Genus and species: Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis.
Variety denomination: ‘MSB-1017’.
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT Bermudagrass ‘MSB-1017’ is a new and distinct bermudagrass cultivar. The female parent is ‘Riley's Super Sport’ with the commercial name Celebration (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,131), a tetraploid (2n=4x=36) common bermudagrass (C. dactylon) cultivar; the male parent is an African bermudagrass (C. transvaalensis) named ‘trans1’ (2n=2x=18). Accordingly, ‘MSB-1017’ is a triploid (2n=3x=27) and does not produce viable seed. Cross pollination was performed in summer 2015 in Starkville, Mississippi. Seeds from the cross were germinated in February 2016 in a controlled-temperature chamber. The seedlings were then individually transplanted to a greenhouse. ‘MSB-1017’ has been vegetatively propagated since germination. ‘MSB-1017’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Starkville, Mississippi.
SUMMARY The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Starkville, Mississippi.
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- 1. ‘MSB-1017’ is characterized with fine leaf texture;
- 2. ‘MSB-1017’ is characterized by a dark green color;
- 3. ‘MSB-1017’ is characterized by reduced seedhead production;
- 4. ‘MSB-1017’ is characterized by fast establishment;
- 5. ‘MSB-1017’ is characterized by high density; and
- 6. ‘MSB-1017’ is characterized by disease resistance leafspot (Bipolaris cynodontis).
DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS This new Bermudagrass plant ‘MSB-1017’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.
FIG. 1. Photo of ‘MSB-1017’ plot in South Carolina.
FIG. 2. Photo comparing the seed head of ‘MSB-1017’ (shown as 1017) with the female parent ‘Riley's Super Sport’, shown as Celebration, the male parent ‘Trans1’ and the commercial line ‘TifTuf’. The photo was taken on Jun. 6, 2023. Plugs were taken from field plots and planted in pots in the greenhouse in Starkville, Mississippi.
FIG. 3. Photo taken on Jun. 16, 2023 in Starkville, Mississippi comparing the grass of ‘MSB-1017’ (shown as 1017) with the female parent ‘Riley's Super Sport’, shown as Celebration, the male parent ‘Trans1’ and the commercial line ‘TifTuf’.
FIG. 4. Photo taken on Jun. 20, 2023 in Starkville, Mississippi comparing the spike and seed head of ‘MSB-1017’ (shown as 1017) with the female parent ‘Riley's Super Sport’, shown as Celebration, the male parent ‘Trans1’ and the commercial line ‘TifTuf’.
FIG. 5. Photo taken on Jun. 29, 2023 in Starkville, Mississippi comparing the rhizomes of ‘MSB-1017’ (shown as 1017) with the female parent ‘Riley's Super Sport’, shown as Celebration, the male parent ‘Trans1’ and the commercial line ‘TifTuf’.
FIG. 6. Photo taken on Jul. 18, 2023 in Starkville, Mississippi comparing the rhizomes of ‘MSB-1017’ (shown as 1017) with the female parent ‘Riley's Super Sport’, shown as Celebration, the male parent ‘Trans1’ and the commercial line ‘TifTuf’.
FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a phylogenetic tree that shows ‘MSB-1017’ is genetically different from the other bermudagrass cultivars analyzed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘MSB-1017’.
‘MSB-1017’ has been tested in the 2019 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP trial) bermudagrass test which involves 19 environments at 16 locations where each location is identified by a code in column 3 (Table 1).
TABLE 1
State Location Code
Alabama Auburn AL1
Arkansas Fayetteville AR1
California Riverside (Drought) CA3
Florida Fort Lauderdale FL5
Florida Jay FL3
Indiana West Lafayette IN1
Kansas Wichita KS2
Kentucky Lexington KY1
Mississippi Mississippi State MS1
Missouri Columbia MO1
New Mexico Las Cruces NM1
New Mexico Las Cruces (Salinity) NM2
North Carolina Raleigh (Traffic) NC1
Oklahoma Stillwater OK1
Oklahoma Stillwater (Divot Recovery) OK2
Tennessee Knoxville TN1
Texas College Station (Drought) TX2
Texas College Station (Shade) TX3
Virginia Blacksburg VA1
- Classification:
-
- Family.—Poaceae.
- Species.—Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis.
- Common name.—Bermudagrass.
- Variety.—‘MSB-1017’.
- Parentage:
-
- Female.—‘Riley's Super Sport’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,181).
- Male.—‘trans1’ (unpatented).
A total of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries (17 experimental lines and 5 commercial standards) were tested in the following trials:
-
- 1) 2019 NTEP bermudagrass test shown in Table 1;
- 2) an evaluation trial at Mississippi State University research facility in 2016 (MSU 2016 trial), and a total of 33 entries (31 experimental lines and 2 commercial standards) were included;
- 3) a home lawn trial established in 2017 at Mississippi State University research facility (MSU 2017 trial), with a total of 15 entries (13 experimental lines and 2 commercial standards) included; and
- 4) a fourth trial at Mississippi State University research facility in 2018 (MSU 2018 trial), with a total of 26 entries (23 experimental lines and 3 commercial standards) included.
The following are detailed botanical descriptions of the characteristics of this new cultivar, based upon the first year (2020) data of the 2019 NTEP trial, three years (2016-2018) data of MSU 2016 trial, one year (2017-2018) data of the MSU 2017 trial, and two years (2020-2021) data of MSU 2018 trial.
Turfgrass quality ratings are based on a combination of color, density, uniformity, texture, and disease or environmental stress. Quality ratings are based on 1-9 scale, with 9 being the best and 1 being poorest.
Data from the NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’, along with commercial standards ‘Tahoma 31’ and ‘Tiftuf’, exhibited highest quality (mean quality rating of 6.4) when averaged across all 13 testing locations (Table 2).
Patent status of varieties listed in Tables 2-17: ‘OKC1876’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 35,548; ‘TifEagle’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,163; ‘TifGrand’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,017; MSB-04-264′, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,407; ‘Riviera’, U.S. PVP Certificate No. 009500227; ‘Astro’, unpatented; ‘Latitude 36’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,271; ‘Tahoma 31’, patented under the name ‘OKC 1131’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,695; ‘OKC 1876’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 35,548, ‘TifTuf’, experimental name ‘DT-1’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,392; FB 1628, unpatented; OKC1873, unpatented; MSB-1042, unpatented; MSB-1050, unpatented; MSB-1026, unpatented; FB 1630, unpatented; *Tifway, unpatented; MSB-1048, unpatented; JSC 80V, unpatented; JSC 77V, unpatented; OKC1406, unpatented; OKC1682, unpatented; OKC1666, unpatented; FB 1903, unpatented; FB 1902, unpatented; MSB-1075, unpatented.
TABLE 2
Turfgrass quality of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries
evaluated in the 2019 NTEP trial. (9 = very high; 1 = low).
