`MS-Choice` bermudagrass

An improved bermudagrass plant, having superior properties, suitable for a variety of turf applications, is disclosed. The bermudagrass is characterized by a dark green color, high-shot density, low seed-head density, medium-course leaf texture, good fall color retention, average sod strength, good cold tolerance, excellent shade tolerance as compared to other bermudagrasses, some dollar spot, and average leaf-spot resistance.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of bermudagrass, which has excellent turfgrass quality, good pest resistance and above-average environmental stress hardiness. The inventive bermudagrass is suitable for use on residential lawns, sport's fields, gold fairways and tees.

The inventive bermudagrass is characterized by a dark green color, high-shoot density, low seed-head density, medium-coarse leaf texture, good fall color retention, average sod strength, good cold tolerance, excellent shade tolerance as compared to other bermuda grasses, some dollar spot and average leaf-spot resistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The plant is ilustrated in FIGS. 1-6, which are color photographs of the inventive bermudagrass.

FIG. 1 reflects whole plant features of mowed and unmowed turf.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a field plot of mowed turf.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a typical inflorescence structure showing three racemes per stalk.

FIG. 4 is a photograph reflecting the leaf blade and sheath features of the inventive plant.

FIG. 5 is a photograph reflecting an abaxial view of spikelets of the inventive bermudagrass.

FIG. 6 is a photograph reflecting an adaxial view of spikelets of the inventive bermudagrass.

MS-Choice (experimental name MSB-30) is a distinct genotype of Cynodon dactylon Pers. that was developed and is vegatatively propagated at the Plant Science Research Center, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State, Miss. MS-Choice originated from a single clone collected from the 13th fairway at the Shady Oaks Country Club, Jackson, Miss. on Aug. 21, 1980. Persons knowledgeable of Shady Oaks Country Club's history said that this fairway was established with bermudagrass seed in 1913, has existed as a golf fairway since its original planting, and had not been intentionally replanted with bermudagrass seed, sprigs, plugs or sod since 1913.

MS-Choice's origin may be from any one of the following sources: (a) a seed within the original seed lot; (b) a seed or plant introduced unintentionally to this site; or (c) a plant which developed as a result of an environmentally selected mutation(s).

The identifying features of the original clone of MS-Choice were a dark green color, high shoot density, and lack of seed heads. The size of the original clone was approximately 3 ft in diameter. A 4 inch diameter plug was removed from the center of the clone and transplanted to a bermudagrass nursery located at the Plant Science Research Center. MS-Choice was 1 of 72 ecotypes of bermudagrass planted and maintained in this nursery.

MS-Choice was evaluated for 5 years in this nursery. During this period, MS-Choice maintained its original dark green color, high shoot density, and low seed head density. During this time no significant loss of MS-Choice turf was noticed due to pest or environmental stresses.

In 1986, MS-Choice was included in a regional bermudagrass evaluation trail located at 15 sites encompassing 11 states. Data was collected from 1986 to 1990. The findings from this study confirmed MS-Choice's dark green color, high shoot density, and low seed head density. In addition, MS-Choice was found to have moderate cold tolerance, excellent shade tolerance, good dollar spot and good leafspot resistance, and high turfgrass quality scores at all 15 field plot locations.

Morphological description: MS-Choice has a wide leaf width (2.2 to 2.6 mm), short leaf length (16.9 to 28.3 mm), medium internode length (7.2 to 13.2 mm), large internode (1.26 to 1.87 mm) and node diameter (1.43 to 1.87 mm) (Table 1).

Seed head density: The seed head density of MS-Choice was measured at 3 location for 2 or 3 years depending on location (Table 2). At all three location, MS-Choice showed very low seed head density that ranked well below the average when compared to the other bermudagrasses tested.

Genetic color: The genetic color of MS-Choice was visually rated at 7 locations for 1 or 2 years depending on location (Table 3). At all locations, MS-Choice's color was rated dark green. The stolons are light green and rhizomes are white.

The color designation of MS-Choice is 7.5 GY 3/4 using a Munsell color chart rating.

Shoot density: The shoot density of MS-Choice was measured at 2 location for 1 or 2 years depending on location (Table 4). MS-Choice has a high shoot density that ranked at the highest density compared to the other bermudagrasses tested.

