Improving Turfgrass Through Research Seed Research of Oregon Turf-Type Tall Fescues John Patton

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Strategies High turf quality, rapid establishment Rhizomes - Advertise and promote XRE Higher percentage of plants with rhizomes More rapid rhizome production Verification of rhizomes in mown turf Brown patch Screening at multiple sites - remove survivors Screening progeny from drought / rhizome work Drought tolerance and recovery - 3 cycles GA Salt tolerance

Improving Turfgrass Through Research SRO Salt Screening in Other Turf Species Tall Fescue Bluegrass Bermudagrass Bentgrass

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Rhizome Reproduction Underground repair Kentucky bluegrass, creeping red fescue, bermudagrass Present on certain tall fescues, observed on plants Wear, divot repair Soil compaction, season influence repair Use this slide if you are going to use a picture. To make a presentation interesting, you should have images on at least 50% of the slides. Without visuals, you will quickly put people to sleep. You might anyway, but you have a better chance of keeping their attention if you use some nice visuals. Pictures can make the presentation look more professional. Delete this text and place picture in same area, lining picture up with top of yellow text. Use 72dpi jpgs images. To shrink picture proportionally once it’s on the slide: 1. Click on the picture (note corner handles). 2. Hold down the Shift key, then press and drag a corner handle towards the middle of the picture. 3. Release the Shift key first then the mouse.

Improving Turfgrass Through Research SRX 8LM Tall Fescue Available replace SR 8250 New material with rhizomes Mown turf rhizomes Highest brown patch resistance Very dark green color Very fine textured Highest turf quality Use this slide if you are going to use a picture. To make a presentation interesting, you should have images on at least 50% of the slides. Without visuals, you will quickly put people to sleep. You might anyway, but you have a better chance of keeping their attention if you use some nice visuals. Pictures can make the presentation look more professional. Delete this text and place picture in same area, lining picture up with top of yellow text. Use 72dpi jpgs images. To shrink picture proportionally once it’s on the slide: 1. Click on the picture (note corner handles). 2. Hold down the Shift key, then press and drag a corner handle towards the middle of the picture. 3. Release the Shift key first then the mouse.

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Defiance XRE Tall Fescues with Rhizomes Grande Grande II Crewcut II SR 8600 SR 8250 SR 8550 Tulsa II Regiment II

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Turf-type Tall Fescue Strengths –Excellent wear tolerance once established –Drought tolerance useful many sites –Can be mown at 1/2 inch –Shade tolerant –Tolerates broad range of soils –Speed of establishment New data Ohio State - new varieties can maintain quality with wear after 15 weeks, spring establishment

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Regiment II Turf-type Tall Fescue High percentage of rhizomes Rapid rhizome expression Very dark green color Fine texture Dwarf growing habit Superior density, weed resistant Quick establishment Rapid recovery Early Spring green-up

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Blackwatch Turf-type Tall Fescue Very dark green color Fine texture High turf quality - recommended in many states Open, dwarf growing habit Reduced brown patch incidence Superior density, weed resistant Quick establishment Rapid recovery Early Spring green-up

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Guardian 21 Turf-type Tall Fescue Very dark green color Fine texture High turf quality –Consistent high performance under all management levels –High performance in all climate zones Semi-dwarf growth habit High wear resistance Reduced brown patch incidence Superior density, weed resistant

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Turf-type Tall Fescue Weaknesses –Bunch-type growth –Speed of repair slow –Rhizomes in new varieties may help –Need more winter-active growth –Brown patch susceptibility - in enclosed shade can severely damage –Old cultivars lacked density and texture, new cultivars finer textured, darker green, higher density

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Turf-type Tall Fescue How to use Best results when blended with Kentucky bluegrass - 85 to 90% Tall fescue Blending with Texas x Kentucky hybrids may be useful in stress sites Brown patch reduced in blends Establish in spring or late summer Provide protection against Pythium and seedling brown patch

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Turf-type Tall Fescue Newest turf- type tall fescues compared to older cultivars

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Turf Rhizome 4 inch wide divot cut May 4, 6 weeks growth Tall fescue rhizome 3 inches from mother plant Not as many as in bluegrass More rhizomes observed in fall than spring

