Kentucky bluegrass

A variety of Kentucky bluegrass having a high level of disease resistance, good turf performance, and a very high level of seed yield potential.

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Description
BACKGROUND

Kentucky bluegrasses have been disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156 which issued on May 9, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,186 which issued on May 23, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,336 which issued on Nov. 28, 1978; U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 872,537, filed June 10, 1986; U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 910,146, filed Sept. 19, 1986; U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 27,285, filed Mar. 17, 1987 and U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 28,424, filed Mar. 17, 1987.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Poa pratensis that has been designated Ba 72-441 Kentucky bluegrass.

Ba 72-441 plant material originated by crossing a Kentucky bluegrass plant ("Victa") disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156, the seed parent, with a Kentucky bluegrass plant ("Windsor") disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,364, the pollen parent. As a result of this breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagated by rhizomes, tillers and disseminules. Seed of Ba 72-441 was produced first at Marysville, Ohio and later at Gervais, Oreg. This seed was used to plant turf performance evaluation trials.

Asexual reproduction of Ba 72-441 by propagules (tillers and rhizomes) and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis) has consistently produced progeny plants indistinguishable from the mother plant.

Ba 72-441 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including a good level of resistance to Helminthosporium spp. that causes leaf spot, melting out and crown rot, Ustilago striiformis that causes stripe smut, and Puccinia spp. that causes rust; an attractive leafy turf type growth habit; moderately wide leaf blades; an attractive green color which can be maintained throughout the entire growing season; good turf performance as evidenced by consistently high scores in tests throughout the U.S.A.; and a very high seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production region of the U.S.A.

In comparison with its seed parent, the new variety has a thinner peduncle, a more narrow and thinner flag leaf, and better winter color. In comparison to the pollen parent, the new variety has fewer seeds per pound and a higher seed yield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a photograph of Ba 72-441 Kentucky bluegrass plant in the vegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of Ba 72-441 Kentucky bluegrass panicle;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of Ba 72-441 Kentucky bluegrass seed; and

FIG. 4 is a photograph of Ba 72-441 Kentucky bluegrass turf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Ba 72-441 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa protensis L.) is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a moderately dense turf. When plants overwinter in the field with freezing temperatures and then are brought into the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed by clipping under moderate temperatures (60.degree.-80.degree. F.), culms are erect averaging 421 mm in length with an average of 2.7 nodes per culm. The uppermost internode averages 9.3 cm, and the peduncle averages 10.6 cm in length, and 0.558 mm in thickness. The flag leaf averages 4.3 cm in length, 3.3 mm in width and 0.107 mm in thickness. The panicle has an average length of 7.6 cm, width of 4.2 cm, and 5.2 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 4.0 branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle has an average of 2.7 branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch in the lowest whorl is 5.1 mm in length and has 3.9 florets with an outer glume of 2.9 mm and an inner glume of 3.3 mm in length. A similar spikelet from the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle is 5.0 mm in length and has 3.8 florets with an outer glume of 3.3 mm and an inner glume of 3.3 mm in length. After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has a generally smooth keel with occasional short hairs and a few long fine hairs at the base. The seed of Ba 72-441 is 3.18 mm in length and 0.88 mm in width with approximately 1,003,037 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 72-441 with other varieties on seed dimensions and on seed numbers per pound are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

                TABLE 1                                                     

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     Seed Measurements of Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrass                        

     Varieties After Conditioning.                                             

                     Length  Width                                             

     Variety         (mm)    (mm)                                              

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441       3.18    0.88                                              

     Ba 70-139       2.86    0.78                                              

     Ba 72-492       2.53    0.76                                              

     Ba 72-500       2.77    0.80                                              

     Baron           3.07    0.86                                              

     Bristol         2.73    0.80                                              

     Nassau          2.96    0.78                                              

     Newport         2.76    0.71                                              

     Park            3.04    0.72                                              

     Ram I           3.51    0.84                                              

     Victa           3.20    0.86                                              

     LSD(.05)        0.19    0.06                                              

     ______________________________________                                    

                TABLE 2                                                     

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     Comparison of Seed Numbers Per Pound of Ba 72-441 and                     

     Other Bluegrass Varieties After Conditioning.                             