Shade tolerance: The shade tolerance of MS-Choice was measured at 1 location for 2 years (Table 5). MS-Choice has a excellent tolerance to shade that ranked highest compared to the other bermudagrasses tested.

Ploidy level and chromosome number: MS-Choice's ploidy level and chromosome number were determined and compared to other bermudagrasses (Table 6). MS-Choice is a tetraploid with 36 chromosomes.

Turfgrass quality rating: The overall turf quality of MS-Choice was measured at 15 locations for 1, 2, or 3 years depending on location (Table 7). MS-Choice has excellent turfgrass quality. In comparison to other bermudagrasses tested, MS-Choice was at or near the top of the rankings.

Leaf texture: Leaf texture based on a visual comparison was measured at 8 locations for 1 or 2 years depending on location (Table 8). MS-Choice has a medium to course leaf texture.

Establishment rate: The establishment rate of MS-Choice was measured at scheduled intervals over a 54 day period after planting (Table 9). MS-Choice has a good establishment rate compared to the other bermudagrasses tested. At the end of the establishment period, MS-Choice had 98% turf cover.

Fall color retention: Fall color retention of MS-Choice was measured during the month of November at 6 locations for 1 or 3 years depending on location (Table 10). MS-Choice had good fall color retention that ranked at or slightly less than average when compared to the other bermudagrasses tested.

Unmowed height and sod strength: The unmowed height and sod strength of MS-Choice was measured at 1 location for 1 year and 1 location for 2 years, respectively (Table 11). MS-Choice had a low unmowed height and average sod strength compared to the other bermudagrasses tested.

Low temperature kill: The low temperature kill of MS-Choice was measured at 1 location for 2 consecutive years (Table 12). During both years, MS-Choice showed better than average low temperature tolerance compared to the other bermudagrasses tested.

Disease resistance: MS-Choice's resistance to leafspot (Helminthosporium spp.) and dollar spot (Sclerotinia spp.) was measured at 1 location for 1 or 2 years depending on location (Table 13). MS-Choice showed average resistance to leafspot and higher than average susceptibility to dollar spot compared to other bermudagrasses tested.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF MS-CHOICE

MS-Choice can be distinguished by morphological and turf performance characteristics. MS-Choice has high turf density and excellent turfgrass quality as illustrated in pot and field plot culture (FIGS. 1 and 2). MS-Choice's shoot structure is pilose on the abaxial and adaxial leaf blade surfaces, pubescence tufted at the ligule margins, and glabrous on the adaxial leaf surface and sheath (FIG. 4). MS-Choice has a raceme inflorescence structure with 3 racemes attached per stalk in a single whorl (FIG. 3). Spikelet density is medium with attachment spaced every 1.27 mm along the raceme. Length of an average spikelet is 2.3 mm with glumes extending 1/3 to 1/2 the length of a floret (FIGS. 5 and 6). The flower of MS-Choice has a purple stigma and yellow anthers.

MS-Choice has significantly wider leaves than MS-Pride, Tifgreen, Tifway II, and Tifway have (Table 1). The leaf length of MS-Choice is significantly shorter than Midiron and Tufcote. There were little differences in internode length between MS-Choice and the other bermudagrasses tested; however, the internode diameter was significantly larger than all bermudagrasses tested except Texturf 10. Node diameter of MS-Choice was significantly larger than all other bermudagrasses tested.

MS-Choice has turf performance characteristics that distinguish it from other bermudagrasses. Compared to all other bermudagrasses tested, MS-Choice showed significantly darker green color (Table 3), lower seed head density (Table 2), and greater shade tolerance (Table 5). Dark green color, low seed head density, and good shade tolerance are key features that make MS-Choice a highly desirable turfgrass.

MS-Choice, like all turf grasses, has a tendency to thatch. The tendency to thatch in this grass is limited. The thatch is comprised of dead leaves, dead or living stolons snd dead or living crowns. In contrast to other bermudagrasses, MS-Choice has a greather than average tendency to thatch.

The mowing height range for MS-Choice is from 1/2-2 inches. This bermudagrass may not be suitable for use for golf putting greens.

This grass although tetraploid, produce few seed-heads. An examination of the seed-heads showed the pollen to be non-viable, making it highly probable that the ovules are non-viable as well. The frequency of seed-heads is on the order of 2-3/100 ft.sup.2. Given the outcrossing nature of this bermudagrass, there is virtually no practical chance of seed contaminating MS-Choice.

