USPP15218P2 - Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’ - Google Patents

Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’ Download PDF

Info

Publication number
USPP15218P2
USPP15218P2 US10/704,033 US70403303V USPP15218P2 US PP15218 P2 USPP15218 P2 US PP15218P2 US 70403303 V US70403303 V US 70403303V US PP15218 P2 USPP15218 P2 US PP15218P2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
gem
southern
leaf
zoysiagrass
length
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime, expires
Application number
US10/704,033
Inventor
Ronald Nixon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US10/704,033 priority Critical patent/USPP15218P2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of USPP15218P2 publication Critical patent/USPP15218P2/en
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01H—NEW PLANTS OR NON-TRANSGENIC PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
    • A01H5/00—Angiosperms, i.e. flowering plants, characterised by their plant parts; Angiosperms characterised otherwise than by their botanic taxonomy
    • A01H5/12—Leaves
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01H—NEW PLANTS OR NON-TRANSGENIC PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
    • A01H6/00—Angiosperms, i.e. flowering plants, characterised by their botanic taxonomy
    • A01H6/46—Gramineae or Poaceae, e.g. ryegrass, rice, wheat or maize
    • A01H6/469—Zoysia

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the genus and species Zoysia japonica (L.) Merr.
  • the present invention relates to a new and distinct asexually reproduced variety of perennial zoysiagrass ( Zoysia japonica (L.)) Merr.
  • This invention relates to a new and distinct perennial zoysiagrass cultivar identified as ‘Southern Gem’ zoysiagrass (herein referred to as ‘Southern Gem’).
  • the inventor Ronald Nixon, discovered ‘Southern Gem’ under cultivated conditions in a sod field near Midway, Ala.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ was identified as a distinctly different vegetative patch or segregated clonal plant differing by finer leaf texture from the suspected parental variety ‘Meyer’ (unpatented).
  • FIG. 1 Inflorescence of ‘Southern Gem’ zoysiagrass.
  • FIG. 2 Tiller of ‘Southern Gem’ zoysiagrass with leaf characters.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ was characterized in greenhouse and field conditions. ‘Southern Gem’ is a unique variety of zoysiagrass ( Zoysia japonica (L.)) Merr. that was discovered under cultivated conditions in a sod field. ‘Southern Gem’ was identified in the field as having a finer leaf texture than its suspected parent ‘Meyer’. The sod field was located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8A. ‘Southern Gem’ was propagated by the inventor under field and greenhouse conditions in Midway, Ala. by cutting of rhizomes and stolons, rooting them in soil, and planting of the rooted material to provide planting stock for studying performance and for comparison of morphological characters after propagation.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ is a perennial zoysiagrass that spreads by both stolons and rhizomes. Characteristics of ‘Southern Gem’ measured in 2003 were taken from plants that were approximately 9 months in age. The greenhouse was located near Lebanon, Oreg., with a nighttime low temperature of 50 degrees F., and daytime high of 80 degrees F., and a minimum soil temperature of 77 degrees F. The plants were grown with a minimum 14-hour day length, supplemented with photosynthetically active radiation equivalent to approximately 50% sunlight. The plants were fertilized with the equivalent of 1 pound of actual N per month, using a soluble fertilizer of 20-20-20 in two equal soluble applications per month.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ has a finer leaf texture than the suspected parent ‘Meyer’ and ‘El Toro’ (Table 1) with a wider leaf blade than ‘Cashmere’ (unpatented), ‘Diamond’, ‘Emerald’ (unpatented), or ‘Cavalier’ when measured under greenhouse conditions in Riverside, Oreg.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ has a shorter floral area than ‘Meyer’ and ‘El Toro’, with shorter anthers than ‘Meyer’ (Table 2) and longer anthers than ‘Diamond’.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ has adaxial surface leaf hairs compared to the varieties ‘Cashmere’ and ‘Royal’ that have no leaf hairs.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ has not shown any susceptibility in tests to date in the Midway, Ala. production site to the diseases and insects common to the zoysiagrass genus. ‘Southern Gem’ shows turf density similar to ‘Cashmere’. ‘Southern Gem’ has shown good turfgrass performance and temperature adaptation when tested as far north as Midway, Ala. USDA zone 8A, which would extend the area of adaptation for ‘Southern Gem’ in a line from South-Central Alabama across central Arkansas through Central Texas in an East/West line and on a North/South line from South central Alabama south through Mexico. ‘Southern Gem’ will be limited only by winter survival in colder regions.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ is similar to most medium to fine textured zoysiagrasses in water use demands as shown in production situations, and will be limited by adequate precipitation in drier to arid regions. ‘Southern Gem’ is adapted from sandy to heavier loam soil textures and from slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil pH.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ is a cultivar of a single clone discovered under cultivated conditions in Midway, Ala. in a sod field of ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass.
  • ‘Southern Gem’ is a perennial plant that spreads by stolons and rhizomes and produces a dense, medium to fine textured turfgrass.
  • the inflorescence of ‘Southern Gem’ is a terminal spike-like raceme, with spikelets on short pedicels.
  • Leaf Blade rolled in the bud, slightly concave surface.
  • Leaf blade pubescence Adaxial leaf surface has very few (1-4; some with 0) hairs approximately 1.1 mm in length; hairs absent on abaxial leaf surface.
  • Leaf sheath pubescence few long hairs at mouth of sheath approximately 3.1 mm length.
  • Leaf blade margin very slight roughness with small serrations.
  • Leaf ligule hairs up to 1.5 mm in length, 5 to 7 in number in center of ligule.
  • Blade length mean.— 4.40 cm.
  • Blade width mean.— 2.27 mm.
  • Sheath length mean.— 1.73 cm.
  • Anther length 1.43 mm.
  • Matured spikelet ( lemma on seed ).—161D greyed yellow.
  • Turf quality (rated 1-9, 9 best): 7.6; ‘Meyer’: 5; ‘El Toro’: 4.5.
  • Turf color (rated 1-9, 9 best): 6; ‘Meyer’: 5; ‘El Toro’: 4.
  • Turf density establishment rating (rated 1-9, 9 best): 5.0; ‘Meyer’: 4; ‘El Toro’: 4.
  • Leaf texture rating (rated 1-9, 9 best): 7; ‘Meyer’: 4; ‘Diamond’: 9.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physiology (AREA)
  • Botany (AREA)
  • Developmental Biology & Embryology (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Natural Medicines & Medicinal Plants (AREA)
  • Breeding Of Plants And Reproduction By Means Of Culturing (AREA)

