Seed update

Golf course superintendents have many choices when selecting turfgrass. Researchers are working on different varieties to improve drought tolerance and disease resistance. The following are descriptions about newer varieties.

Barenbrug USA
Barimpala bluegrass is a new class of Kentucky bluegrass that is bred for rapid germination and establishment. Under ideal conditions, it can be established at the same rate as tall fescue (1.5 to two times faster than average bluegrass). The quick establishment helps crowd-out weeds. It also has high traffic tolerance, early spring green-up and medium green color.

Sea Spray seashore paspalum is a seeded variety from Turf-Seed and is available this fall.

For more information, visit www.barenbrug.com.

Burlingham Seeds
Buena Vista perennial ryegrass features enhanced gray leaf spot resistance and improved overall turf quality. Buena Vista has a more-than-90-percent endophyte level that enhances turf performance. The endophyte is a naturally occurring fungus that works together with developing and mature plants to enhance stress tolerance and improve insect resistance.

Turbo tall fescue has been selected for its performance and brown-patch-disease resistance in various conditions. Turbo maintains high turf quality through late fall, when other varieties can look dormant from late season frost. It performs well when mowed short or maintained taller. Using higher fertility, Turbo was screened for the newest improvements in brown patch disease tolerance. Under low fertility and tall mowing, it maintains a high turf quality. Turbo has good disease resistance versus pythium and typhula blight. It is endophyte enhanced for added stress tolerance. Turbo is widely adaptable and has improved traffic tolerance.

Dynamo Kentucky bluegrass is a fine-leafed turf variety that’s a cross of Blacksburg and Unique turf varieties developed by Pure-Seed Testing. Dynamo thrives under short-cut, high-maintenance applications. The variety has traits that also offer good low maintenance performance. With improved shade tolerance and powdery mildew resistance, it mixes well with Midnight types to give a nice genetic balance for turf and sod mixes. Classified as a compact America type, it was developed to provide a medium, dark-green plant with high shoot density. It has a short growth habit, good wear tolerance and color retention. The variety greens up in early spring and retains its color later through the growing season. It has good seedling vigor and high sod strength and is widely adaptable to use in mixes. It shows resistance to powdery mildew, summer patch and dollar spot diseases. Dynamo will perform well when cut as low as one-half inch, but is easily adaptable to a 2.5 inch height of cut.

For more information, visit www.burlinghamseeds.com.

DLF International Seeds
PhD perennial ryegrass blend contains three varieties, such as All-Star2, Top Hat II, Esquire, Keystone, Essence, Gator 3 and Derby Supreme. PhD provides a broad genetic background for a range of adaptation and improved horizontal disease resistance. It’s a good choice for winter overseeding on greens, tees and fairways where rapid transitioning is desired. It’s main features are: dark green color, quick establishment, strong wear tolerance, strong cold tolerance and disease resistance.

Sabre III Poa trivialis was developed to provide golf course superintendents who overseed with a denser and darker green turf. Benefits of overseeding with Sabre III included rapid establishment and a good level of resistance to leaf spot caused by Drechslera spp. Initial testing shows improvement of turf quality, density and color over other commercially available varieties. Sabre III was developed for winter overseeding turfgrass mixtures. It is also recommended in mixes designed for cool-season, shade-tolerant, mild-climatic zones. In winter, overseeding benefits include: rapid transition, low height of cut and low temperature tolerance at establishment.

For more information, visit www.dlfis.com.

Jacklin Seed
In national independent trials on greens of 26 commercially available and experimental bentgrass varieties, T-1 creeping bentgrass ranked No. 1 in genetic color and showed a significant difference above other varieties. T-1 can heal ball marks and repair divots rapidly and make visible gains against Poa annua each year. T-1 germinates quickly and fills in aggressively.

Alpha creeping bentgrass offers ground cover under difficult growing conditions. Alpha’s aggressive growth and turf density help quickly establish a uniform, dark green playing surface that will recover quickly from ball marks and divots. Alpha is a good choice for interseeding into existing Poa annua or bentgrass stands on greens, tees or fairways.

For more information, visit www.jacklinseed.com/turf/jacklin.

Johnston Seed Co.
In five years of NTEP trials, Riviera Bermudagrass was ranked first overall for early green-up; turf quality; rich, green color; texture; uniformity and density. Riviera also is exceptionally tolerant to cold and is drought and disease resistant. It has high wear tolerance and divot recovery rate. Riviera planted in mid-May as far north as Kansas City is playable in seven to eight weeks after seeding. It’s available in sod.

For more information, visit johnsonseedco.com.

Lebanon Turf
New varieties scored well in the new NTEP bentgrass trials. In the fairway height trial, Declaration creeping bentgrass ranked No. 1 for overall turf quality and No. 1 for dollar spot resistance. Independence creeping bentgrass ranked high for brown patch resistance and Poa encroachment. In the greens height trial, Declaration tied for No. 1 for overall turf quality and ranked near the top in most tests. Independence ranked high for overall turf quality, brown patch, copper spot and pythium root rot resistances. Legendary Velvet bentgrass ranked high for fine leaf texture and brown patch resistance and was one of the top velvets overall. All three varieties ranked high for seedling vigor.