Entry VA1 IN1 AR1 KS2 MO1 OK1 NM1
MSB-1017 7.3 6.5 7.4 5.2 6.8 6.2 6.3
*Tahoma 31 6.6 6.6 7.4 5.1 7.5 6.4 6.5
*Tiftuf 7.5 6.9 7.5 5.9 7.0 6.3 4.9
FB 1628 6.9 6.9 7.4 5.4 6.4 6.4 5.1
OKC1876 7.0 6.7 7.5 5.3 6.2 6.3 5.8
*Latitude 36 7.2 6.6 6.9 5.7 7.0 6.1 5.9
OKC1873 6.9 6.3 7.4 5.3 5.3 6.1 6.3
MSB-1042 7.3 6.6 7.1 6.0 6.9 6.0 5.0
MSB-1050 5.9 6.3 7.5 4.2 6.6 6.2 5.9
*Astro 7.1 6.1 6.6 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.7
MSB-1026 6.2 6.5 7.3 4.8 4.8 6.2 4.7
FB 1630 6.5 6.1 6.6 4.9 4.9 5.9 6.3
*Tifway 6.3 6.3 7.1 5.0 5.5 6.0 5.5
MSB-1048 6.7 6.2 6.6 5.2 5.8 5.8 5.4
JSC 80V 6.5 5.9 6.2 5.5 4.9 5.7 6.4
JSC 77V 5.7 6.3 6.4 5.1 5.3 5.9 4.7
OKC1406 6.6 6.2 6.4 5.4 5.7 5.6 4.8
OKC1682 5.7 5.9 6.4 5.2 5.8 5.8 5.7
OKC1666 7.3 5.8 6.1 5.9 4.8 5.2 5.3
FB 1903 5.4 5.4 6.6 4.3 3.6 5.6 6.7
FB 1902 5.3 5.5 6.2 4.8 4.5 5.5 6.0
MSB-1075 4.1 5.2 5.9 3.2 3.2 5.4 5.9
LSD (0.05) 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8
C.V. (%) 7.9 8.3 7.5 10.0 9.1 8.7 9.0
Entry FL5 TN1 KY1 FL3 AL1 MS1 Mean
MSB-1017 7.4 5.4 6.3 7.3 5.9 5.6 6.4
*Tahoma 31 7.7 5.8 6.5 6.8 5.3 5.6 6.4
*Tiftuf 7.1 6.1 6.5 6.5 5.9 5.4 6.4
FB 1628 8.1 6.1 6.7 6.8 5.7 5.5 6.4
OKC1876 7.4 5.9 6.5 7.1 5.8 5.7 6.4
*Latitude 36 7.3 5.8 6.3 6.4 5.2 5.2 6.3
OKC1873 6.2 6.0 6.3 7.0 5.6 5.8 6.2
MSB-1042 6.4 6.0 6.2 6.0 5.3 5.1 6.1
MSB-1050 7.6 5.4 6.2 7.0 5.3 5.6 6.1
*Astro 7.1 5.5 6.1 6.8 5.2 5.4 6.1
MSB-1026 7.4 6.2 6.6 6.8 5.6 5.7 6.1
FB 1630 7.7 5.6 6.3 6.9 5.0 5.4 6.0
*Tifway 6.7 6.0 6.2 6.4 5.1 5.4 6.0
MSB-1048 7.2 5.5 6.1 6.3 5.0 5.0 5.9
JSC 80V 6.5 6.0 6.0 6.1 4.4 5.1 5.8
JSC 77V 7.7 6.3 6.4 5.7 4.4 5.0 5.8
OKC1406 7.0 5.7 6.0 5.8 4.7 4.7 5.7
OKC1682 6.2 6.1 6.0 5.4 3.9 4.9 5.6
OKC1666 5.1 5.7 5.6 5.6 4.7 4.7 5.5
FB 1903 5.8 5.8 5.9 6.6 4.4 5.7 5.5
FB 1902 5.5 6.1 5.8 5.4 3.7 5.0 5.3
MSB-1075 7.5 5.4 5.9 6.3 3.7 5.2 5.1
LSD (0.05) 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6
C.V. (%) 7.5 8.8 8.3 8.0 10.3 9.7 6.3
*Standard entries
In MSU 2016 trial, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 1st in mean quality ratings (7.0) and was ranked significantly higher than its female parent ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 3).
TABLE 3
Turf quality of experimental bermudagrass entries planted at
Mississippi State University in 2016 and evaluated over three
years. (9 = very high; 1 = low).
Entry 2016 2017 2018 Mean
MSB-1017 7.7 6.8 6.6 7.0
MSB-1026 7.3 6.4 7.0 6.9
*Tifway 7.7 6.5 6.3 6.8
MSB-1004 6.9 6.7 6.7 6.8
MSB-1010 7.4 6.5 6.2 6.7
MSB-1006 6.7 6.3 6.7 6.6
MSB-1012 6.7 6.5 6.4 6.5
MSB-1013 6.8 6.5 6.3 6.5
MSB-1022 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.5
MSB-1005 6.4 6.2 6.1 6.2
MSB-1016 6.4 6.2 5.8 6.1
MSB-1008 6.0 6.2 6.1 6.1
*‘Riley's Super Sport’ 6.1 6.3 5.9 6.1
MSB-1002 5.9 6.3 6.0 6.1
MSB-1011 6.2 6.3 5.7 6.1
MSB-1014 5.9 6.2 6.0 6.0
MSB-1018 6.6 5.9 5.5 6.0
MSB-1009 6.1 6.0 5.8 6.0
MSB-1019 6.0 6.2 5.8 6.0
MSB-1001 6.3 6.0 5.7 6.0
MSB-1021 6.1 5.9 5.5 5.9
MSB-1015 6.1 5.8 5.5 5.8
MSB-1003 6.6 5.8 4.8 5.7
MSB-1020 5.8 5.4 4.8 5.3
MSB-1025 5.9 5.3 4.8 5.3
MSB-1027 5.1 5.5 5.0 5.2
MSB-1007 5.4 5.2 4.9 5.2
MSB-1029 5.6 5.0 4.8 5.1
MSB-1028 5.3 4.9 4.6 5.0
MSB-1024 5.3 5.2 4.1 4.9
MSB-1031 3.0 5.1 5.5 4.4
MSB-1033 2.9 4.0 5.1 4.0
MSB-1002 2.6 4.6 4.7 3.7
LSD (0.05) 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.4
C.V. (%) 8.7 4.5 6.6 6.9
*Standard entries
Similarly, in MSU 2018 trial, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 4th in mean quality ratings (6.6) and was ranked significantly higher than ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 4).
TABLE 4
Turf quality, seedhead, and leaf texture of experimental bermudagrass
entries planted at Mississippi State University in 2018 and evaluated
over two years. (9 = very high; 1 = low).
Quality Seedhead
Entry 2020 2021 Mean 2020 2021 Mean
MSB-1050 7.2 6.5 6.9 8.7 8.9 8.8
MSB-1080 6.8 6.8 6.8 8.5 7.8 8.2
MSB-1048 6.8 6.5 6.7 8.0 8.3 8.1
MSB-1017 6.8 6.4 6.6 8.2 8.1 8.2
MSB-1046 6.8 6.3 6.6 8.5 7.9 8.2
MSB-1075 6.5 6.3 6.4 9.0 8.4 8.7
*Tiftuf 6.5 6.5 6.5 7.6 7.4 7.5
*Tifway 6.5 6.4 6.5 8.5 7.9 8.2
MSB-1044 6.4 6.1 6.3 8.1 7.8 7.9
MSB-1047 6.4 6.1 6.3 7.7 7.4 7.5
MSB-1042 6.3 6.2 6.3 8.1 8.0 8.1
MSB-1026 6.3 6.1 6.2 9.0 9.0 9.0
MSB-1041 5.9 5.5 5.7 8.7 8.4 8.6
MSB-1067 5.8 5.7 5.7 8.3 8.3 8.3
*‘Riley's 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.8
Super Sport’
MSB-1012 5.7 5.6 5.7 6.7 7.0 6.8
MSB-1079 5.7 5.3 5.5 5.4 5.5 5.4
MSB-1069 5.6 5.6 5.6 8.1 7.8 8.0
MSB-1059 5.3 5.4 5.4 7.5 6.9 7.2
MSB-1073 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.9 6.1 6.0
MSB-1077 5.1 4.8 5.0 5.3 5.3 5.3
MSB-1072 5.0 4.4 4.7 5.7 5.5 5.6
MSB-1074 4.7 4.3 4.5 4.9 4.9 4.9
MSB-1076 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.4
MSB-1078 4.2 3.3 3.8 4.7 5.5 5.1
MSB-1081 3.9 3.3 3.6 5.2 4.9 5.1
LSD (0.05) 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.5
C.V. (%) 15.3 17.4 16.2 21.7 19.6 20.5
Leaf texture
Entry 2020 2021 Mean
MSB-1050 8.0 8.0 8.0
MSB-1080 6.8 7.0 6.9
MSB-1048 7.0 7.0 7.0
MSB-1017 7.0 7.0 7.0
MSB-1046 6.7 6.3 6.5
MSB-1075 6.7 6.7 6.7
*Tiftuf 6.2 6.7 6.4
*Tifway 6.2 6.3 6.3
MSB-1044 6.3 6.0 6.2
MSB-1047 6.0 6.0 6.0
MSB-1042 6.7 6.3 6.5
MSB-1026 6.3 6.0 6.2
MSB-1041 5.8 5.3 5.6
MSB-1067 6.2 6.0 6.1
*‘Riley's Super Sport’ 5.0 5.7 5.3
MSB-1012 5.5 5.0 5.3
MSB-1079 6.2 6.3 6.3
MSB-1069 6.3 6.0 6.2
MSB-1059 6.0 6.3 6.2
MSB-1073 5.0 5.7 5.3
MSB-1077 5.7 5.3 5.5
MSB-1072 5.2 5.3 5.3
MSB-1074 5.2 4.7 4.9
MSB-1076 5.8 6.3 6.1
MSB-1078 5.5 5.3 5.4
MSB-1081 4.7 4.7 4.7
LSD (0.05) 0.5 0.7 0.4
C.V. (%) 12.4 12.8 12.3
*Standard entries
Leaf texture is a measure or estimate of leaf width. The visual rating of texture is based on 1-9 scale with 1 equaling coarse and 9 equal fine. NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 3rd across nine locations, with a mean rating of 7.5 (Table 5), which was slightly lower than two MSU experimental lines, MSB-1050 and MSB-1048, both had a mean rating of 7.6 (Table 5).
