Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to
PERSISTENCE, SURVIVAL, AND RECOVERY OF WARM-SEASON TURFGRASS FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN LANDSCAPES UNDER LIMITED IRRIGATION AND LONG-TERM DROUGHT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1007532
Grant No.
2015-51181-24291
Project No.
FLAW-2015-09346
Proposal No.
2015-09346
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
SCRI
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2015
Project End Date
Dec 9, 2019
Grant Year
2015
Project Director
Kenworthy, K. E.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
AG-AGRONOMY
Non Technical Summary
Turfgrass is a primary recreational surface and enhances the aesthetic value of urban environments improving physiological and psychological well-being with a multibillion dollar industry in the United States. However, water availability for irrigating turfgrass is becoming limited, and the resulting policies on water restrictions and public opinions impact turfgrass production and the performance of installed turf, posing challenges to the whole turfgrass industry. To address turfgrass water use related issues, a prior funded 5-year USDA-NIFA SCRI project has identified 105 advanced lines with improved drought and salinity tolerance through extensive collaboration among scientists in southern U.S. Working with the advisory panel (turfgrass industry leaders, water purveyors, and landscape architects) we have identified our research and extension objectives. The advanced lines require better quantification of their long-term drought persistence and ancillary and consumer preference information is needed before commercialization. We propose using a Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs) team of turfgrass breeders, extension specialists, plant physiologists, irrigation engineers, molecular biologists and agricultural socioeconomists from five major universities across the southern U.S. The CAPs team will coordinate a efforts in the area of turfgrass production (Primary System I), and consumer appeal and market approaches (Primary System II). This synergistic approach will avoid duplication of research efforts and capitalize the genetic diversity for developing environmentally sustainable turfgrasses with wider geographical adaptation and broader regional impacts. This CAPs project will significantly increase the productivity, sustainability, and the economic gain of both the individual state turfgrass programs, and the overall turfgrass industry.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
70%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2010210108131%
2030210102030%
1110210107039%
Knowledge Area
203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 1081 - Breeding; 1020 - Physiology;
Keywords
Goals / Objectives
Due to increased population pressure utilizing limited water resources, many communities are now restricting the amount of irrigation available for landscapes, and in some cases, limiting the amount of area in a landscape that can be planted in turf or dictating the species of turfgrass that can be used. Reduced access to fresh water resources has made it necessary to utilize water of marginal quality for landscape irrigation to reserve better quality water to meet municipal demands. In addition to drought stress, it is estimated that 20-25% of turfgrass surfaces are affected by shade from trees or artificial structures (Beard, 1973). Even with improved turfgrass performance and adaptability to stressful environments new turfgrass cultivars will not become commercially available unless they meet sod production requirements for weed control and tensile strength (harvestability). Therefore, critical needs exist for turfgrass cultivars that meet production expectations and can maintain acceptable turf quality and performance when maintained in low moisture and/or high saline or shaded growing conditions. To more effectively address turfgrass related water use issues a 5-year USDA-NIFA funded SCRI project was initiated in 2010 to use plant genetics and genomics to improve drought and salinity tolerance for sustainable turfgrass production in the southern U.S. The advanced lines identified from this previous project require further characterization relative to their management and persistence under local water use ordinances. Additionally, the advanced lines will be characterized for other important traits (shade, herbicides, and sod production) prior to commercialization. Knowledge and information gained will be used in outreach programs to educate professional turfgrass managers and homeowners. The long-term goals of the proposed project are to develop turfgrass cultivars that can persist through lengthy drought periods, quantify drought response mechanisms considered essential for continued improvement of these species and educate end-users to enhance the profitability of targeted stakeholders and ensure the long-term sustainability of the turfgrass industry.Project Objectives:1) Effective functioning of the Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs) team;2) Quantification of drought and ancillary traits of advanced lines from the initial SCRI-CAP;a. Characterize drought mechanisms, performance, BMPs and persistence of advanced lines;b. Ancillary trait evaluation of advanced lines;3) Breeding, germplasm development and evaluation for drought responses and persistence; a. Production of new breeding lines with improved drought stress tolerance and persistence; b. Efficient multi-location progeny performance assessments for drought responses;4) Develop marker assisted breeding systems for drought and salinity tolerance;5) Develop and conduct socio-economic analytics to identify end user turf trait preferences;6) Produce extension-outreach programs to promote adoption of newly developed cultivars and to inform end-users of environmental and economic impacts;7) Develop processes for coordinating, protecting and marketing intellectual property.
Project Methods
Turf performance and survival of advanced lines in the context of urban soils, water restrictions, and long-term drought conditions: Three studies will be conducted in seven locations. For Approach A, contributing breeders from each institution will advance their top-performing 3 lines per species from the initial SCRI-CAPS project. This will result in 21 entries + 4 commercial checks (1 per species), for a total of 25 entries established as asplit-plot design with 3 replicates. The irrigation restriction will be the whole plot treatment, while the varieties will be the split-plot treatment. For Approaches B and C, 105 entries + 8 commercial checks will be established as a RCBD with 3 replicates. In Bixby, OK, due to winter kill, only zoysiagrass and bermudagrass will be evaluated. Soil moisture sensor-based irrigation: Plots will be established in the sensor-based irrigation plots in summer 2016 and watered uniformly through establishment. Visual turf quality ratings will be conducted monthly. Soil moisture content in the turfgrass root zone as reported by the irrigation controllers will be recorded. Independent measurements of soil moisture content in the top 15 cm of soil will be taken every 15 min. These values will be used to compare trends across the tested lines and to examine their relationship with turf quality over timeSalinity evaluations: Greenhouse experiments will be conducted at Griffin, GA at salinity levels of 0, 15, 30, and 45 dS m-1 to evaluate advanced germplasm for salinity tolerance. Within each salinity level, entries will be arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications per salt level. Sod plugs (6 cm diameter x 5 cm deep) from cultivars and experimental lines within the four warm-season grass species will be washed free of soil, transplanted into 100 cm2 x 10.2 cm deep pots containing washed sand, and allowed to fully establish into pots for 60-days prior to initiating experiments. Salinity treatments will be administered to plants via sub-irrigation using synthetic sea salt (Instant Ocean Aquarium Systems, Mentor, OH) added to reverse-osmosis water. Shade Evaluations: Based on the results of the preliminary shade research during 2014 and 2015, shade structures imposing 70% shade will be utilized in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and North Carolina to evaluate the 2013, 2014, and 2015 advanced bermudagrass and seashore paspalum selections. Structures made with 90% shade cloth will be constructed to screen all advanced St. Augustine- and zoysiagrasses due to their greater tolerance of low light. Each species will be arranged separately due to varying management requirements. The experimental design of each trial will be an RCBD with four replications.Herbicide Evaluations: Plugs of each species will be established for 30 days in 10 cm x 10 cm pots. The experiment will be a RCBD with a factorial arrangement of treatments with three replicates. Treatments are two herbicide types by two rates. Herbicides will vary by their use within species, and involve one that controls weeds in the Poaceae family and another that control of dicots. The two herbicides rates will vary by herbicide product, and correspond to the labeled (1x) twice labeled (2x) rates. Treatments will be made using a spray chamber or small-plot sprayer to the foliage with 412 L ha-1 of water carrier through a flat-fan nozzle. Sod Production Evaluations: Trials will be established in 2016 as RCBDs with three replications using the advanced lines from the initial SCRI-CAPs project. During grow-in, the 1.5 x 1.5 m plots will be maintained at 5 cm with a rotary mower and fertilized based on standard industry practices. At the point of 95% cover entries will be harvested and evaluated for sod handling quality and sod strength. Multi-location Progeny Performance Assessment: Shared space plant nurseries (SSPNs) established using 5 x 5 cm plugs with two replications in a row-column design will be planted in 1.0 m2 plots and evaluated for four years. Trial data will be collected on a monthly basis for parameters such as rate of establishment (only in year 1), spread (aggressiveness), persistence (percent living cover), turf quality, density, color, texture and any natural incidence of diseases or insects or nematode infestation.Develop marker assisted breeding systems for drought and salinity tolerance: GBS library production in bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass and seashore paspalum, and RAD-Seq libraries in zoysiagrass will follow previously established protocols (Elshire et al., 2011); Wang et al. 2015; D. Saha and K.M. Devos, unpublished). Various software packages such as stacks (Catchen et al., 2013), GATK (McKenna et al., 2010), samtools and bcftools (Li et al., 2009) and custom perl scripts will be used for analysis of the GBS data and SNP identification. The SNP data will be used to construct genetic maps using JoinMap v.4 and/or a modified version of Mapmaker. To identify differentially expressed genes in response to salt stress, ten segregating lines (5 each of salt tolerant and sensitive) and 5 intermediate lines will be selected. Young leaf, rhizome, and root samples will be collected from the selected segregants before and after salt treatment (300 mM NaCl for 1 week). Total RNA will be extracted from selected tissues using Ambion RNAqueous Kit, quantified using Qubit 2.0 Fluorometer, and then used for library construction using TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation Kit (Illumina). Samples will be barcoded and every 12 RNAseq libraries will be pooled and sequenced on 1 lane of the Illumina HiSeq2500. Differential gene expression analysis will be carried out between salt tolerant and sensitive plants under control and saline conditions, and between different tissues. Develop and conduct socio-economic analytics to identify end users turf trait preferences: Conjoint choice methodology will be used to determine stakeholder demand. This technique can be used to examine potential market shares for new turf varieties by creating hypothetical markets for environmental goods and elicit responses to changes in the goods from potential users to measure the value associated with these marginal changes (Bernard et al., 2007; Bond et al., 2008; Tonsor et al., 2005). In each question, the respondent must select their preference among two hypothetical goods with a limited set of attributes that may vary by quality or quantity. With each choice, the respondent is facing a tradeoff between attribute levels, and will select the bundle that maximizes their utility. As respondents make their choices between bundles, the utility associated with changes in the levels of specific attributes can be specified using generally-accepted statistical techniques. We propose conducting a survey among two distinct groups: homeowners and sod producers. Both computerized and on-site surveys will be employed (Dillman, 2002). Produce extension-outreach programs to promote newly developed cultivars and inform end-users of environmental and economic impacts: Demonstration landscapes will be installed within each state by partnering the universities extension specialist with industry and government agencies. Examples of this approach are Florida planned communities that have restrictive covenants for landscaping requirements to utilize Florida-Friendly landscapes. Demonstrations will have detailed signage on BMPs, water consumption, pest and weed management, and illustrate economic savings in comparison with standard turfgrasses utilized in the region. Similar demonstration landscapes will be installed in other states in conjunction with their extension programs modeling the FFL program with an emphasis on signage and education of end-users.

