seed research of oregon improving turfgrass through research choosing a bentgrass dr. leah a....

Seed Research of Oregon Improving Turfgrass through Research

Choosing a Bentgrass

Dr. Leah A. Brilman

Director of Research and Technical Services

Seed Research of Oregon


Choosing a Bentgrass

Old and New Choices in Cultivars

and Species


Bentgrass decisions • Greens or fairways

• Wear - Amount, type and season

• Environmental stresses - heat, cold, humidity

• Budget and equipment for maintenance

• Type of course

Private or public

• Clientele expectations and competition

• Water quality and quantity

• Environmental concerns


Bentgrass breeding goals • Disease resistance

– Dollar spot– Brown patch– Anthracnose– Snow mold– Take-all resistance

• High density for greens - resist weed invasion• Winter active growth - winter color retention• Salt tolerance• Wear tolerance• Dense types without excessive thatch


Bentgrass breeding goals • Greens

Ballmark repair and recoverySpeed of greensStress tolerance

• Fairways

Divot repair and recovery

Stress tolerance• Both

Thatch controlPoa annua control


Bentgrass trials • Combine different species and types one trial

Differential herbicide/fungicide responseDifferent requirements for thatch control

• NTEP Trials at Universities

Most not managed as on golf courseLess mowing, mowing height differentNo trafficFungicide/no fungicide split but often only fungicide side reported

• New NTEP - no split. More trials with reduced fungicides


Bentgrass trials • NTEP/GCSAA On site trials

Putting Green only

High end courses - intensive management

Thatch control often geared to heavy

thatch producers

Preventative fungicide

Only four disease ratings in all trials

• Best trials on golf courses - often no feedback


Bentgrass trials Management influences - Four sands / One cultivar


Creeping bentgrass • Traditional varieties - Penncross, Seaside

Lower density, horizontal growth• Standard improved varieties for greens and fairways :

SR 1119, SR 1120 (Brighton), Sandhill, Ninety- six two, L-93, Providence, SR 1020, Crenshaw, Seaside II, Pennlinks, Penneagle, Trueline, Backspin, Putter, Cato, Century, Princeville, Cobra, Viper, Grand Prix, Bengal

• Moderate density, more upright, versatile• Less thatch for fairways, disease and stress resistance important

characterstics


Creeping bentgrass • High density varieties - greens

Penn G-2, G-6, A-1, A-4, G-1 - all from selections

at Augusta, GA - very similar genetics• High thatch producers - must have budget and equipment to control• Slower repair aerification holes, ball marks• Use smaller diameter holes, topdress frequently• Upright, dense growth - good at low height• Good wear tolerance


Creeping bentgrass • New moderate density improved varieties

SR 1150 (SRX 1PDH), LS-44, Alpha, Independence, Penneagle II, Pennlinks II,

Benchmark DSR, Memorial, Kingpin• Intermediate versatile varieties - greens, tees and

fairways

007 (DSB), MacKenzie (SRX 1GPD) • New high density varieties

Tyee (SRX 1GD), Declaration, T-1, Authority, Shark


Creeping bentgrass • Divot repair rate

Traditional > Improved >Versatile> High Density

Cover may be greater but not fully repaired

Higher density varieties sometimes ballmark less but recover slower

All bentgrasses - use sand/seed repair mix

Add Chewings fescue for faster germination• Green speed and smoothness

Some Improved cultivars faster than High Density. Dependent on health of plant and management practices.

l


Creeping bentgrass • Ball mark repair study Bakalyar, Honors Course, Tennessee. Ball mark created as a hole.

– Sunny and shady plots healed differently– Repair rate related to growth pattern of cultivar - heat tolerant cultivars better in summer, Winter-active

types better in October– No consistent pattern in type

Mean % repair after 28 days over 4 dates

SR 1020 42.3 Penn G-2 38.2

Pennlinks 41.0 Crenshaw 38.0

L-93 39.5 Penncross 36.5

Penn A-1 39.0


Creeping bentgrass • Damage control study Clemson, University

– Repair of damage from 2 inch hole in June and August– Repair rate differed by type - standard and improved typically better than dense.