For more information, visit www.LebanonTurf.com.

LESCO
Authority creeping bentgrass is a new variety rated No. 1 in 2004 NTEP trials for bentgrass greens. It has dollar spot and brown patch resistance, improved density, an upright growth habit, wilt resistance and heat tolerance. It’s ideal for seeding new greens, tees or fairways or interseeding existing bentgrass turf for improved quality and disease resistance.

Grand Prix creeping bentgrass exhibits good tolerance to brown patch and excellent performance in hot, humid climatic conditions. Other features are: upright growth habit, reduced grain, increased density, improved disease tolerance, medium green color, increased resistance to Poa annua invasion and a preferred low mowing height (1/8 inch).

For more information, visit www.lesco.com.

Scotts
Thermal Blue, formerly HB-129 Hybrid Bluegrass, keeps quality with less maintenance and minimal water and nitrogen inputs. Thermal Blue shows rapid germination and establishment, a trait uncharacteristic of Kentucky bluegrasses. With a medium genetic color, it’s similar to varieties Coventry, Jefferson, Limousine and Baronie and slightly darker than Eagleton. Leaf texture is somewhat broad, similar to Abbey, Moonlight, Blacksburg II and Raven. Thermal Blue also offers: highly rated density, top statistically rated spring green, top performing percent living ground cover during summer months and high-rated drought tolerance. It’s adapted to regions where Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue are used. It can be used as a mono-stand, in mixes with Kentucky bluegrass, and/or in mixes with perennial ryegrass, or at 10-20 percent by weight in mixes with turf type tall fescue. The spreading nature of Thermal Blue will allow turf stands to repair from drought and mechanical injury.

For more information, visit www.scotts.com.

Seed Research of Oregon
Cheetah (SRX 26370) Kentucky bluegrass is one of the highest rated Kentucky bluegrass varieties for sod strength. It has high levels of cool weather or winter growth activity. It performs well at various mowing heights and in a wide range of climates. Other qualities are: good summer patch resistance and excellent stem rust resistance; superior disease resistance – typhula blight and stripe smut; developed for ultra fine texture and dense growth; early spring green-up; great shade and low light tolerance, and very wear tolerant; medium dark green color; stress tolerant for heat and drought; excellent performer in the Pacific Northwest; and blends well with fine fescues and perennial ryegrass.

Ulysses (SRX SRX 27832) Kentucky bluegrass is noted for its high wear tolerance throughout the season. A Julia type, Ulysses has high turf quality ratings under all types of use and good leaf spot and stripe smut resistance. Other qualities are: maintains quality when stressed; maintains well at short mowing height, as low as ½ inch for fairways; texture and density blends well with other grasses; and noted performance on sites in the mountain West.

Orfeo Kentucky bluegrass consistently produces high levels of rhizomes, contributing to great sod strength and better sod harvest. The aggressive type bluegrass has the highest ratings for wear tolerance and has good rust tolerance. Other qualities include: rapid germination and fast establishment for sod production; good performance under cloudy conditions of spring and fall; excellent recovery from wear and use.

Scaldis II hard fescue has good shade tolerance and lower thatch development. It blends well with other fine fescues, Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass. Other qualities include: good summer patch and red thread resistance; excellent spring and winter color; and high seed yield potential.

Turfgrass varieties are judged based on their characteristics and performance at NTEP trials.

Peregrine (APR 1425) perennial ryegrass has improved resistance to gray leaf spot and is an excellent choice for use on all ryegrass projects, from southern winter overseeding to areas of permanent ryegrass turf use. Peregrine’s seedling salt tolerance is as good or better as other salt tolerant varieties. It also blends well with Kentucky bluegrass for sod production. Other qualities include: good resistance to crown rust and red thread; highly stress tolerant for drought and heat conditions; excellent cold weather performance, great for southern winter overseeding; dark, green color and compact, dwarf growth habit; and a high density that provides superior performance at low mowing heights.

SR 4550 (APR 1557) perennial ryegrass has exhibited good seedling salt tolerance for good growth under effluent irrigation conditions. This variety has improved resistance to gray leaf spot, has good crown rust and red thread resistance, and has high seedling vigor and fast establishment. Other qualities include: dense, compact, wear-tolerant growth; good insect resistance from endophytes; and dark green color.

SR 7150 (SRX MODD) colonial bentgrass is dark green with fine texture and high density for quality turf. It blends well with fine fescues for high quality sod production. It has a high wear tolerance with early spring green-up and has better heat and drought tolerance than other colonial bents. Other qualities include: improved brown patch resistance, dollar spot resistance, and good germination and establishment.
007 (experimental DSB) creeping bentgrass has high dollar spot resistance and is well suited for tees and fairways with low fungicide input. It also has moderately high turf density; was highly rated in the NTEP trials; has bright, dark green, good winter color; and maintains well under reduced mowing height greens maintenance.