Abstract

An asexually reproduced variety of perennial zoysiagrass with a unique combination of characters including fine to medium leaf blade width, and low floral production.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The present invention relates to the genus and species Zoysia japonica (L.) Merr.
Variety denomination: ‘Southern Gem’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and distinct asexually reproduced variety of perennial zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica (L.)) Merr.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Background of the Invention
This invention relates to a new and distinct perennial zoysiagrass cultivar identified as ‘Southern Gem’ zoysiagrass (herein referred to as ‘Southern Gem’). The inventor, Ronald Nixon, discovered ‘Southern Gem’ under cultivated conditions in a sod field near Midway, Ala. ‘Southern Gem’ was identified as a distinctly different vegetative patch or segregated clonal plant differing by finer leaf texture from the suspected parental variety ‘Meyer’ (unpatented). The inventor asexually reproduced ‘Southern Gem’ by taking vegetative cuttings of the plant material from the field including stolons and rhizomes, cutting the rhizomes and stolons into segments, each with a vegetative bud, and rooted them in potting media near Midway. Ala. Another zoysiagrass discovered by Ronald Nixon, the variety ‘Marion’, is the subject of the co-pending U.S. Plant patent application, having application Ser. No. 10/091,876. Another zoysiagrass discovered by Ronald Nixon, the variety ‘Serene’, is the subject of the co-pending U.S. Plant patent application, having application Ser. No. 10/093,810.
For purposes of registration under the “International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants” (generally known by its French acronym as the UPOV Convention) and noting Section 1612 of the Manual of Plant Examining Procedure, it is proposed that the title of the invention is Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS
FIG. 1. Inflorescence of ‘Southern Gem’ zoysiagrass.
FIG. 2. Tiller of ‘Southern Gem’ zoysiagrass with leaf characters.
COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
‘Southern Gem’ was characterized in greenhouse and field conditions. ‘Southern Gem’ is a unique variety of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica (L.)) Merr. that was discovered under cultivated conditions in a sod field. ‘Southern Gem’ was identified in the field as having a finer leaf texture than its suspected parent ‘Meyer’. The sod field was located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8A. ‘Southern Gem’ was propagated by the inventor under field and greenhouse conditions in Midway, Ala. by cutting of rhizomes and stolons, rooting them in soil, and planting of the rooted material to provide planting stock for studying performance and for comparison of morphological characters after propagation. ‘Southern Gem’ has been propagated by rhizomes, stolons, tillers, and sod. Asexually reproduced plants of ‘Southern Gem’ have remained stable and true to type through successive generations of propagation. No seedling establishment from ‘Southern Gem’ has been noticed in either greenhouse or field studies.
‘Southern Gem’ is a perennial zoysiagrass that spreads by both stolons and rhizomes. Characteristics of ‘Southern Gem’ measured in 2003 were taken from plants that were approximately 9 months in age. The greenhouse was located near Lebanon, Oreg., with a nighttime low temperature of 50 degrees F., and daytime high of 80 degrees F., and a minimum soil temperature of 77 degrees F. The plants were grown with a minimum 14-hour day length, supplemented with photosynthetically active radiation equivalent to approximately 50% sunlight. The plants were fertilized with the equivalent of 1 pound of actual N per month, using a soluble fertilizer of 20-20-20 in two equal soluble applications per month.