TABLE 5
Leaf texture ratings of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries
evaluated in the 2019 NTEP trial. (9 = very fine; 1 = coarse).
Entry AL1 AR1 FL3 IN1 KS2
MSB-1050 9.0 7.3 8.0 7.7 6.3
MSB-1048 7.7 7.7 7.7 7.0 8.7
MSB-1017 7.3 7.7 7.3 7.0 8.0
OKC1666 7.3 7.3 8.7 7.7 8.7
OKC1876 6.7 8.0 7.7 7.3 7.3
MSB-1042 7.3 8.0 7.3 8.0 7.7
*Tiftuf 7.7 9.0 6.3 6.3 7.0
MSB-1026 7.0 7.7 7.0 7.0 7.3
OKC1873 7.3 8.0 7.3 7.0 7.0
*Tifway 6.3 8.3 7.0 7.0 6.7
*Latitude 36 6.3 7.7 7.3 7.3 7.7
OKC1406 6.3 8.0 7.3 7.0 6.3
FB 1628 7.0 7.0 5.3 7.3 5.7
OKC1682 5.0 7.0 6.3 6.7 7.7
*Tahoma 31 5.3 8.3 6.3 7.0 5.7
MSB-1075 5.0 5.3 8.3 5.7 7.3
JSC 80V 4.3 7.3 6.7 7.0 7.0
JSC 77V 5.3 7.3 7.0 6.0 7.0
*Astro 5.3 6.7 4.7 6.3 5.7
FB 1903 6.7 7.0 4.0 5.3 4.7
FB 1902 4.3 6.7 4.0 7.0 5.3
FB 1630 5.3 6.0 5.0 5.7 4.7
LSD (0.05) 1.8 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.3
C.V. (%) 17.3 8.3 9.6 7.4 11.6
Entry MS1 NM1 OK1 TN1 Mean
MSB-1050 7.0 6.3 8.0 9.0 7.6
MSB-1048 6.0 7.0 7.3 9.0 7.6
MSB-1017 7.0 6.7 7.7 9.0 7.5
OKC1666 6.3 5.7 6.3 8.7 7.4
OKC1876 7.0 6.3 7.3 9.0 7.4
MSB-1042 6.3 4.7 7.0 9.0 7.3
*Tiftuf 6.3 6.3 6.7 9.0 7.2
MSB-1026 6.0 7.0 7.0 8.3 7.1
OKC1873 5.7 6.0 7.0 9.0 7.1
*Tifway 6.0 6.7 7.0 9.0 7.1
*Latitude 36 5.7 5.7 7.0 8.7 7.0
OKC1406 5.7 6.0 7.0 9.0 7.0
FB 1628 6.0 6.7 7.0 8.7 6.7
OKC1682 6.3 6.0 6.7 8.7 6.7
*Tahoma 31 6.0 6.0 6.7 9.0 6.7
MSB-1075 6.3 6.3 7.0 8.7 6.7
JSC 80V 6.0 5.7 7.0 9.0 6.7
JSC 77V 6.0 5.7 6.3 9.0 6.6
*Astro 5.7 7.3 6.3 8.3 6.3
FB 1903 6.0 6.7 6.7 8.0 6.1
FB 1902 5.7 7.0 6.0 8.0 6.0
FB 1630 6.0 6.0 6.0 8.3 5.9
LSD (0.05) 0.6 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.0
C.V. (%) 6.3 11.6 5.7 4.0 9.5
MSU 2016 trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ had the highest leaf texture rating (7.1) and was ranked significantly higher than ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 6).
TABLE 6
Leaf texture rating of experimental bermudagrass genotypes
planted at Mississippi State University in 2016 and evaluated
over three growing seasons. (9 = very fine; 1 = low).
Entry 2016 2017 2018 Mean
MSB-1017 7.0 6.7 7.7 7.1
MSB-1013 6.7 7.0 7.7 7.1
MSB-1010 7.0 6.3 7.7 7.0
MSB-1016 7.0 6.0 7.3 6.8
MSB-1026 6.0 6.7 7.7 6.8
MSB-1018 7.0 6.0 7.3 6.8
MSB-1032 6.7 6.0 7.3 6.8
*Tifway 7.0 6.0 7.0 6.7
MSB-1022 6.3 6.0 7.7 6.7
MSB-1033 6.3 5.7 7.0 6.3
MSB-1004 6.0 6.0 7.0 6.3
MSB-1002 6.0 6.0 7.0 6.3
MSB-1009 6.7 5.3 6.3 6.1
MSB-1031 5.0 6.0 7.0 6.0
MSB-1014 5.7 5.7 6.7 6.0
MSB-1012 6.0 5.3 6.3 5.9
MSB-1006 6.0 5.3 6.3 5.9
MSB-1005 6.0 5.3 6.0 5.8
MSB-1015 5.0 5.7 6.3 5.7
MSB-1027 5.7 5.3 6.0 5.7
MSB-1008 5.3 5.0 6.3 5.6
MSB-1020 5.7 5.0 6.0 5.6
MSB-1028 5.0 5.3 6.0 5.4
MSB-1021 5.3 5.0 6.0 5.4
MSB-1003 5.3 4.7 6.0 5.3
MSB-1024 5.3 5.0 5.7 5.3
MSB-1001 5.3 4.7 6.0 5.3
*‘Riley's Super Sport’ 5.0 5.0 5.7 5.2
MSB-1019 5.0 4.7 5.3 5.0
MSB-1029 5.3 4.3 5.3 5.0
MSB-1025 6.0 4.0 5.0 5.0
MSB-1007 5.0 4.3 5.3 4.9
MSB-1011 5.0 4.0 5.3 4.8
LSD (0.05) 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.4
C.V. (%) 6.3 8.8 7.1 7.5
*Standard entries
Genetic color reflects the inherent color of the grasses. It is based on a visual rating scale of 1-9 with 9 being dark green and 1 being light green. In the 2019 NTEP trial, genetic color ratings were taken at ten locations when the tested bermudagrasses were actively growing and were not stressed (Table 7). ‘MSB-1017’ showed good genetic color ratings, ranking 5h (tied with another entry FB 1903) with a mean rating of 6.6, which was not statistically different from the best rating (Table 7).
TABLE 7
Genetic color of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries evaluated
in the NTEP trial. (9 = dark green; 1 = light green).