SR 1200 creeping bentgrass is a dense variety well suited to use on greens, tees and fairways of high-end courses, either planted alone or overseeded into existing creeping bentgrass to upgrade and improve quality. It has a stress tolerant germplasm for performance in tough conditions. Other qualities are: no excessive thatch buildup; dark green color; high dollar spot resistance; highly rated for fall color retention; and high resistance to brown patch.

Companion zoysiagrass has a high wear tolerance with medium leaf texture, performs well in varied climates and management levels, and has significantly early spring green-up. Other traits are: good seedling vigor and establishment; dark green color with good density; good resistance to brown patch and zoysia mite; and superior spring and summer density ratings.

For more information, visit www.sroseed.com.

Tee-2-Green
PennLinks II bentgrass was bred naturally for superior resistance to dollar spot. PennLinks II also provides a grainless playing surface and upright, semi-aggressive growth habit. Medium dark green in color, it offers excellent heat and drought tolerances.

Developed by Pure-Seed Testing, Penneagle II bentgrass was bred systematically to provide an increased natural resistance to brown patch. Penneagle II’s medium fine, semi-erect growth habit makes it an ideal fit for fairways. It has a darker green color than other bentgrasses, and its early spring green-up helps it compete effectively against Poa annua.

For more information, visit www.tee-2-green.com.

Turf Merchants
Benchmark DSR creeping bentgrass became available after the new crop harvest in August. The new variety comes from a multiple-year breeding project at Rutgers University that focused its selection on dollar spot, brown patch and red thread resistance. Benchmark DSR has a medium leaf texture and can reduce the need for fungicides. It also displays excellent summer density and spring green-up.

For more information, visit turfmerchants.com.

TurfOne
Argos (A99-2168) Kentucky bluegrass is derived from a cross of an America-type and Shamrock-type cultivar, resulting in a dark green color and early spring green-up, as well as improved heat and drought tolerance. Argos has demonstrated high leaf spot resistance. Compact in nature, Argos will perform under a variety of cutting heights including one-half inch, which makes it extremely versatile for a variety of turf applications. It has a fine texture and mixes well with other species.

Headstart 2 (PRG HS-07) perennial ryegrass is ranked in the top 1 percent in recent screening trials for overall performance and genetic color. It demonstrates superior density even under lower mowing heights and recuperates quickly from traffic and summer stresses. Improved disease resistance includes rust and red thread. It establishes rapidly, is dark green in color, has extremely fine texture and is extremely wear tolerant.

Firebolt (PRG HS-09) perennial ryegrass was developed to exhibit fine leaf texture and a compact form resulting in a dense turf suitable for a variety of applications where an attractive and durable turf is desired. Firebolt has demonstrated good resistance to rust diseases and moderately good resistance to gray leaf spot. Heat and drought tolerant, Firebolt shows good recovery from a variety of summer stresses. Other features include rapid establishment, dark green color and low-mowing tolerance.

TransCend (LHTT-1) intermediate ryegrass is the latest result of the Pickseed Group patented development process, resulting in an intermediate ryegrass with perennial ryegrass features such as fine texture and darker color but the quick transitioning of an annual ryegrass. TransCend also has demonstrated improved salt tolerance. It can be used wherever a temporary high quality turf is desired, such as in overseeding or as a nurse crop for other species. Other features include a compact form and heat and drought tolerance.

For more information, visit turfone.com.

Turf-Seed
Gray Hawk is a gray leaf spot tolerant blend anchored by the new Silver Dollar perennial ryegrass variety. The blend also will include Graystar and Citation Fore varieties. The blend will be available for fall and spring in limited quantities.

Sea Spray seashore paspalum is available from seed and will be widely available this fall.

Some enhanced varieties also offered by the company include:
Quicksilver perennial ryegrass is glyphosate tolerant and stem rust, crown rust resistant.
Silver Dollar perennial ryegrass provides high gray leaf spot and dollar spot resistance, and is crown rust and stem rust resistant.
Silverado II tall fescue provides high gray leaf spot resistance, as well as good heat tolerance and brown patch resistance.
Silverstar tall fescue is brown patch and pythium blight resistant.
Tar Heel II tall fescue provides excellent brown patch and gray leaf spot resistance and is heat and shade tolerant. Its salt tolerance equals 85.7 percent at 25,000 ppm NaCI.
Aurora II fine fescue is a hard variety that provides excellent red thread resistance. It also is pythium blight, dollar spot and leaf spot resistant.
Florentine GT strong creeping red fescue is glyphosate and salt tolerant.
Moonshine Kentucky bluegrass is a Shamrock hybrid that provides good stem rust and stripe smut resistance. Its seed count per pound equals 1,180,020.

For more information, visit www.turf-seed.com. GCN