Additional performance characteristics of MS-Choice ranked above average compared to the others grasses tested. Some of these qualities of MS-Choice were high turf quality, shoot density good fall color retention, and moderate disease resistance.

The following additional distinctive characteristics are noted:

a) Leaf color is forest green and rated a 7.5 GY 3/4 based on a Munsell.RTM. color chart for plant tissue. There is no anthocyanin pigmentation expressed in leaves during the fall. The average leaf width is 2.4 mm and average length 22.6 mm.

b) The grass spreads by stolons and rhizomes and has a hightly compact, prostrate leaf canopy. Stolon color is 5 GY 5/8 based on a Munsell.RTM. color chart for plant tissue. There is no anthocyanin pigmentation expressed in stolons during the fall. The average stolon internode diameter is 1.43 mm, the average stolon node diameter is 1.65 mm, and average stolon internode length is 22.6 mm.

c) The grass has an extensive fibrous root system initiated from the nodes of stolons and rhizomes.

d) Leaves are folded in the bud shoot; the blades are mostly flat or slightly V-shaped with only the midvein visible; and the leaf tip is tapered to an acute apex.

e) The grass has a very low frequency of inflorescence formation having an average density of <1 inflorescence per square meter. Average height of culms is 38 mm. The fluorescence consists of 2 to 3 digitate spikes at the top of the main stem, folded down at a 30 to 40 degree angle from verticle, spikelets sessiled and closely appressed. The average length of a spike is 16 mm.

f) The grass blade is pilose on the adaxial and abaxial surface. The ligule consists of a fringe of hairs. The sheath is glabrous, split with margins overlapping, and pubescence tufted at the side of the ligule. The collar is a continuous narrow band, glabrous and auricles are absent.

g) The spikelets are glabrous in two rows, blunt at their base and pointed at their tips. Spikelets are attached an average distance of 1.27 mm along the spikes. The length of an average spikelet is 2.3 mm with glumes extending 1/3 to 1/2 the length of a floret. The spikelet has stigmas of dark purple-red color rated as a 5 RP 3/10 based on a Munsell.RTM. color chart for plant tissue.

h) The grass has a somatic chromosome number of 36 and classed as a tetraploid.