Percent repair after 6 weeks 1998Cultivar June Aug. Cultivar June Aug. Penncross 43 a 33 cd Crenshaw 33 b-e 45 abSouthshore 41 ab 36 a-d Penn G-2 32 b-e 36 a-dPutter 41 ab 39 abc Crens/Cato 31 cde 37 a-dPennlinks 41 ab 33 cd Cato 30 cde 37 a-dMariner 39 abc 28 d Penn A-1 30 cde 35 a-dViper 38 a-d 37 a-d Penn G-1 30 cde 30 cdSR 1020 37 a-d 35 a-d Providence 29 de 35 a-dSR 1119 37 a-d 34 bcd Penn A-4 29 de 35 a-dL-93 36 a-e 45 ab Penn G-6 27 e 33 cdDominant 34 a-e 46 a


Creeping bentgrass • Dollar spot - most fungicides used to control. Variability in resistance in trials by location and management

Mean % dollar spot on greens 1999-2002 data, 3 locations

Cutlivar % DS Cultivar % DS

Providence 3.0 Penn A-2 6.7

Sandhill 3.4 Ninety-six two 6.8

Penn G-6 3.4 Penncross 7.6

Penn G-1 3.8 Backspin 7.8

Bengal 4.3 Penn A-4 10.2

Pennlinks 4.4 Crenshaw 11.2

Brighton 4.7 Imperial 11.4

Penn A-1 4.8 Century 16.8

L-93 5.6

SR 1119 6.2 LSD@5% 8.3


Creeping bentgrass • Dollar spot - most fungicides used to control. Variability in resistance in trials by location and management

Dollar spot ratings grown on green 1999-2002, Mean of 12 location

Cutlivar Mean Cultivar Mean

Penncross 7.9 SR 1119 6.7

L-93 7.9 Imperial 6.5

Pennlinks 7.7 Brighton 6.5

Penn A-1 7.6 Providence 6.2

Penn A-2 7.6 Backspin 5.9

Penn G-6 7.2 Ninety-six two 5.6

Sandhill 7.2 Century 5.4

Penn G-1 7.1 Crenshaw 5.2

Bengal 7.1

Penn A-4 7.1 LSD@5% 0.8


Creeping bentgrass • Dollar spot - most fungicides used to control. Variability in resistance in trials by location and

managementDollar spot ratings grown on green 1993 - 97, Mean of 12 location


L-93 7.7 Penn A-4 6.5

Penn A-1 7.4 Mariner 6.1

Pennlinks 7.4 Imperial 5.7

Providence 7.2 SR 1020 5.6

Penncross 7.1 Backspin 5.5

Seaside 7.0 Century 4.9

Penn G-2 6.8 18th Green 4.5

Penn G-6 6.8 Crenshaw 4.5

Trueline 6.6

Southshore 6.5 LSD@5% 0.4


Creeping bentgrass • Dollar spot resistance• Two to three major genes involved - only one strain used to determine. Additional genes may be

necessary for resistance to other strains.• Density of grass important, leaf to leaf transmission. Penncross sometimes shows less due to

low density• Reduce hours of moisture - mowing, irrigation, rolling• Nitrogen management - low levels currently used for faster greens increase levels• Usually good resistance - Providence, SR 1119, L-93, Cato, Sandhill, Penn A-1, G-1, G-2, G-6,

Pennlinks• New cultivars with promise - Declaration, 007, Pennlinks II, Memorial, SR 1150, 13-M, Benchmark

DSR, Kingpin


Creeping bentgrass • Brown patch - Variability in resistance in trials by location and management

Brown patch ratings grown on green 1999-2002, Mean of 7 locations


Ninety-six two 7.2 Century 6.2

Penn G-6 6.9 Penn A-2 6.2

Sandhill 6.7 Bengal 6.1

SR 1119 6.7 Backspin 5.9

Brighton 6.5 Imperial 5.7

L-93 6.4 Penn A-1 5.7

Pennlinks 6.4 Providence 5.6

Penn G-1 6.3 Penn A-4 5.6

Crenshaw 6.3

Penncross 6.3 LSD@5% 1.2


Creeping bentgrass • Thatch Development - measured after 1 and 2 years

Thatch in mm grown on green 1999, 2000, Mean of 2 locations


Penn A-4 13.9 Sandhill 12.1

Penn A-1 13.6 Crenshaw 12.0

Penn A-2 13.3 L-93 12.0

Century 12.8 Pennlinks 12.0

Penn G-6 12.8 Providence 11.9

Penn G-1 12.8 Imperial 11.9

Ninety-six two 12.8 SR 1119 11.8

Bengal 12.3 Penncross 11.6

Brighton 12.2

Backspin 12.2 LSD@5% 1.9


Creeping bentgrass • Thatch Control• Critical in newer bentgrasses • Thatch development dependent on cultivar, environment, nitrogen, irrigation, mowing

height, traffic• Topdressing weekly or bimonthly most critical. Irrigate to integrate during heat stress

rather than brushing. • Hollow-tine aeration most critical in maintaining reduced organic matter, high saturated

hydraulic conductivity, high root oxygen content - reduces quality short term• Hydojet, solid tines, spiker should start 5-8 weeks after hollow-tine to maintain SHC

during summer• Vertical mowing, grooming can help reduce OM - can influence quality.


Creeping bentgrass • Cultivars that develop more thatch. Recommended primarily for greens only. Higher budget for

maintenance.• Penn A-2• Penn A-2• Penn A-4• Penn G-1• Penn G-2• Penn G-6

• New cultivars that develop more thatch• Declaration (Bentgrass bloat)• Tyee (SRX 1GD)• T-1• Authority (235050)• Kingpin• Shark


Why Blends/Mixtures

• Increased genetic diversity

• Strengths and weaknesses matched

• Natural Selection for microenvironments

• Match color, growth form carefully


Science and nonscience of blends

Kentucky bluegrass

(Vargas and Turgeon, 1980. Proc. Third ITRC 45-52.)

Melting-out resistance of blend of two

cultivars intermediate between same

cultivars in monostands

Inoculum from susceptible cultivar reduced

resistance of resistant cultivar

Blends of two cultivars generally show resistance intermediate between each alone



Creeping bentgrass

(Abernathy et al. 2001 Crop Sci 41:806-809.)

Dollar spot resistance among blends of creeping bentgrass cultivars

Penn A-4, Crenshaw, L-93, Mariner and Penncross, monostands and two or three-way blends

L-93 suppressed dollar spot in blends, Crenshaw increased

Blending Crenshaw with any reduced dollar spot centers 46 to 67% and blighted areas 71 to 98%


Example:Dominant X-treme Creeping Bentgrass Blend• Blend of SR 1119 and Providence

• Excellent for northern areas to transition zone

• Combines heat tolerance and cold tolerance

• Disease resistance

• Similar in color, texture

• Little segregation


Stress tolerance in bents One month with no water 2002 NJ drought



Color and density

should be matched

Large variability in colors - blue-green to true greens

Variability in density makes for uneven surface



Color and density

should be matched

Large variability in colors - blue-green to true greens

Variability in density makes for uneven surface

Penncross

Tyee


Creeping bentgrass • Additional characteristics important in choosing cultivars or making blends• Winter-active growth - critical in Southern areas where bent is used for resorts,

CA, PNW• Snow mold resistance• Heat / drought resistance• Salinity tolerance - most studies do not properly evaluate since not mown or in

sand medium– Primarily monitor top growth– Recent study in Colorado better - repeat with more cultivars


Bentgrass Conversion• From Poa - Trials at Rutgers University• Poa aerated, topdressed, verticut before overseeding,

seed broadcast• No effect from PGRs• Seeding date influenced establishment with July 1, Aug.

17 dates best one study, June 19, Aug. 20 another study.• SR 7200 velvet best, A-4, L-93, Providence all better than

Penncross• Can use water injection for placement • Velocity can provide better, safer, faster conversion


Bentgrass Conversion• From one bent to another

More difficult if original bent is healthyMore difficult under fairway conditions

• Prepare as for Poa conversionVerticut, aerate, top dress. The aim is to weaken existing

bent to give seedlings a chance.• Further reduce growth with PGR or Roundup• Multiple seedings needed• Dormant seedings useful in some locations• Seeding in late spring, summer more competitive


Roundup Ready BentgrassScotts and Monsanto

USDA Application was refiled , Environmental Impact Assessment currently underway

Currently fairway variety, greens type later

Parents used in backcross have high dollar spot resistance, excellent agronomic characterstics

Poa annua control - must rotate with other herbicides

Stewardship program to prevent escape

Available USA (?)


New Creeping Bentgrasses007 (DSB) MacKenzie

Tyee (SRX 1GD) Benchmark DSR

SR 1150 (SRX 1PDH) Alpha

T-1 13-M

Declaration Kingpin

Authority(235050) Pennlinks II

Memorial (A03-ED1) CY-2

Independence Cobra II (ISI-AP 9)

LS-44


Tyee Creeping Bentgrass(SRX 1GD)

• Dr. Leah Brilman + Rutgers• Stress tolerant germplasm• Very high density for greens• High summer density, no bloat• Bright medium green color• High turf quality• Dollar Spot resistance level

similar to L-93• High Brown Patch resistance• High fall color retention

Tyee

Photo Puyallup, WA November, 2004


Tyee Creeping Bentgrass

Rutgers Univ.

