Tifton Turfgrass Breeding

Summary

Turfgrass breeding efforts at the University of Georgia, Tifton Campus are focused on the development of stress tolerant cultivars.

Situation

Homeowners, turfgrass managers, sod producers, and city planners benefit from turf through soil erosion control, water filtration, recreation, and aesthetic value. Ever-changing abiotic (drought, heat, shade, etc.) and biotic (insect, disease, nematode, etc.) stresses challenge the sustainability of established turfgrass stands. The development of reduced input turfgrasses (water- and nitrogen-use efficient, pest resistant, etc.) through plant breeding could offer an attractive alternative as irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide prices rise or resources become less available.

Response

Turfgrass breeding efforts at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus are focused on developing stress tolerant grasses that are more sustainable than older varieties. Recent evaluations using rain-out and shade structures, non-irrigated plots, and reduced fertilizer input have been prioritized. Pesticide applications, including insecticides and fungicides, have been eliminated from routine maintenance programs to better identify varieties with natural resistances or tolerances.

Impact

Turfgrasses developed in Tifton during the past 15 years have been licensed to numerous growers around the globe. There are currently 22 farms producing TifGrand bermudagrass on a little less than 1000 acres. TifTuf bermudagrass was released in 2014 on the basis of its drought tolerance, wear resistance, persistence in the shade and widespread adaptability. It is already grown by 51 sod producers across the United States and internationally on approximately 5,000 acres with continued producer interest for expansion. Also, TifTuf is currently ranked #1 in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program bermudagrass trials. Efforts have been initiated at UGA to develop new zoysiagrasses that are more vigorous, disease tolerant, and pest resistant than currently available cultivars. Bladerunner Farms has allowed our program to access to their “world” zoysiagrass germplasm collection to make this endeavor more feasible. Currently, our program encompasses bermudagrass, centipedegrass and zoysiagrass breeding material from the seedling stage to advanced experimental hybrids which have persisted through rigorous testing for over a decade. Over 72 laboratory, greenhouse, and field evaluations are underway to maintain the pipeline that has provided leading turfgrass cultivars for over a half century. Collaboration with other institutions during the past few years and has included work with Purdue University, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Arizona to test advanced turfgrasses for stresses not found in Tifton, GA. In 2015, the turfgrass breeding programs at UGA were awarded a 4-year, $4.4 million USDA-NIFA grant to evaluate hybrids we developed for persistence, survival, and recovery under limited irrigation and long-term drought in a partnership with the University of Florida, Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, and NC State University. Also, the turfgrass breeding, physiology, and weed sciences research programs are working on a 3-year USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant project to further develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) identification of weeds in sod production to improve the efficiency of turfgrass certification. Dissemination of turfgrass breeding and management research progress at the Tifton Campus is carried out at the annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference in April. There were 171 individuals from the turf and landscape industry that participated in presentations, tours, and continuing education during the 2018 conference. This event offers a centralized location for peer networking and information exchange. Most importantly the conference allows communication of practical application of findings from researchers to the end-user.

State Issue

Sustainability, Conservation, & the Environment

Details

• Year: 2018
• Geographic Scope: International
• County: Tift
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources