Turf Quality and Transition of Annual and Intermediate Ryegrass Lines in Southern USA in 2011-12.

Turfgrass scientists from 5 southern states cooperated in the evaluation of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) lines for turf quality, color, and transition date as part of a grant funded by the USDA-ARS Specialty Crop Research Initiative.  The breeding lines had been developed at the ryegrass breeding program at Texas A&M AgriLife Research at Overton, TX.  Seed of 8 breeding lines and 4 cultivars were overseeded onto Bermudagrass sods at 7 locations in the fall of 2011.  Data were collected on stand, turf quality at several dates, turf color, and transition date of turf during the cool season of 2011-2012 growing season.  Results indicated that for turf quality, the highest ranking entries had a perennial ryegrass parent in its pedigree.  Ranking for dark green color also was closely correlated with a perennial parent.  Transition date as defined as when 50% of ryegrass in turf was dead, indicated that compared to check Axcella 2 transitioning out on 107 days after Jan 1, most other annual breeding lines were about 10 days later.  Intermediate lines were from 15 to 39 days later in transition date compared to Axcella 2.  If early transition is desirable (without a herbicide aid), then either a true annual or a intermediate which has been strongly selected over several generations is required to maintain the early transition trait.