USPP25761P3 - Seashore Paspalum plant named ‘UGA 31’ - Google Patents

Abstract

A new and distinct vegetatively reproduced cultivar of seashore paspalum, Paspalum vaginatum, which is characterized by a combination of excellent green turf color, non-dwarf rapidly spreading growth habit, good salt tolerance, its ability to maintain high turf density and quality at a range of mowing heights, and the ability to maintain turf quality and to resist leaf firing during periods of short term drought.

Description

Botanical classification: Paspalum vaginatum O. Swartz.

Varietal denomination: ‘UGA 31’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Paspalum vaginatum, commonly known as seashore paspalum, and hereafter referred to by the varietal denomination ‘UGA 31’

Paspalum vaginatum is a grass in the Panicoideae subfamily that inherently colonizes saline ecosystems, e.g. along sea coasts and on brackish sands. It is an ecologically aggressive, littoral warm-season perennial grass species varying in leaf texture from very coarse wild ecotypes to finer-leaf textured ecotypes for use in recreational turf. It produces both rhizomes and stolons and can tolerate waterlogged conditions and periodic meso-saline flooding. The grass occurs in the wild in both hemispheres. In the Americas, potential turf ecotypes are found almost exclusively along the Atlantic coastline in marshy, brackish ecosystems while the wild, native types can be found in coastal venues along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific exposed regions. Generally, P. vaginatum is a self-incompatible, diploid species with 20 chromosomes. P. vaginatum has been introduced into salt-affected areas as the need for forages, land reclamation and recreational turf have increased. An increase in golf course developments placed on coastal venues or with problems associated with salinity are becoming more prevalent in managed turfgrass. The trend for use of more salt-laden irrigation waters on turfgrass sites is expected to continue to rise and to further increase industry demands for salt tolerant grasses specifically adapted for course-wide use on roughs, fairways, tees, and greens.

‘UGA31’ originated from a single seed arising from the open-pollinated cross (SIPV-2×unknown). This cross was made in a greenhouse at Griffin, Ga. in 2003 by Dr. Paul Raymer. The female parent (SIPV-2) (unpatented) was allowed to flower in close proximity to 34 other breeding lines of seashore paspalum in an open-pollinated crossing block. Since seashore paspalum is self-incompatible, the male parent is presumed to be one of the 34 other lines in the polycross. The single plant was germinated from seed in the laboratory and was established in a greenhouse.

The ‘UGA 31’ seedling was visually screened for acceptable turf quality and for salt tolerance and transplanted into a nursery field for initial turf evaluation in the spring of 2004. This plant was evaluated beginning in June 2004 in an un-replicated field plot mowed at a 1.5 inch height of cut (h.o.c.). The new plant was selected in the fall of 2004 based on turf superior quality, density, and color. The new plant was asexually propagated in 2004 by vegetative propagation in Griffin, Ga. This new plant can be asexually propagated by sprigs, plugs or sod. ‘UGA 31’ was then evaluated for salt tolerance in a replicated greenhouse study in 2005. ‘UGA 31’ was then included in a replicated preliminary turf field evaluation (0.5-inch height of cut) at Griffin, Ga., established in June, 2005. Late in 2006, ‘UGA 31’ was selected as a cultivar with superior turf quality traits based on its performance in the 2005 preliminary trial. The new ‘UGA 31’ plant was clonally increased for inclusion in advanced turf variety trials at Tifton, Ga. as well as 2007 National Turfgrass Evaluation Trials for Seashore Paspalum at eight locations. In 2008, ‘UGA31’ was one of twelve entries included in a greens trial (0.18 to 0.25 inch height of cut) at Griffin, Ga. ‘UGA31’ was also included in lawn management trial established at Tifton, Ga., in 2009. ‘UGA 31’ was evaluated again for salt tolerance in 2010. ‘UGA 31’ has been evaluated for drought tolerance in both greenhouse and field studies and for disease resistance in both growth chamber and field studies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been consistently found in successive asexually propagated ‘UGA 31’ plants, and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, the combination of these characteristics of ‘UGA31’ make it unique as a new and distinct cultivar:

• • 1) An upright non-dwarf growth habit that tolerates a wide range of mowing heights, yet maintains excellent turf density and quality. This combination of traits makes ‘UGA31’ very useful as a grass that can be used in various applications, such as on all parts of a golf course, including greens, tees, fairways, and roughs.
  • 2) Excellent turf color that is aesthetically pleasing and retains color even during moderate periods of cool temperature. This trait enhances the attractiveness of the grass when used on golf courses and, in some environments, may eliminate the need for overseeding with cool season grasses.
  • 3) The ability to maintain turf quality and resist leaf firing during periods of short-term drought. This reduces the frequency of irrigation needed to maintain turf quality and may significantly reduce water usage in many environments.

