USPP4704P - Bluegrass - Google Patents

Bluegrass Download PDF

Info

Publication number
USPP4704P
USPP4704P US06/070,275 US7027579V US4704P US PP4704 P USPP4704 P US PP4704P US 7027579 V US7027579 V US 7027579V US 4704 P US4704 P US 4704P
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
wtn
tolerance
sup
turf
bluegrasses
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
Application number
US06/070,275
Inventor
Benedict O. Warren
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.)
Warren s Turf Nursery Inc
Original Assignee
Warren s Turf Nursery Inc
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 Warren s Turf Nursery Inc filed Critical Warren s Turf Nursery Inc
Priority to US06/070,275 priority Critical patent/USPP4704P/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of USPP4704P publication Critical patent/USPP4704P/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Definitions

  • WTN-H7 Kentucky bluegrass is a perennial with a softness in its leaves that makes it attractive and rich in color even under mowing heights of 1.3 cm. It is a turf type with a tiller density of 1500+ tillers/square foot. Of special importance is its ability to withstand diseases such as Helminthsporium leafspot and fusarium blight. Its deep rooting rhizomes and roots give it excellent regrowth potential or excellent capacity to regenerate itself via its root system. The new invention can maintain good turf quality under 65% shade and it maintains excellent turf quality under full sunlight.
  • the WTN-H7 is important because of its distinctness in having superior qualities over a broad spectrum. It will become apparent as more detailed information is given in conjunction with the following illustrations in which:
  • FIG. 1 shows a panicle of the new variety two weeks after the onset of flowering
  • FIG. 2 shows a plant after the completion of flowering
  • FIG. 3 shows some typical tillers of WTN-H7 extracted from a closely mowed turf
  • FIG. 4 shows some turf of the new invention at a cutting height of 2.5 cm.
  • FIG. 5 shows the relative drought tolerance of the WTN-H7 as compared with Merion Kentucky bluegrass.
  • the WTN-H7 exhibits its uniqueness in the following ways:
  • the culms of the new invention When allowed to flower, the culms of the new invention are moderately bending at the upper nodes and are tufted, moderately stout, smooth, glossy, and cylindrical with 4 to 5 nodes--the lower three being very close together.
  • the plant reaches a height of 77.8 cm. with an average panicle length of 11.2 cm., a flag leaf width of 4.8 mm.
  • the leaves are medium to light medium green in color (137 C Green Group) and the sheaths are smooth and hairless with a ligule length of 6 mm.
  • the panicles are pyramidal and semi-open with the main axis erect until seed set at which time it droops heavily to one side.
  • the panicles are purplish during flowering; averaging 3.5 branches at the lower end of the panicle.
  • the average length of the spikelet is 4.2 mm. with approximately 4.9 florets/spikelet.
  • the spikelets are ovate and compressed with the upper spikelets in clusters with close branching and the lower branching wider spaced; the glumes are unequal with the upper ovate measuring 2.0 mm.
  • Lemmas are overlapping, oblong to ovate, averaging 2.8 mm. in length. There are fine hairs at the base and the lower half of the lemmas.
  • the paleas are 2.3 mm. in length.
  • the caryopses are tightly enclosed by a lemma and palea.
  • Turf characteristics The new variety had consistently exhibited excellent turf quality in plots located across the country. Overall turf quality ratings are indicated in tables Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Nine. As well, the grass has been in other trials which indicate its ability to withstand many environmental changes. Personal observation and correspondence with other researchers have indicated that the new invention can withstand cold weather as well as wet and damp weather, and hot and dry weather such as that of Suisun City, Calif.
  • WTN-H7 has had the ability to withstand drought conditions for a longer period of time than most other Kentucky bluegrasses.
  • Table Two presents some data taken at Anderson, Ind. after a long dry period. Observations of areas where WTN-H7 is planted indicate a lower water requirement for its survival.
  • Propagation and reproduction In addition to its above listed qualities, the new variety has the ability to reproduce itself by seed maintaining its integrity as a result of being 90-99% apomictic. It has a very deep root and rhizome system lending itself to excellent regrow potential and excellent healing. Its agressiveness is indicated by date in Table Nine.
  • the new invention responds well to fertilizer but is not in need of large quantities to maintain good turf quality.
  • Plots have been maintained at both 2 pounds of Nitrogen/year and 8 pounds of nitrogen/year without the grass being noticeably affected. It had good turf quality at the low rate and excellent turf quality at the high rate without having any noticeable increase in disease activity.

