Characterization of Tall Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars

Fermanian, Thomas W.; Haley, Jean E.; Wessels, Karla K.; Wilkinson, H. T.; Han, Sang-Wook

doi:10.1300/j099v01n04_06

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Grouping existing cultivars into groups based on morphology would be an aid to both researchers and plant breeders. Tall fescue cultivars have been somewhat characterized using turf trial data (Fermanian et al, 1996). The advantages and disadvantages of tall fescue cultivars with a dwarf growth habit have also been discussed (Hurley, 1990;Meyer and Bonos, 2001).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological Characterization of Turf-type Tall Fescue Genotypes

Watkins¹,

Meyer²

2004

HortSci

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Recently, turfgrass breeders have developed many improved turf-type tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars. Due to the large number of cultivars currently available to turfgrass managers and researchers, we have classified turf-type tall fescue cultivars into six groups based primarily on several morphological measurements. This type of classification is important for turfgrass breeders because many breeding decisions are made based on observations in a spaced-plant nursery. The major objective of this study was to classify tall fescue cultivars and selections based on spaced-plant measurements and to then compare those results with turf performance. A spaced-plant nursery consisting of 36 cultivars and selections was established in September 1998 at Adelphia, N.J. Plant height, panicle length, flag leaf width and length, subtending leaf width and length, and subtending internode length were measured 10 days after anthesis in 1999 and 2000. Additionally, a turf trial was established at North Brunswick, N.J., that included the same 36 cultivars and selections. The turf plots were evaluated for several traits including overall turfgrass quality, density, and susceptibility to brown patch disease. Based on principal component analysis of morphological measurements, along with turf trial data, all cultivars and selections were assigned to one of six groups: forage, early-standard, standard, early semi-dwarf, semi-dwarf, and dwarf. In turf plots, the semi-dwarf, early-semi dwarf, and dwarf groups were the top-performing types in terms of overall turfgrass quality, and the forage and early-standard cultivars had the lowest overall quality ratings. The dwarf types did not perform well under summer stress, especially in terms of brown patch disease incidence. The results of this study suggest that when developing cultivars for higher maintenance situations, turf-type tall fescue breeders should focus on the development of semi-dwarf cultivars.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological Characterization of Turf-type Tall Fescue Genotypes

Watkins¹,

Meyer²

2004

HortSci

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“…Perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) is a widespread caespitose grass common in pastures and lawns of the United States, Europe and Australia (Hitchcock 1950). It is an important forage crop in many parts of the world (Borrill 1976; van Heeswijck & McDonald 1992); in addition, numerous cultivars have been developed for use in providing cover on public ground and suburban lawns (Funk, White & Breen 1993; Fermanian et al 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotypic variation in the regrowth of Lolium perenne following clipping: effects of nutrients and endophytic fungi

Cheplick

1998

Functional Ecology

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1. The objective of this research was to determine the extent to which regrowth rate after clipping and the specific leaf area (SLA) of genotypes of Lolium perenne were influenced by soil nutrients and endophytic fungi. 2. Twelve infected genotypes were cloned into ramets. Half were treated with a systemic fungicide that greatly reduced endophyte levels; half were untreated and retained high endophyte levels. Ramets of each genotype were subjected to low, medium or high levels of nutrients in a glasshouse for 11 weeks. 3. Plants were clipped at soil level at 11 weeks, allowed to regrow for 14 weeks and clipped again. SLA was determined at 11 and 25 weeks. Regrowth rate was calculated based on changes in leaf area and leaf dry mass between 11 and 25 weeks. 4. As a main effect, endophytes had no influence on regrowth rates and mean endophyte levels, as measured by hyphal counts within the leaves of five genotypes at high and low nutrients, were not correlated with regrowth rates. However, after clipping, regrowth responses to soil nutrients and endophytes were genotype‐specific. Some genotypes in the high endophyte group showed an enhancement of regrowth, whilst others showed no response or a depressive effect of endophytes. 5. At the time of leaf clipping, SLA was significantly affected by genotype, nutrients and endophytes. At medium nutrients, the SLA of high endophyte plants was significantly lower than that of low endophyte plants. However, the SLA of the regrowth was affected by nutrients but not endophytes. Mean endophyte levels, as measured by hyphal counts within the leaves of five genotypes at high and low nutrients, were not correlated with SLA at 11 or 25 weeks. 6. For both high and low endophyte plants, regrowth rate was negatively correlated with SLA. 7. Perennial ryegrass possesses genotypic variation in the ability to regrow following defoliation and this ability is conditioned by abiotic (nutrients) and biotic (endophyte) factors.

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