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Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Texas Hybrid Bluegrass
Bill Dunn
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Texas x Kentucky bluegrass
Many first hybrids poor germination
Thermal Blue = HB 129 = BH00-6002
Reveille sod type good performance
Improved establishment
High shear strength
Excellent rhizomes = good recovery
Good wear tolerance in Ohio - not high Rutgers
Additional new hybrids with good establishment, high drought tolerance
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Bluegrass Needs• Improved establishment
• Less dormancy by selection and large seed
• Priming?
• Diverse portfolio of bluegrass types from many programs
• Heat and drought tolerance, winter-active growth
• One set of genetics or one type leads to potential problems for long term performance
• Necrotic ring spot, summer patch and dollar spot resistance. Billbugs major problem in drought.
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Bluegrass Strategies• Texas X Kentucky bluegrass hybrids
• Advantages
• Heat tolerant
• Drought tolerant
• Extensive rhizomes - wear tolerance, sod strength, recovery
• Goals
• Improved seed fertility - higher yields
• Improved germination
• Summer patch, brown patch and leaf spot resistance
• Reject 3 of 4 potential cultivars
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Texas X Kentucky bluegrass
• Texas bluegrass heat and drought tolerant, extensive and deep rhizomes
• Kentucky bluegrass turf quality
• Backcrossed to Kentucky bluegrass
• More extensive rhizomes
• Greater heat and drought tolerance
• Must evaluate for diseases, billbug resistance, germination vigor, apomixis
• 4 new ones optioned from Rutgers planted fall, 2005
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Texas X Kentucky bluegrass
• Rhizomes on young spaced plants
• Deep rhizomes contribute to recovery
• Bluegrass usage further south
• Top rated for shear strength NTEP
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Bandera Texas X Kentucky
• Improved germination
• High heat tolerance
• Active summer growth
• Need more growth before vernalization for seed
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Bandera Texas X Kentucky
Bandera
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
STR 2844 Texas X Kentucky
• Dark Green, high turf quality
• Cross BDF (Texas X Kentucky) X Midnight
• Excellent seed set and yields
• Low ergot
• Extensive rhizomes
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Texas X Kentucky Bluegrasses
• Blend with tall fescues – Heat and drought tolerance
– Excellent rhizomes
• Blend with Kentucky bluegrass– Select Kentucky bluegrasses with improved heat
tolerance
– Similar growth form
• Blend with Texas X Kentucky - future– Select ones with different genetics
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
Texas X Kentucky Bluegrasses2000 Kentucky bluegrass NTEP Drought and Heat Data
Bluegrass NJ1 Drought- WY1 Drought- KS Turf OH - Turf Quality UT - Turf quality
Variety Type Wilting -2001 Wilting-2002 Quality No irrigation Low maintenance
SR 2284 America 6.7 5.0 5.7 6.7 5.4
Midnight Midnight 6.0 7.3 4.6 6.9 5.3
Rampart Julia 4.0 5.3 5.6 3.9 5.2
Kingfisher America 7.0 6.7 5.0 6.8 5.1
Showcase America 7.3 6.0 4.7 6.1 5.0
Quantum Leap Midnight 4.3 7.0 4.3 6.7 5.0
BH 00-6002 (ThBl) Texas hybrid 7.0 5.0 5.0 6.2 4.9
Arcadia Midnight 5.7 6.0 2.3 6.6 4.8
BH 00-6003 Texas hybrid 3.7 6.3 3.9 4.4 4.8
Cheetah Aggressive 5.3 4.3 4.4 6.1 4.7
Ulysses Julia 4.3 6.0 4.4 4.6 4.7
Envicta BVMG 6.7 5.3 3.6 5.7 4.7
LSD@5% 1.6 2.3 3.8 1.2 1.5
Improving Turfgrass Through Research
2004 Bluegrass Trial, Rolesville, NC
2005 data, 1-9, 9 = Ideal Turf
Cutlivar Mean CultivarMean
STR 2485 KBG 6.2 Midnight KBG 4.8
STR 23180 KBG 6.0 Julius KBG 4.8
STR 23064 KBG 5.7 Diva KBG 4.7
Bandera T x K 5.6 Rhythm KBG 4.6
Y2K-169 KBG 5.3 Eagleton KBG 3.8
Julia KBG 5.2 A99-LM15 T x K 3.7
SR 2109 KBG 5.0LSD@5% 0.7
Heat tolerant bluegrasses