Landscapes

  • Breeding Of Plants And Reproduction By Means Of Culturing (AREA)

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) characterized by its excellent tolerance to drought, low fertilizer requirements, deep rooting system, excellent tolerance to Fusarium blight, and good to excellent shade tolerance. The plant tolerates a close cut, is highly resistant to most common bluegrass diseases, is extremely aggressive, has a medium to course leaf texture and consistently maintains excellent turf quality.

Description

WTN-H7 Kentucky bluegrass is a perennial with a softness in its leaves that makes it attractive and rich in color even under mowing heights of 1.3 cm. It is a turf type with a tiller density of 1500+ tillers/square foot. Of special importance is its ability to withstand diseases such as Helminthsporium leafspot and fusarium blight. Its deep rooting rhizomes and roots give it excellent regrowth potential or excellent capacity to regenerate itself via its root system. The new invention can maintain good turf quality under 65% shade and it maintains excellent turf quality under full sunlight.
The WTN-H7 is important because of its distinctness in having superior qualities over a broad spectrum. It will become apparent as more detailed information is given in conjunction with the following illustrations in which:
FIG. 1 shows a panicle of the new variety two weeks after the onset of flowering;
FIG. 2 shows a plant after the completion of flowering;
FIG. 3 shows some typical tillers of WTN-H7 extracted from a closely mowed turf;
FIG. 4 shows some turf of the new invention at a cutting height of 2.5 cm.;
FIG. 5 shows the relative drought tolerance of the WTN-H7 as compared with Merion Kentucky bluegrass.
The WTN-H7 exhibits its uniqueness in the following ways:
(1) Excellent drought tolerance;
(2) Excellent shade tolerance as compared to other bluegrasses;
(3) Heavy seed panicles;
(4) Very good turf density;
(5) Excellent turf quality;
(6) A medium green color;
(7) A distinctive purpling of the panicle of flowering;
(8) A medium to coarse leaf texture;
(9) Excellent resistance to fusarium blight and Helminthsporium leaf spot;
(10) Highly apomictic (90-98%).
The color references herein are to Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (1941), by Robert F. Wilson. The readings were taken on July 24, 1979 on mature tillers using the first leaf on each tiller on heavily watered, fertilized turf, at Suisun City, Calif.
Plant description: Under conditions such as those experienced in the summer of 1976 at Palos Hills, Ill. and in the summer of 1978 at Hubbard, Oreg., the following plant description of WTN-H7 can be made based on average measurements.
When allowed to flower, the culms of the new invention are moderately bending at the upper nodes and are tufted, moderately stout, smooth, glossy, and cylindrical with 4 to 5 nodes--the lower three being very close together. The plant reaches a height of 77.8 cm. with an average panicle length of 11.2 cm., a flag leaf width of 4.8 mm. The leaves are medium to light medium green in color (137 C Green Group) and the sheaths are smooth and hairless with a ligule length of 6 mm. The panicles are pyramidal and semi-open with the main axis erect until seed set at which time it droops heavily to one side. The panicles are purplish during flowering; averaging 3.5 branches at the lower end of the panicle. The average length of the spikelet is 4.2 mm. with approximately 4.9 florets/spikelet. The spikelets are ovate and compressed with the upper spikelets in clusters with close branching and the lower branching wider spaced; the glumes are unequal with the upper ovate measuring 2.0 mm. Lemmas are overlapping, oblong to ovate, averaging 2.8 mm. in length. There are fine hairs at the base and the lower half of the lemmas. The paleas are 2.3 mm. in length. The caryopses are tightly enclosed by a lemma and palea.
Under mowing (3.2 cm.) the number of tillers/square inch average out to 20 with 3.5 leaves/plant at an average leaf width (2d leaf) of 2.7 mm. The ligules are very short and the leaf is light to medium green in color with a keel shape and a boat shaped tip. The chromosome count is approximately 2n=42 and the apomixis level is about 95%.
The measurements as explained were made under conditions of the weather in 1976 and 1978 at two different locations. These measurements will vary to a certain degree as conditions under which the grass is grown will vary. Morphological comparisons of WTN-H7 and other Kentucky bluegrasses are listed in Table one.
              TABLE ONE                                                   
______________________________________                                    
 Morphological Comparisons of the New Invention                           
and Other Bluegrasses Taken During Flowering at Hubbard,                  
Oregon, in 1978.                                                          
         Plant    Panicle  Flag Leaf                                      
                                    Flag Leaf                             
         Height   Length   Length   Width                                 
Variety  (cm.)    (cm.)    (cm.)    (mm.)                                 
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7   77.8     11.2     10.3     4.8                                   
WTN-H6   66.1     12.6     9.1      4.9                                   
WTN-I13  65.5     13.6     10.4     4.0                                   
Baron    60.0     7.9      4.3      2.5                                   
Adelphi  69.9     9.6      3.9      2.5                                   
______________________________________                                    
Turf characteristics: The new variety had consistently exhibited excellent turf quality in plots located across the country. Overall turf quality ratings are indicated in tables Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Nine. As well, the grass has been in other trials which indicate its ability to withstand many environmental changes. Personal observation and correspondence with other researchers have indicated that the new invention can withstand cold weather as well as wet and damp weather, and hot and dry weather such as that of Suisun City, Calif.
              TABLE TWO                                                   
