Browsing by Subject "Turf quality characteristics"

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    Evaluation of the genetic potential of prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) for use as a low-input turfgrass
    (2010-05) Clark, Matthew Daniel
    Prairie junegrass [Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Shultes] is a perennial, shortgrass prairie species distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This species demonstrates tolerance to many environmental stresses found in Minnesota. In June 2007, 48 K. macrantha accessions from the United States National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) were grown and evaluated in two experiments; (i) seed production characteristics and (ii) turf quality characteristics in 2 locations (St. Paul, MN and Becker, MN). In the seed production experiment, seed was harvested in 2008, and significant variation was found among accessions for several seed production traits including harvest date, plant height, seedhead number, and seed yield. A significant correlation between seedhead number and seed yield was found, which can be utilized for indirect selection in the production nursery. Plant growth and seed yield were highest at the Becker location demonstrating the species’ preference for well drained soils. In the turf quality experiment, mowed space plants were evaluated from 2007- 2009, nineteen accessions at Becker and 30 accessions at St. Paul performed with an adequate turf quality rating of 5.0 or higher when averaged over the three-year study, suggesting the potential for use in low-input areas. Prairie junegrass from northern collection regions displayed the highest ratings in spring green-up which is an important turf trait in northern climates. There was a strong negative correlation between this trait and mowing quality at Becker (r = -0.44) and at St. Paul (r = -0.34). Several accessions demonstrated acceptable mowing quality and would be candidates for integration into a native prairie junegrass breeding program. In June 2007 a third experiment was conducted. Three hundred genotypes representing crossing blocks derived from Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota germplasm were grown and evaluated for turf quality characteristics in a randomized complete block design with five clonal replications at 2 locations (St. Paul and Becker) and evaluated for three years. Following establishment, plots received no supplemental irrigation or fertility and were mowed weekly to a height of 6.4 cm. Broad-sense heritability estimates were calculated on a clonal mean (Hc) and single plant (Hsp) basis for turf quality (Hc = 0.62, Hsp = 0.13), crown density (Hc = 0.55, Hsp = 0.09), mowing quality (Hc = 0.59, Hsp = 0.09), and genetic color (Hc=0.45, Hsp = 0.06). The heritability estimates indicate that selection for these traits should result in significant gains in germplasm improvement. Differences were observed for means and variances among clones, crossing blocks, and/or collection regions for many of the traits evaluated including rust (incidence and severity), spring green-up, plant height, lateral spread, vertical re-growth, and flowering traits. The positive correlations among some of these traits and those with moderate heritability estimates will allow for multi-trait selection in cultivar development. Rust (unknown Puccinia species) was present at both locations.