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for these research efforts included other turfgrass scientists, county extension agents, master gardeners,homeowners, landscape managers, golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, municipalities, city managers, water management districts, state departments of agriculture and state environmental protection services. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Attendance by severalbyPIs, Co-PIs, post-docsand graduate students atacademic conferences including annual meetings of AAEA, ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Golf Course Superintendent Association of America and statewide turfgrass assiation meetings and conferences. Student Development: University of Florida: Jamie Buhlman was awarded a Florida Turfgrass Association Scholarship. Katie Cox wasawarded the Chris Stiegler Turfgrass Science Travel Award (C-5 division of CSSA).Jamie Buhlman won first place in the Graduate Student Poster competition, Genetics and Breeding, Division C05, ASA-CSSA North Carolina State University: International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. International student interns were Caroline Excalona and Oxcar Vargas. Graduate students were Sydney Graham, Jessica Brownand Greta Rockstad. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts, scientific conference presentations and papers, University Extension guides, factsheets, bulletins, and current reports, turfgrass and landscape industry trade and magazine articles, television segments onOklahoma Gardeningand local news channels, two University turfgrass program websites, newspaper articles, 10 county Master Gardener training sessions, Horticultural tips articles, and various workshops, field days, classes, presentations and 243 one-on-one consultations with professional turfgrass managers and 47 home consumers. Persistence and survival of turfgrass under long-term drought and new turfgrass varieties from Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day, Dallas, TX. October 10 (150 in attendance). Chandra and R. Hejl. 2019. Evaluation of elite warm-season turfgrass lines under various stages of water restrictions. Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Day. College Station, TX. Oct. 9. Schwartz, B. 2018. Developing New Grasses for Sports Fields. Texas Sports Turf Managers Association Fall Seminars. November 6th. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (98 attending). Schwartz, B. 2018. If the Grass is Greener on the Other Side, It May Have Been Developed In Tifton. GGCSA Assistants Golf Course Superintendents Seminar. November 5th. Valdosta, GA (55 attending). Schwartz, B. 2018. Developing New Turfgrasses For Golf Courses. 26th Annual Spring Turfgrass Symposium - Everglades Golf Course Superintendents Association. April 12th. Naples, FL (137 attending). Schwartz, B. 2018. Bladerunner Farms Learning Tour: Zoysia & the Future of Golf - Fewer Inputs from Tee-to-Green. Golf Industry Show - Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Education Conference. February 6th. San Antonio, TX (134 attending). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. Urban/Rural Youth Exchange Turf Tour. June 5th. Tifton, GA (24 10th-12th Graders + 6 Teachers). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. United States Golf Association Green Section Turf Tour. May 8th. Tifton, GA (Cole Thompson and Matt Patalona). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. UGA Director of Federal Relations Turf Tour. May 2nd. Tifton, GA (Carly McCallie and Rachel Santos). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. CHUBU Corporation Turf Tour. April 16th. Tifton, GA (7 attending). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. TifTuf Winter Production Guidelines. Lawn Solutions Australia Turf Tour. February 21st. Tifton, GA (10 attending). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. New Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Hybrids for Putting Greens. Pike Creek Turf Field Tour. January 31st. Tifton, GA (5 attending). Kenworthy, K. 2019. UF Turfgrass Breeding. FFSP Fall Board Meeting, Nov. 14, Citra, FL Kenworthy, K., 2019. Breeding Better Grasses for the Future. Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents Association, Fall Symposium, September 26, Delray Beach, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. FTGA CitraBlue update. Florida Turfgrass Association Annual Conference and Show. August 13, Orlando, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. UF Turfgrass Breeding Program: Relationships and End Users. Shared Service Center. July 9, Gainesville, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. New Turfgrass Cultivars. Southeast Pest Management Conference. May 9, Gainesville, FL. Kenworthy, K. 2019. Turfgrass Breeding Efforts at the University of Florida. Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference, April 25, Tifton, Georgia. Kenworthy, K. 2019. CitraBlue™ St. Augustinegrass. FFSP Annual Meeting, April 24, Citra, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. Turfgrass species/cultivars grown in Florida. Evidenced based zoysiagrass workshop. April 24, Jacksonville, FL; May 23, Ocala, FL; July 17, Jensen Beach, FL; and July 18, Miami, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. Turfgrass cultivars that require less irrigation, coming soon to a sod grower near you. CLCE Landscape Summit. April 9, Gainesville, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. FGCSA supported research: improved zoysiagrass and bermudagrass for Florida golf courses. CFGCSA Stuart Leventhal Turfgrass Research Meeting, January 7. Kenworthy, K. 2019. UF turfgrass breeding program: meeting the needs of end-users. UF-Plant Science Symposium, January 2019, Gainesville, FL. Milla-Lewis S.R. Integrating Classical and Genomic Approaches for Turfgrass Improvement in North Carolina. Institute for Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia (Athens, GA) November 21st, 2019. Milla-Lewis S.R. Developing more Resilient Grasses for North Carolina. Freedom Lawns USA Workshop, Surf City, NC, September 26th, 2019. Milla-Lewis S.R. Making the Grass Greener in North Carolina. 73rd Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference, Tifton, GA, April 25th, 2019. Milla-Lewis, S.R. Improved Stress Tolerance for NC Grasses. Green Industry Meeting. Rockingham County Agricultural Center, Reidsville, NC, February 16th, 2019. Milla-Lewis, S.R. Breeder's Update. N.C. Sod Producers Assoc. Winter Conf., Greensboro, NC, January 16th, 2019. Miller, G.L. Future Grass Selections for NC. NC Sod Producers Winter Conf. Greensboro, NC, 16 January 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selections for NC Landscapes. Green and Grown Landscape Conference. Greensboro, NC, 16 January 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selection for NC Landscapes. Mecklenburg and Union Counties Landscape Meeting. Monroe, NC. 23 January 2019. Miller, G.L. Managing Turfgrasses for Pests, Drought, and Changing Markets. New Hanover County Regional Turfgrass Conference. Wilmington, NC. 6 February 2019. Miller, G.L. Managing Turfgrasses for Pests, Drought, and Changing Markets. Johnston and Wake County Regional Turfgrass Conference. Smithfield, NC. 13 February 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selection for NC. NCSU Short Course. Raleigh, NC 26 February 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selection and Management considering Drought, Shade, and Weeds. Landscape Meeting. Henderson, NC. 5 April 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrasses for NC. Master Gardener Training. Durham, NC. 18 April 2019. Miller, G.L. New Turfgrass Developments for NC Producers. Congressional Staffer's Meeting. Raleigh, NC 26 August 2019. Sandhills Research Station Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass chinch bug screening work Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass chinch bug screening work Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on QTL mapping for drought tolerance work Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass breeding program Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass large patch screening work Lake Wheeler Field Day on new germplasm testing for adaptation to NC What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. The CAPS team met twice during the final reporting period (Nov. 2018 and Nov. 2019). Representatives from our industry advisory panel were in attendance at each meeting. Objective 2. Data was collected for Approach A trials from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University and University of Florida. • Data was collected for Approach B from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Georgia. • Data for Approach C was collect from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, University of Florida and North Carolina State University. •Data for Shade trials were collected from North Carolina State University, the University of Florida, Oklahoma State University and the University of Georgia. • Data for herbicide trials were collected from Texas A&M University,the University of Florida and North Carolina State University. An errosive flood event prevented data collection from Oklahoma State Univesity. • Data for sod strength were collected from Texas A&M University,the University of Florida and North Carolina State University. Due to an errosive flood at Oklahoma State University data for sod strength will be collected in 2020, post the granting period. • Salinity trials werecompleted at the Univesity of Georgia. Objective 3: SSPN trials of seashore paspalum, bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass were completed. All locations provided data for each species under drought stress. The seashore paspalum and St. Augustinegrass trials at Oklahoma State University were destroyed by a flood during spring 2019. All breeding programs developed new germplasm and began their own evaluations to prepare for future exchanges with other cooperators. Objective 4: Oklahoma State University constructed a first-generation selfed population (N = 130) derived from a tetraploid bermudagrass 'A12359' using genotyping-by-sequencing. A high-density genetic map comprising 3,322 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 222 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was developed to include 18 linkage groups (LGs), spanning 1,467.3 cM with an averaged interval of 0.41 cM between two neighboring markers. Texas A&M Dallasdeveloped a protocol to isolate bicellular salt glands from epidermis of zoysiagrass. Differential gene expression analysis of salt gland and mesophyll cells under both control and salt stress conditions were performed. Major genes and regulatory network controlling salt response in zoysiagrass were identified. Such information will be utilized in future for functional characterization and facilitate molecular breeding. North Carolina State Universitydeveloped a high-density genetic map for St. Augustinegrass containing about 3000 markers using 'Raleigh' x 'Seville' pseudo-F2 population. For drought tolerance, QTL analysis identified a total of 70 QTL for these traits in different environments. Overlapping genomic regions were found on linkage group R1, R5, R6, R7 and S2. Based on drought evaluations, contrasting parental lines were selected to generate a new mapping population, which could be used to validate identified QTL. Objective 5: Oklahoma State University completed a survey from 1,500 homeowners in southern states to estimate WTPs of turfgrass attributes by demographic (e.g., age, gender, income, education), experience (e.g., lawn damage due to long-term cold winter, severe shade problem), risk attitude, and neighborhood identity. Currently, the economic analysis is in progress and is expected to be completed by August, 2020. Objective 6: Videos and websites have been created for TamStar and CitraBlue St. Augustinegrass and TifTuf and Tahoma 31 bermudagrass advocating for their use to reduce water use in turfgrass. These grasses are frequently mentioned on social media by marketing companies, sod producers and turf managers. Extension-outreach programs were developed for field days and other extension/consumer programs.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Cox, Kg. J. Erickson, E .F. Rios, J. B. Unruh and K. E. Kenworthy. 2018. Polyethylene Glycol Effects on Zoysiagrass Root Growth in a Hydroponic System. Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). Baltimore, MD. November, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pirtle, T., J. Erickson, K. E. Kenworthy, J. B. Unruh, J. Kruse, B. Cardenas-Lailhacar, and M. Dukes. 2018. Evaluation of Warm-Season Turfgrass Species Under Differing Irrigation Regimes. Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). Baltimore, MD. November, 2018.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: https://floridaturf.com/2018/11/17/introducing-citrablue-st-augustine/
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Across and Within-Species Genotype-by-Environment Interaction for Turf Quality Using Germplasm From Five Turfgrass Breeding Programs in the Southeastern United States. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Division C05: Poster Session. November 2019, San Antonio, TX, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Paudel, D., et al., and E. Rios. Multi-Environment Evaluation of Turfgrass Species for Turf Quality in Drought. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Division C05: Poster Session. November 2019, San Antonio, TX, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Influence of Germplasm Sources for Turf Quality in Multi-Environment Trials Across the Southeastern United States. X Brazilian Plant Breeding Congress, July 2019, Aguas de Lindoia, Sau Paulo, Brazil.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Genotype � Environment Interaction for Turf Quality Under Drought Conditions in Bermudagrass. III Plant Science Symposium, University of Florida, January 22nd 2019, Gainesville, FL, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Genotype-by-Environment Analysis for Turf quality in Bermudagrass. I International Forage and Turf Breeding Conference. March 24-27 2019, Orlando, FL, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Yu, X., Kimball, J.A., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. High-density genetic maps of St. Augustinegrass and applications to comparative genomic analysis and QTL mapping of turf quality traits. Proc. Amer. Soc. Agron. Intl. Ann. Mtg., Baltimore, MD. Nov 4-8, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Yu, X. and Milla-Lewis, S.R. Elucidating the genetic control of drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. NCSU Annual Turf Research Symposium. Raleigh, NC. Dec 6, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Graham, S.E., Kimball, J.A., Yu, X., Tuong, T.D., Zheng, Y., Livingston, D.P., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2019. Validation of QTL associated with freeze tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. Intl. Forage & Turf Breeding Conf. Orlando, FL. Mar 24-27.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pinnix, G.D., and G.L. Miller. 2018. Turfgrass water consumption under varying moisture availability. ASA, CSSA, and SSA International Annual Meetings. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 113327.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, X. and Milla-Lewis, S.R. Detection of quantitative trait loci associated with drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. Intl. Forage & Turf Breeding Conf. Orlando, FL. Mar 24-27, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, X., Mulkey, S.E., Zuleta, M.C., Arellano, C., Ma, B., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. QTL mapping of resistance to gray leaf spot in St. Augustinegrass. Proc. Amer. Soc. Agron. Intl. Ann. Mtg., San Antonio, TX. Nov 10-13, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Van der Laat, R., Dale, A.G., Arellano, and Milla-Lewis, S.R. Screening Augustinegrass germplasm for chinch bug resistance. Proc. Amer. Soc. Agron. Intl. Ann. Mtg., San Antonio, TX. Nov 10-13, 2019.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Carbajal, E.M., Zuleta, M.C., Schwartz, B.M., Chavarro, M.C., Ballen-Taborda, A.C., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2019. Development of colchicine-induced tetraploid St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) lines. Plant Breed. 00: 1-9; DOI: 10.1111/pbr.12742
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pinnix, G.D. and G.L. Miller 2019. Crop coefficients for tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass in the transition zone. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Manage. doi:10.2134/cftm2019.02.0013
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pinnix, G.D. and G.L. Miller. 2019. Comparing evapotranspiration rates of tall fescue and bermudagrass in North Carolina. Agric. Water Manage. Vol. 223. 20 August. doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105725
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, X., Kimball, J.A., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2018. High density genetic maps of St. Augustinegrass and Applications to Comparative Genomic Analysis and QTL Mapping for Turf Quality Traits. BMC Plant Bio. 18:346.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu X, Brown JM, Graham SE, Carbajal EM, Zuleta MC, Milla-Lewis SR. 2019. Detection of quantitative trait loci associated with drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. PLoS ONE. 14(10): e0224620.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Miller, G.L. 2018. What are you looking for? SportsTurf. 34(9):50.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Miller, G.L. 2019. Sod Producers Report for North Carolina. AG-809. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/sod-producers-report-for-north-carolina
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ely, A. and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Evaluation of drought stress on putting green bermudagrasses. Southern Region of the American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Meetings, Birmingham, AL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C. 2018. Managing turfgrass in the shade. OTRF Conference. Owasso, OK. Nov 27-28.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C. 2019. How much shade is too much shade? Arkansas Turfgrass Association Conference, Hot Springs, AR. Jan 10-11, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C. 2019. Research Update on Shade Variety Trials. OTRF Conference. Owasso, OK. Nov 19-20.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Godwin, C., Y.Q. Wu, and T.L. Fang. 2019. Genetic identity and diversity among experimental and commercial cultivars of vegetatively propagated turf bermudagrass as assessed with SSR markers. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. November 10-13, San Antonio, TX.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gopinath, L., J.Q. Moss, and Y. Wu. 2019. Screening bermudagrass for freeze tolerance under controlled environment conditions. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gopinath, L., J.Q. Moss, and Y. Wu. 2019. Bermudagrass drought tolerance vs avoidance. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Moss, J.Q., A. Ely, and Y. Wu. 2019. Drought response of seven common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] selections. Southern Region of the American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Meetings, Birmingham, AL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Reid, C., Y.Q. Wu, C.H. Fontanier. 2019. Molecular genetic variability of bermudagrass collected in the transitional and northern US. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. November 10-13, San Antonio, TX.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schnelle, M., S. Mitchell, C. Goad, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Hunger and horticulture in the United States. American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q., D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, C.H. Fontanier, N. Walker, A. Chandra, B. Wherley, K.E. Kenworthy, J.B. Unruh, P.R. Munoz, B.M. Schwartz, P.L. Raymer, F.C. Waltz Jr., S.R Milla-Lewis, and G.L. Miller. 2019. Tahoma 31 bermudagrass: a new cold hardy, drought resistant and traffic tolerant turf cultivar. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q. 2019. Oklahoma State University turfgrass breeding program and cultivars update. 74th Annual Oklahoma Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show. Owasso, OK, November 19.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q. 2019. Update on the turfgrass breeding efforts at Oklahoma State University. Oklahoma Turfgrass Field Day, Sept. 25, OSU Botanic Garden.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., E.F. Rios, J.A. Rodrigues Nunes, S. Gezan, P.R. Munoz, K.E. Kenworthy, J.B. Unruh, S.R. Milla-Lewis, G.L. Miller, B.M. Schwartz, P.L. Raymer, A. Chandra, B. Wherley, Y. Wu, D.L. Martin, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Across and within species genotype by environment interaction for turf quality using germplasm from five turfgrass breeding programs in the Southeastern United States. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q. 2019. Tahoma 31 bermudagrass: Drought resistance, cold hardiness, early spring green up, traffic tolerance, and high turf quality. Sports Turf Managers Association Conference, Phoenix, AZ, Jan. 25.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, S., Y. Wu, L. Yan, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, C.H. Fontanier, T. Feng, and H. Dong. 2019. Genetic and QTL mapping in an African bermudagrass population. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, S., Y. Wu, L. Yan, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, and C.H. Fontanier. 2019. Genetic variability of spring greenup and drought response in interspecific hybrid bermudagrass selections. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, S., Y. Wu, L. Yan, D. Martin, J.Q. Moss, C. Fontanier, T. Fang, and H. Dong. 2019. High density genetic linkage and QTL mapping in African bermudagrass. Oklahoma State University, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Student Research Symposium Poster Session.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J., B. Schwartz, K.E. Kenworthy, Y.Q. Wu, A. Chandra, S. Milla-Lewis, and P.L. Raymer. 2019. Application of unmanned aerial systems based imagery and data analytics in turfgrass field trials. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. November 10-13, San Antonio, TX.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C., C. Hentges, L. Brandenberger, B. Dunn, N. Maness, S. Mitchell, J.Q. Moss, and L. Zhang. 2019. REEU programs provide hands-on horticulture science opportunities. Crop Science 59:1-8. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2019.05.0351.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C., M. Chhetri, K. Koh., Y. Wu, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Turf performance of seeded and clonal bermudagrasses under varying light environments. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 43 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.05.017.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ghimire, Monika, Tracy Boyer, and Chanjin Chung. Heterogeneity in Preferences for Turfgrass Attributes: A Latent Class Model Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 38 (2019).