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparisons for WTN-H7 and Other                                
Bluegrasses for Turf Quality, Color, Density, and Drought                 
Tolerance Taken in 1978 on Replicated Plots Established                   
in 1975 at Anderson, Indiana.                                             
          Turf.sup.1                Drought.sup.4                         
Variety   Quality  Density.sup.2                                          
                             Color.sup.3                                  
                                    Tolerance                             
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7    6.1      4.3       4.7    4.3                                   
Glade     4.0      3.0       2.0    2.5                                   
Adelphi   4.3      3.5       3.3    3.7                                   
Brunswick 4.6      3.0       2.3    2.7                                   
Baron     4.0      2.7       2.7    2.7                                   
Touchdown 3.9      2.7       2.0    1.7                                   
______________________________________                                    
 .sup.1 Scale: 1 = worst; 9 = best; based on six observations.            
 .sup.2 Scale: 1 = worst; 5 = best; based on three observations.          
 .sup.3 Scale: 1 = worst; 5 = best; based on three observations (drought  
 tolerance was a factor).                                                 
 .sup.4 Scale: 1 = worst; 5 = best; based on three observations (three    
 weeks of temperatures in the 90's preceded these readings).              
              TABLE THREE                                                 
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparisons for Turf Quality Taken on                           
Replicated Trials Established Vegetatively in June of                     
1975 at Palos Hills, Illinois.                                            
Variety       1976*     1977*     1978*                                   
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7        5.0       5.3       6.9                                     
Touchdown     4.0       4.0       5.2                                     
Glade         4.7       4.0       4.1                                     
Adelphi       4.8       4.0       4.7                                     
Baron         4.3       4.3       4.7                                     
Merion        4.0       5.3       4.3                                     
______________________________________                                    
 *Scale: 1 = worst; 9 = best                                              
              TABLE FOUR                                                  
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparisons for Turf Performance, Stem                          
Rust, and Dollar Spot Tolerance on WTN-H7 and Other                       
Bluegrasses Taken in 1976 at Adelphia, New Jersey, on                     
Plots Established in 1974 by Rutgers University..sup.1 5                  
                    Dollar Spot.sup.3                                     
                                Turf.sup.4                                
Variety   Rust.sup.2                                                      
                    Mean        Performance                               
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7    1.0       31          6.5                                       
A34       1.5       56          6.0                                       
Nugget    2.5       231         5.6                                       
Victa     1.9       48          6.4                                       
Merion    7.5       43          5.5                                       
Baron     2.5       75          5.9                                       
Touchdown 6.3       101         6.3                                       
______________________________________                                    
 .sup.1 Turf Plots for the WTNH7 were in the same area as the commercial  
 grasses.                                                                 
 .sup.2 Scale: 1 = best.                                                  
 .sup.3 Average number of spots.                                          
 .sup.4 Turf Performance: 9 = best.                                       
 .sup.5 Information is from Rutgers University.                           
One of the strongest points of this new invention which separates it from other varieties and makes it distinct is its shade tolerance. Kentucky bluegrasses in general do very poorly under shade conditions of 65% or more. At the present time there are only a few Kentucky bluegrasses which are considered shade grasses. WTN-H7 has been consistently ranked at or near the top for shade tolerance in trials in Chicago and in Ohio as indicated in Tables Five and Six.
              TABLE FIVE                                                  
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparisons of Shade Tolerance for                              
WTN-H7 and Other Bluegrasses Taken in 1976, 1977 and                      
Overall Average for 1976, 1977, and 1978 at Columbus,                     
Ohio, on Plots Established in 1975..sup.1                                 
          Turf*(76)  Turf*(77)  Overall                                   
Variety   Quality    Quality    *(76, 77, & 78)                           
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7    5.2        5.3        5.8                                       
Nugget    5.0        4.3        5.2                                       
Glade     4.9        5.0        4.4                                       
A34       4.4        4.3        4.4                                       
Victa     3.1        2.0        2.8                                       
Merion    3.0        3.3        2.9                                       
Bristol   5.5        4.5        5.1                                       
______________________________________                                    
 *Scale: 1 = worst; 9 = best.                                             
 .sup.1 Information from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.           
              TABLE SIX                                                   