                TABLE 1                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     A quantitative comparison of morphological features                       
     for describing the whole plant morphology of MS-Choice and                
     eight other bermudagrasses.                                               
     Bermudagrass                                                              
              Leaf    Leaf     Internode                                       
                                      Internode                                
                                             Node                              
     Entry    Width   Length   Length Diameter                                 
                                             Diameter                          
     ______________________________________                                    
     mm-------------------                                                     
     MS-Choice                                                                 
              2.4     22.6     10.2   1.43   1.65                              
     Midiron  2.3     35.8     15.7   1.00   1.35                              
     Texturf 10                                                                
              1.8     22.9     9.4    1.28   1.28                              
     Turfcote 1.7     33.7     12.9   1.10   1.33                              
     MS-Express                                                                
              1.8     23.8     11.1   0.95   1.25                              
     Tifgreen 1.3     22.3     9.4    0.90   1.22                              
     TIfway II                                                                 
              1.3     27.2     10.9   0.64   0.85                              
     MS-Pride 1.3     29.0     11.8   0.65   0.85                              
     Tifway   1.2     28.2     11.8   0.67   0.89                              
     LSD (.05)                                                                 
              .22     5.66     3.02   0.172  0.22                              
     Mean     1.65    27.27    11.47  0.93   1.18                              
     ______________________________________                                    
                TABLE 2                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative seed head density of MS-Choice                                
     and nine other bermudgrasses.                                             
                Field Plot Locations                                           
     Bermudagrass Starkville Las Cruces Blacksburg                             
     Entry        Mississippi                                                  
                             New Mexico Virginia                               
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice    8.8.sup.1  9.0        9.0                                    
     Tifgreen     4.0        4.7        6.2                                    
     Tifway       7.0        7.8        8.2                                    
     Tifway II    7.3        7.8        7.8                                    
     Texturf 10   5.3        8.0        6.7                                    
     Tufcote      7.5        5.3        7.7                                    
     Midiron      5.7        5.0        7.3                                    
     MS-Pride     7.3        7.9        7.7                                    
     MS-Express   4.3        5.1        6.5                                    
     Arizona Common                                                            
                  4.7        5.9        6.7                                    
     LSD (.05)    0.77       0.67       0.82                                   
     Mean         6.2        6.6        7.4                                    
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
                  *          **         **                                     
     interaction.                                                              
     Years data was                                                            
                  1987       1986       1987                                   
     collected.   1988       1987       1988                                   
                             1988                                              
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Seed head density rating based on a 1 to 9 scale; with 1 = high   
      seed head density and 9 = no seed heads.                                 
      *, **Significant at the .05 and .01 level of probability, respectively.  
                TABLE 3                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative genetic color of MS-Choice and                                
     nine other bermudagrasses.                                                
              Field Plot Location                                              
     Bermudgrass                                                               
                Tucson   Santa Ana Gainsville                                  
                                          Starkville                           
     Entry      Arizona  California                                            
                                   Florida                                     
                                          Mississippi                          
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice  7.0.sup.1                                                      
                         9.0       7.3    7.7                                  
     Tifgreen   6.3      7.0       5.2    5.0                                  
     Tifway     6.7      8.0       7.0    6.3                                  
     Tifway II  6.3      8.0       6.8    7.0                                  
     Texturf 10 6.3      7.7       5.8    5.3                                  
     Tufcote    6.7      6.7       5.8    5.0                                  
     Midiron    6.7      7.7       5.7    5.3                                  
     MS-Pride   6.0      7.7       6.8    7.0                                  
     MS-Express 6.3      7.7       6.2    5.0                                  
     Arizona Common                                                            
                5.3      5.7       5.2    5.0                                  
     LSD (.05)  NS       0.75      0.55   0.65                                 
     Mean       6.4      7.5       6.2    5.9                                  
     Cultivar .times. Year         **                                          
     interaction.                                                              
     Years data was                                                            
                1987     1987      1987   1988                                 
     collected.                    1988                                        
     ______________________________________                                    
                  Field Plot Location                                          
     Bermudagrass   Las Cruces                                                 
                              Stillwater                                       
                                        Cleveland                              
     Entry          New Mexico                                                 
                              Oklahoma  Texas                                  
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice      7.5       8.0       8.7                                    
     Tifgreen       6.8       6.3       7.7                                    
     Tifway         7.0       7.7       9.0                                    
     Tifway II      7.7       6.0       8.0                                    
     Texturf 10     7.0       7.3       8.0                                    
     Tufcote        7.2       4.7       7.3                                    
     Midiron        6.3       6.7       7.0                                    
     MS-Pride       7.7       7.0       8.7                                    
     MS-Express     6.7       6.3       7.7                                    
     Arizona Common 5.5       6.0       6.7                                    
     LSD (.05)      NS        1.08      0.80                                   
     Mean           6.9       6.6       7.9                                    