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Beyki, S. 2019. Mapping water stress on bermudagrass golf course fairways using thermal remote sensing. MS Thesis. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ge, Candi. (1) Effects of Consumers Visual Attention in Choice Experiments: A Case Study on Valuing Turfgrass Attributes; (2) Sod producers preferences for turfgrass attributes using a discrete choice experiment and eye-tracking technology, Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma State University, 2019.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2020 Citation: Willett, D.S., Filgueiras, C.C., Benda, N.D., Zhang, J. And K. Kenworthy. 2020. Sting nematodes modify metabolomic profiles of host plants. Scientific Reports (in revision).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Liu, G.S., Zhang, J., Yu, X.W., Feng, G. Y. and Linqing Yu. 2019. New trends in international forage and turfgrass breeding. Journal of Grassland annd Forage Science. 246(3): 76-80.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Moore, K., D. Hillock, C. Keck, J. Laughlin, J. Campbell, J. Ashmore, L. Anella, D. Martin, M. Schnelle, C. Hentges, S. Mitchell, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Water-efficient Landscapes for Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Publication E-1051, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Moore, K. and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Managing pressure in your home irrigation system. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet HLA-6617, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Anella, L., D. Hillock, and M. Schnelle. 2019. Oklahoma proven: plant selections for Oklahoma: 20th Anniversary. Editors: K. Moore and J.Q. Moss. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Publication E-1052.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: http://turf.okstate.edu
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: http://thinkwater.okstate.edu
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: http://SqueezeEveryDrop.com
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang J, Virk S, Porter W, Kenworthy K, Sullivan D and Schwartz B*. 2019. Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Based Imagery in Turfgrass Field Trials. Front. Plant Sci. 10:279. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00279.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. and J. Zhang. 2019. Superintendents can benefit from having an eye-in-the-sky. The Green Golf Magazine. March.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. and J. Zhang. 2019. Drone use in sod production. TPI Turf News. March/April.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J., Kenworthy, K.E., Hanna, W.W. and B.M.Schwartz. Preliminary study on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based high-throughput phenotyping of plant height in seeded centipedegrass and ornamental plants. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference. Orlando, FL. March, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kenworthy, K.E., Unruh, J.B., Flor, N., Quesenberry, K., Reith, P., Erickson, J., Harmon, P., Buhlman, J., Cox, K., Rios, E. and J. Zhang. Release of FAES1307, FAES1312, FAES1313 and FAES1319 zoysiagrass cultivars from the University of Florida. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference. Orlando, FL. March, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kenworthy, K.E., Quesenberry, K., Reith, P., Unruh, J.B., Erickson, J., Harmon, P., Buhlman, J., Cox, K., Rios, E., Zhang, J. and S. Milla-Lewis. Release of FSA1602 St. Augustinegrass from the University of Florida. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference. Orlando, FL. March, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J. The use of UAV in turfgrass breeding at UGA Tifton. Undergraduate students (Leadership and Public affairs program) campus tour from Georgia State College and University. 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J. How does drone and data science play a role in agriculture? Tifton high school administrator representatives campus tour. 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J. How can drone-assisted breeding help reduce irrigation in turfgrass. 73rd Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference. Tifton, GA. April, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Xu, Y., F. Wang, Q. Yu. 2019. Dissecting the molecular mechanism underlying salt secretion in zoysiagrass. Plant & Animal Genomes XXVII Conference, Jan. 12th  16th, 2019. San Diego, CA, USA
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Chavarria, M., B. Wherley, J. Thomas, A. Chandra and P. Raymer. 2019. Salinity Tolerance and Recovery Attributes of Warm-Season Turfgrass Cultivars. HortSci. 54(9): 1625-1631.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Chandra and R. Hejl. 2019. Evaluation of elite warm-season turfgrass lines under various stages of water restrictions. Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Day. College Station, TX. Oct. 9.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Schwartz, B.M., W.W. Hanna, L.L. Baxter, P.L. Raymer, F.C. Waltz, A.R. Kowalewski, A. Chandra, A.D. Genovesi, B.G. Wherley, , G. Miller, S.R. Milla-Lewis, W.C. Reynolds, Y.Q. Wu, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, M.P. Kenna, J.B. Unruh, K.E. Kenworthy, J. Zhang, and P.R. Munoz. 2018. DT-1, a drought-tolerant triploid turf bermudagrass. HortScience 53: 1711-1714 (DOI:10.21273/HORTSCI13083-18).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Jespersen, D. and B. Schwartz. 2018. Drought avoidance traits in a collection of zoysiagrasses. HortScience 53: 1579-1585 (DOI:10.21273/HORTSCI13427-18).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Baxter, L.L. and B.M. Schwartz. 2018. History of bermudagrass turfgrass breeding research in Tifton, GA. HortScience 53: 1560-1561 (DOI:10.21273/HORTSCI13257-18).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J., B.M. Schwartz, K.E. Kenworthy, Y. Wu, A. Chandra, S.R. Milla-Lewis and P.L. Raymer. Application of Unmanned Aerial Systems Based Imagery and Data Analysis in Turfgrass Field Trials. In ASA-CSSA-SSSA Abstracts 2019 [492-1608]. Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. and J. Zhang. 2019. Superintendents Can Benefit From Having an Eye-in-the-Sky. Through The Green Golf Magazine March/April: 28-30.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. 2019. Legacy and Industry Push the Boundaries of Turfgrass Science into the Future. Lawn Solutions Australia Annual Conference  Innovation For The Future. July 16th. Sydney, Australia (260 attending).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. 2019. The Science Behind TifTuf, Its Uses And Management Here And Abroad. Lawn Solutions Australia Annual Conference  Campbelltown Sportsground TifTuf Oval Presentation. July 15th. Sydney, Australia (125 attending).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. 2019. Whats Is In Store In The Way Of Turf Breeding For The Next 20 Years. Lawn Solutions Australia Annual Conference  Future Leaders Program. July 15th. Sydney, Australia (52 attending).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J.p, B. Poudelg, K. Kenworthy, J.B. Unruh, D. Rowland, J.E. Erickson and J. Kruse. 2019. Drought responses of above?ground and below?ground characteristics in warm?season turfgrass. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 205:1-12. DOI:10.1111/jac.12301.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Buhlman, J.g, L. Freshour, T. Pirtle, J. Erickson, and K. Kenworthy. 2019. New St. Augustinegrasses entering the Florida market. Florida Turf Digest. July/August36:5 18-24
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Cox, K.D, K.E. Kenworthy, J. Erickson, E. Rios, and J.B. Unruh. 2019. Polyethylene glycol effects on zoysiagrass root growth and leaf mass production in a hydroponic system. International Forage and Turf Breeding Conf. March 24-27, Orlando, Florida.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Cox, K.g, J. Erickson, E. F. Rios, J. B. Unruh, B. Cardenas-Lailhacar, M. Dukes and K. E. Kenworthy. 2018. Zoysiagrass Genotype Responses to Municipal Watering Restrictions. Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). Baltimore, MD. November, 2018.


Progress 09/01/15 to 12/09/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for these research efforts included other turfgrass scientists, county extension agents, master gardeners,homeowners, landscape managers, golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, municipalities, city managers, water management districts, state departments of agriculture and state environmental protection services. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Attendance by severalbyPIs, Co-PIs, post-docsand graduate students atacademic conferences including annual meetings of AAEA, ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Golf Course Superintendent Association of America and statewide turfgrass assiation meetings and conferences. Student Development: University of Florida: Jamie Buhlman was awarded a Florida Turfgrass Association Scholarship. Katie Cox wasawarded the Chris Stiegler Turfgrass Science Travel Award (C-5 division of CSSA).Jamie Buhlman won first place in the Graduate Student Poster competition, Genetics and Breeding, Division C05, ASA-CSSA North Carolina State University: International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. International student interns were Caroline Excalona and Oxcar Vargas. Graduate students were Sydney Graham, Jessica Brownand Greta Rockstad. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts, scientific conference presentations and papers, University Extension guides, factsheets, bulletins, and current reports, turfgrass and landscape industry trade and magazine articles, television segments onOklahoma Gardeningand local news channels, two University turfgrass program websites, newspaper articles, 10 county Master Gardener training sessions, Horticultural tips articles, and various workshops, field days, classes, presentations and 243 one-on-one consultations with professional turfgrass managers and 47 home consumers. Persistence and survival of turfgrass under long-term drought and new turfgrass varieties from Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day, Dallas, TX. October 10 (150 in attendance). Chandra and R. Hejl. 2019. Evaluation of elite warm-season turfgrass lines under various stages of water restrictions. Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Day. College Station, TX. Oct. 9. Schwartz, B. 2018. Developing New Grasses for Sports Fields. Texas Sports Turf Managers Association Fall Seminars. November 6th. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (98 attending). Schwartz, B. 2018. If the Grass is Greener on the Other Side, It May Have Been Developed In Tifton. GGCSA Assistants Golf Course Superintendents Seminar. November 5th. Valdosta, GA (55 attending). Schwartz, B. 2018. Developing New Turfgrasses For Golf Courses. 26th Annual Spring Turfgrass Symposium - Everglades Golf Course Superintendents Association. April 12th. Naples, FL (137 attending). Schwartz, B. 2018. Bladerunner Farms Learning Tour: Zoysia & the Future of Golf - Fewer Inputs from Tee-to-Green. Golf Industry Show - Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Education Conference. February 6th. San Antonio, TX (134 attending). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. Urban/Rural Youth Exchange Turf Tour. June 5th. Tifton, GA (24 10th-12th Graders + 6 Teachers). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. United States Golf Association Green Section Turf Tour. May 8th. Tifton, GA (Cole Thompson and Matt Patalona). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. UGA Director of Federal Relations Turf Tour. May 2nd. Tifton, GA (Carly McCallie and Rachel Santos). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus. CHUBU Corporation Turf Tour. April 16th. Tifton, GA (7 attending). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. TifTuf Winter Production Guidelines. Lawn Solutions Australia Turf Tour. February 21st. Tifton, GA (10 attending). Schwartz, B.M. 2019. New Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Hybrids for Putting Greens. Pike Creek Turf Field Tour. January 31st. Tifton, GA (5 attending). Kenworthy, K. 2019. UF Turfgrass Breeding. FFSP Fall Board Meeting, Nov. 14, Citra, FL Kenworthy, K., 2019. Breeding Better Grasses for the Future. Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents Association, Fall Symposium, September 26, Delray Beach, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. FTGA CitraBlue update. Florida Turfgrass Association Annual Conference and Show. August 13, Orlando, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. UF Turfgrass Breeding Program: Relationships and End Users. Shared Service Center. July 9, Gainesville, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. New Turfgrass Cultivars. Southeast Pest Management Conference. May 9, Gainesville, FL. Kenworthy, K. 2019. Turfgrass Breeding Efforts at the University of Florida. Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference, April 25, Tifton, Georgia. Kenworthy, K. 2019. CitraBlue™ St. Augustinegrass. FFSP Annual Meeting, April 24, Citra, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. Turfgrass species/cultivars grown in Florida. Evidenced based zoysiagrass workshop. April 24, Jacksonville, FL; May 23, Ocala, FL; July 17, Jensen Beach, FL; and July 18, Miami, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. Turfgrass cultivars that require less irrigation, coming soon to a sod grower near you. CLCE Landscape Summit. April 9, Gainesville, Florida. Kenworthy, K. 2019. FGCSA supported research: improved zoysiagrass and bermudagrass for Florida golf courses. CFGCSA Stuart Leventhal Turfgrass Research Meeting, January 7. Kenworthy, K. 2019. UF turfgrass breeding program: meeting the needs of end-users. UF-Plant Science Symposium, January 2019, Gainesville, FL. Milla-Lewis S.R. Integrating Classical and Genomic Approaches for Turfgrass Improvement in North Carolina. Institute for Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, University of Georgia (Athens, GA) November 21st, 2019. Milla-Lewis S.R. Developing more Resilient Grasses for North Carolina. Freedom Lawns USA Workshop, Surf City, NC, September 26th, 2019. Milla-Lewis S.R. Making the Grass Greener in North Carolina. 