Improving Turfgrass Through Research Seed Research of Oregon Perennial Ryegrass Improvement Dr. Leah...

Improving Turfgrass Through Research

Seed Research of Oregon

Perennial Ryegrass Improvement

Dr. Leah A. Brilman


Improving Perennial Ryegrass

Gray Leaf Spot

Germination with salt stress

Winter-active growth


Perennial ryegrass

Advantages in mixtures

Quick establishment

Very dark green color

Resistant to different diseases than KBG/TF

Endophyte-enhanced

Disadvantages in mixtures

Overdominate other components

Bunch-type growth

Reduced stress tolerance


GLS - What me worry?

• Gray leaf spot in perennial ryegrass– First reported in 1991 Pennsylvania

– Epidemics in 1995, 1997 and 2000 in Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and transition zones

• Verified also in MidWest, New England, now West

• Large areas of fairways, roughs and athletic fields can be rapidly lost

• In California both permanent and overseeded turf


Gray leaf spotWater-soaked lesions

Dark colored spots

Gray to brown lesions with darker border

Twisting, hooked leaves

Leaf and plant death

Grayish color


Gray Leaf Spot Fairway CA


GLS in CA 2003-2004Almost 30 courses with positive diagnoses – mainly perennial ryegrass

1st epidemic:

– August – September

2nd epidemic

– October – November

RyegrassRyegrassKikuyugrassKikuyugrass


What we know

• Gray leaf spot spores primarily airborne and spread by mowers, equipment (How did it get to CA?)

• Gray leaf spot overwinters as dormant mycelium in dead tissue - cold winters can reduce initial innoculum

• Long periods of leaf wetness under hot conditions favor the disease

• Initial innoculum builds up under lower temperatures then it explodes

• Often first occurs in shady, wet areas


Temperature and Leaf Wetness


What we know

• Initial symptoms are an off-color, wilted appearance

• Often mistaken for drought stress so irrigation is applied increasing period of leaf wetness = more disease

• Seedlings tend to be more susceptible than mature plants - could partially be due to maintenance of wet conditions in seedbed

• High nitrogen makes it worse

• Primo in spring can make it worse, but not in fall

• Putting a tarp on a field not a good idea during heat


What we know

• Fungicide control

QoIs - Heritage at high rate good with high disease pressure, Compass at label rate sometimes has reduced control

Benzimidazole - Clearys 3336 good at 3 oz except highest pressure

• Always add in a contact fungicide for spores

• Resistance already reported to QoIs - switch to fungicide with moderate activity for part of year

• Best long term solution lies in breeding for resistance


What we know• California has four strains of disease - more than Eastern US

• Appears to indicate longer term presence or multiple introductions

• Origin of strains uncertain

• Resistant cultivars show variability in resistance from Eastern US

• High resistant cultivars still show resistance but highest level may vary

• One verified incidence in Oregon


Gray Leaf Spot Resistance

Rutgers University - 2002 Trial 1-9, 9 = Best

2002 2002

Cultivar GLS Res. Quality

MS1 Comp. 8.0 7.0

Integra C1 7.0 5.2

SR 4550 (1557) 7.0 4.3

Integra 5.7 3.3

Amazing 5.0 3.5

Pizzazz 4.3 3.2

LSD@5% 1.4 1.0



Rutgers University - 2003 Trial 1-9, 9 = Best

2003 2003

Cultivar GLS Res. Quality

SR 4600 7.7 7.2

Panther GLS 7.8 6.9

SR 4550 (1557) 6.0 5.3

Integra C1 6.0 6.7

Integra 4.0 4.2

Pizzazz 3.8 3.8

LSD@5% 1.2 1.2


SR 4600 Perennial ryegrass

• Superior Gray Leaf Spot resistance

• Excellent wear tolerance due to spreading growth habit

• Superior Summer stress tolerance

• Enhanced Winter active growth

• Fine leaf texture and vivid, dark green color

• Widely adaptable to differing climates

• Highest rated wear tolerance Puyallup, WA


Harrier Perennial ryegrass

• Excellent Gray Leaf Spot resistance

• High close mowing quality due to upright-growth habit

• Superior Spring green-up

• Excellent traffic stress tolerance

• Fine leaf texture and viivid, dark green color

• Upright-growth habit reduces stemminess for dense fine-textured turf under close mowing

• High Red Thread and Brown Patch resistance

• High seedling vigor for fast emergence and establishment



2004 NTEP National Perennial Ryegrass Trial Gray Leaf Spot Ratings - Mean of 2 Locations - 2005 Data Disease Rating: 1-9; 9=No Disease