July, 2004

Greens Trial

High stress environment

Tyee rated a 9 by supers

Germination in 4 days

Tyee


007007 Creeping Bentgrass

• Developed by Dr. Rich Hurley, in cooperation with Rutgers University

• Excellent Dollar Spot resistant• Related to L-93• High turf quality• Excellent for greens, tees and

fairways• Moderately high density• Bright dark green colorPicture Arkansas May 2004

007


007007 Creeping Bentgrass

Rutgers Univ.

July, 2004

Greens Trial

High stress environment007


Rutgers University -2002 Greens

High dollar spot

resistance


SR 1150 Creeping BentgrassSRX 1PDH

• Rutgers University

– Dr. Stacy Bonos• Dollar Spot resistant• Moderately high density for

greens and fairways• Color, texture match with

SR 1119, Brighton, Sandhill• High turf quality• High Brown Patch resistance• High performance in Reduced

Fungicide Trials

Picture Rutgers Univ., Fairway Trial, July 04

SR 1150


Percent dollar spot ratings of Creeping Bentgrass cultivars on a fairway or tee at Lexington, KY. 2003 NTEP – Fairway or tee 2004 Data

Cultivar % dollar spot

Declaration 0.6

Pennlinks II 3.4

SR 1150 (SRX 1PDH) 5.3

Kingpin 5.4

Mackenzie 7.4

Penncross 8.6

L-93 8.7

SR 1119 8.9

Alpha 9.1

Shark 9.3

T-1 12.2

Independence 17.1

LSD @ 5% 4.5

New Creeping bentgrass


Mackenzie Creeping Bentgrass

Rutgers Univ.

July, 2004

Fairway Trial

High stress environment

Dr. Jim Murphy likes this one for fairways

High performer greens and fairways

SR 1119 Mackenzie


MacKenzie Creeping Bentgrass

Utah State University

July, 2005

Comparison with Kingpin

Brighter color, densitySR 1119 MacKenzie

Kingpin Mackenzie


New Creeping Bentgrass 2003 NTEP grown on sand, Mean of 12 locations

2004 data, 1-9, 9 = Ideal Turf


Tyee (SRX 1GD) 6.3 LS-44 5.9

Authority (235050) 6.2 MacKenzie 5.9

CY-2 6.1 Bengal 5.9

Penn A-1 6.1 Alpha 5.7

T-1 6.1 Benchmark DSR 5.7

Shark (23R) 6.1 13-M 5.7

Declaration 6.1 Kingpin (9200) 5.7

007 (DSB) 6.0 Pennlinks II 5.6

Memorial (A03-ED1) 6.0 Penncross 5.1

Independence 5.9 LSD@5% 0.3


New Creeping Bentgrass Quality ratings of Creeping Bentgrass cultivars grown on a green at 10 locations using an 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) or lower cutting height

2003 NTEP – Putting Green 2005 Data

Turfgrass Quality ratings 1-9, 9 = Ideal Turf

Cultivar Quality Cultivar Quality

Declaration 6.8 Kingpin 6.4

MacKenzie 6.7 Memorial 6.4

Authority 6.7 T-1 6.3

Tyee (SRX 1GD) 6.6 Benchmark DSR 6.2

CY-2 6.6 Alpha 6.0

Penn A-1 6.5 Pennlinks II 5.5

007 (DSB) 6.5 Penncross 5.0

LSD @ 5% 0.2


New Creeping Bentgrass 2003 NTEP grown on sand, Logan, UT

2004 data, 1-9, 9 = Ideal Turf


007 (DSB) 7.7 13-M 6.3

Shark 7.1 Alpha 6.3

Authority (235050) 6.8 Benchmark DSR 6.3

T-1 6.8 Bengal 6.1

Independence 6.6 CY-2 6.1

Penn A-1 6.6 LS-44 6.1

Tyee (SRX 1GD) 6.6 Kingpin (9200) 6.0

MacKenzie 6.6 Pennlinks II 5.5

Memorial (A03-ED1) 6.4 Penncross 4.5

Declaration 6.4 LSD@5% 0.8


New Creeping BentgrassCultivar Mean Quality Rutgers Cultivar Mean Quality RutgersTyee (SRX 1GD) 7.5 Century 5.0Shark (23R) Mt. View 6.6 SR 1119 5.0CY-2 Snow Brand 6.6 Pennington 13-M 4.8Lesco Authority (ended year down) 6.6 L-93 4.7Penn G-2 6.6 Simplot Alpha 4.6MacKenzie 6.4 Imperial 4.5Penn G-6 6.1 Kingpin ( 9200) 4.4007 (DSB) 6.0 Pennlinks II 4.4Penn A-2 6.0 Penneagle 4.4Simplot T-1 5.8 (BP, CS) Crenshaw 4.4DLF IS AP 9 5.7 Pennlinks 4.2Links Seed LS-44 5.6 TMI Benchmark DSR 3.9Penn A-4 5.4Scotts Memorial 5.3 LSD@5% 0.7Barenbrug Bengal 5.2


New Creeping Bentgrasses

Alpha and T-1

T-1 dark blue-green color

T-1 high density


New Creeping BentgrassesKingpin and MacKenzie

MacKenzie brighter green, Kingpin blue-green.


