Distinct variety of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa Pratensis)

Abstract

A Kentucky bluegrass plant that is highly apomictic, thus providing a more uniform turf when propagated from seeds. The plant has good resistance to most diseases such as stripe smut, Helminthosporium leafspot, dollarspot, and rust. The production of a high number of rhizomes presents a dense turf which keeps weed competition down. This low-growing cultivar has a medium-textured turf and maintains its medium-green color for a longer season than some other varieties of bluegrass. The new variety of Kentucky bluegrass plant was selected from a large number of other bluegrass plants released in 1969 by Rutgers University to FFR Cooperative for variety development. The new variety was the result of replicated tests in cultivated areas at West Lafayette, Indiana and Spokane, Washington as reported hereinafter and the variety subsequently has been named "Plush". The variety is characterized by its ability to maintain a high turf quality over a wide geographical area and its ability to withstand, better than most bluegrasses, the high summertime temperatures. The qualities and charactristics which this new variety yields make it desirable in lawns and presents itself as an excellent seed producer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After this new Kentucky bluegrass plant was selected, it and 82 other selections were planted at West Lafayette, Ind. These selections were screened in replicated tests at West Lafayette, Ind., and Spokane, Wash., for seed yield, plant diseases, and/or general clonal performance. Promising material was seeded in 3-foot .times. 5-foot replicated turf plots in 1969. This new Kentucky bluegrass selection was labeled by FFR as 9031 and entered in several university tests as P-133. Subsequently, 9031 was named Plush by the Board of Directors of FFR Cooperative.

The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by applicants by tiller division and the distinguishing characteristics remain true through succeeding generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the seedling of Plush variety bluegrass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The new Plush variety of Kentucky bluegrass possesses the following combination of characteristics:

1. Highly apomictic.

2. Maintains good quality turf over a wide geographical area.

3. Excellent stripe smut (Ustilago striiformis) resistance.

4. Good Helminthosporium leafspot resistance.

5. Good dollarspot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) resistance.

6. Good rust (Puccinia spp.) tolerance.

7. Moderate Fusarium blight susceptibility.

8. Establishes faster than most other Kentucky bluegrasses.

9. Produces a dense turf.

10. Lower growing.

11. Medium-green color that develops early and lasts later.

12. Upright leaves with a medium width.

13. Medium thatch accumulation.

14. Establishes fast when sodded.

15. Good heat tolerance.

16. Excellent seed production characteristics.

The characteristics of the new variety described above are hereafter described in more detail, and it should be noted that comparisons made in all tests are to other bluegrasses grown and managed in a similar manner to Plush. Plush is not compared to all bluegrasses grown, but only to recently improved varieties. These comparisons are not by only one observation, but in replicated tests.

Highly apomictic: Plush is highly apomictic, in that progeny of the maternal plant will resemble the maternal parent. This provides a uniform-looking turf. (Table 1)

Maintains a good quality turf over a wide geographical area: Some Kentucky bluegrasses that were selected in a specific area do not adapt very well to other regions of Kentucky bluegrass growing area. This often leads to an inferior quality turf such as experienced with Nugget, an Alaskan selection, when grown in the Midwest and South. Plush, a Northeastern selection, has maintained a good quality turf over a wide geographical area. Plush has ranked high in turf quality in tests at Rutgers University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Illinois, University of Missouri, and FFR Cooperative (Tables 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7).

Excellent stripe smut (Ustilago striiformis) resistance: Stripe smut is a fungus that attacks the leaves and floral parts of Kentucky bluegrass. This drastically lowers the quality of turf or reduces seed yield in production fields. Plush has good resistance to stripe smut. (Table 8)

Good Helminthosporium leafspot resistance: In the past, Helminthosporium leafspot, characterized by dark, purplish-red lesions on the leaves, has severely limited the production of good quality turf. As the disease progresses, the "melting-out" phase begins. This results in large patches of dead plants appearing in the turf. Plush has good resistance to Helminthosporium leafspot. (Tables 9, 10, 11, and 12)

Good dollarspot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) resistance: Although dollarspot is not a major disease, its presence can form several blighted areas, about the size of a silver dollar, in the turf. In tests at the University of Illinois, Plush has shown to have good dollarspot resistance (Table 13).

Good rust (Puccinia spp.) tolerance: A disease that severely damages Merion Kentucky bluegrass is leaf rust. Plush has good tolerance to rust in tests at FFR Cooperative, while Merion is severely damaged (Table 14).

Moderate Fusarium blight susceptibility: Fusarium blight is becoming a major disease of Kentucky bluegrass turfs that are under high management. Plush is slightly susceptible to Fusarium blight, but has better tolerance and resistance than Fylking and Pennstar in tests at Rutgers (Table 15).

