Preliminary Evaluation of Experimental, Clonal Bermudagrass Cultivars for Use in Putting Greens.

Preliminary evaluation of experimental, clonal bermudagrass cultivars for use in putting greens Dustin Harris, Dr. Justin Moss, Dr. Yanqi Wu, and Dr. Dennis Martin Putting green turf quality remains a primary concern when maintaining the vitality of a golf course as a business. With rising concerns for water use, as well as labor availability and labor costs, dwarf bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis) putting surfaces have gained popularity in areas where bentgrass greens have traditionally been utilized. However, the popular commercial lines of bermudagrass, derived from C. dactylon x C. transvaalensis ‘Tifway’, used for putting surfaces have been described as being genetically unstable and, therefore, capable of readily producing off-types. In order to provide a consistent putting surface with improved sustainability, the development of putting-green type bermudagrasses with improved genetic stability and improved cold tolerance can potentially introduce bermudagrass putting greens to areas that have predominantly utilized creeping bentgrass for putting surfaces. The impact of improved cold tolerance in bermudagrass applies to the improved potential for water conservation efforts within the golf industry of these regions. Furthermore, a bermudagrass selection must be capable of being maintained at low mowing heights and a high level of aesthetic quality. In this study, 16 experimental, clonal bermudagrass entries from Oklahoma State University’s breeding program are compared with 4 bermudagrass putting green industry standards and one C. transvaalensis entry from Mississippi State University. Establishment ratings, visual turf quality ratings, and genetic color ratings are being conducted monthly. Seasonal ratings including fall color retention and spring green-up are being documented as well. For objective data, NDVI and digital image analysis data will be collected monthly. Preliminary results will be reported on data collected through October 2016.