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Strategies High turf quality, rapid establishment Rhizomes - Advertise and promote XRE Higher percentage of plants with rhizomes More rapid rhizome production Verification of rhizomes in mown turf Brown patch Screening at multiple sites - remove survivors Screening progeny from drought / rhizome work Drought tolerance and recovery - 3 cycles GA Salt tolerance

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Turf-Type Tall Fescues Bryan Muntz N.W. Regional Sales Manager SRO Seed Camp 2004

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Advantages: (New Varieties –Dark green color –Heat and wear –Extensive root system –Good density –Good establishment –Good disease resistance Disadvantages –Low shoot density –Low temperature injury –Weak sod forming –Thinning stands leads to clumping

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Turf Type Tall Fescue Grande Grande II Crewcut II Regiment II Tulsa Tulsa II Defiance Defiance XRE SR8250 SR8500 SR8550 SR8600 Trophy Survivor

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Trophy Blend Features –Contains high rated and proven varieties –Excellent wear and drought tolerance –Good overall turf quality Benefits –Dwarf growth habit reduced mowing –Natural dark green color –Good overall disease resistance

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Defiance XRE Blend Features –Dark green color –Excellent insect and disease resistance –Contains at least 2 varieties with high rhizome expression –Semi dwarf growing habit

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Defiance XRE Blend Benefits –Fast recovery from injury –Proven Brown Patch resistance –Superior wear resistance –Better ability to recover from stress

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Blends Trophy Survivor Defiance XRE Defiance

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Excellent wear tolerance once established Speed of establishment New data Ohio State - new varieties can maintain quality with wear after 15 weeks, spring establishment Speed of repair Rhizomes in new varieties may help Drought tolerance useful many sites Need more winter-active growth

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Highest rated NTEP traffic in New Jersey DOMINION OLYMPIC GOLD ELISA APACHE III (PST-5A1) TULSA II (ATF 706) SR 8550 (SRX 8BE4) MASTERPIECE EXPEDETION (ATF-803) JAGUAR 3 SILVERSTAR (PST-5ASR) ENDEAVOR FOCUS TAR HEEL TEMPEST BINGO RENDITION TITAN LTD. NINJA 2 (ATF-800) SR 8600 TAR HEEL II (PST-5TR1) TOMAHAWK GT WYATT

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Highest rated NTEP traffic in St. Louis, MO ULTIMATE (01-RUTOR2) GUARDIAN-21 (ROBERTS DOL) PADRE (NJ4) 2ND MILLENNIUM AVENGER (L1Z) BLACKWATCH (PICK-OD3-01) BINGO FIREBIRD (CIS-TF-65) DAVINCI (LTP-7801) FINESSE II FORTE (BE-2) GRANDE II PICASSO MATADOR GT (PST-5TUO) REBEL EXEDA SILVERSTAR (PST-5ASR) SR 8550 (SRX 8BE4) ESCALADE (01-ORU1) BILTMORE CONSTITUTION (ATF-593) INFERNO (JT-99) JAGUAR 3

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Rhizome Reproduction Underground repair Kentucky bluegrass, creeping red fescue, bermudagrass Present on certain tall fescues, observed on plants Wear, divot repair Soil compaction, season influence repair Use this slide if you are going to use a picture. To make a presentation interesting, you should have images on at least 50% of the slides. Without visuals, you will quickly put people to sleep. You might anyway, but you have a better chance of keeping their attention if you use some nice visuals. Pictures can make the presentation look more professional. Delete this text and place picture in same area, lining picture up with top of yellow text. Use 72dpi jpgs images. To shrink picture proportionally once it’s on the slide: 1. Click on the picture (note corner handles). 2. Hold down the Shift key, then press and drag a corner handle towards the middle of the picture. 3. Release the Shift key first then the mouse.