Establishes faster than most other Kentucky bluegrasses: Weed competition often ruins a turf when seedlings are emerging. Good seedling vigor is characterized by germinating and spreading fast, thus establishing a dense turf. In tests at FFR Cooperative, Plush had better seedling vigor than most other elite Kentucky bluegrasses (Table 16).

Produces a dense turf: A dense turf does not only look attractive, but also hinders weed growth. One grass weed that causes major problems in turf is annual bluegrass (Poa annua). At the University of Illinois, a trial to measure the competitive ability of Kentucky bluegrass in annual bluegrasses was conducted. Ten-centimeters-in-diameter plugs of Kentucky bluegrass varieties from a two-year-old turf plot were placed in a solid stand of Poa annua. The trial was managed under conditions favorable to the development of annual bluegrass. After fourteen months, the plugs were measured to determine how much the Poa annua took over the plug. Because of its capability to produce a dense turf, Plush still had a diameter of 7.9 centimeters while several other bluegrass varieties had measurements of less than 7.0 centimeters (Table 17).

Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes. The more rhizomes per square foot, the better the density of the turf. In tests at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Plush had good rhizome production (Table 18).

In turf trials at FFR Cooperative, ratings for density were taken 12 and 30 months after seeding. Plush had a better density than Sodco at 12 months, and better than several other varieties at 30 months (Table 19).

Lower growing: Plush has a semi-dwarf growth characteristic. The plant height of Plush in an uncut turf situation is shorter than Fylking or Merion (Table 20).

Medium-green color that develops early and lasts late: Plush has lighter-green color than Adelphi, but is darker than Park. (Tables 21 and 22) This medium-green color tends to make many of the turf weeds, which tend to be lighter green, less noticeable when present. Plush's color develops early in the spring, earlier than Nugget or Cougar (Table 23). Plush maintains its medium-green color longer into the fall and early winter than Merion, Kenblue, or Park (Table 24).

Upright leaves with a medium width: Plush's leaves tend to be more upright. This makes leaves easier to cut. Plush's leaf angle from the central axis is approximately 36.degree., compared to 51.degree. for Merion (Table 25). The leaves of Plush are medium width. They are wider than Nugget and Fylking, but narrower than Merion (Table 25).

Medium thatch accumulation: Thatch is a major problem for newer turfgrasses. The build-up of non-decmposed, dead vegetative matter becomes a favorable environment for diseases. Plush has a thatch depth of 1.33 centimeters, compared to Nugget's 1.52 centimeters, in tests at the University of Illinois (Table 26).

Establishes fast when sodded: The ability of a Kentucky bluegrass to recover and start growing is very important when laying sod. One way to measure this ability is the root strength test. In this test, a one-foot-square piece of turf is pulled from the soil surface after it has had time to establish its roots. The pounds of force required to pull this from the surface give a good indication of how fast the variety recovers after being sodded. Plush had an average root pull strength of 335 pounds in tests at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, compared to Merion's 266 pounds (Table 27).

Good heat tolerance: One aspect that limits the growth of Kentucky bluegrass in southern regions of bluegrass belt is its tolerance to the hot summertime temperatures. At Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, several Kentucky bluegrass cultivars were placed in a growth chamber. These six-inch-square pieces of sod were exposed to temperatures 50.degree. C. for 16 hours and 30.degree. C. for 8 hours for each day over a seven-day period. After the treatment, they were removed from chamber and sodded. Plush had retained 53% of its greenness, compared to Adelphi's 30%, Merion's 33%, or Kenblue's 65% (Table 28). After the cultivars were sodded, their recovery rates were measured by their root strength for a 6-inch-square piece of sod and percent ground cover. Plush had ratings of 85 pounds and 72 percent spread, respectively, compared to Adelphi's 58 pounds and 58% ground cover (Table 28).

Excellent seed production characteristics: In order to have a successful variety, seed must be plentiful and at a reasonable cost. A Kentucky bluegrass cultivar must have a good seed yield to be successful. Several factors determine a good yield. It must have good lodging resistance to prevent the seed head from lying on the ground. In tests at Spokane, Washington, Plush has good lodging resistance (Table 29). In order to harvest the seed more easily, the inflorescence should be high above vegetative material. Plush produces a culm of about 72 centimeters. Plush has a seed head higher than Nugget (Table 30). Also, the cultivar should be early-maturing. Early-maturing varieties in dry land production can take advantage of the winter moisture. Plush is earlier-maturing than Merion or Sodco (Table 31). Plush's seed yield is comparable to that of Fylking and Merion in tests at Spokane, Washington (Table 32).

The seed of Plush is darker in color than Merion or Baron, but is lighter than Adelphi or Nugget (Table 33). Plush has a larger seed size than most Kentucky bluegrasses (Table 33). Larger seeds usually have better germination vigor than small seeds.

TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Percent Apomixis in Plush.sup.a Number of % Maternal- Seed Source Plants Tested like Plants ______________________________________ Lot SW71 200 86 Lot RU69 350 89 Lot RU73 100 87 Total 650 Mean 87.33 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1974 Apomixis Test of Plush Kentucky Bluegrass at FFR Cooperative, West Lafayette, Indiana. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 2 ______________________________________ Turf Quality at Rutgers University.sup.a 4-year Variety 1972 1973 1974 1975 mean ______________________________________ Rating: 9 = best; 1 = poor Plush 6.0 6.5 6.7 6.5 6.4 Adelphi 7.0 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.8 Baron 4.5 5.7 5.8 5.1 5.3 Bonnieblue 6.3 6.7 6.8 6.6 6.6 Brunswick 5.5 6.9 7.5 7.3 6.8 Fylking 6.0 6.3 5.7 4.5 5.6 Galaxy 6.3 6.4 6.1 5.6 6.1 Glade 6.5 6.5 6.7 6.7 6.6 Kenblue 4.0 3.0 3.3 2.8 3.3 Majestic 7.3 7.0 6.3 6.0 6.6 Merion 6.3 6.8 6.6 5.7 6.4 Monopoly 4.5 5.5 5.4 6.3 5.4 Nugget 7.0 5.3 5.0 4.2 5.4 Park 3.8 2.9 3.0 2.1 3.0 Pennstar 6.0 6.5 5.7 4.6 5.7 Sodco 6.8 6.7 6.8 6.3 6.6 Sydsport 5.0 6.0 6.4 6.3 5.9 Vantage 3.3 5.1 5.7 5.5 5.0 Victa 4.5 5.7 5.8 5.4 5.4 Windsor 4.5 5.5 6.4 7.1 5.9 Grand Mean 5.7 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Test of Kentucky Bluegrass and Fine Fescue varieties at Rutgers University. C. Reed Funk

TABLE 3 ______________________________________ Turf Quality at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.sup.a 3-year Variety 1973 1974 1975 mean ______________________________________ Rating: 9 = best; 1 = poor Plush 7.5 7.2 5.2 6.6 Adelphi 7.4 7.2 5.4 6.8 Baron 6.7 6.5 5.1 6.1 Bonnieblue 7.7 6.9 5.3 6.6 Brunswick 7.8 6.7 5.1 6.5 Fylking 6.6 6.1 4.5 5.7 Galaxy 7.6 6.7 4.7 6.3 Glade 7.1 6.5 5.4 6.3 Kenblue 7.0 5.9 5.1 6.0 Majestic 7.4 7.1 5.3 6.6 Merion 6.8 6.1 5.4 6.1 Monopoly 7.4 7.1 5.7 6.8 Nugget 6.2 6.1 5.0 5.8 Park 6.2 5.6 4.6 5.4 Pennstar 7.5 6.4 4.7 6.2 Sodco 7.9 6.9 5.8 6.9 Sydsport 7.4 6.9 5.4 6.6 Vantage 7.1 6.0 5.3 6.1 Victa 6.9 6.9 5.6 6.5 Windsor 7.3 6.4 4.6 6.1 Grand Mean 6.3 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Test at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Lincoln Taylor.

TABLE 4 ______________________________________ Turf Quality at University of Illinois.sup.a 1973 1974 1975 3-Year Variety Mean Mean Mean Mean ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = best; 9 = poor Plush 2.9 2.6 2.3 2.6 Adelphi 2.6 2.4 3.2 2.7 Baron 2.9 3.2 3.4 3.2 Bonnieblue 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.1 Brunswick 2.6 2.8 3.0 2.8 Fylking 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.2 Galaxy 3.0 2.8 3.0 2.9 Glade 2.8 2.7 3.5 3.0 Kenblue 4.6 3.8 3.5 4.0 Majestic 3.0 2.7 3.2 3.0 Merion 3.2 2.9 2.6 2.9 Monopoly 3.1 2.1 2.2 2.5 Nugget 3.1 3.6 5.0 3.9 Park 4.9 3.3 3.0 3.7 Pennstar 3.1 3.5 3.3 3.3 Sodco 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.9 Sydsport 2.7 2.7 4.0 3.1 Vantage 3.3 2.9 2.7 3.0 Victa 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.0 Windsor 3.0 2.5 2.4 2.6 Grand Mean 3.1 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Bluegrass Trials at University of Illinois. A. J. Turgeon

