Registration of smooth cordgrass cultivars 'LA11-101', 'LA11-102', and 'LA11-103'

Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora Loisel.) is a perennial intertidal saline marsh grass used in restoration projects throughout the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast of the United States to mitigate coastal erosion. Three vigorous, genetically distinct cultivars with high seed set and germination and rapid recovery after transplant were developed from seeds collected from natural populations throughout Louisiana: 'LA11-101' (Reg. No. CV-261, PI 664963), 'LA11-102' (Reg. No. CV-262, PI 664964), and 'LA11-103' (Reg. No. CV-263, PI 664965). LA11-101, LA11-102, and LA11-103 are clonal cultivars that were tested in replicated field trials for 9 yr in 11 environments. LA11-101, LA11-102, and LA11-103 recovered more quickly after transplant and produced more viable seeds than 'Vermilion', the only smooth cordgrass cultivar adapted to Louisiana environments. The average plant vigor, plant spread, and number of stems per plot were similar for LA11-101, LA11-102, LA11-103 and Vermilion. The genetic diversity of LA11-101, LA11-102, LA11-103 and Vermilion was determined using 30 loci, and the Jaccard similarity coefficients of all four ranged from 0.083 to 0.733. LA11-101, LA11- 102, and LA11-103 are vigorous, genetically distinct, smooth cordgrass cultivars with superior seed set, seed germination, and transplant recovery and are recommended for saline marsh restoration projects in the northern Gulf of Mexico.