COMPARISON TO OTHER VARIETIES

‘UGA31’ has been compared primarily to ‘SI 98’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,869), a variety recently developed for course-wide use in the golf industry, and which is believed by the inventors to be the most similar to ‘UGA 31’. Comparative evaluations of the grasses grown in the greenhouse and in field research plots at Griffin, Ga. and other US locations showed that ‘UGA31’ consistently differed from ‘SI 98’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1) Turf quality and density. (Data from tables 1, 2, 3). ‘UGA31’ produces very high quality medium to fine textured turf over a range of mowing heights.
  • 2) Turf color. (Data from tables 1 and 2).
  • 3) Better dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) resistance. (Data from tables 1 and 2).
  • 4) Better drought tolerance. (Data from tables 8 and 9).
  • 5) ‘UGA31’ shows many significant morphological differences from ‘SI 98’ (data from table 11). The peduncle diameter of flowering tillers in ‘UGA31’ is smaller than in ‘SI 98’ and the length of the 4^th internode of ‘UGA 31’ is longer than that of ‘SI 98’. Stolons of ‘UGA31’ are larger in diameter than those of ‘SI 98’. The unmowed culm height of ‘UGA31’ is much taller than the unmowed culm height of ‘SI 98’. Both the upper and lower leaf surfaces of ‘UGA 31’ are slightly darker green than those of ‘SI 98’.
  • 6) The SSR banding patterns obtained when SSR marker C03996 is used with DNA from samples of ‘UGA31’ and ‘SI 98’ illustrate distinct differences between the two varieties. (See FIG. 5)

Comparisons are also shown in the tables to ‘Sea Isle 1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,665) and ‘Sea Isle 2000’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,625). Table 11 comprises a comparison of a number of botanical features of these four varieties.

The salt tolerance of ‘UGA 31’ is similar to that of ‘Sea Isle 1’, ‘Sea Isle 2000’, and ‘SI 98’ (Tables 6 and 7).

With reference to FIG. 5, ‘UGA 31’ can be distinguished from ‘SI 98’, ‘Sea Isle 1’ and ‘Sea Isle 2000’ using SSRC03996, which amplifies a unique profile for ‘UGA 31’. ‘UGA 31’ shares a fragment of about 110 base pairs with ‘Sea Isle 2000’. This fragment can be used to distinguish this cultivar from ‘SI 98’. ‘UGA 31’ shows two fragments of about 155 to 160 base pairs that distinguish these lines from ‘Sea Isle 2000’.

All asexual reproductions of ‘UGA 31’ observed to date have been true to the original variety and remain true to type when asexually reproduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows a potted sample of ‘UGA 31’.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of ‘UGA 31’ inflorescence prior to anthesis, at anthesis, and at maturity.

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a growing field plot of ‘UGA 31’.

FIG. 5 compares the SSRC/03996 generated banding patterns obtained from DNA of ‘UGA 31’ to ‘Sea Isle 1’, ‘Sea Isle 2000’, and ‘SI 98’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and color, may change with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors). Color descriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

The Plant

‘UGA31’ is a vigorous variety with upright growth habit. It is dense and spreads rapidly by producing large numbers of rhizomes and stolons.

The mean height of the unmown canopy (culm height) is 50.1 cm, with a seed head exsertion height of 37.4 cm.

Flowering Tillers

The mean length and diameter of the peduncle are respectively 8.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

The mean length of the longest spike is 31.6 mm and there are two spikes per inflorescence.

The mean length of the spike branch from the flag leaf is 8.4 mm and the length and width of the blade on the flag leaf are respectively 14.7 mm and 0.8 mm. The mean length of the sheath on the flag leaf is 40.6 mm.

The mean length and width of the blade of the 4^th leaf (the flag leaf is the 1^st leaf) are respectively 66.7 mm and 2.3 mm, and the mean length of the sheath on the 4^th leaf is 17.2 mm.

The mean length of the 4^th internode is 18.7 mm. The color of the upper leaf surface is Green 137 A and the lower leaf surface color is Green 137 A.

The anther color is Violet 86 A, and stigma color is Violet 83 A. Anthers are 1.0-1.5 mm long and the glumes are glabrous. Seeds are not produced in pure monostands due to self-incompatibility. Seeds are about 2.3 mm long and 1.0 mm wide and narrow in shape when produced by crossing with other widely diverse varieties of seashore paspalum plants.

Stolons

The mean length and diameter of the 4^th internode from the tip are 14.9 mm and 2.6 mm respectively.

The mean length and width of the 4^th leaf blade, at the 4^th node on stolon, are 6.5 mm and 1.4 mm respectively, with a leaf sheath that is 9.5 mm long.

The color of the stolon is Yellow-Green 146 B.

Disease Resistance

‘UGA 31’ is less susceptible to dollar spot than ‘SI 98’. Dollar spot (sclerotinia homoeocarpa) is a fungal disease that attacks many turf grasses in the humid Southeast US when nitrogen levels are maintained at low levels under turf conditions.

Comparison Tables

Tables 1-11 that follow contain comparisons of botanical and other properties of ‘UGA 31’ with those of several other varieties.

TABLE 1
Performance comparison of seashore paspalum varieties under greens management
(0.18-0.25 inch h.o.c.) at Griffin, Georgia 2008-20101

	Grown-in	Turf	Turf	Leaf	Seed		Spring	Dollar	Pink
	Coverage	Quality	Color	Texture	Heads	Fall	GreenUp	Spot	Patch
	(9 ratings)	(15 ratings)	(9 ratings)	(2 ratings)	(3 ratings)	Color	(6 ratings)	(6 ratings)	(3 ratings)
Variey	% cover	1-9 scale	1-9 scale	1-9 scale	1-9 scale	(7 ratings)	%	%	%

‘Sea Isle 1’	88.4	a	7.1	cde	7.2	de	7.3	cd	5.8	cde	6.7	cd	58.0	c	2.6	d	46.5	a
‘Sea Isle	75.7	ab	7.4	abc	7.7	ab	7.3	cd	7.4	abc	7.4	b	50.5	cd	3.2	d	11.4	d
2000’
‘SI 98’	88.4	ab	6.8	ef	7.2	de	7.3	cd	6.3	bcde	7.6	b	43.2	de	17.1	a	24.3	c
‘UGA 31’	83.8	ab	7.3	abc	7.5	abcd	7.5	bc	6.6	bc	7.7	ab	61.9	bc	5.1	cd	9.7	d

TABLE 2
Performance comparison of seashore paspalum varieties under fairway
management (0.5 inches h.o.c.) at Tifton, Georgia 2007-2010.

	Grown-in	Turf	Turf	Leaf		Seed	Dollar
	Coverage	Quality	Color	Texture	Turf	Heads	Spot
	(2 ratings)	(12 ratings)	(4 ratings)	(1 rating)	Density	(2 ratings)	(6 ratings)
Variety	% cover	1-9 scale	1-9 scale	1-9 scale	(2 rating)	1-9 scale	%

‘Sea Isle l’	87	a	5.9	bc	6.7	b	6.8	bcd	7.2	bc	6.0	e	2	c
‘Sea Isle	77	a	6.1	b	7.3	a	7.0	abc	7.6	ab	7.7	abc	3	c
2000’
‘SI 98’	87	a	5.5	c	6.5	b	6.5	cd	7.0	bc	7.9	ab	13	ab
‘UGA 31’	80	a	6.9	a	7.7	a	7.5	a	8.2	a	8.1	a	1	c

TABLE 3
Summary of 2007-2010 seashore paspalum test at Tifton, GA mowed at 0.5″.

Turf Quality

Green Cover

Density

Seedhead Density

	2009	2010	2009	2010	2009	2010	Jun. 10,	Jul. 9,
	Average	Average	Average	Average	Average	Average	2009	2010
No.	9	6	9	7	9	6	1	1

Ratings	visual rating1	% coverage	visual rating1	no. per M2

‘Sea Isle 1’	5.6	cd	4.5	cd	85	a	79	bcde	6.0	de	5.1	de	1489	bc	4801	a
‘Sea Isle	6.5	b	6.4	a	85	a	78	cde	6.6	be	6.3	ab	219	d	3520	ab
2000’
‘SI 98’	4.6	f	4.0	d	84	a	86	a	5.0	g	5.1	de	151	d	1338	c
‘UGA31’	7.2	a2	6.8	a	83	ab	84	abc	7.1	a	6.8	a	319	d	2479	bc

