scholarly journals Morphological Characterization of Turf-type Tall Fescue Genotypes

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Watkins ◽  
William A. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Flag Leaf ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Leaf Width ◽  
Brown Patch ◽  
Plant Nursery ◽  
Turfgrass Quality ◽  
Patch Disease

Recently, turfgrass breeders have developed many improved turf-type tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars. Due to the large number of cultivars currently available to turfgrass managers and researchers, we have classified turf-type tall fescue cultivars into six groups based primarily on several morphological measurements. This type of classification is important for turfgrass breeders because many breeding decisions are made based on observations in a spaced-plant nursery. The major objective of this study was to classify tall fescue cultivars and selections based on spaced-plant measurements and to then compare those results with turf performance. A spaced-plant nursery consisting of 36 cultivars and selections was established in September 1998 at Adelphia, N.J. Plant height, panicle length, flag leaf width and length, subtending leaf width and length, and subtending internode length were measured 10 days after anthesis in 1999 and 2000. Additionally, a turf trial was established at North Brunswick, N.J., that included the same 36 cultivars and selections. The turf plots were evaluated for several traits including overall turfgrass quality, density, and susceptibility to brown patch disease. Based on principal component analysis of morphological measurements, along with turf trial data, all cultivars and selections were assigned to one of six groups: forage, early-standard, standard, early semi-dwarf, semi-dwarf, and dwarf. In turf plots, the semi-dwarf, early-semi dwarf, and dwarf groups were the top-performing types in terms of overall turfgrass quality, and the forage and early-standard cultivars had the lowest overall quality ratings. The dwarf types did not perform well under summer stress, especially in terms of brown patch disease incidence. The results of this study suggest that when developing cultivars for higher maintenance situations, turf-type tall fescue breeders should focus on the development of semi-dwarf cultivars.

scholarly journals Autonomous Mower Saves Energy and Improves Quality of Tall Fescue Lawn

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Grossi ◽  
Marco Fontanelli ◽  
Elisa Garramone ◽  
Andrea Peruzzi ◽  
Michele Raffaelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Working Time ◽  
Leaf Width ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Quality Aspects ◽  
N Rates

Battery-powered autonomous mowers are designed to reduce the need of labor for lawn mowing compared with traditional endothermic engine mowers and at the same time to abate local emissions and noise. The aim of this research was to compare autonomous mower with traditional rotary mower on a tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) lawn under different nitrogen (N) rates. A two-way factor experimental design with three replications was adopted. In the study, four N rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg·ha−1) and two mowing systems (autonomous mower vs. gasoline-powered walk-behind rotary mower equipped for mulching) were used. As expected, N fertilization increased turf quality. At the end of the trial, the autonomous mower increased turf density (3.2 shoots/cm2) compared with the rotary mower (2.1 shoots/cm2) and decreased average leaf width (2.1 mm) compared with the rotary mower (2.7 mm). Increased density and decreased leaf width with autonomous mowing yielded higher quality turf (7.3) compared with the rotary mower (6.4) and a lower weed incidence (6% and 9% cover for autonomous mower and rotary mower, respectively). Disease incidence and mowing quality were unaffected by the mowing system. The autonomous mower working time was set to 10 hours per day (≈7.8 hours for mowing and 2.2 hours for recharging) for a surface of 1296 m2. The traditional rotary mower working time for the same surface was 1.02 hours per week. The estimated primary energy consumption for autonomous mower was about 4.80 kWh/week compared with 12.60 kWh/week for gasoline-powered rotary mowing. Based on turf quality aspects and energy consumption, the use of autonomous mowers could be a promising alternative to traditional mowers.

scholarly journals Impact of Hybrid Bluegrass and Tall Fescue Seeding Combinations on Brown Patch Severity and Weed Encroachment

HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Cutulle ◽  
Jeffrey F. Derr ◽  
David McCall ◽  
Brandon Horvath ◽  
Adam D. Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
The United States ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Brown Patch ◽  
Count Ratio ◽  
Patch Disease ◽  
The Impact

