improving turfgrass through research seed research of oregon warm season grasses helen lucas
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Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Seed Research of Oregon
Warm Season Grasses
Helen Lucas
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Warm SeasonTurfgrass SpeciesCommon Name Scientific Name Pollination Ploidy
Bermudagrass Cynodon dactylon var. Cross Allotetraploid=36 Couchgrass dactylon
Transvaalensis C. transvaalensis Cross Diploid=18bermudagrass
Zoysiagrass Zoysia ssp. Cross Tetraploid = 40
Seashore paspalum Paspalum vaginatum Cross Diploid=20
Bahiagrass Paspalum notatum Apomict Tetraploid = 40Cross Diploid = 20
St. Augustinegrass Stenotaphrum Cross Diploid = 18 (Buffalograss) secundatum Polyploid = 30
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Warm SeasonTurfgrass Species
Common Name Scientific Name Pollination Ploidy Centipedegrass Eremochloe ophiuroides Cross Diploid = 18
American Buffalograss Buchloe dactyloides Dioecious 20, 40, 60
Kikuyagrass Pennisetum clandestinum Cross Tetraploid = 36
Saltgrass Distichlis spicata Cross 2n = 36, 40
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Warm Season Grass Breeding • Less total breeding public and private
• Primary species couchgrass (bermudagrass), zoysia, buffalograss, seashore paspalum
• Additional species centipedegrass, St. Augustine, bahiagrass
• Most improved cultivars are vegetative - increase of single improved plants.– Sterile, low seed yields, difficult to process seeds,
excellent vegetative growth, uniformity
• New improvements in seeded types
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Bermudagrass Breeding • Sterile triploid hybrids between Cynodon dactylon
var. dactylon and C. transvaalensis primary varieties– USDA Tifton, GA - Tifgreen, Tifway, Tifdwarf, TifSport,
TifEagle
– Winter-hardy Kansas State - Midway, MidIron, Midlawn
• Improved seeded cultivars - cold-hardiness, spring dead spot resistance, uniformity, speed of germination, leaf spot resistance, color, density, seed yield - Quality approaching vegetative cultivars
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Seeding the Future …….Seeding the Future …….
SRO Seeded Bermudagrass Products
– Yukon (exp. OKS91-11)– SR 9554– LaPaloma (exp. SRX 9500)– LaPrima Blend – blends are not included in
NTEP
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Seeded Turf-Type Bermudas
• New projectsgolf or sports fields
• Renovations – far more acreageexisting common, turf-type seeded or vegetative bermuda
• Entire South - Spring Recoveryre-establish bermuda base for better
• Spring transition
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Seeded Turf-Type Bermudas
Southern Bermuda Belt- non-uniform appearance of existing bermuda- upgrade to improved variety
(disease tolerance, color/texture, divot repair, etc.)- Spring transition difficulties
Transition Zone- drought, salt or disease stress on existing rye/blue- Winter kill of your existing bermuda variety
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Divot Repair Data
Tifway 419
Tifsport
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Spring Dead Spot ResistanceCritical South AND Transition
Yukon & Midlawn
• Highest resistance
Riviera & TifSport
•Moderate resistance
Princess 77 & Tifway
• Most susceptible
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Drought StressReduced Water Supplies
Choose the Right Variety
“The most vigorously germinating cultivars under both drought and control conditions were (in decreasing order): YUKON (OKS91-11), Sahara, Mirage, and Pyramid. Four other cultivars exhibited low cumulative germination rates under all conditions: Panama (PST-R63), Savannah (PST-R64), Princess (FMC-77), and Sultan (FMC-8).” Dr. Ken Marcum – Univ. of AZ
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Zoysiagrass Breeding • Finest textured, highest uniformity in vegetative
cultivars - Zoysia japonica, Z. matrella and Z. pacifica– Texas A&M University - Reduced water use, cold-hardiness,
shade tolerance, improved establishment and recovery
• Improved seeded cultivars - Z. japonica and Z. sinica have larger seadheads more useful for seed production– More uniform than common, use on sports fields and
homelawns