IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF TURFGRASSES IN CALIFORNIA

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0216499
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Oct 1, 2013
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
(N/A)
RIVERSIDE,CA 92521

Performing Department
BOTANY AND PLANT SCIENCES

Non Technical Summary
Urbanization is occurring at a rapid rate worldwide resulting in changes in land cover. In the United States, turfgrass is the largest irrigated crop and a key component of urban landscapes. In California, where over 90% of the residents live in urban and suburban areas, turfgrasses, along with trees, shrubs, flowering plant material and ground covers provide positive surroundings in our residential, occupational, commuting, and leisure/ recreational environments. Functionally, turfgrasses reduce soil erosion, prevent dust, dissipate heat, abate noise, reduce glare, and reduce air pollution and nuisance animals. The turfgrass industry is a source of considerable economic activity. Recreational facilities and general lawns require regular maintenance that includes mowing, fertilizing, irrigating, thatch and compaction control, and pest management. Manufacturing is responsible for the production of equipment, fertilizer, chemicals, seed, sod, and other supplies. A service category of economic activity includes individuals, groups, and firms, such as distributors, architects, contractors, and consultants, who provide services for the facility and manufacturing categories. Lastly, an institutional economic category involves those who conduct research and education to support the industry. Although no reliable figures on the current total turf acreage and economic impact both nation-wide and in California are available, it is suffice to say that turfgrass is a multi-billion dollar industry. In the recent past, there have been several significant issues and context changes that have affected the California turfgrass industry. As examples, changing economics have reduced the availability of public support for the development and maintenance of community-based facilities such as parks and playgrounds, while private developments that use turfgrass have become even more economically efficient. Existing facilities are often overused because of population growth and under-maintained because of restricted budgets. Also, the drought periods have focused attention on the availability and quality of California water for all sectors of the California economy; this somewhat altered paradigm has had an influence on turfgrass selection, use and maintenance, especially on the wise use of water for irrigation and in terms of water quality, on the fate of fertilizers and pesticides that are used for turfgrass culture. In summary, the turfgrass industry is a dynamic, growing segment of California agriculture. Technological and knowledge-based advancements, such as new cultivars, cultural practices, and equipment, are required to address the issues that face the turfgrass industry. The UCR turfgrass research and extension program, centered at the UCR Turfgrass Research Facility, is in a unique position of being able to develop and evaluate these new and emerging technologies and knowledge-based advancements. In doing so, this project supports the mission, priorities, and strategic initiatives of the UCR Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and Cooperative Extension (CE) by helping to preserve and protect the state?s natural resources.

Animal Health Component

75%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

25%

Applied

75%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	2130	1060	20%
103	2130	1060	20%
111	2130	1060	20%
203	2130	1060	20%
213	2130	1140	20%

Knowledge Area
103 - Management of Saline and Sodic Soils and Salinity; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2130 - Turf;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1140 - Weed science;

Keywords

turfgrass

water conservation

reduced inputs

stress tolerance

Goals / Objectives
The underlying concept of this project is to determine if new "issue-influenced" turfgrasses can be developed for California and if turfgrass cultural practices and systems can be found that provide traffic tolerant and resource efficient management procedures for the landscape industry. Specifically, the objectives of the project are to: 1) evaluate the performance of new and developing cool- and warm-season turfgrasses that can positively influence the issues facing California turfgrass growers and managers, including the cultural requirements of these grasses; 2) develop grasses and cultural systems for high-traffic turfgrass situations, including those with low-light conditions and putting greens; and 3) determine the influence of grasses and cultural systems on the use and protection of natural resources, especially from a plant physiology basis by examining plant stress.