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and hybrid bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. × Poa arachnifera) can both be successfully grown in the transition zone of the United States. However, each grass has limitations. Tall fescue is susceptible to the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, whereas slow establishment and susceptibility to weed infestations limit hybrid bluegrass. Previous studies have shown the benefits of combining kentucky bluegrass with tall fescue in seeding mixtures. Research was conducted to evaluate the impact of two seeding combinations of hybrid bluegrass and tall fescue (one combination seeded at a 1.9:1 seed count ratio favoring tall fescue, the other combination seeded at a 1:1.8 seed count ratio favoring hybrid bluegrass) as well as monocultures of the species on turfgrass cover, weed species infestation, brown patch disease severity caused by R. solani, sod strength and species ecology. The seeding combinations had lower weed density during establishment and greater turf cover than the monoculture of hybrid bluegrass. The monoculture of tall fescue was subjected to more brown patch disease than the seeding combinations during and after the first year of establishment. Brown patch infestations likely reduced tall fescue cover and led to a species shift favoring hybrid bluegrass in the seeding combinations based on tiller count and weight data. Seeding combinations of tall fescue and hybrid bluegrass are beneficial from an epidemiological perspective because they reduce disease and weed infestations compared with monocultures of either species. From an agronomic perspective, the seeding combination favoring tall fescue provided the densest turf, whereas the seeding combination favoring hybrid had the greatest sod strength. Chemical name used: clopyralid (3,6 dichloropyridine-2 carboxylic acid)

scholarly journals Impact of Bispyribac-sodium Application on Annual Bluegrass Control and Brown Patch Severity in Tall Fescue

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-200
Author(s):  
Matthew Cutulle ◽  
Jeffrey Derr ◽  
Adam Nichols ◽  
David McCall ◽  
Brandon Horvath
Keyword(s):  
Rhizoctonia Solani ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Iron Supplementation ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Control Field ◽  
Brown Patch ◽  
Annual Bluegrass ◽  
Application Rates

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) is a problematic weed in tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire], with limited options available for postemergence control. Field research was conducted to evaluate bispyribac-sodium application rates (37 or 74 g ai·ha−1) (0.033 or 0.066 lb ai·A−1) and timings (March, April or May) as well as iron supplementation on brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) severity, annual bluegrass control, and tall fescue quality. In general, applying bispyribac-sodium to tall fescue did not result in significantly more brown patch than in untreated plots in field trials. Applying bispyribac-sodium in March or April resulted in significantly higher annual bluegrass control than applications in May. In greenhouse experiments, bispyribac-sodium at 37 and 74 g ai·ha−1 (0.033 or 0.066 lb ai·A−1) was applied to brown patch-inoculated tall fescue plants. Under conditions of high inoculum and humidity in those greenhouse studies, applications of bispyribac-sodium increased the number of brown patch lesions relative to untreated plants. Tall fescue plant height was initially reduced after being treated with bispyribac-sodium; however, six weeks after application tall fescue plants in treated with herbicide were taller than the nontreated plants.

scholarly journals Interaction of Management Factors on Dollar Spot Disease Severity in Tall Fescue Turf

HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 1391-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.D. Brede
Keyword(s):  
Disease Severity ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Dollar Spot ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Management Factors ◽  
Cutting Height

A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivar, seeding rate, N fertilization rate, and cutting height on the severity of dollar spot (Lanzia and Moellerodiscus spp.) disease incidence. All possible two-factor interactions among these four management factors were statistically significant when averaged over the 2 years of study. Disease severity tended to be lowest at low fescue seeding rate (2100 pure-live seeds/m*) at the lower (19 mm) height of cut. `Mustang', the turf-type cultivar with improved density, was more susceptible to dollar spot than `Kentucky-31', the common-type cultivar.

GENETIC VARIATION AND CORRELATION OF AGRONOMIC TRAITS IN TALL FESCUE (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) GERMPLASM

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. A. de ARAUJO ◽  
B. E. COULMAN ◽  
M. A. FARIS ◽  
C. WROBEL
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Heading Date ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Genotypic Correlations

Sixty-seven accessions of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were studied for total genetic variability and phenotypic and genotypic correlations among eight traits. The traits were annual dry matter yield, height, spreading ability, volume, first cut recovery, second cut recovery, incidence of diseases and number of days to heading. Highly significant differences existed among accessions for all characters. The ratios of genetic to phenotypic variances were relatively high in magnitude for most of the traits, except first cut recovery and disease score, indicating that most of the characters were mainly under genetic control. However, the ratios of genotype × year interactions to phenotypic variances were quite large for some characters, particularly second cut recovery. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations were obtained between the different characters measured. Genotypic correlations were slightly higher than phenotypic correlations for most of the traits. Annual dry matter yield was significantly and positively correlated, with all traits measured with the exception of disease incidence where this association was negative. Selection for yield using heading date and height as an index may be possible in the development of superior tall fescue cultivars. Certain accessions appeared to have good yielding capacity, being superior to the check cultivar, Alta, in this character. These accessions were also as winterhardy as the check, and thus could prove useful as source material in a breeding program.Key words: Phenotypic correlation, genotypic correlation, genotype × year interactions

