Variation in Winter Levels of Crude Protein among Artemisia tridentata Subspecies Grown in a Uniform Garden

Abstract

We discovered that the midwinter crude protein content of Artemisia tridentata is under genetic control. Our study demonstrated that some accessions of A. tridentata, grown under uniform conditions, contained significantly higher levels of crude protein than others. Subspecies tridentata contained significantly higher levels of crude protein than subspecies vaseyana and wyomingensis. However, the accessions that contained the highest levels of crude protein have been reported to be least palatable to mule deer. A superior strain of A. tridentata can be developed by combining the high protein-yielding accessions with accessions that are higher in palatability. The new strain could supply more protein for mule deer on winter ranges.