Project Methods
In cooperation with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), cultivars of bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, buffalograss, and tall fescue generated by public and private turfgrass breeders have recently been, or will be, established at the UC Riverside Turfgrass Research Facility. The grasses in the replicated trials will be evaluated for color, texture, density, uniformity, pest activity, traffic tolerance, and dry-down, or leaf-firing characteristics. Data will be analyzed, with significant differences determined in cooperation with NTEP. Results will be published in annual reports and as final multi-year summaries. The experimental plots will be maintained with standardized cultural practices such as mowing, fertilization and irrigation. Sports traffic simulation techniques will be used on various grasses to evaluate the influence of cultural practices such as mowing, fertilization, aerification, and pest management, as well as practices that alter the turfgrass system environment such as tarps and other surface covers. With unique light modification structures now in place, traffic studies on the performance of grasses and appropriateness of cultural programs will be conducted under controlled low-light conditions. Measurements will include visual turf quality scores, impact absorption, and cleat traction. Irrigation studies will evaluate the influence of water management practices on turfgrass growth, development, and appearance. New grasses such as interspecific hybrids will be studied under optimum and conservation strategy irrigation regimes. Studies will investigate climate, plant, and soil factors of managing plant stress on golf putting greens. Special attention will be placed on the summer stress of cool-season turfgrass putting greens and the spring transition of warm-season turfgrass putting greens.

Progress 10/01/08 to 10/01/13

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project aimed to build bridges and form alliances among UC faculty, Specialists, Advisors, and the California turfgrass industry through collaborative research activities and presentations in Northern and Southern California. The UCR turfgrass program received significant media attention at the local, state, national, and international levels. On September 28, 2009, a Column One (front page) article was published by the Los Angeles Times entitled, Turf scientists on a quest to engineer a superlawn. The article, based on an interview with myself and other UCR scientists, discussed our ongoing research efforts toward developing turfgrasses with improved tolerance to drought and other abiotic and biotic stresses. That article led to several other interviews and appearances on radio, television, and in print. Numerous field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate experimental or commercial turfgrass germplasm for drought tolerance. In addition, various products or management strategies were evaluated for water conservation. The UCR Turfgrass and Landscape Research Field Day was held annually in Riverside to showcase ongoing research activities to the industry. Results were also presented in report format on the Field Day website. More than 80 invited presentations were given based upon research findings One notable example was my participation on a discussion panel at the Orange County Water Summit in May 2010 where I highlighted UCR research efforts and defended the benefits of turfgrass to an audience of approximately 300 people, many of whom were California State legislators. In response to water use restrictions on turfgrass and landscapes implemented by the LA Department of Water and Power, I have served as a university liaison on the LADWP Golf Industry Task Force. This group serves as an excellent example of how industry and water agencies can work together toward common goals with open and frequent communication. In addition, I have provided field tours of our research activities to groups including the State Water Control Board, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and a group of 34 greenkeepers from Japan. I have hosted two visiting graduate students from the University of Florence, Italy. I served on the guidance committee for a Ph.D. student from Rutgers University and currently serve as committee member for a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Sciences at UCR. I have served as Thesis or Dissertation Advisor for 3 M.S. and 2 Ph.D. students. I taught BPSC 240 - Turfgrass Biology to provide a general turf background for my graduate students. PARTICIPANTS: The California Turfgrass and Landscape Foundation (CTLF) provided partial funding support for this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
In 2011, the California Turfgrass & Landscape Foundation (CTLF) was formed with a mission to fund and support focused research and educational outreach in the areas of turfgrass, landscape, and related water use for the betterment of the stakeholders, conservation of resources and the sustainability of the environment. The CTLF has and will continue to be a tremendous benefit and funding resource for all UC researchers and advisors who work with turfgrass and landscape plants. Working in collaboration with Drs. Adam Lukaszewski and David Kopecky, we have developed perennial ryegrass germplasm with drought and heat tolerance that is equal to or better than tall fescue, long considered the most drought tolerant cool season turfgrass species. This is very relevant since our research has also substantiated that there is very little genetic diversity among turf type tall fescue germplasm, and therefore little room to improve traits such as drought tolerance as drought and water use restrictions continue to escalate. Furthermore, we demonstrated that eradicating tall fescue with a nonselective herbicide followed by establishment with more drought and heat resistant warm season turfgrasses is an excellent means of saving water for citizens of California. Results of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials conducted at UCR will allow turf managers to choose cultivars of tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, zoysiagrass, seashore paspalum, and bermudagrass that are best adapted to southern California.

