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