                Number of Seeds                                                

                Per Pound                                                      

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba-72-441    1,003,037                                                    

     Ba 70-139    1,246,200                                                    

     Ba 72-492    1,275,740                                                    

     Ba 72-500    1,300,105                                                    

     Adelphi      1,383,976                                                    

     America      1,659,824                                                    

     Gnome        1,017,641                                                    

     Baron        1,051,693                                                    

     Birka        1,223,530                                                    

     Bonnieblue   1,135,303                                                    

     Bristol      1,270,821                                                    

     Eclipse      1,335,668                                                    

     Glade        1,108,441                                                    

     Kenblue      1,463,923                                                    

     Merit        1,109,728                                                    

     Nassau       1,127,130                                                    

     Newport      1,226,481                                                    

     Park         1,248,349                                                    

     Sydsport     1,355,644                                                    

     Vantage      1,555,303                                                    

     Victa        1,038,298                                                    

     Windsor      1,520,885                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influence morphological characters to some extent, comparisons of morphological characteristics of Ba 72-441 are made with other Kentucky bluegrass varieties in Tables 3-10.

                TABLE 3                                                     

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     Morphological Comparison of Panicles of Ba 72-441 and                     

     Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.          

                                  Num-                                         

                                  ber of                                       

                                        Number of                              

     Panicle    Panicle Panicle   Whorls                                       

                                        Branches                               

            Nod-    Length  Width   Per   Lower Third                          

     Variety                                                                   

            ding*   (cm)    (cm)    Panicle                                    

                                          Whorl Whorl                          

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441                                                                 

            1.4     7.6     4.2     5.2   4.0   2.7                            

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

            2.0     6.7     3.7     4.8   3.8   2.7                            

     Ba 72-492                                                                 

            1.2     7.5     4.2     5.5   4.0   3.0                            

     Ba 72-500                                                                 

            2.0     6.8     3.8     5.0   4.0   2.4                            

     Baron  1.0     7.8     4.1     5.2   3.8   2.5                            

     Bristol                                                                   

            2.0     9.7     5.0     5.0   3.3   2.7                            

     Nassau 2.0     10.0    6.0     5.0   3.0   2.0                            

     Newport                                                                   

            2.0     10.3    4.4     4.5   2.3   2.3                            

     Park   1.6     9.0     3.7     4.0   4.3   3.7                            

     Ram I  2.0     9.0     4.7     4.0   2.5   2.0                            

     Victa  1.2     7.5     4.1     5.4   4.4   3.4                            

     LSD(.05)                                                                  

            0.5     1.6     1.0     0.8   0.7   0.8                            

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      *Panicle nodding rated: 1 = erect, 2 = nodding.                          

                TABLE 4                                                     

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     Morphological Comparison of Spikelets of Ba 72-441 and Other              

     Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                

            Spikelet      Number of Florets                                    

            Length (mm)   per Spikelet                                         

              Lowest    Third     Lowest  Third                                

     Variety  Whorl     Whorl     Whorl   Whorl                                

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441                                                                 

              5.1       5.0       3.9     3.8                                  

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

              5.2       5.2       4.2     4.0                                  

     Ba 72-492                                                                 

              5.2       5.0       4.4     4.2                                  

     Ba 72-500                                                                 

              5.1       5.0       4.2     3.9                                  

     Baron    5.0       5.0       3.7     3.8                                  

     Bristol  6.2       6.0       5.7     5.3                                  

     Nassau   4.6       4.6       4.5     4.5                                  

     Newport  5.3       5.2       5.2     5.2                                  

     Park     6.5       6.7       5.2     4.7                                  

     Ram I    4.7       5.2       5.2     5.5                                  

     Victa    5.2       5.0       3.8     3.8                                  

     LSD(.05) 0.9       0.8       1.1     1.0                                  

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                TABLE 5                                                     

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     Morphological Comparison of Glumes of Ba 72-441 and Other                 

     Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                

            Glume Length (mm)                                                  

            Outer         Inner                                                

              Lowest    Third     Lowest  Third                                

     Variety  Whorl     Whorl     Whorl   Whorl                                

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441                                                                 

              2.9       2.9       3.3     3.3                                  

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

              3.2       3.1       3.5     3.5                                  

     Ba 72-492                                                                 

              2.9       3.0       3.3     3.3                                  

     Ba 72-500                                                                 

              3.1       3.1       3.4     3.4                                  

     Baron    2.9       2.8       3.4     3.3                                  

     Bristol  3.4       3.3       3.7     3.9                                  

     Nassau   2.3       2.4       2.7     2.7                                  

     Newport  2.6       2.5       2.9     2.9                                  

     Park     3.0       3.2       3.5     3.7                                  

     Ram I    2.6       2.4       2.9     2.7                                  

     Victa    2.8       3.0       3.3     3.3                                  

     LSD(.05) 0.5       0.4       0.4     0.4                                  

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                TABLE 6                                                     

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     Morphological Comparison of Flag Leaves of Ba 72-441 and                  

     Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.          

              Flag Leaf    Flag Leaf Flag Leaf                                 

              Length       Width     Thickness                                 

     Variety  (cm)         (mm)      (mm)                                      

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441                                                                 

              4.3          3.3       0.107                                     

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

              4.7          3.2       0.112                                     

     Ba 72-492                                                                 

              5.2          3.6       0.117                                     

     Ba 72-500                                                                 

              4.1          3.2       0.112                                     

     Baron    4.5          3.2       0.119                                     

     Bristol  5.5          3.4       0.127                                     

     Nassau   6.2          3.1       0.127                                     

     Newport  6.1          3.5       0.135                                     

     Park     4.2          2.6       0.109                                     

     Ram I    4.7          3.1       0.127                                     

     Victa    5.9          4.0       0.124                                     

     LSD(.05) 1.8          0.6       0.013                                     

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                TABLE 7                                                     

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     Morphological Comparison of Peduncles, Culms, and                         

     Internodes of Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrass Varieties                     

     in the Greehouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                     

                                            Top                                

            Peduncle Peduncle Culm  Number of                                  

                                            Internode                          

            Length   Width    Length                                           

                                    Nodes Per                                  

                                            Length                             

     Variety                                                                   

            (cm)     (mm)     (mm)  Culm    (cm)                               

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     Ba 72-441                                                                 

            10.6     0.558    421   2.7     9.3                                

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

            13.2     0.610    435   2.7     10.2                               

     Ba 72-492                                                                 

            12.6     0.558    486   2.2     10.5                               

     Ba 72-500                                                                 

            12.9     0.660    439   2.7     9.8                                

     Baron  12.7     0.559    482   2.5     10.1                               

     Bristol                                                                   

            15.0     0.686    522   2.7     11.3                               

     Nassau 8.0      0.533    450   2.5     11.2                               

     Newport                                                                   

            18.0     0.558    547   2.3     11.2                               

     Park   14.3     0.787    578   3.0     13.0                               

     Ram I  18.5     0.610    527   3.0     10.2                               

     Victa  12.2     0.711    474   2.4     10.6                               

     LSD(.05)                                                                  

            3.7      0.018     79   0.6     2.1                                

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                TABLE 8                                                     

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     Morphological Comparison of Leaves of Ba 72-441 and Other                 

     Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                

                                      Leaf                                     

             Ligule   Leaf     Leaf   Angle                                    

             Length   Length   Width  (Degrees                                 

     Variety (mm)     (mm)     (mm)   From Horizontal)                         