Publications

• Baird, J.H., Kopecky, D., Lukaszewski, A.J., Green, R.L., Bartos, J., Dolezel, J. 2012. Genetic Diversity of Turf-Type Tall Fescue Using Diversity Arrays Technology. Crop Sci. 52:408-412.
• Schiavon, M., B.D. Barnes, D.A. Shaw, M.J. Henry, and J.H. Baird. 2013. Strategies for converting tall fescue to warm-season turf for water conservation in southern California. HortTechnology (submitted).
• Barnes, B.D., D. Kopecky, A.J. Lukaszewski, and J.H. Baird. 2013. Evaluation of turf-type interespecific hybrids of meadow fescue with perennial ryegrass for improved stress tolerance. Crop Sci. (submitted).
• Kopecky, D., Bartos, J., Lukaszewski, A.J., Baird, J.H. DArTFest DNA array applications and perspectives for grass genetics, genomics and breeding. 2012. Springer Netherlands. p. 115-119.
• Harivandi, M.A., Baird, J.H., Hartin, J., Henry, J.M., Shaw, D. 2009. Managing turfgrasses during drought. UCANR Pub. 8395. 9 pp.

Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP)trials continued for tall fescue, bermudagrass, seashore Paspalum, and zoysiagrass. In fall 2010, the NTEP perennial ryegrass test was initiated at UCR, one of four locations selected to evaluate traffic tolerance. Research continues toward development of drought tolerant turf-type hybrids of fescue and ryegrass or Festulolium. Cytogenetics techniques are being used to identify key chromosome segments responsible for drought tolerance. Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) is a microarray hybridization technique that is independent of DNA sequence and can be used to discover and score thousands or hundred thousands of polymorphic markers at once. Using both cytogenetics and DArT technology, we plan to convert DArT markers to PCR markers for marker-assisted selection of drought tolerance in turfgrasses. Several experiments have been completed or are ongoing to examine relative drought tolerance among turfgrass species and experimental lines for water conservation. Converting from cool-season turf (e.g.,tall fescue) to more drought warm-season turf (e.g., buffalograss) is an effective means of conserving water. We have completed a field study that examined various methods of conversion along with several different warm-season species. A second study was started this year to examine best weed management practices during conversion. Drought tolerance of several groundcovers in comparison with buffalograss turf is underway. Studies continue toward examining the relative carbon fixation potential and water use efficiency among cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. We have completed one study that is ready to be written for publication on grasses that received non-limiting irrigation. The next study will examine these parameters on turfgrass and groundcovers subjected deficit irrigation. Research has been initiated to control ABA signaling and stress tolerance in turfgrass using agrochemicals that are currently registered for use on turf. We are nearly ready to begin transformation of perennial ryegrass with genes that encode for the formation of specific receptor proteins that, in the presence of ABA and a specific agrochemical molecule, can activate an ABA response and impart drought tolerance. My role is to examine drought tolerance among transformed and control plants in the greenhouse or growth chamber. UCR has launched a turf-type Kikuyugrass breeding and genetics program that was started for a brief time in the late 1980's. Ours is the only program of its kind in the U.S., and one of two or maybe three Kikuyugrass breeding programs in the world. As a warm-season species, it offers greater heat and drought tolerance and winter color retention that is superior to other warm-season species. We will focus on improving growth characteristics, winter color retention, and disease resistance. Collaboration with the USDA-ARS Salinity Labs has led to several greenhouse experiments aimed at examining relative salinity tolerance among turfgrass species and cultivars including our Festulolium lines. PARTICIPANTS: PI: James Baird Collaborators: Adam Lukaszewski-Cytogenetics of Festulolium (UCR)Tim Close-Genetics of Kikuyugrass Stephen Cockerham-Co-investigator on NTEP Variety trials (UCR) Don Merhaut- Drought tolerance of groundcovers (UCR) Dennis Pittenger- Drought tolerance of groundcovers (UCR) Darrel Jenerette- Ecology (UCR) Sean Cutler- Cell Biology, ABA signaling (UCR) Martha Orozco-Cardenas- Plant transformation (UCR) Don Suarez- Salinity (USDA-ARS) Catherine Grieve- Salinity (USDA-ARS) Students: Brent Barnes- Studying the mechanism(s) for improved drought tolerance of Festulolium vs. commercially available cool-season turfgrasses (UCR) Tyler Mock- Breeding and genetics of Kikuyugrass. TARGET AUDIENCES: The California turfgrass industry is the primary target audience. In addition, focus is on water purveyors and decision-makers about water use on landscaped in California. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
This project is aiming toward the development of turfgrasses with improved drought and salinity tolerance for California and other arid regions with diminishing water resources. The UCR Turfgrass & Landscape Research Field Day was held in September 2010 for the third consecutive year since the initiation of this project. Although the number of attendees has only slowly risen from around 120 to over 160, I remain committed to this event as the pinnacle of my Extension programs. The UCR Field Day is second to none in terms of organization and content, and I will continue to explore new ways of attracting more of our industry to attend.The UCR turfgrass program received significant media attention at the local, state, national, and international levels. On September 28, 2009, a Column One (front page) article was published by the Los Angeles Times entitled, Turf Scientists on a quest to engineer a super lawn. The article, based on an interview with myself and other UCR scientists, discussed our ongoing research efforts toward developing turfgrasses with improved tolerance to drought and other abiotic and biotic stresses.The article led to: my appearance on the local television edition of CNN News produced by Charter Communications as well as the Greater LA affiliate of ABC News; radio interviews on National Public Radio's Science Friday and Living Green Radio; articles in the November 2009 issue of Landscape Management magazine, the May 2010 issue of Popular Science magazine, the June/July 2010 Santa Barbara Master Gardener's.com/POST newsletter, and the UCR Magazine; a film segment on UCTV's magazine show, State of Minds and their YouTube page.