73rd Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference, Tifton, GA, April 25th, 2019. Milla-Lewis, S.R. Improved Stress Tolerance for NC Grasses. Green Industry Meeting. Rockingham County Agricultural Center, Reidsville, NC, February 16th, 2019. Milla-Lewis, S.R. Breeder's Update. N.C. Sod Producers Assoc. Winter Conf., Greensboro, NC, January 16th, 2019. Miller, G.L. Future Grass Selections for NC. NC Sod Producers Winter Conf. Greensboro, NC, 16 January 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selections for NC Landscapes. Green and Grown Landscape Conference. Greensboro, NC, 16 January 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selection for NC Landscapes. Mecklenburg and Union Counties Landscape Meeting. Monroe, NC. 23 January 2019. Miller, G.L. Managing Turfgrasses for Pests, Drought, and Changing Markets. New Hanover County Regional Turfgrass Conference. Wilmington, NC. 6 February 2019. Miller, G.L. Managing Turfgrasses for Pests, Drought, and Changing Markets. Johnston and Wake County Regional Turfgrass Conference. Smithfield, NC. 13 February 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selection for NC. NCSU Short Course. Raleigh, NC 26 February 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrass Selection and Management considering Drought, Shade, and Weeds. Landscape Meeting. Henderson, NC. 5 April 2019. Miller, G.L. Turfgrasses for NC. Master Gardener Training. Durham, NC. 18 April 2019. Miller, G.L. New Turfgrass Developments for NC Producers. Congressional Staffer's Meeting. Raleigh, NC 26 August 2019. Sandhills Research Station Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass chinch bug screening work Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass chinch bug screening work Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on QTL mapping for drought tolerance work Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass breeding program Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on St. Augustinegrass large patch screening work Lake Wheeler Field Day on new germplasm testing for adaptation to NC What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. The CAPS team met twice during the final reporting period (Nov. 2018 and Nov. 2019). Representatives from our industry advisory panel were in attendance at each meeting. Objective 2. Data was collected for Approach A trials from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University and University of Florida. • Data was collected for Approach B from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Georgia. • Data for Approach C was collect from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, University of Florida and North Carolina State University. •Data for Shade trials were collected from North Carolina State University, the University of Florida, Oklahoma State University and the University of Georgia. • Data for herbicide trials were collected from Texas A&M University,the University of Florida and North Carolina State University. An errosive flood event prevented data collection from Oklahoma State Univesity. • Data for sod strength were collected from Texas A&M University,the University of Florida and North Carolina State University. Due to an errosive flood at Oklahoma State University data for sod strength will be collected in 2020, post the granting period. • Salinity trials werecompleted at the Univesity of Georgia. Objective 3: SSPN trials of seashore paspalum, bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass were completed. All locations provided data for each species under drought stress. The seashore paspalum and St. Augustinegrass trials at Oklahoma State University were destroyed by a flood during spring 2019. All breeding programs developed new germplasm and began their own evaluations to prepare for future exchanges with other cooperators. Objective 4: Oklahoma State University constructed a first-generation selfed population (N = 130) derived from a tetraploid bermudagrass 'A12359' using genotyping-by-sequencing. A high-density genetic map comprising 3,322 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 222 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was developed to include 18 linkage groups (LGs), spanning 1,467.3 cM with an averaged interval of 0.41 cM between two neighboring markers. Texas A&M Dallasdeveloped a protocol to isolate bicellular salt glands from epidermis of zoysiagrass. Differential gene expression analysis of salt gland and mesophyll cells under both control and salt stress conditions were performed. Major genes and regulatory network controlling salt response in zoysiagrass were identified. Such information will be utilized in future for functional characterization and facilitate molecular breeding. North Carolina State Universitydeveloped a high-density genetic map for St. Augustinegrass containing about 3000 markers using 'Raleigh' x 'Seville' pseudo-F2 population. For drought tolerance, QTL analysis identified a total of 70 QTL for these traits in different environments. Overlapping genomic regions were found on linkage group R1, R5, R6, R7 and S2. Based on drought evaluations, contrasting parental lines were selected to generate a new mapping population, which could be used to validate identified QTL. Objective 5: Oklahoma State University completed a survey from 1,500 homeowners in southern states to estimate WTPs of turfgrass attributes by demographic (e.g., age, gender, income, education), experience (e.g., lawn damage due to long-term cold winter, severe shade problem), risk attitude, and neighborhood identity. Currently, the economic analysis is in progress and is expected to be completed by August, 2020. Objective 6: Videos and websites have been created for TamStar and CitraBlue St. Augustinegrass and TifTuf and Tahoma 31 bermudagrass advocating for their use to reduce water use in turfgrass. These grasses are frequently mentioned on social media by marketing companies, sod producers and turf managers. Extension-outreach programs were developed for field days and other extension/consumer programs.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ely, A. and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Evaluation of drought stress on putting green bermudagrasses. Southern Region of the American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Meetings, Birmingham, AL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C. 2018. Managing turfgrass in the shade. OTRF Conference. Owasso, OK. Nov 27-28.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C. 2019. How much shade is too much shade? Arkansas Turfgrass Association Conference, Hot Springs, AR. Jan 10-11, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C. 2019. Research Update on Shade Variety Trials. OTRF Conference. Owasso, OK. Nov 19-20.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Godwin, C., Y.Q. Wu, and T.L. Fang. 2019. Genetic identity and diversity among experimental and commercial cultivars of vegetatively propagated turf bermudagrass as assessed with SSR markers. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. November 10-13, San Antonio, TX.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gopinath, L., J.Q. Moss, and Y. Wu. 2019. Screening bermudagrass for freeze tolerance under controlled environment conditions. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gopinath, L., J.Q. Moss, and Y. Wu. 2019. Bermudagrass drought tolerance vs avoidance. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., E.F. Rios, J.A. Rodrigues Nunes, S. Gezan, P.R. Munoz, K.E. Kenworthy, J.B. Unruh, S.R. Milla-Lewis, G.L. Miller, B.M. Schwartz, P.L. Raymer, A. Chandra, B. Wherley, Y. Wu, D.L. Martin, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Across and within species genotype by environment interaction for turf quality using germplasm from five turfgrass breeding programs in the Southeastern United States. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Moss, J.Q., A. Ely, and Y. Wu. 2019. Drought response of seven common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] selections. Southern Region of the American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Meetings, Birmingham, AL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Reid, C., Y.Q. Wu, C.H. Fontanier. 2019. Molecular genetic variability of bermudagrass collected in the transitional and northern US. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. November 10-13, San Antonio, TX.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schnelle, M., S. Mitchell, C. Goad, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Hunger and horticulture in the United States. American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q., D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, C.H. Fontanier, N. Walker, A. Chandra, B. Wherley, K.E. Kenworthy, J.B. Unruh, P.R. Munoz, B.M. Schwartz, P.L. Raymer, F.C. Waltz Jr., S.R Milla-Lewis, and G.L. Miller. 2019. Tahoma 31 bermudagrass: a new cold hardy, drought resistant and traffic tolerant turf cultivar. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q. 2019. Oklahoma State University turfgrass breeding program and cultivars update. 74th Annual Oklahoma Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show. Owasso, OK, November 19.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q. 2019. Update on the turfgrass breeding efforts at Oklahoma State University. Oklahoma Turfgrass Field Day, Sept. 25, OSU Botanic Garden.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wu, Y.Q. 2019. Tahoma 31 bermudagrass: Drought resistance, cold hardiness, early spring green up, traffic tolerance, and high turf quality. Sports Turf Managers Association Conference, Phoenix, AZ, Jan. 25.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J., B. Schwartz, K.E. Kenworthy, Y.Q. Wu, A. Chandra, S. Milla-Lewis, and P.L. Raymer. 2019. Application of unmanned aerial systems based imagery and data analytics in turfgrass field trials. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. November 10-13, San Antonio, TX.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C., C. Hentges, L. Brandenberger, B. Dunn, N. Maness, S. Mitchell, J.Q. Moss, and L. Zhang. 2019. REEU programs provide hands-on horticulture science opportunities. Crop Science 59:1-8. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2019.05.0351.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fontanier, C., M. Chhetri, K. Koh., Y. Wu, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Turf performance of seeded and clonal bermudagrasses under varying light environments. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 43 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.05.017.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ghimire, Monika, Tracy Boyer, and Chanjin Chung. Heterogeneity in Preferences for Turfgrass Attributes: A Latent Class Model Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 38 (2019).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Moore, K., D. Hillock, C. Keck, J. Laughlin, J. Campbell, J. Ashmore, L. Anella, D. Martin, M. Schnelle, C. Hentges, S. Mitchell, and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Water-efficient Landscapes for Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Publication E-1051, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Moore, K. and J.Q. Moss. 2019. Managing pressure in your home irrigation system. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet HLA-6617, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Anella, L., D. Hillock, and M. Schnelle. 2019. Oklahoma proven: plant selections for Oklahoma: 20th Anniversary. Editors: K. Moore and J.Q. Moss. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Publication E-1052.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, S., Y. Wu, L. Yan, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, C.H. Fontanier, T. Feng, and H. Dong. 2019. Genetic and QTL mapping in an African bermudagrass population. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: http://turf.okstate.edu
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: http://thinkwater.okstate.edu
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, S., Y. Wu, L. Yan, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, and C.H. Fontanier. 2019. Genetic variability of spring greenup and drought response in interspecific hybrid bermudagrass selections. In 2019 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, S., Y. Wu, L. Yan, D. Martin, J.Q. Moss, C. Fontanier, T. Fang, and H. Dong. 2019. High density genetic linkage and QTL mapping in African bermudagrass. Oklahoma State University, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Student Research Symposium Poster Session.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: http://SqueezeEveryDrop.com
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Beyki, S. 2019. Mapping water stress on bermudagrass golf course fairways using thermal remote sensing. MS Thesis. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Ge, Candi. (1) Effects of Consumers Visual Attention in Choice Experiments: A Case Study on Valuing Turfgrass Attributes; (2) Sod producers preferences for turfgrass attributes using a discrete choice experiment and eye-tracking technology, Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma State University, 2019.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2020 Citation: Willett, D.S., Filgueiras, C.C., Benda, N.D., Zhang, J. And K. Kenworthy. 2020. Sting nematodes modify metabolomic profiles of host plants. Scientific Reports (in revision).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Liu, G.S., Zhang, J., Yu, X.W., Feng, G. Y. and Linqing Yu. 2019. New trends in international forage and turfgrass breeding. Journal of Grassland annd Forage Science. 246(3): 76-80.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang J, Virk S, Porter W, Kenworthy K, Sullivan D and Schwartz B*. 2019. Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Based Imagery in Turfgrass Field Trials. Front. Plant Sci. 10:279. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00279.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. and J. Zhang. 2019. Superintendents can benefit from having an eye-in-the-sky. The Green Golf Magazine. March.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. and J. Zhang. 2019. Drone use in sod production. TPI Turf News. March/April.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J., Kenworthy, K.E., Hanna, W.W. and B.M.Schwartz. Preliminary study on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based high-throughput phenotyping of plant height in seeded centipedegrass and ornamental plants. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference. Orlando, FL. March, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kenworthy, K.E., Unruh, J.B., Flor, N., Quesenberry, K., Reith, P., Erickson, J., Harmon, P., Buhlman, J., Cox, K., Rios, E. and J. Zhang. Release of FAES1307, FAES1312, FAES1313 and FAES1319 zoysiagrass cultivars from the University of Florida. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference. Orlando, FL. March, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kenworthy, K.E., Quesenberry, K., Reith, P., Unruh, J.B., Erickson, J., Harmon, P., Buhlman, J., Cox, K., Rios, E., Zhang, J. and S. Milla-Lewis. Release of FSA1602 St. Augustinegrass from the University of Florida. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference. Orlando, FL. March, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J. The use of UAV in turfgrass breeding at UGA Tifton. Undergraduate students (Leadership and Public affairs program) campus tour from Georgia State College and University. 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J. How does drone and data science play a role in agriculture? Tifton high school administrator representatives campus tour. 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J. How can drone-assisted breeding help reduce irrigation in turfgrass. 73rd Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference. Tifton, GA. April, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Xu, Y., F. Wang, Q. Yu. 2019. Dissecting the molecular mechanism underlying salt secretion in zoysiagrass. Plant & Animal Genomes XXVII Conference, Jan. 12th  16th, 2019. San Diego, CA, USA
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Chavarria, M., B. Wherley, J. Thomas, A. Chandra and P. Raymer. 2019. Salinity Tolerance and Recovery Attributes of Warm-Season Turfgrass Cultivars. HortSci. 54(9): 1625-1631.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Chandra and R. Hejl. 2019. Evaluation of elite warm-season turfgrass lines under various stages of water restrictions. Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Day. College Station, TX. Oct. 9.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Schwartz, B.M., W.W. Hanna, L.L. Baxter, P.L. Raymer, F.C. Waltz, A.R. Kowalewski, A. Chandra, A.D. Genovesi, B.G. Wherley, , G. Miller, S.R. Milla-Lewis, W.C. Reynolds, Y.Q. Wu, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, M.P. Kenna, J.B. Unruh, K.E. Kenworthy, J. Zhang, and P.R. Munoz. 2018. DT-1, a drought-tolerant triploid turf bermudagrass. HortScience 53: 1711-1714 (DOI:10.21273/HORTSCI13083-18).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Jespersen, D. and B. Schwartz. 2018. Drought avoidance traits in a collection of zoysiagrasses. HortScience 53: 1579-1585 (DOI:10.21273/HORTSCI13427-18).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Baxter, L.L. and B.M. Schwartz. 2018. History of bermudagrass turfgrass breeding research in Tifton, GA. HortScience 53: 1560-1561 (DOI:10.21273/HORTSCI13257-18).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J., B.M. Schwartz, K.E. Kenworthy, Y. Wu, A. Chandra, S.R. Milla-Lewis and P.L. Raymer. Application of Unmanned Aerial Systems Based Imagery and Data Analysis in Turfgrass Field Trials. In ASA-CSSA-SSSA Abstracts 2019 [492-1608]. Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. and J. Zhang. 2019. Superintendents Can Benefit From Having an Eye-in-the-Sky. Through The Green Golf Magazine March/April: 28-30.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. 2019. Legacy and Industry Push the Boundaries of Turfgrass Science into the Future. Lawn Solutions Australia Annual Conference  Innovation For The Future. July 16th. Sydney, Australia (260 attending).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. 2019. The Science Behind TifTuf, Its Uses And Management Here And Abroad. Lawn Solutions Australia Annual Conference  Campbelltown Sportsground TifTuf Oval Presentation. July 15th. Sydney, Australia (125 attending).