New Creeping BentgrassesKingpin and MacKenzie

LS-44 - developed from L-93 germplasm

Density not as great as 007

Benchmark DSR - moderate density, good dollar spot resistance


New Creeping Bentgrasses• Declaration - Developed for improved dollar spot resistance.

Fertility may need to be watched. Develops Bentgrass Bloat - summer scalping

• Memorial - Improved dollar spot resistance.

• Authority and Shark (23R) - Developed from same material. High dollar spot resistance, quality

• CY-2 - developed in Japan for dollar spot resistance


SRO Creeping Bentgrasses• All developed for high performance with lower nitrogen use. Levels

similar to what is being used by superintendents

• Less summer bentgrass bloat so reduced summer scalping potential

• High summer density for wear tolerance

• Little or no winter purpling

• High density can dominate Poa


Velvet Bentgrass Agrostis canina • Best putting surface

• Wear tolerant - better than any creeping

• Excellent drought and heat resistance

• Best shade tolerance

• Low fertility (after established)

• Best in acid sands or soils - needs acid

fertilizer and iron in alkaline conditions

• Reduced water requirements - 40 to 60% ET


Velvet Bentgrass Puyallup,

Washington

Greens Trials

Color difference

between velvets

and creepers


Velvet Bentgrass• Thatch control important

• Ball marks

• Less than creeping bents, repair similar to high density creeping bents

• Fairway usage

• Thatch control, holds ball upright, wear tolerant, dollar spot resistant


Velvet Bentgrass Eagle’s Nest

Golf Course

Ontario, Canada

Greens, tees, and fairways velvet bentgrass


Colonial bentgrass Agrostis capillaris• Fairway usage

• Dollar spot resistant against most strains

• More brown patch susceptible than creepers

• Less thatch than creepers

• Best at low fertility

• Better wear resistance than creepers

• Hold ball upright

• Low water use - in Utah maintain density 50% ET


Colonial bentgrass• In fairway or tee usage best combined with

Chewings and/or creeping red fescue

Use fine fescues in divot repair mixes

• More sensitive to ethofumesate

• Varieties - SR 7150, SR 7100, Bardot, Egmont, Tiger, Tiger II, Alistair, Glory, Heriot, Revere, Viter

• Use low fertility


SR 7150 Colonial bentgrass• Darkest green colonial bentgrass

Color similar to other turf species

• High dollar spot resistance

• Improved brown patch resistance

• Best at low fertility

• Blend with Chewings or other fine fescues

• Fairways or home lawns

• Overseeding on greens


Colonial bentgrass• Low Input Trial

• Oregon State Univ.

• 1lb. N Preplant

• Irrigated for Establishment

• No fertilizers/pesticides

• Mown at 1/2”, Clippings removed

• Irrigation only if severely stressed


Colonial bentgrassBest Performers after 7 years

Mix #9 Mix #7 Mix # 4

90% SR 5100 95% SR 5100 50% SR 3100

10% SR 7100 5% SR 7100 45% SR 5100 5% SR 7100

Upright, dense, high quality turf with few weeds, not segregated.

Colonial/Chewings Fescue also tested at URI for 5 years.

SR 5100 is Chewings fescue

SR 3100 is hard fescue


Dryland Colonial‘Highland’A. castellana A. capillaris

blue-green true green

stolons stolons

long rhizomes usually no rhizomes

scalp/false crown more upright


Choosing your bentgrass • Decide which species will meet your needs best

• Define your budget

• Which management options, diseases, other characteristics are your primary concerns

• Do you want a cultivar with a track record or willing to look at newest options

• Resources and people available to help in your decision

• New construction, renovation or conversion

• 2003 Fairway Trial many top ranked heavy thatch

seed research of oregon improving turfgrass through research choosing a bentgrass dr. leah a....

Documents

brilman director of

cultivar slide

bentgrass old

shark slide

feedback slide

excessive thatch slide

resistance high density

percent repair