Entry AL1 AR1 FL3 IN1 KS2 MO1
MSB-1026 8.0 7.0 8.7 8.7 7.7 3.7
FB 1628 6.7 7.3 7.7 8.7 8.0 5.3
FB 1902 8.3 6.3 7.0 8.0 8.7 5.7
*Tifway 6.7 7.0 7.3 7.0 6.3 6.3
FB 1903 5.3 5.7 8.0 8.3 8.7 4.0
MSB-1017 7.7 7.7 7.3 7.7 7.3 4.7
MSB-1050 5.0 6.0 8.7 8.0 7.0 5.0
OKC1876 7.0 7.7 6.3 8.0 6.7 5.7
MSB-1075 6.0 6.3 8.0 7.7 9.0 2.3
OKC1682 4.7 7.0 7.0 6.3 7.3 6.3
FB 1630 5.7 5.7 7.7 7.7 7.7 4.7
*Tahoma 31 3.7 6.3 7.0 8.3 7.7 6.3
MSB-1048 6.0 7.3 6.7 7.0 7.7 5.3
*Latitude 36 6.3 7.3 6.7 7.3 5.0 6.3
*Tiftuf 5.0 7.7 6.3 7.0 5.3 5.3
OKC1873 6.0 6.7 6.0 7.3 5.7 5.0
MSB-1042 4.7 7.0 6.7 7.0 5.3 6.3
*Astro 6.0 6.0 6.0 5.7 4.3 6.0
JSC 77V 4.3 7.0 6.7 7.0 5.7 4.7
JSC 80V 4.3 6.0 6.0 6.3 5.3 6.0
OKC1406 3.7 5.3 6.0 7.3 4.7 7.3
OKC1666 4.7 6.0 5.7 6.3 4.3 6.0
LSD (0.05) 1.9 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.0 1.5
C.V. (%) 21.0 14.1 11.2 11.4 9.1 17.9
Entry MS1 NM1 OK1 TN1 Mean
MSB-1026 6.0 8.0 7.0 5.7 7.0
FB 1628 6.3 7.3 7.3 5.0 7.0
FB 1902 5.0 7.7 6.3 5.7 6.9
*Tifway 6.3 7.3 6.3 6.7 6.7
FB 1903 6.0 6.7 6.3 6.7 6.6
MSB-1017 6.0 7.0 6.7 3.7 6.6
MSB-1050 6.3 7.0 7.0 3.7 6.4
OKC1876 5.7 6.7 6.7 3.3 6.4
MSB-1075 6.3 7.0 6.0 4.0 6.3
OKC1682 6.0 6.3 6.3 5.0 6.2
FB 1630 5.7 6.0 6.3 5.0 6.2
*Tahoma 31 6.3 5.7 6.0 4.3 6.2
MSB-1048 5.7 7.7 5.0 3.0 6.1
*Latitude 36 6.3 6.0 6.0 3.3 6.1
*Tiftuf 6.0 6.0 6.3 5.0 6.0
OKC1873 5.7 6.0 6.0 4.3 5.9
MSB-1042 5.3 5.0 6.0 4.7 5.8
*Astro 5.7 8.0 5.3 4.0 5.7
JSC 77V 5.7 5.0 6.0 4.3 5.6
JSC 80V 6.0 4.7 5.3 5.3 5.5
OKC1406 6.0 6.0 5.0 3.3 5.5
OKC1666 5.3 5.7 5.3 3.3 5.3
LSD (0.05) 0.9 2.1 1.0 3.2 1.1
C.V. (%) 9.3 19.8 9.9 44.0 17.1
Fall color retention rating is typically used to assess the ability of a grass to hold color during the changing climatic conditions of fall, including chilling, frost, and shorter days and daylength hours. NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ had a fall color retention rating of 6.0 across seven locations, making it ranking in the top statistical group (Table 8). In Missouri (MO1) fall color retention of ‘MSB-1017’ was higher than ‘Latitude 36’, ‘Tahoma 31’ and ‘Tifway’, but lower than ‘TifTuf’ and three experimental entries (‘MSB-1042’, ‘OKC1666’ and ‘OKC1876’—U.S. Plant Pat. No. 35,548).
TABLE 8
Fall color retention ratings of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries
evaluated in the 2019 NTEP trial. (9 = fully green; 1 = brown).
Entry AL1 AR1 IN1 MO1 NM1 OK1 VAI Mean
FB 1628 7.7 6.3 7.7 5.3 7.0 6.7 3.3 6.3
FB 1902 8.0 5.7 6.3 7.3 6.7 6.3 3.3 6.2
OKC1876 6.0 6.7 6.7 8.3 6.0 7.0 2.7 6.2
MSB-1017 8.0 5.3 6.3 6.3 6.7 7.0 2.0 6.0
FB 1630 5.7 6.0 7.7 4.3 6.7 7.0 3.7 5.9
OKC1873 6.3 7.0 6.7 5.0 5.0 7.0 3.3 5.8
*Tiftuf 4.7 6.3 7.7 8.0 3.0 6.7 4.0 5.8
*Tifway 5.7 4.3 7.3 3.7 6.3 7.0 5.0 5.6
MSB-1075 5.0 4.3 6.0 6.0 6.3 6.7 3.7 5.4
MSB-1026 7.7 5.7 6.7 2.3 4.7 6.3 3.0 5.2
MSB-1042 3.7 4.7 6.7 8.3 4.0 6.3 2.7 5.2
*Astro 3.3 5.0 6.3 5.3 7.0 5.3 3.0 5.0
FB 1903 2.7 6.0 6.0 6.0 7.0 6.0 1.0 5.0
*Latitude 36 5.0 5.3 7.0 2.7 6.0 6.7 2.0 5.0
MSB-1050 3.0 5.3 5.7 6.7 5.0 7.0 1.0 4.8
OKC1666 2.7 4.3 6.7 8.3 3.3 5.7 2.3 4.8
OKC1682 2.7 4.7 6.7 6.3 4.0 6.0 3.0 4.8
JSC 77V 3.3 5.7 7.3 5.3 2.7 5.7 2.7 4.7
*Tahoma 31 2.7 4.7 6.7 4.3 5.0 5.7 1.7 4.4
MSB-1048 2.0 4.0 6.3 6.0 6.0 4.0 1.3 4.2
JSC 80V 2.3 4.0 5.7 5.7 3.0 5.0 1.7 3.9
OKC1406 2.0 3.3 4.7 3.0 4.0 5.0 3.0 3.6
LSD (0.05) 2.1 1.6 1.1 1.6 2.8 1.3 1.6 1.8
C.V. (%) 28.4 18.9 10.4 17.4 32.7 12.7 37.9 21.6
*Standard entries
Seedhead production is an undesirable trait in turfgrasses. It is evaluated based on a 1-9 scale with 9 being no seedheads. NTEP trial indicated that ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 2nd with a mean of 8.3 in seedhead rating, and it was ranked significantly higher than two commercial standards ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tahoma 31’ (Table 9). In 2019 NTEP trial seedhead production of ‘MSB-1017’ varied across locations. Mean seedhead production of ‘MSB-1017’ was 8.3 (LSD0.05=2.6) and was lower than ‘Astro’, Latitude 36′ and ‘Tahoma 31’, similarly to seedhead production in Mississippi (MS1). In Indiana (IN1) seedhead production of ‘MSB-1017’was lower also than ‘Tiftuf’. In Kansas (KS2) it was lower than all standard entries, as well as ‘FB1628’, ‘OKC1666’ and ‘OKC1876’.
TABLE 9
Seedhead ratings of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries
evaluated in the 2019 NTEP trial. (9 = no seedheads; 1 =
maximum seedheads)
Entry IN1 KS2 MS1 VA1 Mean
MSB-1050 9.0 8.7 9.0 7.0 8.4
MSB-1017 8.7 8.3 8.7 7.3 8.3
MSB-1026 8.0 7.7 9.0 7.0 7.9
OKC1873 9.0 7.3 9.0 4.7 7.5
MSB-1048 8.3 6.7 8.3 5.3 7.2
OKC1666 8.7 4.3 8.0 7.7 7.2
MSB-1075 7.3 7.0 9.0 5.3 7.2
OKC1876 9.0 5.7 8.3 5.3 7.1
MSB-1042 9.0 6.7 6.3 5.3 6.8
FB 1628 8.7 5.3 9.0 4.0 6.8
FB 1903 8.7 6.7 6.3 5.3 6.8
OKC1682 7.7 6.7 7.3 4.3 6.5
*Tifway 8.3 6.0 6.3 5.3 6.5
*Tiftuf 6.0 5.0 8.3 5.3 6.2
*Latitude 36 8.3 6.3 3.0 4.3 5.5
OKC1406 3.3 5.3 3.7 8.7 5.3
*Astro 5.0 5.7 2.0 8.0 5.2
FB 1630 7.7 4.3 3.0 5.3 5.1
FB 1902 9.0 3.0 2.0 4.7 4.7
*Tahoma 31 6.3 6.0 2.0 4.3 4.7
JSC 77V 3.0 5.7 4.7 4.0 4.3
JSC 80V 3.7 6.0 2.0 5.3 4.3
LSD (0.05) 2.1 1.6 3.1 4.6 2.6
C.V. (%) 17.6 16.5 31.1 51.1 30.3
*Standard entries
In MSU 2016 trial, ‘MSB-1017’ also performed well in the top statistical group with a mean rating of 8.5, which was ranked significantly higher than ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 10).
TABLE 10
Seedhead rating of experimental bermudagrass genotypes planted
at Mississippi State University in 2016 and evaluated over two
growing seasons. (9 = no seedheads; 1 = maximum seedheads).