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Schwartz, B. 2019. Whats Is In Store In The Way Of Turf Breeding For The Next 20 Years. Lawn Solutions Australia Annual Conference  Future Leaders Program. July 15th. Sydney, Australia (52 attending).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Zhang, J.p, B. Poudelg, K. Kenworthy, J.B. Unruh, D. Rowland, J.E. Erickson and J. Kruse. 2019. Drought responses of above?ground and below?ground characteristics in warm?season turfgrass. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 205:1-12. DOI:10.1111/jac.12301.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Buhlman, J.g, L. Freshour, T. Pirtle, J. Erickson, and K. Kenworthy. 2019. New St. Augustinegrasses entering the Florida market. Florida Turf Digest. July/August36:5 18-24
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Cox, K.D, K.E. Kenworthy, J. Erickson, E. Rios, and J.B. Unruh. 2019. Polyethylene glycol effects on zoysiagrass root growth and leaf mass production in a hydroponic system. International Forage and Turf Breeding Conf. March 24-27, Orlando, Florida.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Cox, K.g, J. Erickson, E. F. Rios, J. B. Unruh, B. Cardenas-Lailhacar, M. Dukes and K. E. Kenworthy. 2018. Zoysiagrass Genotype Responses to Municipal Watering Restrictions. Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). Baltimore, MD. November, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Cox, Kg. J. Erickson, E .F. Rios, J. B. Unruh and K. E. Kenworthy. 2018. Polyethylene Glycol Effects on Zoysiagrass Root Growth in a Hydroponic System. Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). Baltimore, MD. November, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pirtle, T., J. Erickson, K. E. Kenworthy, J. B. Unruh, J. Kruse, B. Cardenas-Lailhacar, and M. Dukes. 2018. Evaluation of Warm-Season Turfgrass Species Under Differing Irrigation Regimes. Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). Baltimore, MD. November, 2018.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: https://floridaturf.com/2018/11/17/introducing-citrablue-st-augustine/
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Across and Within-Species Genotype-by-Environment Interaction for Turf Quality Using Germplasm From Five Turfgrass Breeding Programs in the Southeastern United States. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Division C05: Poster Session. November 2019, San Antonio, TX, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Paudel, D., et al., and E. Rios. Multi-Environment Evaluation of Turfgrass Species for Turf Quality in Drought. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Division C05: Poster Session. November 2019, San Antonio, TX, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Influence of Germplasm Sources for Turf Quality in Multi-Environment Trials Across the Southeastern United States. X Brazilian Plant Breeding Congress, July 2019, Aguas de Lindoia, Sau Paulo, Brazil.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Genotype � Environment Interaction for Turf Quality Under Drought Conditions in Bermudagrass. III Plant Science Symposium, University of Florida, January 22nd 2019, Gainesville, FL, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gouveia, B., et al., and E. Rios. Genotype-by-Environment Analysis for Turf quality in Bermudagrass. I International Forage and Turf Breeding Conference. March 24-27 2019, Orlando, FL, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Yu, X., Kimball, J.A., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. High-density genetic maps of St. Augustinegrass and applications to comparative genomic analysis and QTL mapping of turf quality traits. Proc. Amer. Soc. Agron. Intl. Ann. Mtg., Baltimore, MD. Nov 4-8, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Yu, X. and Milla-Lewis, S.R. Elucidating the genetic control of drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. NCSU Annual Turf Research Symposium. Raleigh, NC. Dec 6, 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Van der Laat, R., Dale, A.G., Arellano, and Milla-Lewis, S.R. Screening Augustinegrass germplasm for chinch bug resistance. Proc. Amer. Soc. Agron. Intl. Ann. Mtg., San Antonio, TX. Nov 10-13, 2019.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Carbajal, E.M., Zuleta, M.C., Schwartz, B.M., Chavarro, M.C., Ballen-Taborda, A.C., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2019. Development of colchicine-induced tetraploid St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) lines. Plant Breed. 00: 1-9; DOI: 10.1111/pbr.12742
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pinnix, G.D. and G.L. Miller 2019. Crop coefficients for tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass in the transition zone. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Manage. doi:10.2134/cftm2019.02.0013
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Graham, S.E., Kimball, J.A., Yu, X., Tuong, T.D., Zheng, Y., Livingston, D.P., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2019. Validation of QTL associated with freeze tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. Intl. Forage & Turf Breeding Conf. Orlando, FL. Mar 24-27.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pinnix, G.D., and G.L. Miller. 2018. Turfgrass water consumption under varying moisture availability. ASA, CSSA, and SSA International Annual Meetings. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 113327.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, X. and Milla-Lewis, S.R. Detection of quantitative trait loci associated with drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. Intl. Forage & Turf Breeding Conf. Orlando, FL. Mar 24-27, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, X., Mulkey, S.E., Zuleta, M.C., Arellano, C., Ma, B., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. QTL mapping of resistance to gray leaf spot in St. Augustinegrass. Proc. Amer. Soc. Agron. Intl. Ann. Mtg., San Antonio, TX. Nov 10-13, 2019.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pinnix, G.D. and G.L. Miller. 2019. Comparing evapotranspiration rates of tall fescue and bermudagrass in North Carolina. Agric. Water Manage. Vol. 223. 20 August. doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105725
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu, X., Kimball, J.A., and Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2018. High density genetic maps of St. Augustinegrass and Applications to Comparative Genomic Analysis and QTL Mapping for Turf Quality Traits. BMC Plant Bio. 18:346.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Yu X, Brown JM, Graham SE, Carbajal EM, Zuleta MC, Milla-Lewis SR. 2019. Detection of quantitative trait loci associated with drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. PLoS ONE. 14(10): e0224620.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Miller, G.L. 2018. What are you looking for? SportsTurf. 34(9):50.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Miller, G.L. 2019. Sod Producers Report for North Carolina. AG-809. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/sod-producers-report-for-north-carolina


Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Audiences communicated with include: municipal administrators, water management district personnel, sod producers, lawn maintenance professionals, landscape architects, golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, turfgrass scientists, county agents, master gardeners and home owners. Changes/Problems:Dr. Matt Elmore left his position at Texas A&M and was removed asa Co-PI. Dr. Becky Grubbs and Dr. Lindsey Hoffman were added as Co-PIs with Texas A&M University. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training of post-doctoral researcher Xingwang Yu. Dr. Yu has worked with several graduate students providing assistance with map construction and QTL mapping: Ms. Sydney Graham, MS student, 2018-present Ms. Jessica Brown, MS student, 2017-present McCamy Pruitt, MS student, 2015-2017 Techniques to measure sod strength demonstrated. Graduate students, Katie Cox and Todd Pirtle attended the Florida Turfgrass Association Annual Conference and presented data from Approach drought trial. Katie Cox participated as an intern with the USGA Green Section Agronomist in Florida. Shuhao Yu and Bradley Umoru, graduate students received training and conducted research in the OSU turf bermudagrass breeding program. Manoj Chhetri received training in turfgrass shade physiology and graduated with an MS Horticulture degree. Lakshmy Gopinath, PhD Crop Science student at OSU, received training and provided expertise and labor for the drought trials located in Stillwater and Bixby, OK. Dustin Harris, MS student and Extension Associate, received research training, collected research data, and maintained research plots for drought trials in Bixby, and Stillwater, OK. Saeed Beyki, MS student, received research training, collected research data and maintained research plots for the rainout/drought trials in Stillwater, OK. Undergraduate students, Darin Rotert and McKenzie McCaleb, received research training and assisted with research plot maintenance for drought trials in Bixby and Stillwater, OK. Undergraduate students Morgan Broadbent and Heath McDonald received training on plot maintenance and data collection for shade trials in Stillwater, OK. James R. Underwood completed an M. Sci in December of 2017 after having trained under the grant. Extension Program Educators Caroline Nelson, James Underwood, and Andrea Payne received training in field trial data collection techniques under the grant in summer 2018. Hyojae Jung, PhD student, received training in economic analysis on turfgrass improvement. Manuel Chavarria- Postdoctoral Research Associate Reagan Hejl- PhD Student, Water and Hydrological Sciences Program Ms. Shelby Ferguson- TAMU TGSC Student (UGR student researcher) Mr. Will Stacy- TAMU Hort Student (UGR student researcher) Mr. Garrison Moczymba- TAMU TGSC Student (UGR student researcher) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been dissemnated at scientific and professional meetings, field days and conferences. Specifically: Chandra, A. 2018. The Rise of Zoysiagrass in the U.S. Carolinas GCSA, Myrtle Beach, SC. November 13 (invited). Chandra, A. 2018. Persistence and survival of turfgrass under long-term drought and new turfgrass varieties from Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day, Dallas, TX. October 10 (150 in attendance). Genovesi, A.D. and A. Chandra. 2018. Breeding efforts to improve large patch tolerance in zoysiagrass. Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day, Dallas, TX.October 10 (150 in attendance). Meeks, M. and A. Chandra. 2018. Performance and management of turfgrass under shade. Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day, Dallas, TX.October 10 (150 in attendance). Chandra, A. 2018. Turfgrass Producers of Texas Field Day at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Dallas, TX. June 7. (15 in attendance). B. Wherley. 2018. Response of Elite Warm-Season Turfgrass Lines to Multiple Levels of Irrigation Restrictions. USDA SCRI Summer Meeting. College Station, TX. July 19. B. Wherley. 2018. Field Tour and Update of Ongoing SCRI Field Research at Texas A&M. USDA SCRI Summer Meeting. College Station, TX. July 19. B. Wherley. 2018. Texas Turfgrass Research, Teaching, and Extension Programs Update. SERA/WERA TURF Joint IEG Meeting. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. July 12. B. Wherley and J. Baird. 2018. Alternative Landscapes and Lawn Removal Programs across the Southern United States. SERA/WERA TURF Joint IEG Meeting. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. July 13. B. Wherley. 2018. What in the world is Turfgrass Science. Educational Presentation to Furr High School Environmental Science Students. May 4. Invited B. Wherley. 2018. Introduction to Turfgrass Science and Management. Hands-on Learning Tour Provided to Horticulture and Landscape Students from Bayleaf I.S.D. March 27. B. Wherley. 2017. Introduction to the Texas A&M Turfgrass Science research program and current research. Texas A&M College of Agriculture Development Council Annual Business Meeting. October. Invited B. Wherley. 2017. Update on the Texas Turfgrass Program. Texas Turfgrass Association Board Meeting. Horseshoe Bay, TX. July 9. Invited B. Wherley. 2017. What's happening in turfgrass research at Texas A&M? Texas Turfgrass Association Summer Conference. Horseshoe Bay, TX. July 10. Invited B. Wherley. 2017. Role of the Texas A&M Turfgrass Program in supporting turfgrass cultivar development and best management programs. King Ranch Turfgrass Intern Site Visit. July 5. B. Wherley. 2017. How does performance of warm-season turfgrass cultivars compare under salinity stress? Southeastern Turfgrass Conference. Tifton, GA. May 15. B. Grubbs and Hejl, R. 2018. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Healthy Lawns, Healthy Waters Program. Segin, TX. July 12. B. Grubbs. 2018. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension County Agent Training. Dallas, TX. July 23. B. Grubbs. 2018. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension County Agent Training. Corpus Christi, TX. July 30. B. Grubbs. 2018. Turfgrass Management. Bastrop County Master Gardeners. Bastrop, TX. Aug 8. B. Grubbs. 2018. Optimizing Resource-Use Efficiency in Turfgrass Systems. Houston Pesticide Recertification Workshop. Houston, TX. Aug 24. B. Grubbs. 2018. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Healthy Lawns, Healthy Waters Program. San Antonio, TX. Sept 21. NC's Role in Developing Drought Tolerant Warm-Season Turfgrasses for the Southeast. USDA-SCRI Grant meeting, Tampa, FL. 22 October 2017 Sustainable Turfgrass Development and Care. Durham Garden Forum. Durham, NC. 20 June 2017. Field Plot Research in Raleigh. NCSU Short Course. Raleigh, NC. 23 February 2017. Milla-Lewis, S.R. From Classical to Molecular Approaches: Building a Turfgrass Breeding Program for the Transition Zone. Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, April 5, 2018. Sandhills Research Station Field day presentation on sod strength Sandhills Research Station Field day presentation on SSPNs Lake Wheeler Field day presentation on herbicide tolerance WFRECTurfgrass Expo and field day, KatieCox and Todd Pirtle presented data from Approach drought study Kevin Kenworthy presented on breeding for drought responses Ft. Lauderdale Turfgrass field day. Kevin Kenworthy presented on breeding for drought responses in St. Augustinegrass North-Central Florida Turfgrass Field Day KatieCox and Todd Pirtle presented data from Approach drought study Kevin Kenworthy presented on breeding for drought responses What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Plan to meet twice during the year and engage with our industry advisory panel. Ojective 2: Continue to collect data for drought trials and evaluate ancillary traits for herbicide responses, sod-tensile strength and salinity. Objective 3: Each breeding program will continue to make crosses to develop new germplasm. Each breeding program will use data from the past two years to make selections of advanced lines for further evaluation and entrance into NTEP trials. Obective 4: In St. Augustinegrass:(1) evaluate root traits of mapping population in greenhouse; (2) analyze phenotypical data and identify QTL for drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass. Objective 5 A new survey will be distributed by Oklahoma State University. Objective 6 Information transfer through extension outreach will continue through the conduct of presentations and or tours at field days, conferences, workshops and short courses. Objective 7 As cultivars developed from this CAPS team gain traction in the marketplace we will share our university policies for protection and marketing to develop and learn the best strategies for protecting our products inceasing their use in the industry.