Influence of canopy structure on tall fescue cultivar susceptibility to brown patch disease

1994 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 439-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Y. Yuen ◽  
Loren J. Giesler ◽  
Garald L. Horst
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Brown Patch ◽  
Patch Disease ◽  
Cultivar Susceptibility

Tolerance of Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass to Chlorsulfuron Under Field Conditions

Weed Science ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M. Maloy ◽  
Nick E. Christians
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Quality Ratings ◽  
Turfgrass Quality ◽  
Severe Growth

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL. ‘Parade’, ‘Adelphi’, ‘Glade’, and ‘Rugby’ # POAPR) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceaSchreb. ‘Kentucky 31’ # FESAR) were treated in field experiments with chlorsulfuron {2-chloro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino] carbonyl] benzenesulfonamide}. The objectives of the two experiments were to determine if this herbicide has the potential to be used for selective control of tall fescue in Kentucky bluegrass turf. Chlorsulfuron treatments included single rates of 0, 18, 35, 71, 141, 212, and 282 g ai/ha and split rates, applied 14 days apart, of 18 + 18, 35 + 35, 71 + 71, 141 + 141, and 212 + 212 g/ha. Clipping weights and turfgrass quality ratings were taken in both experiments. Kentucky bluegrass showed a higher tolerance to the chemical, with no decrease in turf quality at the highest single and split application rates in both experiments. However, as the chlorsulfuron rate increased, clipping weight decreased. Tall fescue showed a low tolerance to the chemical and was controlled at single rates of 141 g/ha and split rates of 141 + 141 g/ha and greater. Although the tall fescue recovered from damage at single rates of 71 g/ha and split rates of 71 + 71 g/ha, severe growth inhibition and discoloration of aboveground tissue occurred at the lower rates. Twelve months after the first chlorsulfuron was applied in each experiment, glyphosate [isopropylamine salt ofN-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] was sprayed over the plots to kill all existing plant material, and Kentucky bluegrass was seeded into the plots 2 weeks later at the rate of 0.75 kg/100 m2. There was no inhibition of bluegrass seed germination at any of the rates of chlorsulfuron.

scholarly journals First-year Response of Turf-type Tall Fescue Cultivars to Different Fertilization Rates and Mowing Heights in Semiarid Conditions

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter F. Ray ◽  
Geno A. Picchioni ◽  
Dawn M. VanLeeuwen ◽  
Ryan M. Goss
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Quality Ratings ◽  
Turfgrass Quality ◽  
Desert Climate ◽  
Semiarid Conditions

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) has desirable attributes as a cool-season turfgrass for the semiarid southwestern United States and the transition zone, but effects of cultural practices on newer cultivars within a desert climate are not adequately known. A field study was conducted between Sept. 1996 and Nov. 1997 to evaluate establishment of 15 turf-type tall fescue cultivars under two mowing heights (2 or 3 inches) and two different annual nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) application rates (N at 13.2 or 26.4 g·m−2, P at 0.9 or 1.8 g·m−2, and K at 11.0 or 22.0 g·m−2). The cultivars included ‘Amigo’, ‘Apache’, ‘Aztec’, ‘Bonanza’, ‘Chieftain’, ‘Cochise’, ‘Confederate’, ‘Coronado’, ‘Crossfire II’, ‘Falcon’, ‘Guardian’, ‘Kentucky 31’, ‘Leprechaun’, ‘Shortstop’, and ‘Virtue’. The fertilizer rate had no effect on turfgrass quality ratings throughout the establishment period, although overall quality was higher in Fall 1997 than during Spring and Summer 1997. The mowing height of 2 inches increased summer quality ratings of 11 of the 15 cultivars as compared with ratings under the 3-inch mowing height. The 2-inch mowing height improved fall quality ratings of seven of the 15 cultivars. No cultivars responded positively to the 3-inch mowing height. Consistently high summer through fall quality ratings were observed when ‘Apache’, ‘Aztec’, and ‘Crossfire II’ were mowed at the 2-inch height as compared with the other cultivar × mowing height treatment combinations. For turf-type tall fescue establishment in semiarid climates, findings support use of a 2-inch mowing height combined with the selective planting of ‘Apache’, ‘Aztec’, and ‘Crossfire II’ over other cultivar × mowing height combinations tested in the study.

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