Entry 2017 2018 Mean
MSB-1026 9.0 9.0 9.0
MSB-1006 8.9 9.0 8.9
MSB-1012 8.9 8.4 8.6
MSB-1017 8.4 8.6 8.5
*Tifway 8.2 8.5 8.4
MSB-1011 8.0 8.3 8.2
MSB-1003 8.3 7.9 8.1
MSB-1004 8.1 7.9 8.0
MSB-1033 8.5 7.6 8.0
MSB-1010 8.0 8.1 8.0
MSB-1013 8.0 7.8 7.9
MSB-1005 7.7 8.1 7.9
MSB-1022 7.9 7.9 7.9
MSB-1028 7.5 7.7 7.6
MSB-1015 7.5 7.6 7.5
MSB-1020 7.6 7.3 7.5
MSB-1021 7.2 7.4 7.3
MSB-1027 7.3 7.2 7.3
MSB-1018 7.2 7.2 7.2
MSB-1001 7.0 7.2 7.1
MSB-1016 7.1 6.5 6.8
MSB-1014 6.5 7.1 6.8
MSB-1032 6.4 7.0 6.7
*‘Riley's Super Sport’ 6.4 6.8 6.6
MSB-1019 6.8 6.4 6.6
MSB-1031 6.5 6.7 6.6
MSB-1024 6.8 6.2 6.5
MSB-1008 6.1 6.6 6.4
MSB-1007 6.3 6.3 6.3
MSB-1002 6.2 6.4 6.3
MSB-1009 6.3 6.3 6.3
MSB-1029 5.5 6.0 5.8
MSB-1025 5.6 5.0 5.3
LSD (0.05) 0.4 0.4 0.3
C.V. (%) 3.7 3.6 3.7
*Standard entries
Percentage of establishment reflects the relative speed of grass to develop into a mature sod. It is evaluated based on percentage coverage basis, with 100 being maximum establishment and 0 being minimal/no establishment. The NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ had the 2nd highest percentage of establishment among 22 entries (Table 11). This indicates that ‘MSB-1017’ is very fast in establishment, which is a preferred trait in turfgrass.
TABLE 11
Percentage of establishment of 22 vegetative bermudagrass
entries evaluated in the 2019 NTEP trial. (100 = fast
establishment; 0 = slow/no establishment)
Entry AL1 MO1 FL3 NM1 MS1 KS2 Mean
MSB-1050 90.0 86.3 97.7 74.6 80.7 62.6 82.0
MSB-1017 76.7 81.7 99.0 72.5 71.3 72.3 78.9
OKC1876 56.7 90.0 94.5 78.2 69.9 57.8 74.5
*Tiftuf 63.3 75.0 95.4 74.5 73.3 55.0 72.8
MSB-1042 70.0 63.3 96.8 57.7 73.3 65.8 71.2
MSB-1048 73.3 61.7 93.1 59.7 72.8 61.0 70.3
*Astro 60.0 80.0 95.5 65.6 67.5 51.7 70.1
FB 1628 60.0 76.7 87.1 76.3 70.8 43.6 69.1
FB 1630 46.7 79.7 90.9 68.3 69.5 56.0 68.5
*Latitude 36 40.0 83.3 91.8 76.0 71.2 47.7 68.3
*Tifway 50.0 81.7 82.4 77.7 67.1 51.1 68.3
FB 1903 53.3 86.7 77.3 84.2 66.3 41.6 68.2
*Tahoma 31 60.0 71.7 85.2 72.6 65.5 51.6 67.8
MSB-1026 56.7 76.7 89.9 64.1 72.8 45.1 67.6
OKC1873 43.3 86.7 86.5 62.5 70.8 45.0 65.8
JSC 80V 26.7 88.3 90.6 68.6 65.5 49.7 64.9
JSC 77V 46.7 65.0 95.0 73.1 69.5 38.6 64.7
OKC1406 20.0 86.7 91.2 55.7 65.8 51.0 61.7
OKC1666 30.0 80.0 73.1 58.3 67.5 56.7 60.9
FB 1902 35.0 68.3 73.0 69.7 68.8 48.8 60.6
MSB-1075 26.7 80.0 81.9 52.9 68.8 49.1 59.9
OKC1682 11.7 73.3 66.0 54.9 65.5 35.3 51.1
LSD (0.05) 27.4 25.5 6.2 17.5 6.1 9.7 20.0
C.V. (%) 34.2 20.3 4.7 13.5 4.9 11.7 9.8
*Standard entries
Percent living ground cover is based on surface area covered by the originally planted species. It is generally used to express damage caused by disease, insects, weed encroachment, or environmental stress. Percent living ground cover was evaluated in spring, summer, and fall depending on individual locations in the NTEP trial (Tables 12).
TABLE 12
Spring percent living ground cover ratings of 22 vegetative
bermudagrass entries evaluated in the 2019 NTEP trial. (100 =
maximum ground cover; 0 = dead plant or no ground cover)
Entry AL1 AR1 KS2 MO1 MS1
*Tiftuf 93.0 95.0 70.0 90.3 99.0
MSB-1017 96.0 66.7 80.0 94.3 99.0
OKC1876 89.7 83.3 76.7 90.0 99.0
*Tahoma 31 99.0 95.0 60.0 99.0 99.0
MSB-1042 92.7 81.7 81.7 96.0 99.0
*Latitude 36 76.3 90.0 66.7 97.7 99.0
*Astro 99.0 80.0 53.3 93.3 99.0
FB 1628 99.0 90.0 56.7 93.0 99.0
*Tifway 89.3 81.7 68.3 90.0 99.0
MSB-1048 93.0 63.3 76.7 91.7 99.0
MSB-1026 86.3 78.3 61.7 85.0 99.0
OKC1873 80.0 93.3 61.7 88.3 99.0
FB 1630 92.7 88.3 48.3 94.3 99.0
OKC1406 56.7 86.7 75.0 91.7 99.0
OKC1666 63.3 85.0 76.7 80.0 99.0
MSB-1050 96.0 53.3 36.7 97.0 99.0
JSC 77V 96.0 86.7 38.3 88.0 93.0
FB 1902 89.3 83.3 45.0 80.0 96.0
JSC 80V 60.0 81.7 58.3 80.0 99.0
OKC1682 43.3 80.0 75.0 85.0 99.0
FB 1903 86.3 85.0 31.7 68.3 96.0
MSB-1075 73.3 63.3 36.7 73.3 99.0
LSD (0.05) 20.0 10.8 22.9 10.9 3.1
C.V. (%) 14.8 8.2 23.5 7.7 1.9
Entry NM1 TN1 VA1 Mean
*Tiftuf 91.7 99.0 78.3 89.5
MSB-1017 97.3 98.0 78.3 88.7
OKC1876 93.7 98.0 73.3 88.0
*Tahoma 31 84.3 96.7 63.3 87.0
MSB-1042 69.0 94.0 78.3 86.5
*Latitude 36 88.7 98.0 75.0 86.4
*Astro 90.7 98.0 76.7 86.3
FB 1628 84.0 98.0 65.0 85.6
*Tifway 94.0 99.0 53.3 84.3
MSB-1048 80.3 98.0 65.0 83.4
MSB-1026 94.0 98.3 63.3 83.3
OKC1873 92.0 98.7 51.7 83.1
FB 1630 77.0 98.7 60.0 82.3
OKC1406 72.7 98.3 53.3 79.2
OKC1666 67.0 98.0 60.0 78.6
MSB-1050 96.7 97.7 48.3 78.1
JSC 77V 70.0 97.7 46.7 77.0
FB 1902 87.7 97.0 35.0 76.7
JSC 80V 70.0 97.7 63.3 76.3
OKC1682 87.7 99.0 26.7 74.5
FB 1903 81.3 97.7 33.3 72.5
MSB-1075 84.3 95.0 21.7 68.3
LSD (0.05) 17.6 2.8 16.9 18.2
C.V. (%) 13.0 1.8 18.2 11.3
Across eight locations where percent living ground cover data were collected in spring, ‘MSB-1017’ had the 2nd highest mean rating of 88.7, slightly lower than ‘Tiftuf’ with an average rating of 89.5 (Table 13). ‘MSB-1017’ had the highest rating of 97.4 in summer, and 3rd highest rating of 84.2 in fall (Table 13).
TABLE 13
Summer and fall percent living ground cover ratings of 22
vegetative bermudagrass entries in the 2019 NTEP trial.
