**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DROUGHT TOLERANCE OR AVOIDANCE IS A UBIQUITOUS FEATURE OF LIFE FOR MOST NATIVE PLANT SPECIES ON OUR NATION'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS IN THE SOUTHWEST. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES INCLUDING WILDLIFE HABITAT, CARBON SEQUESTRATION, SOIL EROSION CONTROL, WATER FILTRATION, GRAZING FORAGE FOR LIVESTOCK, NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS ARE ALSO ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT CROPS THAT SUPPORT A LARGE NATIVE SEED MARKET CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HIGH DEMAND WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY. TO MEET NEEDS SOONER THAN TRADITIONAL MATERIALS CAN BE DEVELOPED, LAND MANAGERS ARE CREATING UNTESTED MATERIALS USING EMERGING PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES WITH AN INTENDED USE OF RESTORING RANGELANDS. HOWEVER, THESE METHODS HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED IN TERMS OF IMPACTS TO GENETIC HEALTH, PLANT PERFORMANCE, RESTORATION SUITABILITY, AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES CONFERRED. THUS, THESE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE AND UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND CONSEQUENCES OF PRODUCING NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS THAT ARE INCREASINGLY USED TO RESTORE RANGELAND PLANT PRODUCTION IN THE WEST AND BOLSTER THE NATIVE SEED INDUSTRY, IN TANDEM. HERE, WE WILL TEST THESE MATERIALS FOR THE FIRST TIME ALONGSIDE PLANTS FROM BOTH THEIR ORIGINAL WILDLAND SOURCES AND CURRENT COMMERCIALLY-AVAILABLE NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS. A COMBINED GENETIC, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AND FUNCTIONAL TRAIT CHARACTERIZATION OF BOTH UNTESTED AND TESTED NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS WILL ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANISMS DETERMINING GERMINATION, ESTABLISHMENT, AND PERFORMANCE OF KEY NATIVE PLANT SPECIES, AND HOW PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES MAY MODIFY THE GENOTYPIC AND PHENOTYPIC TRAITS OF NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS. THIS WORK WILL FACILITATE THE IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ARE POSSIBLE IN RESTORATION SETTINGS IN AMERICA'S DRYLANDS.?