TABLE 5 ______________________________________ Turf Quality at the Southwest Research Center of the University of Missouri.sup.a 3-Year Variety Mean ______________________________________ Rating: 9 = best; 1 = poor Plush 4.6 Adelphi 4.5 Baron 4.6 Bonnieblue 4.6 Brunswick 4.8 Fylking 4.3 Galaxy 4.7 Glade 4.3 Kenblue 3.4 Majestic 4.5 Merion 3.3 Monopoly 4.6 Nugget 3.0 Park 4.1 Pennstar 4.1 Sodco 4.1 Sydsport 4.5 Vantage 4.1 Victa 4.9 Windsor 4.3 Grand Mean 4.3 LSD at 5% Level .5 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Test of Kentucky Bluegrass at the Southwest Research Center of the University of Missouri. John H. Dunn

TABLE 6 ______________________________________ Turf Quality at FFR Cooperative.sup.a 3-year Variety 1970 1971 1973 Mean ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = best; 9 = poor Plush 3.9 3.4 2.8 3.4 Cougar 3.5 5.4 4.4 4.4 Delta 6.1 7.3 6.1 6.5 Fylking 3.9 4.7 4.1 4.2 Geary 5.9 6.6 5.2 5.9 Kenblue 5.3 7.2 6.3 6.3 Merion 3.3 3.8 4.3 3.8 Newport 4.7 5.8 6.0 5.5 Nudwarf 5.9 6.1 6.5 6.2 Nugget 4.0 4.3 3.5 3.9 Park 6.3 6.0 5.7 6.0 Sodco 5.8 6.4 6.5 6.2 S-21 6.5 6.3 6.6 6.5 S. Dakota Common 5.8 6.4 6.5 6.2 Grand Mean 5.4 LSD at 5% Level 1.38 1.17 1.44 ______________________________________ .sup.a Turf Evaluations at FFR Cooperative, West Lafayette, Indiana. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 7 ______________________________________ Turf Quality Averaged Across Five Locations Location Variety Rutgers VPI Missouri Ill FFR Mean ______________________________________ Rating.sup.b : 9 = best; 1 = poor Plush 6.4 6.6 4.6 7.4 6.7 6.3 Adelphi 6.8 6.8 4.5 7.3 X.sup.a X Baron 5.3 6.1 4.6 6.8 X X Bonnieblue 6.6 6.6 4.6 6.9 X X Brunswick 6.8 6.5 4.8 7.2 X X Fylking 5.6 5.7 4.3 6.8 5.8 5.6 Galaxy 6.1 6.3 4.7 7.1 X X Glade 6.6 6.3 4.3 7.0 X X Kenblue 3.3 6.0 3.4 6.0 3.8 4.5 Majestic 6.6 6.6 4.5 7.0 X X Merion 6.4 6.1 3.3 7.1 6.2 5.8 Monopoly 5.4 6.8 4.6 7.5 X X Nugget 5.4 5.8 3.0 6.1 6.1 5.3 Park 3.0 5.4 4.1 6.3 4.0 4.6 Pennstar 5.7 6.2 4.1 6.7 X X Sodco 6.6 6.9 3.9 7.1 3.8 5.7 Sydsport 5.9 6.6 4.5 6.9 X X Vantage 5.0 6.1 4.1 7.0 X X Victa 5.4 6.5 4.9 7.0 X X Windsor 5.9 6.1 4.3 6.4 X X ______________________________________ .sup.a Not Tested in this Trial .sup.b Rating for Illinois and FFR are converted to 9 = best; 1 = poor.

TABLE 8 ______________________________________ Stripe Smut Resistance at Rutgers University.sup.a Variety Infected Tillers ______________________________________ Number of tillers per square foot infected with stripe smut Plush 2 Adelphi 1 Baron 25 Glade 2 Merion 138 Windsor 90 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at Rutgers University. C. Reed Funk

TABLE 9 ______________________________________ Helminthosporium Leafspot Tolerance at University of Illinois.sup.a 3-year Variety 1973 1974 1975 mean ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = best; 9 = poor Plush 2.7 2.3 3.0 2.7 Adelphi 2.3 2.3 2.0 2.2 Baron 3.3 2.3 2.7 2.8 Bonnieblue 2.0 1.7 2.3 2.0 Brunswick 1.7 2.3 3.0 2.3 Fylking 2.7 2.0 2.3 2.3 Galaxy 1.7 1.3 2.0 1.7 Glade 3.0 2.3 2.7 2.7 Kenblue 5.7 5.7 5.0 5.5 Majestic 1.0 1.7 2.0 1.6 Merion 1.7 1.3 3.0 2.0 Monopoly 2.7 2.0 2.7 2.5 Nugget 2.0 1.3 1.0 1.4 Park 6.0 3.3 5.3 4.9 Pennstar 2.0 1.7 2.0 1.9 Sodco 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.9 Sydsport 2.0 2.3 2.0 2.1 Vantage 5.0 4.3 3.7 4.3 Victa 2.7 2.0 2.7 2.5 Windsor 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.9 Mean 2.7 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Bluegrass Trials at University of Illinois A. J. Turgeon