Publications

• Baird, J.H., R.L. Green, S. Mitra, R.V. Plumb, G.J. Klein, and J.R. Frelich. 2009. Response of hybrid bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue to short-term drought and recovery in a Mediterranean climate. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 11:1-7.
• Kopecky, D.,J. Bartos, A.J. Lukaszewski, J.H. Baird, V. Cernoch, R. Kolliker, O.A. Rognil, H. Blois, V. Caig, T. Lubberstedt, B. Studer, P. Shaw, J.Dolezel and A. Killian. 2009. Development and mapping of DArT markers within the Festuca-Lolium complex. BMC Genomics 10:473-484.
• Kopecky, D.,J. Bartos, A.J. Lukaszewski, J.H. Baird, V. Cernoch, R. Kolliker, S.R. Sandve, O.A. Rognil, H. Blois, V. Caig, J. Dolezel and A. Killian. 2010. DArTFest- a platform for high-throughout genome profiling within the Festuca-Lolium complex. p.443-448 in C. Huyghe(ed.)Sustainable Use of Genetic Diversity in Forage and Turf Breeding. Springer Pub. Co., New York.
• UCR Turfgrass & Landscape Research Field Day. 2008-2010.

Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials continued for tall fescue, bermudagrass, seashore Paspalum, and zoysiagrass. In fall 2010, the NTEP perennial ryegrass test was initiated at UCR, one of four locations selected to evaluate traffic tolerance. Research continues toward development of drought tolerant turf-type hybrids of fescue and ryegrass or Festulolium. Cytogenetics techniques are being used to identify key chromosome segments responsible for drought tolerance. Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) is a microarray hybridization technique that is independent of DNA sequence and can be used to discover and score thousands or hundred thousands of polymorphic markers at once. Using both cytogenetics and DArT technology, we plan to convert DArT markers to PCR markers for marker-assisted selection of drought tolerance in turfgrasses. Several experiments have been completed or are ongoing to examine relative drought tolerance among turfgrass species and experimental lines for water conservation. Converting from cool-season turf (e.g., tall fescue) to more drought warm-season turf (e.g., buffalograss) is an effective means of conserving water. We have completed a field study that examined various methods of conversion along with several different warm-season species. A second study was started this year to examine best weed management practices during conversion. Drought tolerance of several groundcovers in comparison with buffalograss turf is underway. Studies continue toward examining the relative carbon fixation potential and water use efficiency among cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. We have completed one study that is ready to be written for publication on grasses that received non-limiting irrigation. The next study will examine these parameters on turfgrass and groundcovers subjected deficit irrigation. Research has been initiated to control ABA signaling and stress tolerance in turfgrass using agrochemicals that are currently registered for use on turf. We are nearly ready to begin transformation of perennial ryegrass with genes that encode for the formation of specific receptor proteins that, in the presence of ABA and a specific agrochemical molecule, can activate an ABA response and impart drought tolerance. My role is to examine drought tolerance among transformed and control plants in the greenhouse or growth chamber. UCR has launched a turf-type Kikuyugrass breeding and genetics program that was started for a brief time in the late 1980s. Ours is the only program of its kind in the U.S. and one of two or maybe three Kikuyugrass breeding programs in the world. As a warm-season species, it offers greater heat and drought tolerance and winter color retention that is superior to other warm-season species. We will focus on improving growth characteristics, winter color