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: The CAPS team met twice during the reporting period (October 2017 and July 2018) and industry advisory panel members were present at both meetings. Objective 2 Data was collected for Approach A trials from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University and University of Florida. Drought treatments were imposed. Data was collected for Approach B from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, University of Georgia. Drought treatments were imposed. Data for Approach C was collect from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, University of Florida and North Carolina State University. Drought treatments were imposed. Data for Shade trials were collected from North Carolina State University, the University of Florida, Oklahoma State University and the University of Georgia. Data for herbicide trials were collected from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Florida and North Carolina State University. Data for sod strength were collected from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Florida and North Carolina State University. Salinity trials were initiated at the Univesity of Georgia and data collected for seashore paspalum and bermudagrass. Objective 3 SSPN (germplasm)trials of seashore paspalum, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass and bermudagrass were allowed to under significant drought stress. Data was subsequently collected turf quality under drought stress. During periods of high humidity and disease pressure data was collected gray leaf spot on St. Augustinegrass. OKC 1131 bermudagrass was released by Oklahoma State University and named Tahoma 31. FSA 1602 St. Augustinegrass was released by the University of Florida and named CitraBlue. FAES1312, FAES1313 and FAES1319 zoysiagrasses were released by the University of Florida. Objective 4 Oklahoma State University fine selected more than 4,000 SNP markers with reading depth more than 6 and missing data <5% in the mapping population. These makers were mapped to 18 linkage groups, corresponding well to 9 chromosome pairs of a new model plant for species in Chloridoideae, Oropetium thomaeum. Texas A&M University optimized the protocol for isolating salt glands from epidermal tissues peeled off from abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces of fully expanded leaves of zoysiagrass Texas A&M University conducted differential gene expression analysis, from separated adaxial and abaxial salt glands and mesophyll cells under normal and salinity stress conditions, to identify candidate genes that might be involved in salt secretion. North Carolina State University is developing marker assisted breeding systems for drought tolerance in St. Augustinegrass Developed a high-density genetic map for St. Augustinegrass containing about 3000 markers using 'Raleigh' x 'Seville' pseudo-F2 population. Based on this map, we applied comparative genomic analysis with other well-studied grass species, which improved our understanding of the genome structure and evolution relationship in grass family. Drought tolerance traits of mapping population wereevaluated in both greenhouse and field conditions. Phenotypic data including relative water content (RWC), chlorophyII content (CHC), leaf firing (LF), leaf wilting (LW), and green cover percent (GCP) and normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI). Objective 5 Oklahoma Statedeveloped a new survey to extend the first phase of the SCRI research, which is currently being tested with a pilot-panel of Qualtrics. We expect the full survey will be completed by the end of December, 2018. The new survey has been designed to value turfgrass characteristics by socio-demographic and socio-economic groups, which we believe will provide more useful and in-depth information for turfgrass breeding, extension, marketing, as well as policy making. The survey will be conducted from 1,500 homeowners in southern states focusing on WTPs of each attribute by group. Objective 6 Information has been dessimated to multiple audiences through field days, scientific meetings, website development, workshops, industry conferences and social media. A twitter account named @SCRITURF was made and several of the CAPS team members have twitter accounts where information is frequently distributed to followers.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kimball, J.A., Tuong, T.D., Arellano, C.A., Livingston III, D.P. and *Milla-Lewis, S.R. 2018. Linkage analysis and the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with winter survival and turf quality traits in St. Augustinegrass. Mol. Breed. 38:67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-018-0817-y
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Genovesi, A. D., A. Chandra and M. Meeks. 2017. Efficiency of Embryo Rescue Technology in St. Augustinegrass Breeding. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 13:18
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Chandra, A., S. Milla-Lewis, Q. Yu. 2017 An overview of Molecular Advances in Zoysiagrass. Crop Science 57: 1-9.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Xiang, M.Y., J.Q. Moss, D.L. Martin, and Y.Q. Wu. 2018. The Salinity tolerance of seeded-type common bermudagrass cultivars and experimental selections. HortTechnology
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Amgain, N.R., D.K. Harris, S.B. Thapa, D.L. Martin, Y.Q. Wu., and J.Q. Moss. 2018. Evapotranspiration rates of turf bermudagrasses under nonlimiting soil moisture conditions in Oklahoma. Crop Sci. 58:1409-1415. doi:10.2135/cropsci2017.08.0493
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Xiang, M.Y., J.Q. Moss, D. Martin, K.M. Su, B. Dunn, and Y.Q. Wu. 2017. Evaluating the salinity tolerance of clonal-type bermudagrass cultivars and an experimental selection. HortScience 52(1):185-191.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Chung, Boyer, Palma, and Ghimire (2018) Economic Impact of Drought- and Shade -tolerant Bermudagrass Varieties. HorTech 28(1): 66-73.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Milla-Lewis, S. 2018. Lake Wheeler Field Day program, Raleigh Field Day program.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Moore, K.A., W.C. Reynolds, Y.Q. Wu, B.M. Schwartz, K. Kenworthy, and S.R. Milla-Lewis. 2017. SSR allelic diversity of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) cultivars released from 1936 to 2016. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Oct 22-26, Tampa, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harris, D., J.Q. Moss, Y.Q. Wu, and D.L. Martin. 2017. Evaluation of warm-season genotypes at putting green heights with variable photosynthetically active radiation. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Oct 22-26, Tampa, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Jha, P., D.L. Martin, S.H. Yu, L. Gopinath, J.R. Underwood, J.Q. Moss, Y.Q. Wu, and C.H. Fontanier. 2017. Sod handling quality and tensile strength of seashore paspalum in Oklahoma. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Oct 22-26, Tampa, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Battershell, M., C.H. Fontanier, D.L. Martin, and Y.Q. Wu. 2017. ET rates of warm-season turfgrasses under shaded and non-shaded environments. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Oct 22-26, Tampa, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harris, D., J.Q. Moss, Y.Q. Wu, D.L. Martin, and C.H. Fontanier. 2017. Developing bermudagrass genotypes for putting green use in the transition zone. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Oct 22-26, Tampa, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Barton, M., L. Gopinath, J.Q. Moss, and M. Kress. 2017. Spectral reflectance response of Riviera bermudagrass under saline irrigation. In 2017 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Moss, J.Q. 2018. Non-destructive measurement of bermudagrass salinity tolerance. American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Chhetri, M., and C. Fontanier. 2017. Effects of drought stress on shaded and non-shaded bermudagrass. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Oct 22-26 Tampa, FL.


Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached in the past year include peer scientists at the Crop Science Society of America annual conference and industry clientele through state turfgrass association conferences, turfgras field days, trade magazine publications and CEU presentations in Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Changes/Problems:The lead extension faculty member at Texas A&M, Dr. Casey Reynolds, left in July 2017. Dr. Ben Wherley has taken on leadership and oversight of the tasks that Dr. Reynolds was overseeing, including sod tensile strength/regrowth from harvest and herbicide tolerance trials. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Professional Development- Research Associate Bruce Vento Grad Student- Wes Dyer (partial support) Education of undergraduate students in Turfgrass Science and Horticulture programs at Texas A&M through field trip visits and hands-on management opportunities Shuhao Yu and Bradley Umoru, new graduate students joined the OSU turf bermudagrass breeding program in the summer of 2017. Manoj Chhetri received training on shade physiology and field evaluation as part of MS program (target graduation Dec 2017). Lakshmy Gopinath and Naba Amgain, both PhD Crop Science students at OSU, received training and provided expertise and labor for the drought trials located in Stillwater and Bixby, OK. Shuhao Yu Completed a MS in Horticulture in May 2017 under the direction of Dr. Dennis Martin. Mr. Yu's work focused on the drought resistance of advanced lines of bermudagrass developed under the prior multi-state SCRI project. MS Horticulture candidates Mr. James Underwood and Mrs. Puja Jha continued to gain experience in field evaluation of the four warm-season turfgrass species under development in the current project (SSPN and Advanced Lines Trials). Graduate students (Jonathan Fox, Allison Couch, Amanda Webb, and Luellen Swayzer) presented their researches at annual southeastern turfgrass conference in Tifton, GA Graduate students (Jonathan Fox, Allison Couch and Luellen Swayzer) presented their researches at ASA, CSSA, and SSSA conference in Tampa, FL Graduate student Jonathan Fox attended golf industry show in Orlando, FL Graduate student Jonathan Fox went to the USGA agronomy internship Graduate students (Jonathan Fox and Allison Couch) won first place in FABricate contest - Food and AgriBusiness Entrepreneurial Initiative at University of Georgia. Training of one PhD student, John Spiekerman (PhD student in Plant Biology Graduate Program) and one MSc student, Thomas Gottilla (MSc student in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program). One postdoc has been trained by Dr. Yu with new molecular biology and genomic tools and techniques.In addition, a research associate under the direction of Dr. Chandra is involved in the project for the plot management and data collection on a regular basis. Two new M.S. students began their graduate studies under the direction of Dr. Kenworthy and Dr. Erickson at the University of Florida. Projects for both students will include evaluations of the Approach A irrigation study. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? B. Wherley. 2017. Introduction to the Texas A&M Turfgrass Science research program and current research. Texas A&M College of Agriculture Development Council Annual Business Meeting. October 27. (100 attendees) A. Chandra and B. Wherley. 2017. Persistance of warm-season turf under long term water restrictions and drought. Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Day. October 11. (150 attendees) R. Hejl. 2017. Turfgrass Performance under Long-Term Water Restrictions and Drought. Texas Watershed Coordinator Roundtable. July 26. (80 attendees) B. Wherley. 2017. Update on the Texas Turfgrass Program. Texas Turfgrass Association Board Meeting. Horseshoe Bay, TX. July 9. (25 attendees) B. Wherley. 2017. What's happening in turfgrass research at Texas A&M? Texas Turfgrass Association Summer Conference. Horseshoe Bay, TX. July 10. (150 attendees) B. Wherley. 2017. Role of the Texas A&M Turfgrass Program in supporting turfgrass cultivar development and best management programs. King Ranch Turfgrass Intern Site Visit. July 5. (5 attendees) B. Wherley. 2017. An overview of ongoing research projects at Texas A&M University. TAMU & Scotts Miracle-Gro Turfgrass Center Grand Opening. May 3. (70 attendees) B. Wherley. 2017. Introduction to turfgrass Management at the Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Laboratory. Horticulture 205 Class. April 10. (30 attendees) B. Wherley. 2017. Update on the Texas A&M Turfgrass program. Texas Turfgrass Association Winter Meeting. Feb. 28. College Station, TX. (25 attendees) B. Wherley. 2017. Irrigation management strategies for Texas sod production. Turfgrass Producers of Texas Annual Meeting. College Station, TX. Jan. 17. (85 attendees) The results from this project were presented in the 13th International Turfgrass Society Research Conference, July 15-21, New Jersey; the ASA-CSSA-SSSA international annual meetings, November 6-9, Phoenix, AZ. Mingo Valley Research Station Field Day. 2016. Turfgrass Research Update. Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Bixby, OK. Turf and Landscape Field Day October 11, 2017, College Station, TX (150 attendees).Chandra, A. (presenter), B. Wherley and R. Hejl. Persistence, Survival and Recovery of Warm-Season Turfgrass for Sustainable Urban Landscapes Under Limited Irrigation and Long-Term Drought Turfgrass field day on October 11, 2017 in Citra, FL where the drought and irrigation research components were described to attendees by a research associate (Bernard Cardenas-Lailhacar) and two graduate students (Katie Cox and Todd Pirtle). The were 180 attendees. The results have been disseminated through annual southeastern turfgrass conference (200 attendees), ASA, CSSA, and SSSA conference, invited presentations, turf field days and turf tours. Schwartz, B.M.2017.An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus.Provost Turf Tour.October 31st.Tifton, GA (Pam Whitten and Joe West). Schwartz, B.M. and Ben Copeland, Sr. 2017.An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia.Takii & Company, Limited Field Tour.September 7th.Perry, GA (Takanori Akiyama). Schwartz, B.M.2017.Introducing TifTuf Bermudagrass, The New Standard in Drought-Tolerant Turfgrasses.Lawn Solutions Australia Field Tour.July 25th.Tifton, GA (26 attending). Schwartz, B.M.2017.An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus.University of Florida (NEM 6708 - Field Plant Nematology) Field Tour.April 14th.Tifton, GA (9 attending). Schwartz, B.M.2017.An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus.Texas Tech University Turf Tour.March 25th.Tifton, GA (Joey Young). Schwartz, B.M.2017.Overview of the Future Farmstead.Georgia Peanut Commission Leadership Tour.March 7th.Tifton, GA (26 attending). Schwartz, B.M.2017.Turfgrasses of the World.Tifton First United Methodist Pre-K Field Tour.February 28th.Tifton, GA (18 attending). Schwartz, B.M.2017.An Overview of the Turfgrass Breeding Program at the University of Georgia - Tifton Campus.Pure-Seed Testing Turf Tour.February 2nd.Tifton, GA (Austin Fricker and Nick Layton). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We are conducting global differential gene expression analysis between abaxial and adaxial salt glands using RNA-Seq. A list of candidate genes associated with salt secretion will be generated based on the differential gene expression analysis results and their potential gene functions. We will characterize the gene functions of the candidate genes using the modified rice bacilliform virus (RTBV) vector-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system developed for zoysiagrass. Continue with data collection for all drought and irrigation associated trials. Statistical comparisons of water use through the different irrigation treatments will be conducted and related to turfgrass quality. The salinity experiments will be initiated. Graduate students will be provided opportunities to attend and participate in conferences and extension activities. The sod harvest and herbicide studies will be repeated in 2018. The summer 2018 meeting will be held in College Station, TX.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Data is now being collected for all drought trials (Approaches A, B and C) in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. Herbicide and sod production trials have been intiated in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and North Carolina. Breeding Wu: 'OKC 1131' turf bermudagrass was released as a new cultivar by Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station in June, 2017. More than 1600 new genotypes from interspecific crosses between common and African bermudagrass parents were grown in two selection nurseries. Kenworthy: at UF, 2,000 new zoysiagrass genotypes were established in two nurseries Molecular markers Wu (OK STATE): More than 7,000 high quality SNP markers were developed in a common bermudagrass mapping population. These makers have been mapped to 18 linkage groups, likely corresponding to 18 homologous chromosome pairs. Devos (UGA): Quantitative trait loci analysis for Na+ and K+ levels in an F1 population in seashore paspalum During Year 1, we generated genetic maps in a F1 mapping population generated by crossing seashore paspalum accession PI 509022 with accession HI33.To analyze the mapping population for leaf Na+ and K+ content, eight to sixteen single nodes from the parents and each of the F1 progeny were propagated and grown for five weeks in river sand in cone-tainers.Eight plantlets with the greatest consistency in size were selected and each was randomly assigned to one of eight blocks.All blocks were watered for two weeks with freshwater, after which four of the blocks were subjected to 15 dS/m salt (control treatment) and four were subjected to 45 dS/m salt (salt treatment) using ebb-and-flow benches.Salt levels were increased gradually at a rate of ~5 dS/m every three or four days until the desired salt level was reached.Aerial portions of the plants were harvested after approximately three months of salt treatment.Due the amount of labor involved in harvesting and sample processing, only three replicates in the 45 dS/m salt treatment were analyzed for biomass, and Na+ and K+ content.Leaves were separated from stems, dried at 65 0C and ground to a powder.After conversion to ash and acid extraction, Na+ and K+ were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Biomass data, sodium and potassium ion abundance and K+/Na+ ratios were used in a preliminary QTL analysis.Only QTL identified in all three replicates are listed here.No QTL were consistently identified in the maternal map.In the paternal map, no QTL were identified for biomass or leaf Na+ levels.Colocalizing QTL were identified on linkage group 4 for potassium abundance and K+/Na+ ratio.Because data across the three replicates was not always consistent possibly because of technical reasons, we ranked lines within each replicate from low to high ion abundance.This was done separately for Na+ and K+.Rankings were then compared by ion across replicates and only data that were within 30 ranks of one another were retained.Using this filtering approach, some 40% of data was removed from each of the three replicates and data for 24% of the progeny was removed from all three replicates.The remaining 138 progeny (76%) had ion data for at least two replicates.When the QTL analysis was conducted with the rank-filtered ion dataset, the same QTL were identified on linkage group 4 as with the non-filtered data but with higher LOD scores (Fig.1).In addition, a significant QTL was identified for leaf Na+ levels on linkage group 9 in all three replicates (Fig.2). Fig.1. Graph showing QTL for rank-filtered leaf K+ content on linkage group 4 in HI 33 in each of three replicates Fig.2.Graph showing QTL for rank-filtered leaf Na+ content on linkage group 9 in HI 33 in each of three replicates Constructing genetic maps of seashore paspalum in an F1 population using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS): an update During year 1, we constructed genetic maps using GBS in the PI 509022 x HI 33 F1 population.We aim to investigate whether SNP calling is more efficient using a GBS-generated reference or using a low quality genome sequence as reference.Furthermore, while we previously focused on markers that were heterozygous in one parent and homozygous in the other parent, we are now also in the process of identifying SNPs that are heterozygous in both parents.If the number of markers of this type is sufficiently high, we will generate a third map and also use this map for QTL analysis. Generation of an F2 population in seashore paspalum We used the ion data collected in the F1 progeny from the cross PI 509022 x HI 33 as part of the QTL analysis to select five genotypes with leaf Na+ levels across all three replicates on the high end of the spectrum (~13,000 ppm), and five genotypes with lower leaf Na+ levels (~ 8000 ppm).The lines were crossed by Paul Raymer in different combinations for a total of five crosses.Seed from a subset of progeny has been germinated for three of the crosses.Leaf material has been collected for DNA extraction.In first instance, we will verify the crosses, and then select a cross for genetic mapping and QTL analysis. Chandra (TX A&M): In zoysiagrass, the gene experession for adaxial and abaxial salt glands have been studied. Among the selected candidate genes associated with trichome development, the homologous genes of GL2 and TRY were significantly induced by salt stress in adaxial salt glands (functional), not in abaxial salt glands (nonfunctional) and mesophyll cells. The homologous gene of MYB5 showed a relatively higher level of expression in adaxial salt glands than in abaxial salt glands. Its expression was induced by salt stress in adaxial salt glands, but down-regulated in mesophyll cells. Three genes that might be involved in generating proton gradient were induced by salt stress in adaxial salt glands, but down-regulated in abaxial salt glands. The plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter SOS1, which is responsible for excreting Na+ across the plasmalemma in Arabidopsis, showed a higher level of expression in adaxial salt glands (functional) than in abaxial salt glands (nonfunctional) and mesophyll cells. The plasma membrane channel SLAH-1, which functions as a Cl- excluder in Arabidopsis, had a higher level of expression in adaxial salt glands (functional) than in abaxial salt glands (nonfunctional) and mesophyll cells. Another homologous gene of SLAH in Z. matrella, SLAH-2, showed induced expression by salt stress in adaxial salt glands, but not in abaxial salt glands and mesophyll cells. The plasma membrane transporter HKT1 may play a role in transporting Na+ into the cytoplasm of the salt gland cell. Two homologous genes of HKT1 in Z. matrella showed induced expression by salt stress in adaxial salt glands, but not in abaxial salt glands and mesophyll cells. Socio-economic analysis/Boyer and Chung. A PhD student was recruited beginning Fall 2017. Graduate student has begun training for conducting analysis. RFT and SSPN were planted in June 2016. Data were collected from November 2016 to November 2017 on turfgrass quality, percent green cover, and dark green color index. Irrigation treatment has not been applied as the plots are still establishing especially for zoysiagrass and seashore paspalum. Shade trial(s)/Fontanier: 80 experimental turfgrasses (40 bermudagrass, 40 zoysiagrass) plus commercial standards were established and subjected to shade treatment starting in May 2017. Shade treatments reduced photosynthetically active radiation to 18 and 11 mol m-2 d-1 in July for bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, respectively. Turf quality, leaf elongation rate, and percent green cover data have been collected. Shade trials were planted in August 2016. Data were collected from November 2016 to November 2017 on percent green cover in Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wu, Y.Q., Y.W. Guo, J.A. Anderson, J.Q. Moss, and L. Zhu. 2016. A linkage map of a common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] based on simple sequence repeat markers. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings. Nov 6-9, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Segars, C., J.Q. Moss, D.L. Martin, Y. Wu, and N. Maness. 2016. Bermudagrass: under pressure. In 2016 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Yu, S., D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, and Y. Wu. 2016. Evaluation of bermudagrass for drought resistance. In 2016 Agronomy abstracts. ASA, Madison, WI.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Gopinath, L., J.Q. Moss, and C. Fontanier. 2017. Physiological responses of turfgrass species to water deficit stress. Student Water Conference, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beyki, S., J.Q. Moss, and C. Fontanier. 2017. Development of a remote sensing tool for golf course irrigation management. Student Water Conference, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fox, J., Schwartz, B.M., Snider, J. and D. Jespersen. Shade tolerance in warm-season turfgrass. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA international conference, Tampa, FL. October, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Couch, A., Schwartz, B.M., Grey, T.L. Bermudagrass tolerance of the herbicide sethoxydim. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA international conference, Tampa, FL. October, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Swayzer, L., Schwartz, B.M., and G.M. Henry. Seed and pollen fertility in colchicine induced polyploid zoysiagrasses. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA international conference, Tampa, FL. October, 2017.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sullivan, D., Zhang, J., Kowalewski, A., Peake, J., Anderson, W., Waltz, C. and B. Schwartz. 2017. Evaluating hybrid bermudagrass using spectral reflectance under different mowing heights and trinexapac-ethyl applications. Horttechnology. 27(1):45-53.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Guo, Y.W., Y.Q. Wu, J.Q. Moss, J.A. Anderson, and L. Zhu. 2017. Genetic variability for adaptive, morphological and reproductive traits in selected cold hardy germplasm of common bermudagrass. Crop Science 57:S82-88.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Guo, Y.W., Y.Q. Wu, J.A. Anderson, J.Q. Moss, L. Zhu, and J.M. Fu. 2017. SSR marker development, linkage mapping and QTL analysis for establishment rate in common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. var. dactylon]. The Plant Genome 10: 1-11.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Huang, X., F. Wang, R. Singh, J.A. Reinert, M.C. Engelke, A.D. Genovesi, A. Chandra, Q. Yu. 2016. Construction of high-resolution genetic maps of Zoysia matrella (L.) Merrill and applications to comparative genomics analysis and QTL mapping of resistance to fall armyworm. BMC Genomics 17: 562
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Chandra, A., S. Milla-Lewis, Q. Yu. 2017 An overview of Molecular Advances in Zoysiagrass. Crop Science 57: 1-9.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. UGA Turf Breeders Work With Industry To Create Better Grasses. GA Farm Monitor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cp85djRwI0) August 24th. Perry, GA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. Roundtable Discussion with Growers and Turf Breeders. Deep South Turf Expo. November 9th. Biloxi, MS (27 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. Turfgrass Breeding at the University of Georgia. Deep South Turf Expo. November 8th. Biloxi, MS (17 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy. K.E. 2017. Turfgrass Breeding at the University of Florida. Deep South Turf Expo. November 8th. Biloxi, MS (17 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy, K.E. 2017. Roundtable Discussion with Growers and Turf Breeders. Deep South Turf Expo. November 9th. Biloxi, MS (27 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. Introducing TifTuf Bermudagrass, The New Standard in Drought Tolerant Turfgrasses. American Society of Landscape Architects Southeast Regional Conference. June 9th. Charlotte, NC (297 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. If the Grass Is Greener on the Other Side, It was Probably Developed in Tifton. The National Arboretum Grass Roots Initiative: Homeowner Workshop. April 22nd. Washington, DC (20 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. TifTuf Bermudagrass. Pike Nurseries Learn to Grow Event. February 16th. Alpharetta, GA (234 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. Breeding New Turfgrasses in Tifton. Florida Turfgrass Association Tallahassee Turf Seminar. February 15th. Tallahassee, FL (29 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Raymer, P., C. Waltz, L. Baldree, and B. Schwartz. 2017. Turfgrasses Developed in Georgia. Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation Golf Day. January 30th. Atlanta, GA. (~200 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. Drought Tolerance Has a New Name: TifTuf. West Georgia Green Association. January 19th. Douglasville, GA (31 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. TifTuf for SEC Sports Fields. Holcombe Norton Partners Landscape Architecture Firm. January 19th. Birmingham, AL (4 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. TifTuf for the Pinewood Forest Community and Pinewood Atlanta Studios. Bashert Farm & Gardens. January 18th. Whitesburg, GA (6 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. Developing Better Turfgrasses on the Research Station for the Golf Course. Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association 2017 Assistants Seminar. January 10th. Oxford, AL (29 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2017. Leadership at Foley Field. Advancing Georgias Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry (AGL). August 24th. Athens, GA (31 attending).