TABLE 4
2009 seashore paspalum test at Tifton, GA mowed at 1.5″

Date

Jul. 2, 2009

Jul. 21, 2009

Sep. 5, 2009

Oct. 7, 2009

Nov. 18, 2009

	Establishment
Variety	% coverage

‘UGA 31’	23	a	53	a	91	a	99	a	99	a
‘Sea Isle 1’	8	a	36	b	83	b	97	a	97	a

TABLE 5
2009 seashore paspalum test at Tifton, GA mowed at 1.5″

Date

2010

Variety	May. 3, 2010	Jun. 18, 2010	Jul. 13, 2010	Aug. 24, 2010	Nov. 16, 2010	Average

	Lawn Quality
	visual rating1

‘UGA 31’	6.3	a	8.0	a	7.3	a	7.7	a	5.0	a	6.9	a
‘Sea Isle 1’	6.0	a	7.3	a	6.3	a	6.0	a	3.3	a	5.8	b

	Green Cover
	% coverage

‘UGA 31’	96	a	97	a	85	a	88	a	63	a	86	a
‘Sea Isle 1’	98	a	97	a	77	b	71	b	61	a	81	b

	Density
	visual rating1

‘UGA 31’	6.3	a	6.3	a	7.7	a	6.7	a	5.7	a	6.5	a
‘Sea Isle 1’	6.0	a	7.0	a	7.0	a	6.0	a	3.3	b	5.9	b

TABLE 6
Response of seashore paspalum varieties after 60
days exposure to three levels of salt water in a replicated
greenhouse experiment conducted in 2005.

	Leaf Firing
	Salt Level (dS/m)1

0.0

20.0

40.0

Variety	0-9 scale (9 = excellent)

‘Sea Isle 1’	8.2	a	7.5	ab	6.3	a
‘SI 98’	8.7	a	7.7	ab	6.7	a
‘UGA 31’	8.0	ab	8.0	a	6.0	ab

TABLE 7
Response of seashore paspalum varieties after 60
days exposure to four levels of salt water in a replicated
greenhouse experiment conducted in 2010.

	Leaf Firing
	Salt Level (dS/m)1

0.0

15.0

30.0

45.0

Variety	1-9 scale (9 = excellent)

‘Sea Isle 1’	8.2	abcde	8.5	abc	7.2	abcd	3.6	ab
‘Sea Isle 2000’	8.9	a	8.7	abc	8.2	ab	2.1	bcde
‘SI 98’	8.6	abc	8.7	abc	7.2	abcd	2.1	bcde
‘UGA 31’	8.7	ab	9.0	a	8.7	a	3.2	abcd

TABLE 8
Leaf firing response of seashore paspalum
varieties to dry down in a replicated
greenhouse lysimeter study conducted in 2007.1

Days from Initiation of Dry Down2

17

24

28

38

Ecotype	Leaf Firing (%)

‘Sea Isle 1’	14.00	abc	17.00	bc	9.33	d	18.33	bc
‘Sea Isle 2000’	11.33	bc	10.67	bc	8.33	d	16.00	c
‘SI 98’	11.67	bc	34.33	ab	31.67	abcd	32.67	abc
‘UGA 31’	3.33	c	2.00	c	3.00	d	7.33	c

TABLE 9
Summary of results of a turfgrass field drought
study conducted under a Griffin, Georgia rainout
shelter, Jul 29, 2008-Oct 28, 2008.

Average Across All Dates

				Turf	Turf
		Leaf	NDVI	Quality	Color
		Firing	Scale	Scale	Scale
	Grass	%
	1 = ideal	9 = ideal	9 = ideal

	‘Sea Isle 1’	19.1	0.680	5.93	6.19
	‘Sea Isle 2000’	16.1	0.704	6.15	6.62
	‘SI 98’	41.7	0.619	4.49	4.78
	‘UGA 31’	16.2	0.697	5.79	6.15

TABLE 10
Susceptibility of Paspalum cultivars to Rhizoctonia
solani AG 2-2 LP (large patch) -
Growth Chamber - May/June 2009.

% large patch

Cultivar	May 21	May 28	June 4	June 11

‘Sea Isle 2000’	6.4	b	30.9	b	45.3	b	45.3	b
‘SI 98’	2.9	b	7.6	b	10.5	c	14.1	c
‘UGA 31’	7.0	b1	32.02	b	45.3	b	50.0	b

TABLE 11
Comparison of botantical characteristics of four seashore paspalum cultivars.