Summer Fall
Entry KS2 NM1 TN1 Mean AR1
MSB-1017 99.0 98.7 94.7 97.4 71.7
*Tifway 94.0 98.7 97.3 96.7 75.0
FB 1628 96.3 97.3 96.0 96.6 45.0
FB 1902 95.7 98.7 95.0 96.4 53.3
OKC1682 97.0 96.7 95.0 96.2 16.7
OKC1406 97.7 96.3 94.0 96.0 46.7
*Tiftuf 96.3 97.7 93.0 95.7 80.0
FB 1630 93.7 97.0 96.3 95.7 55.0
OKC1876 94.7 97.3 94.3 95.4 71.7
MSB-1048 98.3 98.0 89.3 95.2 80.0
MSB-1026 93.3 96.7 95.3 95.1 51.7
*Astro 94.0 98.3 91.3 94.6 66.7
JSC 80V 92.3 96.3 95.0 94.6 25.0
OKC1873 88.3 97.3 95.3 93.7 70.0
*Tahoma 31 88.3 97.0 94.3 93.2 51.7
OKC1666 90.7 93.3 94.3 92.8 26.7
MSB-1050 94.3 96.7 86.3 92.4 68.3
FB 1903 81.7 96.3 97.3 91.8 58.3
MSB-1042 97.7 78.7 96.3 90.9 75.0
*Latitude 36 87.3 90.7 89.0 89.0 30.0
MSB-1075 80.0 93.7 88.3 87.3 26.7
JSC 77V 80.0 89.0 91.7 86.9 61.7
LSD (0.05) 8.7 8.2 7.2 7.3 23.0
C.V. (%) 5.8 5.4 4.8 5.3 26.1
Fall
Entry KS2 NM1 TN1 VA1 Mean
MSB-1017 94.3 76.3 79.7 99.0 84.2
*Tifway 93.0 65.7 95.0 99.0 85.5
FB 1628 88.0 89.3 85.7 99.0 81.4
FB 1902 86.3 73.7 76.7 99.0 77.8
OKC1682 81.7 45.3 79.0 99.0 64.3
OKC1406 85.0 44.0 82.3 99.0 71.4
*Tiftuf 93.0 23.0 85.7 99.0 76.1
FB 1630 88.3 87.7 81.0 96.0 81.6
OKC1876 91.3 70.7 82.3 99.0 83.0
MSB-1048 96.0 77.7 79.0 99.0 86.3
MSB-1026 88.0 52.3 89.3 99.0 76.1
*Astro 81.7 80.7 81.0 99.0 81.8
JSC 80V 77.3 31.0 69.3 99.0 60.3
OKC1873 80.0 52.0 78.7 99.0 75.9
*Tahoma 31 83.0 55.0 84.3 99.0 74.6
OKC1666 75.0 28.7 83.0 99.0 62.5
MSB-1050 78.3 50.7 77.0 99.0 74.7
FB 1903 73.3 91.0 77.7 99.0 79.9
MSB-1042 90.0 41.7 87.7 99.0 78.7
*Latitude 36 68.3 44.0 80.0 99.0 64.3
MSB-1075 73.3 58.7 79.3 99.0 67.4
JSC 77V 71.7 12.0 84.7 99.0 65.8
LSD (0.05) 16.3 44.5 19.9 1.8 28.5
C.V. (%) 12.1 48.6 15.1 1.1 20.8
Turfgrass density is a visual estimate of living plants or tillers per unit area. A visual rating of 1-9 is used with 9 equaling maximum density. In the NTEP trial, density ratings were performed at two to four locations in spring, summer, and fall (Table 14). ‘MSB-1017’ had an average of 5.7, 6.3, and 4.9 in summer, spring, and fall, respectively (Table 14). Although ‘MSB-1017’ was not highly ranked in density ratings, the least significant different tests indicated that it was not significantly different from the top ratings (Table 14). Density in 2019 NTEP trial depended on location and season (Table 14). In Oklahoma (OK1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower only than ‘MSB-1050’ and higher than ‘Astro’, ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tifway’. In Tennessee (TN1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower than ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tahoma 31’, as well as seven experimental entries, including ‘OKC 1876’. Density in 2019 NTEP trial depended on location and season. In Oklahoma (OK1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower only than ‘MSB-1050’ and higher than ‘Astro’, ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tifway’. In Tennessee (TN1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower than ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tahoma 31’, as well as seven experimental entries, including ‘OKC 1876’.
TABLE 14
Density ratings of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries in the
2019 NTEP trial. (9 = very high; 1 = low).
Spring Density Summer Density
Entry OK1 TN1 Mean IN1 MS1 OK1
MSB-1026 7.0 8.0 7.5 8.3 6.3 7.0
JSC 80V 6.3 8.3 7.3 7.3 6.7 6.7
OKC1406 6.0 8.0 7.0 7.7 5.7 6.3
OKC1876 7.0 6.7 6.8 8.0 7.0 7.0
OKC1666 6.0 7.0 6.5 6.7 6.7 6.0
OKC1873 6.7 6.3 6.5 7.0 5.7 7.0
*Tahoma 31 6.7 6.0 6.3 7.3 6.3 7.0
*Latitude 36 6.3 5.7 6.0 7.7 5.7 7.0
MSB-1050 8.0 4.0 6.0 8.3 7.3 8.0
JSC 77V 6.0 6.0 6.0 7.3 6.7 6.3
MSB-1042 6.3 5.3 5.8 7.7 7.0 7.0
FB 1628 7.0 4.7 5.8 7.7 6.0 7.0
OKC1682 6.0 5.3 5.7 7.3 6.3 6.7
MSB-1017 7.0 4.3 5.7 7.3 7.0 7.0
MSB-1075 7.3 4.0 5.7 6.3 6.3 8.0
MSB-1048 6.0 5.0 5.5 7.3 6.0 7.7
FB 1902 5.7 5.3 5.5 7.0 6.0 6.0
*Tiftuf 6.7 4.0 5.3 7.7 7.0 7.0
*Astro 5.7 5.0 5.3 5.7 6.0 6.0
FB 1903 5.3 5.0 5.2 7.0 6.0 6.7
FB 1630 6.0 4.3 5.2 6.0 6.0 6.0
*Tifway 6.0 4.0 5.0 8.0 6.0 7.0
LSD (0.05) 0.6 1.4 2.6 1.1 0.7 0.6
C.V. (%) 6.1 16.0 11.5 9.4 7.3 5.4
Summer Density Fall Density
Entry TN1 Mean OK1 TN1 Mean
MSB-1026 6.7 7.1 6.7 6.3 6.5
JSC 80V 4.7 6.3 6.3 2.3 4.3
OKC1406 4.0 5.9 7.0 3.3 5.2
OKC1876 4.0 6.5 7.0 2.3 4.7
OKC1666 5.7 6.3 5.0 6.7 5.9
OKC1873 4.7 6.1 7.0 2.7 4.9
*Tahoma 31 5.3 6.5 6.3 4.7 5.5
*Latitude 36 5.7 6.5 7.0 6.7 6.9
MSB-1050 5.3 7.3 8.0 4.0 6.0
JSC 77V 5.7 6.5 6.3 4.3 5.3
MSB-1042 5.7 6.8 7.3 6.0 6.7
FB 1628 6.0 6.7 6.7 5.7 6.2
OKC1682 6.3 6.7 6.7 7.0 6.9
MSB-1017 4.0 6.3 6.7 3.0 4.9
MSB-1075 4.7 6.3 7.0 3.7 5.4
MSB-1048 6.0 6.8 6.3 5.7 6.0
FB 1902 7.3 6.6 6.3 5.7 6.0
*Tiftuf 6.3 7.0 6.7 6.3 6.5
*Astro 5.0 5.7 5.7 6.0 5.9
FB 1903 7.3 6.8 6.3 7.3 6.8
FB 1630 5.7 5.9 6.0 4.3 5.2
*Tifway 6.0 6.8 7.0 6.0 6.5
LSD (0.05) 3.0 1.4 0.9 2.9 3.6
C.V. (%) 33.3 15.8 8.1 36.5 13.3
*Standard entries
Spring green-up is a measure of the transition from winter dormancy to active spring growth. It is based on plot color rather than genetic color. The visual rating of spring green-up is based on a 1-9 scale with 1 being straw brown and 9 being dark green. Spring green-up data were collected across nine locations, and ‘MSB-1017’ had an average rating of 5.0 across nine locations, similar to the mean rating of ‘Tifway’ (Table 15). This indicates that ‘MSB-1017’ has similar cold tolerance with ‘Tifway’, a successful bermudagrass cultivar that has been used for over half a century.
TABLE 15
Spring green-up ratings of 22 vegetative bermudagrass
entries evaluated in the 2019 NTEP trial. (9 = dark
green; 1 = straw brown).