‘Southern Gem’ has a finer leaf texture than the suspected parent ‘Meyer’ and ‘El Toro’ (Table 1) with a wider leaf blade than ‘Cashmere’ (unpatented), ‘Diamond’, ‘Emerald’ (unpatented), or ‘Cavalier’ when measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, Oreg. ‘Southern Gem’ has a shorter floral area than ‘Meyer’ and ‘El Toro’, with shorter anthers than ‘Meyer’ (Table 2) and longer anthers than ‘Diamond’. ‘Southern Gem’ has adaxial surface leaf hairs compared to the varieties ‘Cashmere’ and ‘Royal’ that have no leaf hairs. The leaf hairs of ‘Southern Gem’ are shorter than ‘Meyer’ and ‘Emerald’ and ‘Marion’ (Table 3). No seeds of ‘Southern Gem’ have developed; no seedlings have been noted in the field production area. The inflorescences produced in the greenhouse have consisted of empty florets and no seed has been formed.
‘Southern Gem’ has not shown any susceptibility in tests to date in the Midway, Ala. production site to the diseases and insects common to the zoysiagrass genus. ‘Southern Gem’ shows turf density similar to ‘Cashmere’. ‘Southern Gem’ has shown good turfgrass performance and temperature adaptation when tested as far north as Midway, Ala. USDA zone 8A, which would extend the area of adaptation for ‘Southern Gem’ in a line from South-Central Alabama across central Arkansas through Central Texas in an East/West line and on a North/South line from South central Alabama south through Mexico. ‘Southern Gem’ will be limited only by winter survival in colder regions. ‘Southern Gem’ is similar to most medium to fine textured zoysiagrasses in water use demands as shown in production situations, and will be limited by adequate precipitation in drier to arid regions. ‘Southern Gem’ is adapted from sandy to heavier loam soil textures and from slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil pH.
TABLE 1
Leaf blade widths and lengths and texture class of selected zoysiagrass
cultivars, measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2003.
Width. Length,
2nd 2nd Length, Width,
youngest youngest 3rd 3rd
stolon stolon youngest youngest Leaf
leaf leaf crown leaf crown leaf Texture
Variety mm cm cm mm Class
‘Southern 2.36 3.03 4.40 2.27 Fine-
Gem’ Medium
‘Cashmene’ 1.65 3.81 3.68 1.89 Fine
‘Diamond’ 1.76 3.27 2.02 1.13 Very Fine
‘Emerald’ 1.80 2.54 4.85 2.10 Fine
‘Royal’ 1.88 2.60 1.92 1.63 Very Fine
‘Cavalier’ 2.08 3.59 2.15 1.87 Very Fine
‘Marion’ 2.65 3.68 4.97 2.83 Fine-
Medium
‘Meyer’ 2.95 3.29 6.47 3.64 Medium-
Coarse
‘Serene’ 2.61 3.68 4.17 2.47 Fine-
Medium
‘El Toro’ 3.77 5.45 3.80 3.32 Medium-
Coarse
t, p = 0.05 0.060 1.170 2.370 0.150
TABLE 2
Inflorescence and leaf characters of selected zoysiagrass cultivars,
measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2003.
Length,
flag leaf
collar to Sheath
Length first length, Node width
floral lower crown Anther at base of
area node leaf length inflorescence
Variety cm mm cm mm mm
‘Southern Gem’ 2.07 3.11 1.73 1.43 0.61
‘Emerald’ 1.44 4.15 1.81 1.29 0.76
‘Cashmere’ 1.76 13.48 1.40 1.31 0.60
‘Marion’ 1.98 7.27 2.14 1.49 0.72
‘Serene’ 2.05 9.30 1.51 1.42 0.74
‘Meyer’ 3.10 3.78 1.80 2.17 0.78
‘Crowne’ 3.16 9.00 1.74 3.50 0.72
‘El Toro’ 3.78 8.38 1.53 1.50 0.99
t, p = 0.05 0.128 2.710 0.131 0.010 0.013
TABLE 3
Internode lengths and adaxial leaf hair length measurements of selected
