Low‐input golf course putting green performance of fine‐textured inter‐ and intra‐specific zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.)

Abstract

Thirty fine-textured inter-and intra-specific zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) hybrids and eight Z. pacifica (Goudsw.) M. Hotta & S. Kuroki genotypes were tested in comparison to Z. matrella (L.) Merr. cultivars, 'Diamond' and 'L1F', for their performance under low-input golf course putting green management practices from 2014 to 2018 in Dallas, TX. Turfgrass quality, shoot density, genetic color, fall color, spring greenup, and winter survival were visually rated on a 1 to 9 scale (9 = high quality, dark green, very dense, and complete greenup). Seedheads were rated in spring, summer, and fall as a percentage of plot cover. Thirteen elite hybrids from seven different pedigrees were selected, and ball roll distance was measured 8 times between 15 August and 14 September in 2017. Clear statistical differences were not observed among pedigrees for most traits except seedhead production under the low-input management conditions. However, strong genotype differences were evident. The results suggest under-utilized species could be exploited by plant breeders to use as parental lines and develop hybrids with desirable traits such as finer leaf texture, low seedhead production, fall color retention and early spring green up. One Z. minima (Colenso) Zotov × Z. matrella hybrid and one (Z. minima × Z. matrella) × Z. japonica Steud.hybrid have been advanced to the 2019 National Warm-Season Putting Green Trial conducted by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Progra (NTEP) for multi-location and multi-year performance testing.

Turfgrass Use on US Golf Courses

“…Despite the positive attributes of zoysiagrass, Patton et al ( 2017) described the shortcomings of zoysiagrass, some of which may have manifested in certain regions, resulting in the reduction of acreage. Today, public-and private-sector breeding programs are focused on understanding and improving the zoysiagrass germplasm (Braun et al 2022;Meeks et al 2022;Patton et al 2017).…”

Warm‐season turfgrass species genotype‐by‐environment interaction for turfgrass quality under drought

“…Diploid (2n = 2x = 20) germplasm has been used in seashore paspalum breeding programs, and this species is known for tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as salinity (Chavarria et al, 2019(Chavarria et al, , 2021Marcum & Murdoch, 1994) and waterlogging (Hanna et al, 2013). Zoysiagrasses are popularly known for their low fertility requirements (Meeks et al, 2021) and resistance to weed colonization (Patton et al, 2017). In zoysiagrass, production of either intra or interspecific hybrids, especially among the species Z. japonica Steud., Z. pacifica (Goudsw.)…”

“…Kuroki and Z. matrella (L.) Merr., has been a commonly used strategy in breeding programs (Kimball et al, 2013;Meeks et al, 2021).…”

“…In zoysiagrass, production of either intra or interspecific hybrids, especially among the species Z. japonica Steud., Z. pacifica (Goudsw.) M. Hotta & S. Kuroki and Z. matrella (L.) Merr., has been a commonly used strategy in breeding programs (Kimball et al., 2013; Meeks et al., 2021).…”

A Survey of Enhanced Cold Tolerance and Low-Temperature-Induced Anthocyanin Accumulation in a Novel Zoysia japonica Biotype

“…that are native throughout the western Pacific Rim and the Indian Ocean [ 1 , 2 ]. Although this genus contains 11 species, only 3 of them, Z. japonica Steud., Z. matrella (L.) Merr., and Z. pacifica (Goudswaard) Hotta and Kuroki, previously known as Z. tenuifolia , and their interspecific hybrids, have been widely used for various turfgrass applications, including home lawns, golf course tees, fairways and greens, road sides and medians, and other recreational sites [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. These zoysiagrass varieties have acquired favor among turfgrass practitioners due to their minimal cultural demands, water-use efficiency, and extensive tolerance to cold, shade, salt, diseases, and insects [ 5 , 6 ].…”