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Turf Rhizome 4 inch wide divot cut May 4, 6 weeks growth Tall fescue rhizome 3 inches from mother plant Not as many as in bluegrass More rhizomes observed in fall than spring Use this slide if you are going to use a picture. To make a presentation interesting, you should have images on at least 50% of the slides. Without visuals, you will quickly put people to sleep. You might anyway, but you have a better chance of keeping their attention if you use some nice visuals. Pictures can make the presentation look more professional. Delete this text and place picture in same area, lining picture up with top of yellow text. Use 72dpi jpgs images. To shrink picture proportionally once it’s on the slide: 1. Click on the picture (note corner handles). 2. Hold down the Shift key, then press and drag a corner handle towards the middle of the picture. 3. Release the Shift key first then the mouse.

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Turf Rhizome 6 week divot repair sand 2 week divot repair sand Use this slide if you are going to use a picture. To make a presentation interesting, you should have images on at least 50% of the slides. Without visuals, you will quickly put people to sleep. You might anyway, but you have a better chance of keeping their attention if you use some nice visuals. Pictures can make the presentation look more professional. Delete this text and place picture in same area, lining picture up with top of yellow text. Use 72dpi jpgs images. To shrink picture proportionally once it’s on the slide: 1. Click on the picture (note corner handles). 2. Hold down the Shift key, then press and drag a corner handle towards the middle of the picture. 3. Release the Shift key first then the mouse. Grande IILabarinth

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Wear tolerance 50 passes OH Treatment NameWear Tol. 1.5” Mowing HeightWear Tol. 3” Mowing Height Bariris KBG Grande ll TF + Rugby ll KBG Rugby ll KBG + Renaissance PRG Aberelf + SR4420 PRG Thermal Blue Texas x KBG hybrid Rendition TF Grande II TF Barlennium PRG Nexus PRG Orfeo KBG Titan, Kittyhawk + Rendition TF Winter Active Fescue (WAF) Showcase KBG + fine fescues Spring Green Festulolium Barfest Festulolium Labyrinth RTF™ LSD (0.05)1.61.6

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Best results when blended with Kentucky bluegrass - 85 to 90% Tall fescue Blending with Texas x Kentucky hybrids may be useful in stress sites Brown patch reduced in blends Establish in spring or late summer Provide protection against Pythium and seedling brown patch Overseed on yearly basis - Before or after play preferred. Use Transitional ryegrass to patch.

Improving Turfgrass Through Research SRO Turf-Type Tall Fescue Blends

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Rhizomatous Tall Fescues SRO is the leader in Rhizome Enhanced Tall Fescue development – SR8250, SR8550, SR8600, Tulsa II, Crewcut II, Grande & Grande II, Regiment II Diverse genetic backgrounds Limited Supplies and High Demand Increased wear tolerance and persistence Continued development: Intercross in isolation - Plant the progeny Identify levels of rhizomes, Release new variety

Improving Turfgrass Through Research SRO Rhizomatous Tall Fescue Grande II Rhizome

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Turf-Type tall fescue rhizomes – GRANDE 6 to 8 inches long RHIZOMATOUS TALL FESCUE DOES EXIST!!

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Other “Turf Type” Tall Fescues With Rhizomes? ( Labyrinth ) Labyrinth is extremely susceptible to Brown Patch, especially in first year

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Wear tolerance 50 passes OH Treatment NameWear Tol. 1.5” Mowing HeightWear Tol. 3” Mowing Height Bariris KBG Grande ll TF + Rugby ll KBG Rugby ll KBG + Renaissance PRG Aberelf + SR4420 PRG Thermal Blue Texas x KBG hybrid Rendition TF Grande II TF Barlennium PRG Nexus PRG Orfeo KBG Titan, Kittyhawk + Rendition TF Winter Active Fescue (WAF) Showcase KBG + fine fescues Spring Green Festulolium Barfest Festulolium Labyrinth RTF™ LSD (0.05)1.61.6

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Turf Rhizome 4 inch wide divot cut May 4, 6 weeks growth Tall fescue rhizome 3 inches from mother plant Not as many as in bluegrass More rhizomes observed in fall than spring

Improving Turfgrass Through Research Tall Fescue Turf Rhizome 6 week divot repair sand 2 week divot repair sand Grande IILabyrinth

Improving Turfgrass Through Research SRO Tall Fescues with Rhizomes Grande Grande II Crewcut II SR 8600 SR 8250 SR 8550 Tulsa II Regiment II What Next? Tall Fescues with Greater Salt Tolerance