'FL4XR16' (Reg. no. CV-289, PI 699961) tetraploid forage-type annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a synthetic cultivar selected for mid-late maturity, high dry matter (DM) yield, and resistance to gray leaf spot (GLS). In spring 2016, a nursery of 'FL Red' experienced a high incidence of GLS, and 50 highly disease resistant individual plants were replanted and intercrossed. Seed from this intercross was used to establish a half-sib nursery in fall 2016. The nursery was subsequently rogued for uniform maturity, and the remaining plants were allowed to intercross to produce the base population FL4XR16 in spring 2017. The base population went through one additional cycle of selection for uniformity. Seed harvested from this final selection cycle or a later isolated increase of this population was used to establish DM yield experiments at Citra, FL, and Tifton, GA, in 2018-2019; at Hague, FL, and Tifton in 2019-2020; and at Hague in 2020-2021 for a total of five location-years. FL4XR16 was not significantly different in DM yield from the top entry in a given test in four of these five experiments. Maturity ratings at Gainesville, FL, show that FL4XR16 was mid-late in maturity. The locations of evaluation for this cultivar have primarily been in the Coastal Plains region of the United States, but considering its pedigree, it is expected to perform well across the southern U.S. annual ryegrass growing region. Production and marketing rights for FL4XR16 have been granted to Smith Seed Services, Halsey, OR.

ABSTRACTCrop science is a highly integrative science employing expertise from multiple disciplines to broaden our understanding of agronomic, turf, and forage crops. A major goal of crop science is to ensure an adequate and sustainable production of food, feed, fuel, and fiber for our world's growing population. The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) identified key Grand Challenges which, when addressed, will provide the tools, technologies, and solutions required to meet these challenges. The Grand Challenges are: (i) Crop adaptation to climate change: Increase the speed with which agriculture can adapt to climate change by using crop science to address abiotic stresses such as drought and heat. (ii) Resistance to biotic stresses: Increase durability of resistance to biotic stresses that threaten yield and quality of major crops. (iii) Management for resource limited systems: Create novel crop cultivars and management approaches designed for problem soils and low‐input farming to increase economic prosperity for farmers and overcome world hunger. (iv) Crop management systems: Create novel crop management systems that are resilient in the face of changes in climate and rural demographics. (v) Biofuels: Develop sustainable biofuel feedstock cropping systems that require minimal land area, optimize production, and improve the environment. (vi) Bioresources: Genotyping the major crop germplasm collections to facilitate identification of gene treasures for breeding and genetics research and deployment of superior genes into adapted germplasm around the globe. These challenges are intended to be dynamic and change as societal needs evolve. Available funding and national prioritization will determine the rate that they will be addressed.

SS-AGR-320, an 8-page illustrated fact sheet by Yoana Newman, Joao Vendramini, Lynn E. Sollenberger, and Ken Quesenberry, describes this warm-season perennial grass that is well adapted to flatwoods sites in Florida — history and released cultivars, yield, nutritive values, animal performance, planting, management, utilization, and insects and plant diseases. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Agronomy, August 2009. SS-AGR-320/AG330: Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima): Overview and Management (ufl.edu)

Limpograss is a warm-season perennial grass used by Florida beef cattle producers because of its high quality, cool-season growth and tolerance of poorly drained soils. This grass is well adapted to flatwoods sites in Florida and to similar areas characterized by a flat to gently-sloping topography and poorly drained, sandy soils, where standing water is common during wet weather. Limpograss should not be planted on high grounds or deep sands.