TABLE 10 ______________________________________ Helminthosporium Leafspot Tolerance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.sup.a 1974 Variety Mean ______________________________________ Rating: 9 = best; 1 = poor Plush 6.3 Adelphi 6.7 Baron 6.7 Bonnieblue 8.7 Brunswick 6.7 Fylking 6.7 Galaxy 7.3 Glade 4.3 Kenblue 4.0 Majestic 7.7 Merion 7.0 Monopoly 6.0 Nugget 4.0 Park 7.0 Pennstar 6.7 Sodco 6.7 Sydsport 6.7 Vantage 7.0 Victa 6.7 Windsor 7.0 Grand Mean 6.5 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Bluegrass Trials at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Lincoln Taylor

TABLE 11 ______________________________________ Helminthosporium Leafspot Tolerance at FFR Cooperative.sup.a 3-year Entry 5-5-72 4-19-73 5-22-74 mean ______________________________________ Rating.sup.b : 1 = best; 9 = poor Plush 5.3 3.0 3.0 3.8 Cougar 6.3 4.3 5.0 5.2 Delta 5.0 8.3 6.7 6.7 Fylking 2.8 4.5 3.0 3.4 Geary 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 Kenblue 7.3 9.0 6.3 7.5 Merion 2.3 2.7 1.7 2.2 Newport 6.0 7.0 8.3 7.1 Nudwarf 7.3 9.0 7.3 7.9 Nugget 2.6 2.5 1.4 2.2 Park 7.0 9.2 6.7 7.6 Sodco 3.0 3.2 2.8 3.0 S-21 7.0 8.3 7.0 7.4 S. Dakota Common 8.0 8.7 7.3 8.0 Grand Mean 5.7 LSD at 5% Level 1.8 2.1 1.5 ______________________________________ .sup.a Turf Evaluations at FFR Cooperative, West Lafayette, Indiana P. R. Troutman .sup.b Rating for Helminthosporium tolerance: 1 = good tolerance 9 = poor tolerance

TABLE 12 ______________________________________ Helminthosporium Leafspot Tolerance Summary of the Three Locations Variety U. of Illinois VPI & SU.sup.b FFR Mean ______________________________________ Ratings: 1 = best; 9 = poor Plush 2.7 3.7 3.8 3.4 Adelphi 2.2 3.3 X.sup.c X Baron 2.8 3.3 X X Bonnieblue 2.0 1.3 X X Brunswick 2.3 3.3 X X Fylking 2.3 3.3 3.4 3.0 Galaxy 1.7 2.7 X X Glade 2.7 5.7 X X Kenblue 5.5 6.0 7.5 6.3 Majestic 1.6 2.3 X X Merion 2.0 3.0 2.2 2.4 Monopoly 2.5 4.0 X X Nugget 1.4 6.0 2.2 3.2 Park 4.9 3.0 7.6 5.2 Pennstar 1.9 3.3 X X Sodco 2.9 3.3 3.0 3.1 Sydsport 2.1 3.3 X X Vantage 4.3 3.0 X X Victa 2.5 3.3 X X Windsor 2.9 3.0 X X Grand Mean 3.1 ______________________________________ .sup.a Summary of the three tables (9a, 9b, and 9c). .sup.b The ratings for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universit are converted to a 1 = best, 9 = poor scale (table 9b). .sup.c Not in this test

TABLE 13 ______________________________________ Dollarspot Resistance at the University of Illinois.sup.a Variety 1975 ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = most resistance; 9 = least Plush 1.0 Adelphi 1.0 Baron 1.0 Bonnieblue 1.0 Brunswick 1.7 Fylking 1.3 Galaxy 1.0 Glade 1.7 Kenblue 1.3 Majestic 1.0 Merion 1.3 Monopoly 1.0 Nugget 3.3 Park 1.0 Pennstar 1.0 Sodco 1.0 Sydsport 1.0 Vantage 1.0 Victa 1.0 Windsor 1.0 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at the University of Illinois. A. J. Turgeon