zoysiagrass cultivars, measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon,
OR, 2003
Hair Stolon Stolon
length, Internode Internode
adaxial length, length,
leaf node2-3 node3-4
Variety mm cm cm
‘Southern Gem’ 1.11 1.56 2.15
‘Serene’ 0.917 1.640 1.22
‘Marion’ 1.339 0.950 1.10
‘Emerald’ 2.153 1.000 1.02
‘Cashmere’ 0.000 1.987 1.50
‘Meyer’ 1.767 1.900 2.02
‘Royal’ 0.000 1.580 1.90
‘Crowne’ 1.247 1.800 1.52
‘Cavalier’ 2.029 1.729 1.63
‘El Toro’ 1.263 1.350 1.00
t, p = 0.05 0.080 0.126 0.12
COMPLETE BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Origin: ‘Southern Gem’ is a cultivar of a single clone discovered under cultivated conditions in Midway, Ala. in a sod field of ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass.
Classification: Zoysia japonica (L.) Merr.
Growth habit: ‘Southern Gem’ is a perennial plant that spreads by stolons and rhizomes and produces a dense, medium to fine textured turfgrass. The inflorescence of ‘Southern Gem’ is a terminal spike-like raceme, with spikelets on short pedicels.
Leaf Blade: rolled in the bud, slightly concave surface.
Leaf blade pubescence: Adaxial leaf surface has very few (1-4; some with 0) hairs approximately 1.1 mm in length; hairs absent on abaxial leaf surface.
Leaf sheath pubescence: few long hairs at mouth of sheath approximately 3.1 mm length.
Leaf blade margin: very slight roughness with small serrations.
Leaf blade veins: obscure.
Leaf ligule hairs: up to 1.5 mm in length, 5 to 7 in number in center of ligule.
Leaf blade flexibility (softness): stiff.
Vegetative leaf, third youngest vegetative leaf:
Blade length mean.—4.40 cm.
Blade width mean.—2.27 mm.
Sheath length mean.—1.73 cm.
Stolon leaf angle, third youngest leaf: 74.5 degrees (Meyer: 98.1; El Toro: 100.6).
Stolon internode length, node 2-3: 1.56 cm.
Stolon internode length, node 3-4: 2.15 cm.
Stolon internode width, node 2-3: 1.19×1.35 mm.
Stolon internode width, node 3-4: 1.23×1.32 mm.
Inflorescence characters:
Culm total length, including floral area to node below flag leaf.—2.93 cm. Length of stem of inflorescence: 0.86 cm Floral area length: 2.07 cm.
Culm width, stem thickness, base of floral area.—0.61 mm.
Anther length.—1.43 mm.
Floret (seed) length.—2.78 mm.
Node thickness, node below flag leaf.—0.90 mm.
Mature plant height, including inflorescence: 11.3 cm; Marion: 18.8 cm; Meyer: 15.0 cm
Color notations, vegetative characters, based on The R.H.S. Colour Chart (light quality, photoperiod, and general growth of the plants affect color notations):
Leaf blade color adaxial leaf surface.—137A green.
Leaf blade color abaxial leaf surface.—137A green.
Stolon color.—59A red purple and 146D yellow green.
Color notations, floral characters, based on The R.H.S. Colour Chart (light quality, photoperiod, and general growth of the plants affect color notations):
Culm stalk.—146D yellow green.
Matured spikelet (lemma on seed).—161D greyed yellow.
Stigma.—155D white.
Anthers, mature, dried.—155C white.
Turf quality (rated 1-9, 9 best): 7.6; ‘Meyer’: 5; ‘El Toro’: 4.5.
Turf color (rated 1-9, 9 best): 6; ‘Meyer’: 5; ‘El Toro’: 4.
Turf density establishment rating (rated 1-9, 9 best): 5.0; ‘Meyer’: 4; ‘El Toro’: 4.
Leaf texture rating (rated 1-9, 9 best): 7; ‘Meyer’: 4; ‘Diamond’: 9.
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
October, 1998. Engelke, M. C. U.S. PP 10,636. ‘Diamond’ zoysiagrass
October, 2000. Engelke, M. C. U.S. PP 11,570. ‘Crowne’ zoysiagrass
December, 1986. Youngner, U.S. PP 5,845. ‘El Toro’ zoysiagrass
V. B.
September, 2000. Engelke, U.S. PP 11,515. ‘Palisades’ zoysiagrass
M. C.