Entry AL1 AR1 IN1 KS2 KY1
*Tahoma 31 7.3 9.0 7.7 6.7 5.7
*Latitude 36 4.0 7.7 8.7 7.7 5.3
*Tiftuf 7.0 7.3 7.3 6.3 5.0
FB 1628 8.7 6.7 7.0 6.7 4.0
*Astro 7.3 5.3 8.0 4.7 4.7
MSB-1026 7.0 7.3 7.3 6.0 3.7
OKC1666 3.0 7.0 6.7 6.3 5.7
OKC1876 6.0 6.7 7.3 5.3 2.7
MSB-1042 6.0 5.3 8.7 5.7 2.0
OKC1406 2.7 6.7 8.7 6.7 4.0
FB 1630 6.3 6.3 6.0 5.3 2.7
JSC 77V 6.0 6.7 6.3 4.0 5.3
*Tifway 7.0 4.7 6.0 6.3 2.7
OKC1873 5.3 7.0 6.3 3.7 2.7
MSB-1017 8.3 5.0 6.0 4.0 1.7
JSC 80V 2.7 4.3 6.7 6.0 3.7
OKC1682 1.0 5.7 5.7 6.3 4.3
FB 1902 5.3 4.7 4.0 4.0 2.3
FB 1903 5.0 4.3 4.3 3.3 3.3
MSB-1048 6.3 2.7 5.3 3.0 1.7
MSB-1050 6.7 2.7 5.7 2.0 1.0
MSB-1075 5.0 3.3 4.0 3.7 2.0
LSD (0.05) 2.8 2.1 2.1 1.5 1.5
C.V. (%) 31.3 23.2 19.9 17.5 26.4
Entry MS1 NM1 OK1 VA1 Mean
*Tahoma 31 8.3 6.7 4.7 3.7 6.6
*Latitude 36 8.3 7.7 3.0 5.7 6.4
*Tiftuf 9.0 8.0 3.3 4.7 6.4
FB 1628 8.7 7.7 2.7 4.0 6.2
*Astro 9.0 8.0 3.0 5.3 6.1
MSB-1026 7.3 8.0 3.0 4.7 6.0
OKC1666 8.7 6.3 4.0 6.0 6.0
OKC1876 8.3 8.3 1.7 6.3 5.9
MSB-1042 9.0 6.3 2.0 6.0 5.7
OKC1406 8.7 5.7 2.7 4.3 5.6
FB 1630 8.3 7.3 3.7 3.7 5.5
JSC 77V 8.7 6.0 5.0 1.3 5.5
*Tifway 9.0 8.3 2.3 3.0 5.5
OKC1873 5.7 7.3 3.3 4.3 5.1
MSB-1017 7.0 8.0 1.3 3.7 5.0
JSC 80V 8.0 6.7 3.0 3.0 4.9
OKC1682 8.0 7.0 4.0 2.0 4.9
FB 1902 8.0 7.7 3.7 1.7 4.6
FB 1903 7.3 6.0 2.3 1.7 4.2
MSB-1048 8.3 6.3 1.3 1.3 4.0
MSB-1050 8.3 8.7 0.3 1.0 4.0
MSB-1075 6.0 6.7 2.0 1.3 3.8
LSD (0.05) 1.2 1.7 1.1 3.0 2.0
C.V. (%) 9.3 15.1 24.2 51.3 23.1
*Standard entries
Disease resistance is important factor in cultivar development. In MSU 2017 home lawn trial, disease resistance rating of experimental lines to leafspot (Bipolaris cynodontis) were collected from September 7 to Sep. 25, 2017. Area under disease pressure curve (AUDPC) values were calculated for this period. Encouragingly, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked in the top among tested entries and was ranked significantly higher than both ‘Tifway’ and ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 16).
TABLE 16
Leafspot disease rating, turf quality, leaf texture, and seedhead rating
of experimental bermudagrass genotypes planted at Mississippi State
University in 2017 under a home lawn management regime. Lower
area under disease pressure curve values (AUDPC) indicate higher
level of resistance to leafspot (Bipolaris cynodontis).
Turf Leaf
Entry AUDPC quality texture Seedhead
MSB-1018 38.3 5.4 7.0 6.2
MSB-1016 44.7 5.6 7.0 6.4
MSB-1017 45.0 6.5 7.0 8.2
MSB-1013 51.0 6.7 7.0 7.0
*‘Riley's Super 59.8 5.6 5.7 6.3
Sport’
*Tifway 61.2 6.4 6.7 7.6
MSB-1008 63.7 5.7 6.0 5.5
MSB-1022 69.7 6.4 7.0 7.6
MSB-1010 72.0 6.3 7.0 7.6
MSB-1004 74.7 5.7 7.0 7.0
MSB-1026 75.0 6.0 6.0 8.9
MSB-1003 89.5 5.0 5.7 5.6
MSB-1012 105.3 6.4 6.0 7.6
MSB-1006 106.5 6.4 6.0 8.9
MSB-1011 118.0 5.5 5.0 6.6
LSD (0.05) 6.8 0.4 0.5 0.5
C.V. (%) 5.7 3.9 4.2 4.5
*Standard entries
In addition, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 2nd in turfgrass quality rating (6.5), 1st in leaf texture (7.0), and 3rd in seedhead rating (Table 17). In the 2019 NTEP trial, disease and insect ratings were collected in Indiana using 1-9 scale, with 1 equaling no resistance or 100% injury, and 9 equaling complete resistance or no injury. ‘MSB-1017’ was the best entry in this trial with a mean rating of 8.0 (Table 17).
TABLE 17
Disease and insect damage evaluated in Indiana in the NTEP trial.
Data were collected on a 1 to 9 scale, with 1 equaling no resistance
or 100% injury, and 9 equaling complete resistance or no injury.
Entry IN1
MSB-1017 8.0
MSB-1075 8.0
*Astro 7.3
*Latitude 36 7.3
FB 1902 7.0
FB 1903 7.0
OKC1682 7.0
*Tifway 7.0
FB 1628 6.7
MSB-1042 6.7
*Tahoma 31 6.7
*Tiftuf 6.7
JSC 77V 6.3
JSC 80V 6.3
OKC1406 6.3
OKC1873 6.0
OKC1876 6.0
FB 1630 5.7
MSB-1026 5.3
MSB-1050 5.0
OKC1666 5.0
LSD (0.05) 2.4
C.V. (%) 19.0
*Standard entries
Table 18 below provides a comparison of MSB-1017 with seven other grass varieties. Four pots of each grass were grown in the greenhouse. The longest leaf at the third node below the apical meristem of the stolon and erect shoot was used for the measurement of leaf length (mm) and leaf width (mm) with digital calipers with four replications. Four random stolons and erect shoots on each pot were measured for internode length (mm) and diameter (mm) between the third and fourth fully extended nodes from the apical meristem. All pots grew from plugs harvested from Starkville, Mississippi in May 2023.
TABLE 18
Cultivar LLES LWES ILES IDES
MSB-1017 39.375 2.0288 13.135 0.7656
MSB-1042 57.9375 1.9738 21.9475 0.805
MSB-1050 27.75 1.8956 15.3744 0.6281
MSB-1080 43.8125 2.2406 14.0244 0.7525
‘Riley's Super 42 2.5837 14.9744 0.9431
Sport’
Trans 1 33.375 1.595 16.8512 0.4863
TifTuf 37.125 2.1488 16.6244 0.6975
MSB-04-264 41.5 1.7944 13.1244 0.7731
LSD 6.4167 0.151 3.1491 0.0941
Cultivar LLS LWS ILS IDS
MSB-1017 15.125 2.025 40.1563 1.07
MSB-1042 33.9375 1.9594 30.3812 0.9112
MSB-1050 9.6875 2.0513 42.7644 0.9044
MSB-1080 22.6875 2.1575 12.0138 0.9631
‘Riley's Super 20 2.4919 36.7106 1.24
Sport’
Trans 1 13.9375 1.6044 15.5356 0.8019
TifTuf 16 2.2694 25.7831 1.0388
MSB-04-264 10.6875 1.8544 32.1012 1.185
LSD 4.4302 0.2346 5.3547 0.1187
LLES - leaf length erect shoot; LWES - leaf width erect shoot; ILES - internode length erect shoot; IDES - internode diameter erect shoot; LLS - leaf length stolen; LWS - leaf width stolen; ILS - internode length stolen; and IDS - internode diameter stolen
Table 19 below provides a comparison of MSB-1017 with 22 other grass varieties Riverside, California in 2020 under drought conditions. Table 19 shows ‘MSB-1017’ having a better fall color retention in Riverside, California than ‘Tifway’, ‘Latitude 36’ and but lower fall color retention than ‘OKC 1876’.