TABLE 14 ______________________________________ Rust Tolerance at FFR Cooperative.sup.a 2-year Variety 1970 1973 Mean ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = best; 9 = poor Plush 1.3 1.7 1.5 Cougar 1.7 2.3 2.0 Delta 2.3 1.0 1.6 Fylking 1.2 2.7 2.0 Geary 1.7 2.3 2.0 Kenblue 1.0 3.7 2.4 Merion 7.0 9.0 8.0 Newport 1.7 1.7 1.7 Nudwarf 1.3 2.7 2.0 Nugget 1.0 1.0 1.0 Park 1.7 4.0 2.8 Sodco 1.2 1.3 1.2 S-21 2.0 2.7 1.4 S. Dakota Common 1.3 1.7 2.0 Mean 2.3 LSD at 5% Level 1.2 2.1 ______________________________________ .sup.a Kentucky Bluegrass Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 15 ______________________________________ Fusarium Blight Resistance at Rutgers University.sup.a Percent Damage Variety 1974 1975 Mean ______________________________________ Plush 10.0 24.4 17.2 Adelphi 1.7 .4 1.0 Baron 8.7 18.4 13.6 Bonnieblue 6.0 4.3 5.2 Brunswick 6.3 28.0 17.2 Fylking 17.0 30.8 23.9 Galaxy 7.7 8.4 8.0 Glade .7 7.0 3.8 Kenblue 3.3 6.3 4.8 Majestic 6.0 8.4 7.2 Merion 9.0 15.4 12.2 Monopoly 2.7 .8 1.8 Nugget 5.3 29.2 17.2 Park 3.0 15.9 9.4 Pennstar 16.3 30.9 23.6 Sodco 4.7 5.3 5.0 Sydsport 1.7 3.0 2.4 Vantage 2.3 6.7 4.5 Victa 6.0 18.4 12.2 Windsor .7 .3 .5 LSD at 5% Level 5.7 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at Rutgers University. C. Reed Funk

TABLE 16 ______________________________________ Seedling Vigor at FFR Cooperative.sup.a Days after seeding Variety 13 days 33 days 61 days 71 days Mean ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = most vigor; 9 = least Plush 3.0 2.0 2.0 1.3 2.1 Adelphi 7.3 6.3 3.7 2.0 4.8 Baron 6.3 5.7 4.7 3.3 5.0 Bonnieblue 5.0 5.0 3.3 2.3 3.9 Brunswick 2.7 3.0 3.3 2.7 2.9 Fylking 4.7 4.0 2.3 2.3 3.3 Glade 3.0 3.3 3.3 1.7 2.8 Kenblue 3.0 2.0 2.0 1.7 2.2 Majestic 4.0 2.7 2.0 1.7 2.6 Merion 6.7 5.7 4.0 1.3 4.4 Nugget 4.7 3.0 4.7 2.7 3.8 Park 1.3 1.3 1.7 2.0 1.6 Pennstar 5.0 3.0 3.0 2.3 3.3 Sodco 6.3 4.7 3.7 2.3 4.3 Sydsport 6.7 6.0 4.3 3.3 5.1 Vantage 7.0 5.7 3.7 3.3 4.9 Victa 5.0 2.3 2.7 2.3 3.1 Windsor 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 3.5 LSD at 5% Level 2.10 1.51 1.72 0.71 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1976 Kentucky Bluegrass Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 17 ______________________________________ Competitive ability of Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties in 0.75 in. Annual Bluegrass Turf at 14 Months.sup.a Plug Diameter (cm.) Cultivar ______________________________________ 8.9 - 8.0 Warren's A-20 Touchdown, Parade Glade, Baron, Brunswick 7.9 - 7.0 Plush, Kenblue Warren's A-34 Adelphi, Sydsport 6.9 - 6.0 Geronimo, Sodco Windsor, Nugget 5.9 - 5.0 Pennstar Victa Bonnieblue 4.9 - 4.0 Merion, Vantage Fylking 3.9 - 3.0 Majestic, Campina Monopoly 2.9 - 2.0 Park Galaxy ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at University of Illinois. A. J. Turgeon

TABLE 18 ______________________________________ Rhizome Production of Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivars in July, 1974 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.sup.a Number of Rhizomes per Variety Square Foot ______________________________________ Plush 17 Adelphi 14 Baron 18 Bonnieblue 13 Brunswick 12 Fylking 9 Galaxy 19 Glade 13 Kenblue 8 Majestic 18 Merion 17 Monopoly 19 Nugget 11 Park 19 Pennstar 12 Sodco 14 Sydsport 15 Vantage 11 Victa 11 Windsor 12 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. R. E. Schmidt

TABLE 19 ______________________________________ Turf Density at FFR Cooperative.sup.a Variety 12 months 30 months ______________________________________ Rating:.sup.b 1 = most dense; 9 = least dense Plush 5.4 2.5 Belturf 4.8 4.5 Cougar 4.8 3.5 Delta 4.2 6.5 Fylking 4.5 3.2 Geary 3.8 4.8 Kenblue 4.0 7.8 Merion 5.5 4.8 Newport 4.0 5.0 Nudwarf 3.2 5.0 Nugget 5.4 7.2 Park 3.8 5.2 Pennstar 5.8 4.2 Sodco 7.2 6.5 S-21 3.5 7.8 S. Dakota Common 3.4 6.8 Windsor 4.5 5.5 LSD at 5% level 1.3 2.4 ______________________________________ .sup.a Turf Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman .sup.b Ratings taken 12 months and 30 months after seeding.