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
                    NS                                                         
     interaction.                                                              
     Years data was 1986      1988      1988                                   
     collected.     1987                                                       
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Genetic color rating based on a 1 to 9 scale; with 1 = light green
      color and 9 = dark green color.                                          
      *, **Significant at the .05 and .01 level of probability, respectively.  
                TABLE 4                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative shoot density of MS-Choice and nine other bermudagrasses.     
                   Field Plot Location                                         
     Bermudagrass    Las Cruces   Stillwater                                   
     Entry           New Mexico   Oklahoma                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice       8.4.sup.1    8.0                                          
     Tifgreen        8.4          7.7                                          
     MS-Pride        8.1          7.3                                          
     Texturf 10      7.8          8.0                                          
     Tifway          7.7          7.7                                          
     Midiron         7.9          7.0                                          
     Tifway II       7.3          7.7                                          
     MS-Express      7.3          7.3                                          
     Tufcote         6.3          7.7                                          
     Arizona Common  3.9          6.0                                          
     LSD (0.05)      0.61         0.95                                         
     Mean            7.3          7.5                                          
     Entry .times. Year                                                        
                     **           NA                                           
     Interaction                                                               
     Year(s) data was                                                          
                     1986         1987                                         
     recorded        1987                                                      
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Shoot density rating based on a visual scale; with 1 = low density
      and 9 = high density.                                                    
      *, **Significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 level of probability, respectively.
                TABLE 5                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative shade tolerance of MS-Choice and                              
     nine other bermudgrasses.sup.1.                                           
     Bermudagrass        Shade                                                 
     Entry               Tolerance                                             
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice           4.9.sup.2                                             
     MS-Pride            4.5                                                   
     Tifgreen            4.3                                                   
     MS-Express          4.3                                                   
     Tifway II           3.8                                                   
     Tifway              3.7                                                   
     Texturf 10          3.5                                                   
     Tufcote             3.4                                                   
     Arizona Common      2.5                                                   
     Midiron             2.1                                                   
     LSD (0.05)          0.39                                                  
     Mean                3.7                                                   
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
                         **                                                    
     interaction                                                               
     Years data was      1987                                                  
     collected           1988                                                  
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Field plots located in Starkville, MS.                            
      .sup.2 Shade tolerance based on a visual scale of 1 to 9; with 9 =       
      excellent shade tolerance and 1 = poor shade tolerance.                  
      *, **Significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 level of probability, respectively.
                TABLE 6                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     The ploidy level and chromosome number of MS-Choice                       
     and nine other bermudagrasses.                                            
     Bermudagrass                 Chromosome                                   
     Entry           Ploidy Level Number                                       
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice       Tetraploid   36.sup.1                                     
     Texturf 10                   36                                           
     Turfcote                     36                                           
     Midiron                      36                                           
     Arizona Common               36                                           
     MS-Express      Triploid     27                                           
     MS-Pride                     27                                           
     Tifgreen                     27                                           
     Tifway                       27                                           
     Tifway II                    27                                           
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Chromosome numbers were determined using squashes of root tips.   
                TABLE 7                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative turfgrass quality of MS-Choice and                            
     nine other bermudagrasses.                                                
             Field Plot Location                                               
     Bermudagrass                                                              
               Tucson   Santa Ana Riverside                                    
                                          Gainsville                           
     Entry     Arizona  California                                             
                                  California                                   
                                          Florida                              
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice 7.5.sup.1                                                       
                        6.3       4.9     5.7                                  
     Tifgreen  7.3      5.8       5.4     4.8                                  
     Tifway    7.8      6.5       5.5     5.8                                  
     Tifway II 7.9      6.5       5.7     5.7                                  
     Texturf 10                                                                
               7.8      5.8       5.1     5.1                                  
     Tufcote   7.3      5.4       5.2     5.6                                  
     Midiron   6.2      5.8       4.9     4.9                                  
     MS-Pride  8.3      6.5       5.3     6.0                                  
     MS-Express                                                                
               7.8      5.9       5.8     5.2                                  
     Arizona Common                                                            
               5.5      4.4       4.7     4.9                                  
     LSD (.05) 0.54     0.33      0.55    0.32                                 
     Mean      7.3      5.9       5.2     5.4                                  
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
                        **        NS      **                                   