retention, and disease resistance. Collaboration with the USDA-ARS Salinity Lab has led to several greenhouse experiments aimed at examining relative salinity tolerance among turfgrass species and cultivars including our Festulolium lines. PARTICIPANTS: PI: James Baird Collaborators: Adam Lukaszewski - Cytogenetics of Festulolium (UCR) Tim Close - Genetics of Kikuyugrass Stephen Cockerham - Co-investigator on NTEP Variety trials (UCR) Don Merhaut - Drought tolerance of groundcovers (UCR) Dennis Pittenger - Drought tolerance of groundcovers (UCR) Darrel Jenerette - Ecology (UCR) Sean Cutler - Cell biology, ABA signaling (UCR) Martha Orozco-Cardenas - Plant transformation (UCR) Don Suarez - Salinity (USDA-ARS) Catherine Grieve - Salinity (USDA-ARS) Students: Brent Barnes - Studying the mechanism(s) for improved drought tolerance of Festulolium vs. commercially available cool-season turfgrasses (UCR) Tyler Mock - Breeding and genetics of Kikuyugrass. TARGET AUDIENCES: The California turfgrass industry is the primary target audience. In addition, focus is on water purveyors and decision-makers about water use on landscapes in California. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
This project is aiming toward the development of turfgrasses with improved drought and salinity tolerance for California and other arid regions with diminishing water resources. The UCR Turfgrass & Landscape Research Field Day was held in September 2010 for the third consecutive year since the initiation of this project. Although the number of attendees has only slowly risen from around 120 to over 160, I remain committed to this event as the pinnacle of my Extension programs. The UCR Field Day is second to none in terms of organization and content, and I will continue to explore new ways of attracting more of our industry to attend. The UCR turfgrass program received significant media attention at the local, state, national, and international levels. On September 28, 2009, a Column One (front page) article was published by the Los Angeles Times entitled, Turf scientists on a quest to engineer a super lawn. The article, based on an interview with myself and other UCR scientists, discussed our ongoing research efforts toward developing turfgrasses with improved tolerance to drought and other abiotic and biotic stresses. That article led to: my appearance on the local television edition of CNN News produced by Charter Communications as well as the Greater LA affiliate of ABC News; radio interviews on National Public Radio's Science Friday and Living Green Radio; articles in the November 2009 issue of Landscape Management magazine, the May 2010 issue of Popular Science magazine, the June/July 2010 Santa Barbara Master Gardener's .com/POST newsletter, and the UCR Magazine; a film segment on UCTV's magazine show, State of Minds and their YouTube page.

Publications

• Baird, J.H., R.L. Green, S. Mitra, R.V. Plumb, G.J. Klein, and J.R. Frelich. 2009. Response of hybrid bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue to short-term drought and recovery in a Mediterranean climate. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 11:1-7.
• Kopecky, D., J. Bartos, A.J. Lukaszewski, J.H. Baird, V. Cernoch, R. Kolliker, O.A. Rognli, H. Blois, V. Caig, T. Lubberstedt, B. Studer, P. Shaw, J. Dolezel and A. Kilian. 2009. Development and mapping of DArT markers within the Festuca - Lolium complex. BMC Genomics 10:473-484.
• Kopecky, D., J. Bartos, A.J. Lukaszewski, J.H. Baird, V. Cernoch, R. Kolliker, S.R. Sandve, O. A. Rognli, H. Blois, V. Caig, J. Dolezel and A. Kilian. 2010. DArTFest-a platform for high-throughput genome profiling within the Festuca-Lolium complex. p. 443-448 in C. Huyghe (ed.) Sustainable Use of Genetic Diversity in Forage and Turf Breeding. Springer Pub. Co., New York.
• UCR Turfgrass & Landscape Research Field Day. 2008-2010.