TABLE 20 ______________________________________ Turf Dwarfness at FFR Cooperative.sup.a Variety Dwarfness.sup.b ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = 10 cm; 9 = 30 cm Plush 2.9 Cougar 4.5 Delta 7.3 Fylking 6.8 Geary 5.9 Kenblue 7.3 Merion 3.5 Newport 5.1 Nudwarf 6.2 Nugget 2.2 Park 6.5 Sodco 3.9 S-21 5.5 S. Dakota Common 6.5 Mean 5.3 LSD at 5% Level .7 ______________________________________ .sup.a Bluegrass Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman .sup.b Rating is a mean of 12 observations from 1969-1974.

TABLE 21 ______________________________________ Turf Color at FFR Cooperative.sup.a Variety 1976 ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = dark green; 9 = light green Plush 4.7 Adelphi 2.3 Baron 3.7 Bonnieblue 2.7 Brunswick 1.7 Fylking 5.0 Glade 2.0 Kenblue 4.3 Majestic 3.0 Merion 2.3 Nugget 2.3 Park 7.3 Pennstar 4.7 Sodco 3.0 Sydsport 2.3 Vantage 4.7 Victa 4.0 Windsor 4.7 LSD at 5% Level 1.13 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1976 Kentucky Bluegrass Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 22 ______________________________________ Growing Season Color.sup.a Variety Color ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = dark green; 9 = light green 4-24-70 5-21-71 6-10-70 9-9-72 Mean Plush 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.3 3.8 Cougar 3.0 7.0 4.3 3.7 4.5 Delta 4.7 9.0 4.3 4.7 5.7 Fylking 3.1 5.0 5.0 4.4 4.4 Geary 5.3 8.7 7.3 5.3 6.6 Kenblue 5.0 8.7 7.0 4.7 6.4 Merion 2.7 3.0 4.3 2.0 3.0 Newport 3.8 7.3 4.4 4.7 5.0 Nudwarf 6.3 9.0 6.7 5.0 6.8 Nugget 3.3 1.7 2.4 2.6 2.5 Park 4.7 9.0 8.3 5.3 6.8 Sodco 2.6 2.7 3.2 2.8 2.8 S-21 8.0 8.3 8.3 7.7 8.1 S. Dakota Common 5.0 9.0 8.0 5.0 6.8 Mean 5.2 LSD at 5% Level 1.6 1.7 2.0 2.2 ______________________________________ .sup.a Kentucky Bluegrass Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 23 ______________________________________ Early Spring Color at FFR Cooperative.sup.a Variety Color ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = green; 9 = brown Plush 4.2 Cougar 6.5 Delta 3.8 Fylking 5.6 Geary 3.2 Kenblue 4.3 Merion 4.7 Newport 6.0 Nudwarf 3.8 Nugget 8.2 Park 3.5 Sodco 5.2 S-21 4.6 S. Dakota Common 4.8 Mean 4.9 LSD at 5% Level 2.4 ______________________________________ .sup.a Kentucky Bluegrass Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 24 ______________________________________ Late Fall-Early Winter Color at FFR Cooperative.sup.a Variety Color.sup.b ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = green; 9 = brown Plush 4.2 Cougar 7.1 Delta 7.9 Fylking 4.5 Geary 6.7 Kenblue 7.0 Merion 6.0 Nudwarf 5.8 Nugget 4.5 Park 6.5 Sodco 5.0 S-21 7.2 S. Dakota Common 7.1 Mean 6.1 LSD at 5% Level 1.0 ______________________________________ .sup.a Bluegrass Evaluations at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 25 ______________________________________ Leaf Blade Length, Width, and Angle Leaf Blade Leaf Blade Leaf Blade Variety Length (cm) Width (mm) Angle (degrees) ______________________________________ Plush 20.4 3.2 36.0 Fylking 22.6 2.1 42.0 Merion 21.3 3.4 51.0 Nugget 17.6 2.2 50.0 LSD at 5% Level 3.40 .62 8.56 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1974 Greenhouse Evaluation at FFR Cooperative, West Lafayette, Indiana. Plants grown from tillers and replicated 6 times. P. R. Troutman

TABLE 26 ______________________________________ Thatch Depth at the University of Illinois.sup.a Variety Centimeters ______________________________________ Plush 1.3 Adelphi 1.2 Baron 1.4 Bonnieblue 1.0 Brunswick 1.5 Fylking 1.3 Galaxy 1.2 Glade 1.5 Kenblue 1.0 Majestic 1.4 Merion 1.0 Monopoly 1.1 Nugget 1.5 Park .7 Pennstar 1.2 Sodco 1.4 Sydsport 1.2 Vantage 1.0 Victa 1.5 Windsor 1.2 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at the University of Illinois. A. J. Turgeon