     interaction.                                                              
     Year(s) data was                                                          
               1988     1986      1986    1987                                 
     collected.         1987      1987    1988                                 
                                  1988    1988                                 
     ______________________________________                                    
             Field Plot Location                                               
     Bermudagrass                                                              
               Manhattan                                                       
                        Wichita  Baton Rogue                                   
                                         Silver Springs                        
     Entry     Kansas   Kansas   Louisiana                                     
                                         Maryland                              
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice 6.9      8.0      7.0     6.0                                   
     Tifgreen  6.9      7.8      7.7     6.2                                   
     Tifway    6.3      8.2      7.6     6.3                                   
     Tifway II 6.5      8.4      7.6     6.4                                   
     Texturf 10                                                                
               6.7      7.9      6.9     5.3                                   
     Tufcote   6.9      7.7      7.3     5.8                                   
     Midiron   6.7      7.7      6.7     5.4                                   
     MS-Pride  6.5      8.3      7.5     6.4                                   
     MS-Express                                                                
               6.8      8.1      7.6     7.7                                   
     Arizona Common                                                            
               5.0      5.9      6.3     5.0                                   
     LSD (.05) 0.38     0.30     0.59    NS                                    
     Mean      6.5      7.8      7.2     6.1                                   
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
               **       **       *                                             
     interaction.                                                              
     Year(s) data was                                                          
               1987     1986     1987    1988                                  
     collected.                                                                
               1988     1987     1988                                          
                                 1988                                          
     ______________________________________                                    
              Field Plot Location                                              
     Bermudagrass                                                              
                Starkville                                                     
                          Las Cruces                                           
                                    Cleveland                                  
                                           Beltsville                          
     Entry      Mississippi                                                    
                          New Mexico                                           
                                    Texas  Maryland                            
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice  6.1.sup.1 7.3       8.0    7.0                                 
     Tifgreen   7.4       6.3       9.0    7.3                                 
     Tifway     6.7       7.0       7.7    6.6                                 
     Tifway II  6.9       7.5       8.0    6.8                                 
     Texturf 10 5.6       6.8       5.7    6.5                                 
     Tufcote    5.5       6.2       5.7    6.7                                 
     Midiron    5.1       6.5       5.3    5.8                                 
     MS-Pride   6.9       7.2       8.0    6.9                                 
     MS-Express 7.6       6.7       8.7    7.0                                 
     Arizona Common                                                            
                4.1       3.8       4.0    4.5                                 
     LSD (.05)  0.19      0.49      1.14   0.38                                
     Mean       6.2       6.5       7.0    6.5                                 
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
                **        **        NA     **                                  
     interaction.                                                              
     Year(s) data was                                                          
                1986      1986      1988   1986                                
     collected. 1987      1987             1987                                
                1988      1988             1988                                
     ______________________________________                                    
                Field Plot Location                                            
     Bermudagrass Blacksburg                                                   
                            Blackstone                                         
                                      Virginia Beach                           
     Entry        Virginia  Virginia  Virginia                                 
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice    5.9       6.8       6.7                                      
     Tifgreen     5.9       6.8       6.2                                      
     Tifway       6.5       7.0       6.3                                      
     Tifway II    6.1       6.8       6.9                                      
     Texturf 10   6.0       6.6       5.7                                      
     Tufcote      5.8       6.4       4.9                                      
     Midiron      5.0       5.8       5.9                                      
     MS-Pride     5.8       6.8       6.4                                      
     MS-Express   6.5       6.8       6.0                                      
     Arizona Common                                                            
                  4.2       5.0       3.9                                      
     LSD (.05)    0.43      0.38      0.77                                     
     Mean         5.8       6.5       5.9                                      
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
                  *         **        NA                                       
     interaction.                                                              
     Year(s) data was                                                          
                  1986      1986      1986                                     
     collected.   1987      1988                                               
                  1988                                                         
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Turfgrass quality ratings based on a 1 to 9 scale with 1 = poor   
      turfgrass quality and 9 = excellent turf quality.                        
      *, **Significant at the .05 and .01 level of probability, respectively.  
                TABLE 8                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative leaf texture of MS-Choice and nine other bermudagrasses.      
             Field Plot Locations                                              
               Tucson   Wichita  Gainsville                                    
                                         Starkville                            
     Cultivar  Arizona  Kansas   Florida Mississippi                           
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice 5.3.sup.1                                                       
                        6.7      5.7     5.0                                   
     Tifgreen  7.3      9.0      7.5     7.7                                   
     Tifway    7.0      7.7      7.8     6.0                                   
     Tifway II 6.3      8.3      8.2     6.0                                   
     Texturf 10                                                                