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparison of Shade Tolerance for                               
WTN-H7 and Other Bluegrasses Taken in 1975 and 1976 at                    
Palos Hills, Illinois, is in Replicated Trials Under 65%                  
Shade.                                                                    
Variety          1975*       1976*                                        
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7           6.8         5.8                                          
Nugget           4.9         4.0                                          
Glade            5.3         5.8                                          
A34              5.6         5.0                                          
______________________________________                                    
 *Scale: 9 = best.                                                        
Tolerance to dry conditions is another strong point of the new invention. WTN-H7 has had the ability to withstand drought conditions for a longer period of time than most other Kentucky bluegrasses. Table Two presents some data taken at Anderson, Ind. after a long dry period. Observations of areas where WTN-H7 is planted indicate a lower water requirement for its survival.
Disease tolerance: A comparison of WTN-H7 and other bluegrasses for resistance or tolerance to stem rust incited by Puccinia graminis, dollar spot incited by Sclerotinia homoecarpa, leaf spot incited by Drechslera poae, Fusarium blight incited by Fusarium sp., and powdery mildew as incited by Erysiphe graminis are given in tables Four, Seven, Eight and Nine. Stripe and flag smut caused by Ustilago striiformis and Ustilago agropyrina respectively have been in experimental varieties of bluegrasses surrounding the new invention, but thus far, the WTN-H7 has remained free of it.
              TABLE SEVEN                                                 
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparisons for Leaf Spot Resistance                            
Taken on Replicated Plots that were Established in 1971                   
at Palos Hills, Illinois.                                                 
Variety  % Leaf spot*(74)                                                 
                         % Leaf Spot*(76)                                 
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7   3.5             1.7                                              
A34      10.5            7.7                                              
A20      4.3             1.3                                              
Merion   6.2             3.0                                              
Common   41.7            15.0                                             
I33      11.3            10.0                                             
______________________________________                                    
 *Expressed as % of plot affected by the spotting and % of the plant      
 affected.                                                                
              TABLE EIGHT                                                 
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparisons of Mildew Resistance for                            
WTN-H7 and Other Bluegrasses Taken in 1976 and 1977 at                    
Columbus, Ohio, on Plots Established in 1975..sup.1                       
Variety         1976*       1977*                                         
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7          2.3**       1.6**                                         
Nugget          2.0**       2.0**                                         
Glade           1.7**       1.3**                                         
Victa           9.0         9.0                                           
Merion          8.7         9.0                                           
______________________________________                                    
 *Scale: 1 = most tolerant.                                               
 **Not significantly different.                                           
 .sup.1 Information from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.           
              TABLE NINE                                                  
______________________________________                                    
 Relative Comparisons for Fusarium Blight Resis-                          
tance Taken at the Danville Country Club, Danville,                       
Illinois, in 1975 on plots that were Established in 1974                  
by Use of 8 inch plugs. Relative Agressiveness of the                     
grasses expressed as percent cover are given as well for                  
1975 and 1978. Percent cover is based on a base level of                  
100% or the original size of each plot.                                   
Variety Fusarium*(75)                                                     
                     % Cover (75)                                         
                                 % Cover (78)                             
______________________________________                                    
WTN-H7  1.3          116         133                                      
A20     2.2          87          106                                      
Baron   2.5          41          82                                       
Fylking 6.8          70          82                                       
______________________________________                                    
 *Scale: 1 = best.                                                        
 Based on three replications.                                             
Propagation and reproduction: In addition to its above listed qualities, the new variety has the ability to reproduce itself by seed maintaining its integrity as a result of being 90-99% apomictic. It has a very deep root and rhizome system lending itself to excellent regrow potential and excellent healing. Its agressiveness is indicated by date in Table Nine.
The new invention responds well to fertilizer but is not in need of large quantities to maintain good turf quality. Plots have been maintained at both 2 pounds of Nitrogen/year and 8 pounds of nitrogen/year without the grass being noticeably affected. It had good turf quality at the low rate and excellent turf quality at the high rate without having any noticeable increase in disease activity.

