and seeds range from strawcolored to purplish. Integrated management of downy brome in winter wheat.
In a previous study, the mechanism of acetolactate synthase alsinhibitor resistance in a downy brome biotype was determined to be metabolism. Seeds also are spread by hay, combines, grain trucks, and in contaminated winter wheat seed. Suppresses wild garlic, canada thistle, curly dock, goldenrod, and musk thistle. Control of downy brome bromus tectorum and japanese.
Cheatgrass, also referred to as downy brome, is a member of the poaceae or grass family. Approved for use on smooth brome, timothy, certain wheatgrasses, and some other perennial grass species. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below. Multiple herbicide resistance in downy brome bromus. Bromus tectorum has been introduced to southern russia, west central asia, north america, japan, south africa, australia, new zealand, iceland, and greenland. Infested rangelands by heather elwood, master of science utah state university, 20 major professor. Stems are erect, slender, and glabrous or slightly hairy. Pdf on jul 1, 2018, tyler lane and others published herbicideresistant downy. Partial control of downy brome with preemergence applications. Bromus tectorum aka cheatgrass, cheatgrass brome, drooping brome, downy chess, early. Multiple field experiments were conducted near huntley, mt from 2012 through 2016 to determine the efficacy of pyroxasulfone to control downy brome in. Originally from the mediterranean region, it is widely distributed throughout the united states and has been reported to be the dominant species on more than 100 million acres of the intermountain west. Wheat yield was not reduced when downy brome emerged 21 or more days later than wheat.
Response of downy brome bromus tectorum and kentucky. Downy brome bromus tectorum description an annual grass that can grow to 70 cm in height. Mapping downy brome bromus tectorum using multidate aviris data article pdf available in weed science 56jan 2008. Glasshouse and growthchamber experiments were conducted to evaluate primisulfuron phytotoxicity and the influence of adjuvants on downy brome and kentucky bluegrass. Plants, soils, and climate invasive weed species are a threat to the health and functionality of many rangeland systems. Downy brome department of agriculture conservation. Control options for downy brome on prairie reclamation sites. In undisturbed sites, downy brome will most commonly spread along soil cracks and work its way outward into the natural community rice and mack 1991. Downy brome may be called cheat, but cheat bromus secalinus. It has flat leaves that are rolled when budding, is usually green to purple in color, with some long hairs on the leaf base or sheath. Lack of control can be costly to both crop and livestock producers.