Release of Ksuz 0802 Zoysiagrass.

KSUZ 0802 is a fine-textured, cold-tolerant zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) hybrid co-developed and jointly released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Dallas, TX and the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, KS.  KSUZ 0802 is a F₁ interspecific hybrid developed in 2001 from a cross between Zoysia matrella (L). Merr. cv. ‘Cavalier’ and an ecotype of Z. japonica Steud. named ‘Anderson 1’, a derivative of ‘Chinese Common’. After years of testing (2004 to 2008) for turfgrass quality and winter survival at Manhattan, KS, KSUZ 0802 was advanced to a nine location test (2009 to 2012) in the transition zone (Wichita and Manhattan, KS; Columbia, MO; Fletcher and Jackson Springs, NC; Stillwater, OK; Knoxville, TN; Virginia Beach, and Blacksburg, VA), and Dallas, TX.  Freezing tolerance, spring green-up and fall color retention of KSUZ 0802 is equivalent to ‘Meyer’, but it has a finer leaf texture than Meyer. KSUZ 0802 is also superior to Meyer for turfgrass quality and resistance to bluegrass billbug (Sphenophorus parvulus Ghyllenhal) damage.  KSUZ 0802 is well suited for use on golf course fairways and tees, home lawns, and other recreational areas in the transition zone.