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: USDA-SCRI-NIFA Turfgrass Drought Grant Website (www.scriturf.com)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy, K., P. Harmon, A. Dale, B. Unruh, N. Flor, K. Quesenberry and J. Zhang. 2017. St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass breeding program updates. October, Citra, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy, K. 2017. Multi-location performance of UF experimental turfgrass lines. Florida Turfgrass Association Annual Conference and Show, September, Innisbrook, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy, K. 2017. USDA Funding for collaborative turfgrass research. Southeastern Turf Conference, May 15, Tifton, GA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy, K. 2017. Is turf type bahiagrass a reality?. Southeastern Turf Conference, May 15, Tifton, GA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy, K., K. Quesenberry, N. Flor and J. Zhang. 2017. Golf related breeding activities and potential future releases. April, Naples, FL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kenworthy, K., K. Quesenberry, E. Rios. 2017. Turf-type bahiagrass, reality or pipe dream? Carolina Superintendent Association. March, Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, NC.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Benda, N.D. N.C. Flor, P.F. Harmon and K.E. Kenworthy. 2017. Response of seashore paspalum genotypes to two isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 13.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Christensen, C., J. Zhang, K.E. Kenworthy, J. Erickson, J. Kruse and B.M. Schwartz. 2017. Classification of zoysiagrass genotypes on rooting capacity and associated performance during drought. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 13.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Flor, N.C., P.F. Harmon, K.E. Kenworthy, L. Datnoff, R.N. Raid, and R. Nagata. 2017. Screening St. Augustinegrass genotypes for brown patch and large patch disease resistance. Crop Sci. 57.89-97.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Patton, A.J., B.M. Schwartz and K.E. Kenworthy. 2017. Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) history, utilization, and improvement in the United States: A review. Crop Sci. 57:37-72.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Quesenberry, K.H., K.E. Kenworthy and D. Harrison. 2017. Ploidy characterization of Axonopus by meiotic chromosome counts and flow cytometry. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 13.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Zhang, J., K.E. Kenworthy, J.B. Unruh, B.P. Poudel, J. Erickson, D.L. Rowland and J. Kruse. 2017. Physiological responses to soil drying by warm-season turfgrass species. Crop Sci. 57:111-118.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: http://tiftufbermuda.com/savings-calculator/


Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached in the past year include peer scientists at theCrop Science Society of America annual conference andindustry clientelethrough turfgras field days, trade magazine publicationsand CEU presentations in Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina Changes/Problems: Dr. Charles Fontanier hired as an assistant professor in turfgrass science at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture of Oklahoma State University. He works on shade trials in the project. Dr. Matt Elmore (Turfgrass extension specialist - Dallas, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension) has accepted a position with Rutgers University and have relocated to NJ as of September 15, 2016. Dr. Casey Reynolds, Turfgrass extension specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension located in College Station, TX will replace Dr. Elmore and assume the responsibilities of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Yuanwen Guo. Ph.D. was trained in genetics, genomics and breeding. Lakshmy Gopinath, Puja Jhe, James Underwood and Shuhao Yu (four Master of Science Graduate Student Candidates in 2015 - 2016) trained in establishment, maintenance and evaluation of general field performance trials of bermudagrass, seashore paspalum, St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass. Additional training for MS Candidate Shuhao Yu concerning assessment of drought resistance of late stage experimental lines of warm-season turfgrasses. Chrissie Segars. Ph.D. Crop Science. Project: Athletic field turfgrass irrigation, cultural management, player safety, drought resistance and cold tolerance of bermudagrasses for Oklahoma. Expected graduation: Summer 2017. Matt Barton. M.S. Horticulture. Project: Salinity tolerance of bermudagrasses. Expected graduation: Fall 2017. Larriann Chambers. M.S. International Agriculture. Project: Water use and conservation: practical applications for Oklahoma. Expected graduation: Fall 2017. Dustin Harris. M.S. Horticulture. Project: Development of high quality bermudagrass cultivars for the golf course industry. Expected graduation: Fall 2018. Bishow Poudel, PhD Agronomy. Project: Evaluation of rooting parameters assoiated with drought responses of warm season turfgrass. Graduation: Summer 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Martin, D.L. 2015. Turfgrass cultivar update. Sod Producer Session. 70st Oklahoma Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show. 1 Dec 2015. Stillwater, OK. 12 attendees. Martin, D.L. 2016. Turfgrass Selection. AR-OK Turfgrass Short Course. 6 Jan 2016. Little Rock, AR. 72 attendees. 2015 Oklahoma Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show - 250 attendees Three turfgrass breeders, information transfer concerning current status of advanced experimental warm-season turfgrasses. Three sod producers, information transfer concerning current status of advanced experimental warm-season turfgrasses. Lead three personalized tours of the 2016 SCRI RFT Trial stock blocks and 2014 RFT trials for two commercial licensing agents, two turfgrass breeders from private industry and three sod producers who may choose to become licensed to produce improved varieties in the future. Provided consultation information for 25 clients by email using information gained from the prior SCRI trial research findings. Project information was presented at the Southern Turfgrass Conference in Tifton, GA, April 2016: 250 attendees Project information was presented at the West Florida Turfgrass Field day in Jay, FL, June 2016: 250 attendees Project information was presented at the North CentralFlorida Turfgrass Field day in Citra, FL, October 2016, 200 attendees What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? CAPs team will schedule monthly conference calls and meet face-to-face twice in 2017. When trials planted in 2016 become well established the irrigation regimes will be imposed. As ancillary trait plots become established they will be harvested to evaluate sod potential and herbicide responses Salinity tolerance trials will be discussed and plants transferred to asses salt tolerance. Socio-economic surveys will be developed. Molecular marker work will continue for the four species. Demonstration landscapes will be planted with TifTuf bermudagrass and TamStar St. Augustinegrass with signage promoting their improved drought responses.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The CAPs team met for thre face-to-face meetings: in 2015 at the Crop Science Society Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN, in June 2016at Gulf Shores, AL at the southern turf group meeting and in November 2016 at teh Crop Science Society Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ. The CAPs team has held conference calls to develop trials and meeting agendas in January, February and March 2016. Top 40 advanced lines of zoysiagrass were identified from Texas A&M and the University of Florida and planted in six trials across 5 states. Top 40 advanced lines ofbermudagrass were identifiedfromOklahoma Stateand the University ofGeorgia and planted in six trials across 5 states. Top 40 advanced lines ofSt. Augustinegrasswere identified from Texas A&M and theNorth Carolina State Universityand planted in six trials across 5 states. Top 20 advanced lines ofseashore paspalumwere identified from the University of Georgiaand planted in six trials across 5 states. Trials were planted across 5 states to assess performance under limited irrigation regimes, water use and persistence. Germplasm from 6 turfgrass breeding programs was developed for St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass and seashore paspalum; exchanged between programs andplanted. Trials to evaluate ancillary traits for sod production, shade toleranceand herbicide trials were established at five universities.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Guo, Y.W., Y.Q. Wu, J.A. Anderson, J.Q. Moss, and L. Zhu. 2015. Disomic inheritance and segregation distortion of SSR markers in two populations of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. var. dactylon. PLOS ONE 10(8): e0136332. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136332
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jayasekera, D.H.W., T.A. Boyer, and J.Q. Moss. 2016. An assessment of Oklahoma City commercial businesses willingness to adopt irrigation water conservation methods. HortTechnology.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Ghimire, M., T.A. Boyer, C. Chung, and J.Q. Moss. 2016. Consumers shares of preferences for turfgrass attributes using discrete choice experiment and best-worst method. HortScience 51:892-898.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Yu, S., D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, Y. Wu. 2016. Evaluation of bermudagrass for drought resistance. 2016 Int. Meetings ASA-CSSA-SSSA. Nov 6  9, Phoenix, AZ. Poster Abstract 168-1700. On line: https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2016am/webprogram/Paper102894.html.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Moss, J.Q., and M. Kress. 2016. Turf irrigation water quality: a concise guide. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Publication HLA-6612.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Moss, J.Q., M. Kress, and A. Childers. 2016. Turf irrigation water quality: a reference guide. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Publication HLA-6613
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Moss, J.Q., and J. Campbell. 2015. The water conservation garden: Oklahoma City zoo. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Publication L-457.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Fuentealba, M.P., Zhang, J.*, Kenworthy, K.E., Erickson, J., Kruse, J., and L. Trenholm. 2016. Transpiration responses of warm-season turfgrass in relation to progressive soil drying. Scientia Horticulturae. 198: 249-253.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fuentealba, M.P., Zhang, J.*, Kenworthy, K.E., Erickson, J., Kruse, J., and L. Trenholm. 2015. Root development and profile chracteristics of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. HortScience. 50 (10): 1429-1434.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Schwartz, B. 2016. Introducing TifTuf Bermuda: The New Standard in Drought-Tolerant Grasses. Georgia Urban Ag Council Magazine May/June: 56-58.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Golf Course Superintendent Association of America Webcast (January 13th, 2016) Todays Turf is&Stress Tolerant: Your Tax Dollars at Work to Create Drought Tolerant Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and Seashore Paspalum.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2016. Breakthrough Turfgrass Research has Discovered a New Star. Urban Ag Councils EDGE EXPO. December 8th. Duluth, GA. (81 attending)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Swayzer, L., A. Webb, J. Fox, and B.M. Schwartz. 2016. Turfgrass Breeding  A Team Approach. UGA Turfgrass Research Field Day. August 4th. Griffin, GA (800 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Schwartz, B.M. 2016. Developing Wear Tolerant Turfgrasses. 70th Annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference. April 26th. Tifton, GA (197 attending).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Chandra, A., K. E. Kenworthy, B. M. Schwartz, P. L. Raymer, Y. Wu, S. R. Milla-Lewis, L. R. Nelson, P. Munoz, Q. Yu, J. Q. Moss, B. Wherley, G. L. Miller, D. L. Martin, F. C. Waltz Jr., J. B. Unruh, W. C. Reynolds, T. Boyer, C. Chung, and M. Palma. 2015. Plant Genetics and Genomics to Improve Drought and Salinity Tolerance for Sustainable Turfgrass Production in the Southern United States. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings Abstracts. Minneapolis, MN. 94615. Symposium-USDA-SCRI Turfgrass Breeding Projects.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Chavarria, M., B. Wherley, A. Chandra, R. Jessup, R. Cabrera, and M. Pendleton. 2015. Utilization of Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy for Elucidating Salinity Tolerance Mechanisms in Warm-Season Turfgrass Species. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings Abstracts. Minneapolis, MN.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Martin, D. L., G. L. Miller, A. Chandra, J. B. Unruh, J. Q. Moss, S. R. Milla-Lewis, F. C. Waltz Jr., W. C. Reynolds, B. M. Schwartz, K. E. Kenworthy, T. Boyer, P. L. Raymer and Y. Wu. 2015. Outreach Education Achievements from a 2011-2015 Project Focused on Improving Drought and Salinity Resistance in Warm-Season Turfgrasses. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings Abstracts. Minneapolis, MN. 93393. Symposium-USDA-SCRI Turfgrass Breeding Projects.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Munoz, P., K. E. Kenworthy, A. Chandra, Y. Wu, D. L. Martin, B. M. Schwartz, P. L. Raymer and S. R. Milla-Lewis. 2015. Effect of Drought on Genotype-By-Environment Interaction on Warm-Season Turf Grasses. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings Abstracts. Minneapolis, MN. 94307. Symposium-USDA-SCRI Turfgrass Breeding Projects.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Huang, X., F. Wang, R. Singh, J.A. Reinert, M.C. Engelke, A.D. Genovesi, A. Chandra, Q. Yu. 2016. Construction of high-resolution genetic maps of Zoysia matrella (L.) Merrill and applications to comparative genomics analysis and QTL mapping of resistance to fall armyworm. BMC Genomics 17: 562
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: M. Chavarria, B. Wherley, A. Chandra, R. Jessup, and R. Cabrera. 2016. Salt accumulation and excretion characteristics of warm-season turfgrasses of contrasting salinity tolerance. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, J.*, Kenworthy, K., Unruh J. B., Erickson, J. and G. MacDonald. 2016. Changes of Leaf Membrane Fatty Acid Composition and Saturation Level of Warm-Season Turfgrass during Drought. Journal of Plany Physiology.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, J., Kenworthy, K.*, Unruh J. B., Poudel, B., Erickson, J., Rowland, D. and J. Kruse. Physiological Responses to Soil Drying by Warm-season Turfgrass Species (in revision). 2016. Crop Science
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, J., Unruh, J. B.*, Kenworthy, K., Erickson, J., Christensen, C. T., Kruse, J., & Rowland, D. 2016. Phenotypic Plasticity and Turf Performance of Zoysiagrass in Response to Reduced Light Intensities. Crop Science, 56(3):1337-1348.