TABLE 27 ______________________________________ Root Strength at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.sup.a Variety 6 weeks growth 8 weeks growth Mean ______________________________________ Measured in pounds of force required to pull one square foot of sod from soil surface. Plush 325 345 335 Adelphi 415 385 400 Baron 365 183 274 Bonnieblue 338 258 298 Brunswick 333 210 272 Fylking 373 185 279 Galaxy 310 245 278 Glade 345 178 262 Kenblue 252 353 302 Majestic 425 278 351 Merion 315 218 266 Monopoly 343 283 313 Nugget 423 225 325 Park 248 260 254 Pennstar 323 218 270 Sodco 328 280 304 Sydsport 410 268 339 Vantage 350 395 372 Victor 386 260 323 Windsor 308 335 322 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. R. E. Schmidt

TABLE 28 ______________________________________ Heat Tolerance of Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivars at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.sup.a Root % Green Strength % Ground Variety After Heat Pounds Cover ______________________________________ Plush 53 85 72 Adelphi 30 58 58 Baron 40 76 72 Bonnieblue 37 59 53 Brunswick 52 65 73 Fylking 33 41 42 Galaxy 8 56 50 Glade 35 43 50 Kenblue 65 98 77 Majestic 30 56 45 Merion 33 77 53 Monopoly 43 46 52 Nugget 38 62 47 Park 48 93 70 Sodco 45 76 68 Sydsport 35 61 57 Vantage 35 78 45 Victa 35 50 55 Windsor 40 70 73 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1972 Regional Kentucky Bluegrass Trials at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. R. E. Schmidt

TABLE 29 ______________________________________ Lodging Resistance at Spokane, Washington.sup.a Variety Rating: 1 = Lodged; 5 = Erect Plush 3.2 Cougar 4.8 Fylking 1.0 Kenblue 3.8 Merion 3.5 Newport 4.5 Nugget 5.0 Sodco 3.5 S. Dakota Common 3.0 LSD at 5% Level 1.98 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1969 FFR Kentucky Bluegrass Seed Production Evaluation at Spokane, Washington Keith Wigen

TABLE 30 ______________________________________ Seed Head Height at Spokane, Wash..sup.a Variety Height ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = short culm; 5 = tall culm Plush 4.0 Cougar 3.0 Fylking 2.8 Kenblue 4.0 Merion 3.5 Newport 4.0 Nugget 1.0 Sodco 3.0 S. Dakota Common 4.5 LSD at 5% Level 1.30 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1969 FFR Kentucky Bluegrass Seed Production Evaluation at Spokane, Washington. Keith Wigen

TABLE 31 ______________________________________ Seed Head Emergence at Spokane, Washington.sup.a Avg. Variety Rating.sup.b ______________________________________ Plush 3.0 Fylking 3.0 Kenblue 3.5 Merion 1.5 Newport 3.5 Sodco 2.5 S. Dakota Common 3.5 Nugget 4.0 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1969 FFR Kentucky Bluegrass Seed Production Evaluation at Spokane, Washington. Keith Wigen .sup.b 1 = no head emergence 2 = 1 - 25% emergence 3 = 50 - 75% emergence 4 = 75 - 100% emergence

TABLE 32 ______________________________________ Seed Yield Evaluation at Spokane, Washington.sup.a 1970 Mean 1971 Mean 2-Year Seed Yield Seed Yield Mean Variety kg/ha kg/ha kg/ha ______________________________________ Plush 326.17 929.59 627.88 Fylking 244.63 1,223.15 733.89 Kenblue 212.06 962.34 587.20 Merion 195.66 848.05 521.86 Newport 130.51 782.81 1456.66 Nugget 81.54 521.88 301.71 Sodco 97.94 538.18 318.06 S. Dakota Common 163.09 913.12 538.11 Mean 510.67 LSD at 5% Level 130.51 375.10 ______________________________________ .sup.a 1969 FFR Kentucky Bluegrass Seed Production Evaluation at Spokane, Washington. Keith Wigen

TABLE 33 ______________________________________ Seed Size and Color at FFR Cooperative.sup.a Seed Length Seed Width Seed Variety (mm) (mm) Color ______________________________________ Rating: 1 = light tan, 9 = dark brown Plush 2.9 .69 6.3 Adelphi 2.6 .61 8.0 Baron 2.5 .58 3.0 Bonnieblue 2.7 .69 5.7 Fylking 2.8 .76 6.0 Glade 2.5 .56 3.3 Kenblue 2.5 .55 2.7 Majestic 2.5 .66 6.2 Merion 2.4 .61 1.0 Nugget 3.2 .79 9.0 LSD at 5% Level .169 .004 1.38 ______________________________________ .sup.a Seed Characteristics Evaluation at FFR Cooperative. P. R. Troutman

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of bluegrass plant, Poa pratensis, substantially as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by a medium-green color, highly apomictic, vigorous rhizome production, and good disease tolerance.