               5.7      8.0      5.5     5.0                                   
     Tufcote   5.7      6.0      7.0     5.0                                   
     Midiron   5.3      4.0      5.8     5.0                                   
     MS-Pride  6.7      7.3      8.0     6.0                                   
     MS-Express                                                                
               7.7      9.0      7.3     8.0                                   
     Arizona Common                                                            
               4.3      3.7      2.7     4.3                                   
     LSD (.05) 0.92     0.68     1.01    0.43                                  
     Mean      6.1      7.0      6.6     5.8                                   
     Cultivar .times. Year       **                                            
     interaction.                                                              
     Year(s) data was                                                          
               1987     1986     1987    1988                                  
     collected.                  1988                                          
     ______________________________________                                    
                 Field Plot Locations                                          
                   Las Cruces                                                  
                             Baton Rogue                                       
                                       Virignia Beach                          
     Cultivar      New Mexico                                                  
                             Louisiana Virginia                                
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Choice     6.5       6.3       4.7                                     
     Tifgreen      9.0       9.0       7.0                                     
     Tifway        8.2       9.0       6.0                                     
     Tifway II     8.3       9.0       5.7                                     
     Texturf 10    5.8       6.3       5.7                                     
     Tufcote       6.7       9.0       3.7                                     
     Midiron       6.8       7.7       4.3                                     
     MS-Pride      8.5       9.0       6.0                                     
     MS-Express    8.8       9.0       6.0                                     
     Arizona Common                                                            
                   4.2       6.3       2.3                                     
     LSD (.05)     0.79      0.79      1.19                                    
     Mean          7.3       8.1       5.1                                     
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
                   **                                                          
     interaction.                                                              
     Year(s) data was                                                          
                   1986      1988      1988  1986                              
     collected.    1987                                                        
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Leaf texture rating based on a 1 to 9 scale; with 1 = coarse leaf 
      texture and 9 = fine leaf texture.                                       
      *, **Significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 level of probability, respectively.
                TABLE 9                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative establishment rate of MS-Choice                               
     and nine other bermudagrasses.                                            
     Bermudagrass Days After Planting.sup.1                                    
     Entry        26      33      40    47    54                               
     ______________________________________                                    
                % cover---------------                                         
     Arizona Common                                                            
                  65.0.sup.2                                                   
                          66.7    90.0  97.7  100.0                            
     Midiron      36.7    43.3    76.7  91.7  100.0                            
     MS-Choice    36.7    38.3    71.7  88.3  100.0                            
     Tifgreen     35.0    41.7    80.0  91.7  100.0                            
     MS-Express   35.3    45.0    86.7  88.3  98.3                             
     Tufcote      35.0    40.0    76.7  91.0  98.3                             
     Texturf 10   31.7    43.3    73.3  88.3  98.3                             
     Tifway       25.0    30.0    51.7  66.7  93.3                             
     Tifway II    21.7    28.3    41.7  73.3  93.3                             
     MS-Pride     20.0    28.3    51.7  66.7  91.7                             
     LSD (0.05)   14.3    14.7    18.7  20.3  8.2                              
     Mean         34.2    40.5    70.0  84.4  97.3                             
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 All entries were planted on 620-86 using 2 inch diameter plugs    
      spaced on 1 ft intervals. Plots were located in Starkville, MS and plot  
      size was 5 .times. 10 ft.                                                
      .sup.2 The % cover was based on a visual estimation of the % of the plot 
      area covered by vegetation.                                              
                TABLE 10                                                    
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative fall color retention of MS-Choice                             
     and nine other bermudgrasses.                                             
            Field Plot Location                                                
                                        Las                                    
                       Raleigh          Cruces                                 
                                              Loc. 2                           
     Bermudagrasses                                                            
              Beltsville                                                       
                       North    Starkville                                     
                                        New   New                              
     Entry    Maryland Carolina Mississippi                                    
                                        Mexico                                 
                                              Mexico                           
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Pride 5.3.sup.1                                                        
                       6.7      6.5     4.3   5.3                              
     Tifway   4.8      6.7      6.2     4.6   5.7                              
     Tifway II                                                                 
              4.5      7.3      6.5     4.4   5.7                              
     Tufcote  2.8      6.3      5.3     3.2   3.3                              
     Midiron  2.3      3.7      4.2     3.1   3.3                              
     Texturf 10                                                                
              2.2      5.3      3.2     2.6   5.0                              
     MS-Choice                                                                 
              2.0      5.7      4.2     3.4   4.3                              
     Tifgreen 2.0      6.3      3.2     2.0   4.0                              
     MS-Express                                                                
              1.7      6.7      3.0     2.1   4.3                              
     Arizona  1.7      5.7      4.5     3.4   2.3                              
     Common                                                                    
     LSD (0.05)                                                                
              0.68     1.54     0.43    0.76  1.74                             
     Mean     2.9      6.0      4.7     3.3   4.3                              
     Cultivar .times. Year                                                     
              **       NA       **      **    NA                               
     interaction                                                               