TABLE 19
Turfgrass Quality under drought and other ratings at
Riverside, CA (CA3), 2020 (1-9; 9 = best)
Ber-
Ge- Leaf muda- Fall
netic Tex- grass Color Turfgrass Quality
Name Color ture mite Nov Jan Feb Mar Apr
MSB-1017 8.3 6.7 9.0 7.7 5.3 6.0 8.7 6.7
TIFTUF 6.7 6.7 8.7 8.0 5.7 5.7 7.7 6.0
OKC1873 6.3 6.3 9.0 7.7 5.7 6.0 8.7 5.7
OKC1876 7.3 7.0 8.3 9.0 5.7 6.0 7.7 5.7
MSB-1042 7.7 7.0 9.0 7.3 4.0 4.3 7.7 5.7
OKC1682 7.7 6.7 9.0 6.7 4.7 5.3 7.3 6.0
FB 1628 8.3 6.0 8.3 8.3 4.7 5.0 7.3 5.7
MSB-1050 9.0 8.0 8.7 8.0 4.3 4.0 8.0 5.3
FB 1903 8.3 5.7 9.0 7.7 3.3 3.7 6.7 3.7
TIFWAY 6.7 6.0 9.0 6.0 4.7 4.7 7.0 5.3
FB 1630 7.3 5.0 8.7 7.7 4.7 5.0 7.3 4.0
FB 1902 7.0 5.7 9.0 8.0 4.3 4.7 7.7 4.3
TAHOMA 8.0 6.7 8.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 7.0 5.3
31
OKC1666 5.0 6.7 8.0 6.3 4.7 4.3 6.3 5.7
MSB-1026 9.0 6.3 5.7 5.7 3.7 3.7 8.3 4.3
MSB-1075 9.0 5.7 5.0 7.7 3.7 4.0 7.7 5.3
JSC 80V 4.3 6.3 8.7 4.3 3.7 3.7 5.0 3.7
LATITUDE 5.3 6.7 9.0 6.0 4.3 4.7 5.3 4.7
36
MSB-1048 8.0 7.0 9.0 4.7 3.0 3.0 6.0 4.7
OKC1406 6.3 6.7 8.7 4.7 3.0 3.0 7.0 4.0
ASTRO 4.7 5.3 8.0 6.3 3.7 3.7 4.7 4.0
JSC 77V 5.0 6.0 8.3 3.7 3.7 4.0 7.0 4.0
LSD 1.2 0.7 1.1 1.3 0.8 0.8 1.1 0.9
VALUE
C.V. (%) 11.1 6.9 8.5 12.7 12.5 11.7 10.1 11.4
Turfgrass Quality
Name May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Mean
MSB-1017 7.7 7.7 7.7 5.3 6.7 5.7 6.3 6.7
TIFTUF 7.7 6.7 7.0 6.0 6.7 5.7 7.3 6.5
OKC1873 7.0 6.3 7.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 6.3 6.3
OKC1876 8.0 6.0 6.7 5.3 6.0 5.3 7.0 6.3
MSB-1042 7.0 7.3 7.3 5.0 5.3 6.3 6.3 6.0
OKC1682 7.7 7.7 7.3 5.0 5.3 4.3 4.7 5.9
FB 1628 6.7 6.0 6.3 5.3 5.3 5.0 6.3 5.8
MSB-1050 7.0 6.3 6.7 5.7 5.7 5.3 5.3 5.8
FB 1903 5.7 5.7 6.3 6.7 7.3 5.0 6.0 5.5
TIFWAY 6.0 5.7 6.7 5.3 5.3 4.7 4.7 5.5
FB 1630 6.0 5.7 5.7 4.7 4.7 5.0 5.7 5.3
FB 1902 5.7 5.0 5.0 4.3 5.7 5.3 6.7 5.3
TAHOMA 6.0 6.3 6.3 5.3 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.3
31
OKC1666 6.7 5.7 5.0 4.3 5.3 4.0 5.3 5.2
MSB-1026 5.7 5.7 5.3 4.7 5.3 5.0 4.0 5.1
MSB-1075 4.7 5.3 5.3 5.0 5.0 4.7 5.0 5.1
JSC 80V 6.0 7.0 6.7 5.0 4.3 4.3 4.7 4.9
LATITUDE 6.7 5.7 5.3 4.3 4.3 3.7 5.0 4.9
36
MSB-1048 6.7 7.0 5.3 5.0 5.0 3.7 4.7 4.9
OKC1406 6.0 5.0 6.0 4.0 4.3 4.3 4.0 4.6
ASTRO 5.0 5.3 5.0 4.3 4.3 5.0 4.7 4.5
JSC 77V 5.7 4.7 3.7 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.7 4.1
LSD 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.0 0.5
VALUE
C.V. (%) 8.6 8.7 9.7 11.1 10.5 13.4 11.7 5.7
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY ‘MSB-1017’ can be distinguished from other bermudagrass cultivars by DNA profiling. FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a phylogenetic tree that shows ‘MSB-1017’ is genetically different from the other bermudagrass cultivars analyzed. Samples were collected from grass cultivars grown in individual pots in a greenhouse. After a few weeks of growth, DNA was extracted from the vegetative tissue. Six SSR markers were amplified from ‘MSB-1017’, parental lines ‘Riley's Super Sport’ and ‘Trans 1’, three other experimental entries that are also progeny of these parents and seven cultivars (‘Latitude 36’, ‘Riviera’—U.S. PVP Certificate No. 009500227, ‘TifGrand’—U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,017, ‘Tifgreen’—unpatented, ‘TifEagle’—U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,163, TifTuf' and ‘Tifway’). Four markers generated good amplification and polymorphism (shown in Table 19 below). Thirty-four fragments were generated by these markers. Genotyping was performed and analyzed using Dice genetic similarity coefficient. Dendrogram was constructed using Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA). ‘MSB-1017’, ‘MSB-1042’ and ‘MSB-1050’ clustered together with ‘Celebration’ and ‘Trans 1’, indicating they are their progeny. These five entries formed cluster distant from ‘MSB-1080’ and cultivars.
In addition, morphological characteristics allow to distinguish ‘MSB-1017’ from its parents. Hairs on adaxial surface of ‘Riley's Super Sport’ are abundant, while ‘Trans 1’ has very sparse and short hairs on adaxial surface ‘MSB-1017’ is intermediate between two parents in leaf hair abundance. Leaf color of ‘Trans 1’ assessed using Munsell® Color Chart matches 5GY/4/4 for both sides of the leaf blade, and color of leaf sheath matches 5GY/6/6. Both sides of the leaf blade of ‘Riley's Super Sport’ matched 7.5GY/4/4 and leaf sheath 5GY/6/6. ‘MSB-1017’ has leaf blade color similar to ‘Trans 1’ (5GY/3/4; 5GY/4/4), but color of leaf sheath is distinct from both parents (2.5GY/6/4).
TABLE 20
Raw data for simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers analysis
Marker
Comp- Comp- Comp-
Entry Chase109 61826_c0_seq6 62584_c0_seq6 61529_c0_seq1
Tifgreen 303.96, 128.77, 130.91, 148.43, 151.62 143.01, 149.91,
315.81 134.52 157.12
TifEagle 303.95, 128.71, 130.84, 148.44, 151.53 143.06, 149.91,
315.76 134.52 157.09
Trans1 309.70, 131.4 149.54, 163.15 149.82, 152.88
336.28
MSB- 336.22 131.43, 134.55 149.54, 162.93 136.90, 147.69,
1017 152.90
MSB- 336.26 131.7 150.51, 160.24, 147.71, 152.88
1042 163.23
MSB- 309.82 131.40, 134.50 149.45, 163.00 139.58, 147.78,
1050 152.88
MSB1080 331.51 128.68, 131.62 116.49 136.90, 147.59,
149.82
Riley 207.53 131.78, 134.52 160.16, 162.91 139.57, 147.71
Super
Sport
Tifway 302.25, 128.72, 131.53 141.80, 166.02 147.67, 149.91
329.97,
340.73
DT-1 302.29, 128.71, 131.78, 141.75, 151.53 149.91
(TifTuf) 306.98, 140.04
333.90
TifGrand 302.29, 128.65, 131.57 141.77, 151.62 147.61, 149.73
315.54,
330.01,
340.73
Latitude 331.3 134.52 148.44, 163.14 149.82
36
Riviera 192.61 134.49 148.52, 165.90 149.91
Water 51.17 40.55 36.02 59.25