Variety Mean Variety Mean

Fiesta 4 9.0 Keystone 2 6.8

SR 4600 8.8 Overdrive 6.5

Harrier 8.5 Pizzazz 5.5

Derby Xtreme 8.3 Palmer III 5.3

Manhattan 5 GLR 8.3 Affinity 5.2

Charismatic II GLSR 8.2 Pianist 5.2

Palmer IV 8.0 Brightstar SLT 4.7

Regal 5 7.8 Pinnacle 3.3

Revenge GLX 7.7

Fusion 7.3 LSD Value 1.1

Buena Vista 7.2



2004 Perennial ryegrass

NTEP Gray leaf spot -

Rutgers University


Ryegrass and GLSFurther studies and needsPyricularia grisea (Magnaporthe grisea) can rapidly

change racesCurrently unknown number of races in USDo resistance genes work against all current races?Some variability in results from seedling trials in NJ

and mature plants in MD - high resistant types remain resistant

New germplasm sources - many resistant genes from European collections

Genetic studies currently being done


Ryegrass and GLS

Current and future buying decisionsVarieties take two years to get some production

started, three years for maximum productionCurrent varieties with good resistance in last NTEP

SR 4500, SR 4220. SR 4350, Racer 2, Calypso IIVarieties with improved resistance in production

SR 4550, SR 4600, Peregrine, HarrierVarieties available next year

SRX 4692, SRX 4682, LCK


Perennial ryegrassGray leaf spot is not only characteristic - other goalsSalt tolerance for effluent use, rapid blight resistanceWear toleranceRapid establishment - Best species for establishment during

playWinter-active growth for many uses

Daylength-dependent dwarf types less suitableHeat, drought and cold toleranceDecumbent, spreading growth - superior in Europe for repairReduce nitrogen requirementsQuick transitioning


Headstart II Perennial ryegrass

• Excellent winter color and winter active growth

• Superior Spring green-up

• Excellent traffic stress tolerance

• Fine leaf texture and vivid, dark green color

• High Red Thread , Pythium Blight and Brown Patch resistance

• High seedling vigor for fast emergence and establishment


Firebolt Perennial ryegrass

• High performance under “Schedule C” homeowner

• High turf quality in Transition zone

• Excellent performance in PNW - low light intensity

• Excellent performance Mountain West

• Very Dark Green Color, fine leaf texture

• Superior red thread resistance

• Good brown patch resistance


Salt tolerance in ryegrass

Tolerance during seed germinationMay be different than tolerance as adult plantsImportant to aid establishment - especially in

overseedingTemperatures shown to have an effectDifferent salts - we use artificial sea saltStudies with barley looking for genes suggest

relationship to ABA synthesisHigh varieties in our trials also show high adult salt

tolerance and rapid blight resistance


Germination with salt

Fig 1. Salt screening of SRO Perennial ryegrass at 10,000 ppm salt concentration

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10

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Omni Charger II Brightstar SLt Peregrine SR 4420 Hawkeye SR 4220 SRX Pengs

Perennial ryegrass varieties

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date of planting 4/8/04

date of planting 11/4/04

a

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Note: Values followed by the same letter on the same color bar do not difer significantly according to the Duncan's Multiple Range Test (P<0.05)


Germination with salt

Fig. 3. Seedling vigor of Perennial ryegrass planted in two different dates at 10,000 ppm salt concentration.

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1

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7

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SRX Pengs SR 4220 Hawkeye SR 4420 Peregrine Brightstar SLT Charger II Omni


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rmin

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Date of planting 4/8/04Date of planting 11/4/04 e

c d

b

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ab ab

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a

a


Germination with saltFig 2. Salt Screening of SRO Perennial ryegrass at 12,000 ppm salt concentration

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5

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Brightstar SLT Omni SR 4550 Charger II Peregrine SR 4420 Hawkeye SR 4220


Ger

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abc bc

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Salt tolerant and other ryes

• STR 4PSLT - plants from salt screening planted and rouged for uniformity, color and yield. Has germplasm from Penguin plus SR 4420, 4220 and Hawkeye. Planted fall, 2005.

• STR 4TPC - Progeny of survivors in very heavy salt at TPC Scottsdale.

• STR 45AB - Winter-active material.

• STR 4QTR - Quick transitioning ryegrass


Gray leaf spot resistant ryes

• Peregrine - 1st cycle - certified seed

• SR 4550 - 2nd cycle - certified seed

• SR 4600 (SRX 4SP) - Certified this fall - brown patch resistance, lateral spread, highest turf quality

• Harrier (SRX 4UP3) - Certified this fall - stress tolerant, high turf quality

• SRX 4682 - Certified next fall - Hawkeye II, high gray leaf spot resistance

• SRX 4692 - Certified next fall - SR 4220 der.

• LCK - Certified next fall - High brown patch and GLS


Why overseed with different species?