Claims (1)

I claim:
1. The new and distinct variety of Bluegrass Plant herein described and illustrated and identified by the characteristics enumerated above.
US06/070,275 1979-08-27 1979-08-27 Bluegrass Expired - Lifetime USPP4704P (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/070,275 USPP4704P (en) 1979-08-27 1979-08-27 Bluegrass

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/070,275 USPP4704P (en) 1979-08-27 1979-08-27 Bluegrass

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
USPP4704P true USPP4704P (en) 1981-04-28

Family

ID=22094283

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/070,275 Expired - Lifetime USPP4704P (en) 1979-08-27 1979-08-27 Bluegrass

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) USPP4704P (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
Islam et al. Evidence for a ‘uniculm effect’in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a Mediterranean environment
US8101827B2 (en) Inbred broccoli line BRM50-3906
US20010037515A1 (en) Canola cultivar 44A89
USPP6537P (en) Kentucky bluegrass `Ba 72-492`
Prakash Artificial synthesis of Brassica juncea Coss
USPP4704P (en) Bluegrass
US6187999B1 (en) Inbred corn line NP 2017
USPP4698P (en) Bluegrass plant
US5945582A (en) Inbred broccoli line BC-403
USPP4703P (en) Bluegrass plant
USPP8553P (en) Zoysia grass plant `Z-3`
USPP11536P (en) Kentucky bluegrass designated `Ba87-102`
US6049030A (en) Inbred corn line LH286
USPP11520P (en) Kentucky bluegrass designated `Ba79-260`
USPP6922P (en) St. Augustine Grass `6-72-130-`
USPP4223P (en) Kentucky bluegrass
USPP6921P (en) St. Augustine grass `6-72-182`
USPP12435P2 (en) Kentucky bluegrass designated ‘Ba81-227’
USPP8168P (en) Midfield Bermudagrass
US5792906A (en) Inbred corn line NP 2034
USPP9135P (en) Zoysiagrass plant named `Victoria`
Dey et al. New varieties and synonyms in the genus Tripogon Roem. & Schult.(Poaceae) in India
USPP3151P (en) New and distinct variety of
Sandhu et al. Comparisons of a Genetic Dwarf and a Normal Vine Cultivar of Cucumber1
US5811645A (en) Inbred corn line NP 2045