	‘Sea Isle 1’	‘Sea Isle 2000’	‘SI 98’	‘UGA 31’	LSD

Characteristics of
Flowering Tillers
Length of peduncle
(mm)
mean1	8.3	a1	10.4	a	7.4	a	8.3	a	N.S.
std dev	5.8		6.7		4.5		1.8
Diameter of
peduncle (mm)
mean	0.6	ab	0.8	a	0.7	a	0.5	b	0.2
std dev	0.2		0.2		0.2		0.2
Length of longest
spike (mm)
mean	33.5	ab	39.2	a	29.7	b	31.6	b	5.9
std dev	5.7		9.8		4.4		2.5
Number of spikes
per inflorescence
mean	2.0	a	2.0	a	2.0	a	2.0	a	N.S.
std dev	0.0		0.0		0.0		0.0
Maximum number
of spikes per
inflorescence
mean	2.0	a	2.0	a	2.0	a	2.0	a	N.S.
std dev	0.0		0.0		0.0		0.0
Length of spike
branch from flag leaf
(mm)
mean	7.5	a	9.2	a	7.0	a	8.4	a	N.S.
std dev	5.4		5.3		3.7		2.0
Number of florets
per spike
mean	20.9	a	22.3	a	19.6	a	21.6	a	N.S.
std dev	5.1		6.8		2.7		2.1
Length of blade on
flag leaf (mm)
mean	9.5	a	16.8	a	15.8	a	14.7	a	N.S.
std dev	3.7		7.7		11.3		5.3
Width of blade on
flag leaf (mm)
mean	0.6	ab	0.3	b	0.8	a	0.8	a	0.4
std dev	0.4		0.1		0.5		0.5
Length/width ratio
of flag leaf blade
(mm)
mean	26.6	a	50.9	a	35.9	a	28.8	a	N.S.
std dev	25.6		18.9		47.8		31.2
Length of sheath on
flag leaf (mm)
mean	48.7	ab	52.7	a	40.6	b	40.6	b	10.7
std dev	10.1		17.2		10.3		3.0
Length of blade on
4th leaf (mm)
mean	80.7	a	83.0	a	71.9	a	66.7	a	N.S.
std dev	22.3		13.2		17.6		11.4
Width of blade on
4th leaf (mm)
mean	2.5	a	1.7	b	2.3	a	2.3	a	0.5
std dev	0.6		0.6		0.4		0.4
Length/width ratio	.
of 4th leaf blade
(mm)
mean	33.6	b	63.6	a	31.4	b	29.8	b	22.9
std dev	8.1		50.2		6.7		6.8
Length of sheath on
4th leaf (mm)
mean	21.6	a	24.3	a	14.6	b	17.2	b	3.7
std dev	6.4		1.5		2.5		3.8
Length of 4th
internode (mm)
mean	18.8	a	21.4	a	10.6	b	18.7	a	3.9
std dev	3.5		3.5		2.1		6.5
Characteristics of
Stolons
Length of 4th
internode (mm)
mean	14.1	a	12.3	a	10.1	a	14.9	a	N.S.
std dev	4.7		5.7		3.6		4.8
Diameter of 4th
internode (mm)
mean	2.8	a	2.0	b	1.9	b	2.6	a	0.5
std dev	0.6		0.7		0.3		0.5
Length of 4th leaf
blade (mm)
mean	17.9	a	18.9	a	11.4	b	6.5	b	5.0
std dev	7.6		3.8		5.0		3.1
Width of 4th leaf
blade (mm)
mean	2.2	ab	2.7	a	1.6	bc	1.4	c	0.7
std dev	0.9		0.7		0.6		0.6
Length/width ratio
of 4th leaf blade
(mm)
mean	9.1	a	7.6	ab	7.5	ab	5.0	b	3.0
std dev	3.3		3.0		3.9		2.3
Length of leaf sheath
on 4th node (mm)
mean	11.6	a	10.0	a	9.6	a	9.5	a	N.S.
std dev	2.3		3.9		2.1		1.6
Other
Characteristics
Culm height (cm)
mean	43.9	a	28.9	b	23.1	b	50.1	a	8.9
std dev	15.1		5.2		4.1		9.7
Seed head height
(cm)
mean	39.0		36.4		27.6		37.4		N.S.
std dev	16.7		6.0		8.2		6.1
Color of upper leaf	137	B	137	B	137	B	137	A
surface2
Color of lower leaf	137	A	137	A	137	C	137	A
surface
Stolon Color	146	A	146	C	146	B	146	B
Anther Color	86	A	86	A	86	A	86	A
Stigma Color	83	A	83	A	83	A	83	A
1Means within a row followed by the same letter are not considered statistically different according to Fisher's protected LSD at α = 0.05.
2Based on color codes of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

Claims (1)

We claim:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of seashore paspalum plant named ‘UGA 31’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.

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