• Use mixtures for genetic diversity

• Resistance to diseases and stresses

• Color contrast

• Improved transition

• Improved quality

• Smaller seeds

• Potential cost savings


Velvet Bentgrass - Overseeding

• Very small seed size (best for ultradwarfs)

• Best putting surface

• Highest wear tolerance, high density

• Medium establishment

• Germinates well at low soil temperatures

• Medium dark green – Mixes well

• Best low light or shade tolerance

• Excellent Spring transition


Velvet Bentgrass - Overseeding

SR 7200 Velvet bentgrass

Creeping bentgrass


Labyrinthula on Poa trivialis in SC

Why overseed with different species?


Fine fescues - Overseeding

• Very fine with stiff texture• Good wear tolerance • Winter-active growth • Improved transition with high quality• Rapid germination - Chewings and red• Resistance to Labyrinthula fungus• Medium seed size


Fine fescues - Overseeding

• High salt tolerance• Color and texture contrast• Increase genetic diversity of mixtures• Mixtures with perennial ryegrass,

bentgrasses, Poa trivialis• Seeding rates (alone) - Do not mow too soon • Greens 25 - 30 lbs./1000 sq. ft. • Tees 20-25 lbs./1000 sq. ft.• Fairways 10-15 lbs./1000 sq.ft. - Excellent


Chewings Fescue

• Strengths

– Rapid germination - close to perennial ryegrass

– Winter-active growth

– Heat tolerance - improved cultivars

– Tolerant of low height of cut - most improved cultivars

– Shade tolerance

– Recent studies on low maintenance fairways in WI, MN and IL showed highest performance by Chewings

– WI NTEP Fairway Trials with wear applied Chewings fescue was highest ranked

– Good summer patch, leaf spot resistance


Chewings Fescue

• Where to use

– Fairways - Northern United States, PNW, Coastal CA

– Fairways - Overseeding blends with perennial ryegrass

– Roughs - Northern through transition zone.

• How to use

– With all bentgrasses for divot repair or greens repair

– Low maintenance fairways

– Roughs - shaded, ornamental seedheads

– Overseeding blends - better transition, fine textured

– In blends with Kentucky bluegrass for fairways/roughs


Slender Creeping Red Fescue

• Strengths

– High salt tolerance

– Resistance to rapid blight

– Short rhizomes for repair

– Tolerant of short cutting heights for fairways

– Improved ones with high heat tolerance

– Excellent fall, winter and spring color

– Extensively used in Europe for fairways . European types have less heat tolerance, higher density, low seed yields.

– Short growing height



• Weaknesses

– Brighter green color - not as dark green

– Limited number of cultivars with endophytes

– New cultivars tolerate heat in Central Valley of California - others not enough heat tolerance for some areas

– Most cultivars with good resistance to leaf spot and red thread, but poor resistance to dollar spot and summer patch. Newest cultivars improved resistance to all diseases.



• Where to use

– Fairways - areas with salt problems overseeding blends and permanent turf in cool season areas

– Greens and tees for overseeding in salt areas - used for permanent greens in UK

– Roughs - mown and unmown.

– Important component in links style blends

– Besides parking lots, roadways where salt is used

• How to use

– Blends with other fine fescues, colonial bentgrass, bluegrass and perennial ryegrass


Dawson slender creeping red fescue Perennial ryegrass


Transitional Ryegrass

Percent Cover Annual, Transitional, Perennial + mixtures. Seeded Feb. 20, 2004. Puyallup, WA.

Treatment March March April April April April 12 25 2 9 16 22

Axcella AR 26.7 50.0 68.3 91.7 98.3 100 Transeze TR 23.3 48.3 70.0 90.0 95.0 100 PR Blend 8.3 23.3 53.3 53.3 76.7 95TR + PR 21.7 38.3 70.0 85.0 100 100 AR + PR 25.0 43.3 71.7 90.0 98.3 100

LSD@5% 10.2 12.7 11.7 24.9 0 0

Dr. Gwen Stahnke - Washington State University Puyallup, WA Dr. Leah A. Brilman - Seed Research of Oregon



• Strengths

– Very quick establishment

– Less expensive seed

– Lasts only one to two seasons

– Germination and growth at cooler temp.

– Moderate green color

– Less mowing requirement than annual

– Does not overdominate mixtures

– Can be used with Kentucky bluegrass as nurse grass


Transitional ryegrass

PR TR AR

PR/TR



• Weaknesses

– Poor mowing quality in spring

– Lighter green than current perennial ryegrass varieties

– Low salt tolerance as mature plants

– Germination excellent with salts




• Where to use

– Overseeding south

– Nurse crop north

• How to use

– Overseeding - to improve transition

– Nurse grass

– Repair during colder times of the year


Improving Turfgrass Through Research Seed Research of Oregon Perennial Ryegrass Improvement Dr. Leah...

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