     Year(s) data                                                              
              1986     1986     1986    1986  1988                             
     was collected                                                             
              1987              1988    1987                                   
                                        1988                                   
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Color ratings based on a visual scale of color with; 9 = green    
      color and 1 = brown color.                                               
      *, **Significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 level of probability, respectively.
                TABLE 11                                                    
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative height of unmowed plots and sod                               
     strength of MS-Choice and nine other bermudgrasses.                       
                   Plant Measurement                                           
     Bermudagrass    Unmowed     Sod                                           
     Entry           Height      Strength                                      
     ______________________________________                                    
     cm--                                                                      
     lbs--                                                                     
     Arizona Common  31.7.sup.1  26.8.sup.2                                    
     Tufcote         8.7         39.3                                          
     Midiron         5.7         39.5                                          
     Tifway II       5.0         121.5                                         
     MS-Choice       4.3         65.5                                          
     Texturf 10      4.3         77.8                                          
     Tifway          4.3         95.2                                          
     MS-Express      4.0         86.7                                          
     MS-Pride        4.0         157.7                                         
     Tifgreen        3.3         74.7                                          
     LSD (0.05)      1.8         34.5                                          
     Mean            7.5         78.5                                          
     Entry .times. Year                                                        
                     NA          NS                                            
     Interaction                                                               
     Year(s) data    1986        1987                                          
     was collected               1988                                          
     Location        Las Cruces  Starkville                                    
                     New Mexico  Mississippi                                   
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 The shoot height was determined by measuring the height of the    
      grass at its maximum length above the soil surface.                      
      .sup.2 Sod strength was determined by measuring the amount of force (lbs)
      required to shear an 18 .times. 24 .times. 1" section of sod.            
                TABLE 12                                                    
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative turf mortality due to winter kill of                          
     MS-Choice and nine other bermudagrasses.sup.1.                            
     Bermudagrass      Year                                                    
     Entry             1987        1988                                        
     ______________________________________                                    
                     % turf mortality---                                       
     Tufcote           0.sup.2     0                                           
     Tifgreen          3.3         1.7                                         
     MS-Express        1.7         5.0                                         
     Texturf 10        3.3         10.0                                        
     MS-Pride          5.0         25.0                                        
     Midiron           11.7        11.7                                        
     Tifway            5.0         36.7                                        
     Tifway II         5.0         36.7                                        
     MS-Choice         11.7        36.7                                        
     Arizona Common    35.0        88.3                                        
     LSD (0.05)        11.6        12.9                                        
     Mean              8.2         25.2                                        
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Field plot were located in Beltsville, MD.                        
      .sup.2 The % of plot area lost to low temperature killed was based on a  
      visual evaluation of turf lost immediately following spring greenup in   
      May.                                                                     
                TABLE 13                                                    
     ______________________________________                                    
     Comparative leafspot (Helminthosporium spp.) and dollarspot               
     (Sclerotinia spp.) disease resistance of MS-Choice                        
     and nine other bermudagrasses.                                            
     Bermudagrass   Disease Rating                                             
     Entry          Helminthosporium                                           
                                  Dollar Spot                                  
     ______________________________________                                    
     MS-Pride       8.8.sup.1     8.4                                          
     MS-Express     8.7           7.7                                          
     Tifgreen       8.3           7.3                                          
     Tifway II      8.3           8.5                                          
     Texturf 10     8.2           8.7                                          
     Tifway         8.2           8.7                                          
     MS-Choice      7.9           6.4                                          
     Midiron        7.8           8.7                                          
     Tufcote        7.0           8.8                                          
     Arizona Common 6.2           8.6                                          
     LSD (0.05)     0.73          0.83                                         
     Mean           7.9           8.2                                          
     Entry .times. Year                                                        
                    **            **                                           
     Interaction                                                               
     Year(s) data was                                                          
                    1986          1986                                         
     collected      1988          1988                                         
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.1 Disease rating based on a visual scale of 1 to 9; with 9 = no     
      disease damage (excellent disease resistance) and 1 = high incidence of  
      disease damage (poor disease resistance).                                
      *, **Significant at the 0.05 and 0.01 level of probability, respectively.

Claims

1. A bermudagrass plant substantially as described and illustrated in the specification herein.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
PP6278 September 6, 1988 McMaugh et al.
Other references
  • Krans, J.V., et al, 1995 "Registration of `MS-Choice` Bermudagrass" Crop Science, vol. 35, Sep.-Oct., p. 1506.
Patent History
Patent number: PP10332
Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 4, 1996
Date of Patent: Apr 14, 1998
Assignee: Mississippi State University (Mississippi State, MI)
Inventors: Jeffrey V. Krans (Mississippi State, MS), H. Wayne Philley (Mississippi State, MS)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Law Firm: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier, & Neustadt, P.C.
Application Number: 8/582,962
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Plt/90
International Classification: A01H 500;