Claims (1)

I claim:
1. A new and distinct variety of zoysiagrass plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein, characterized particularly with the unique combination of morphological characters.
US10/704,033 2003-11-10 2003-11-10 Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’ Expired - Lifetime USPP15218P2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/704,033 USPP15218P2 (en) 2003-11-10 2003-11-10 Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/704,033 USPP15218P2 (en) 2003-11-10 2003-11-10 Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
USPP15218P2 true USPP15218P2 (en) 2004-10-12

Family

ID=33098521

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/704,033 Expired - Lifetime USPP15218P2 (en) 2003-11-10 2003-11-10 Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) USPP15218P2 (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
USPP25203P3 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘L1F’
USPP23321P2 (en) Miscanthus plant named ‘MBS 0006’
USPP23681P2 (en) Miscanthus plant named ‘MBS 7003’
USPP13166P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Zeon’
USPP15218P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Southern Gem’
USPP28492P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘M66’
USPP29143P3 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘M60’
USPP18247P3 (en) Bermudagrass plant named ‘Premier’
USPP13178P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘JaMur’
USPP35643P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘L1FS’
USPP14175P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Serene’
USPP16982P3 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘BM230’
USPP17808P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘6136’
USPP17824P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Y2’
USPP29201P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘TD2013’
USPP14147P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘Marion’
USPP18439P2 (en) Hybrid variety of (Texas Bluegrass×Kentucky Bluegrass)×Kentucky Bluegrass designated ‘HB 329’
USPP32805P3 (en) Zoysiagrass named ‘DALZ 1308’
USPP36261P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘BRG-2’
USPP36934P2 (en) Bermudagrass plant named ‘OSU2081’
USPP37028P2 (en) Zoysia grass plant named ‘NARUO1920’
USPP27289P2 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘M85’
USPP25380P3 (en) Zoysiagrass plant named ‘LR1’
USPP25360P3 (en) Zoysiagrass named ‘LR2’
USPP37060P2 (en) Bermudagrass plant named ‘OSU2082’