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     Ba 72-441                                                                 

             0.23     218      3.9    56                                       

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

             0.26     218      4.1    55                                       

     Ba 72-492                                                                 

             0.28     239      4.4    52                                       

     Ba 72-500                                                                 

             0.25     204      4.1    50                                       

     Baron   0.30     313      4.4    63                                       

     Bristol 0.30     253      4.3    37                                       

     Nassau  0.22     226      3.5    39                                       

     Newport 0.22     251      4.1    50                                       

     Park    0.33     329      4.2    44                                       

     Ram I   0.18     188      3.7    40                                       

     Victa   0.28     235      4.3    52                                       

     LSD(.05)                                                                  

             0.11      49      0.6    10                                       

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                TABLE 9                                                     

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     Morphological Comparison of Leaf Hairs of Ba 72-441 and                   

     Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.          

              Hairs.sup.a Around                                               

              Ligule on                                                        

              Upper Surface  Hairs.sup.a on                                    

                                      Hairs.sup.b on                           

     Variety  of the Leaf    Collar   Ligule                                   

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     Ba 72-441                                                                 

              1.0            3.4      2.2                                      

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

              1.0            3.5      1.5                                      

     Ba 72-492                                                                 

              1.0            3.2      1.3                                      

     Ba 72-500                                                                 

              1.0            3.5      2.7                                      

     Baron    1.0            5.0      4.0                                      

     Bristol  1.3            4.7      4.3                                      

     Nassau   2.7            5.0      1.0                                      

     Newport  1.0            4.0      0.8                                      

     Park     1.0            1.7      0.0                                      

     Ram I    1.0            3.7      0.3                                      

     Victa    1.0            3.3      2.2                                      

     LSD(.05) 0.3            1.4      1.8                                      

     ______________________________________                                    

      .sup.a Hairs around ligule and on collar rated 1-5: 1 = none, 5 = many.  

      .sup.b Hairs on ligule rated 0-5: O = none, 5 = many.                    

                TABLE 10                                                    

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     Morphological Comparisons of Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrass                

     Varieties Grown as Unmowed Spaced Plants in the Field at                  

     Marysville, Ohio.                                                         

     Mature                                                                    

     Plant Height   Panicle Density                                            

                                Seedhead Weight                                

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     Ba 72-441                                                                 

            38          7           656                                        

     Ba 70-139                                                                 

            35          5           402                                        

     Adelphi                                                                   

            42          3           345                                        

     Nugget 17          3           233                                        

     Bristol                                                                   

            40          4           511                                        

     Merion 25          2           320                                        

     Glade  20          3           214                                        

     Vantage                                                                   

            52          2           1019                                       

     Victa  23          2           648                                        

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      Ratings: Mature Plant Height (cm) includes panicle.                      

      Panicle Density  1-10, 10 = high panicle density.                        

      Seedhead Weight  Weight (mg) of 3 panicles.                              

Ba 72-441 has performed well throughout the U.S.A., as exhibited by high turf quality ratings in many different locations in comparison to other varieties. In addition, it has a pleasant medium green color which can be maintained throughout the growing season, good winter color, and early spring greening. Comparisons of Ba 72-441 with other varieties for quality and color are shown in Tables 11-14.

                TABLE 11                                                    

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     Comparison of the Turf Quality of Ba 72-441 and Other                     

     Bluegrass Varieties in the U.S.A.                                         

                  Lin-                Marysville,                              

     Adelphia     coln    Maryland    Ohio                                     

             New      Nebra-  Belts-                                           

                                    Acco- Test  Test                           

             Jersey   ska     ville keek  1     2                              

             2 Year   2 Year  1 Year                                           

                                    3 Year                                     

                                          5 Year                               

                                                5 Year                         

     Variety Mean     Mean    Mean  Mean  Mean  Mean                           

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     Ba 72-441                                                                 

             6.6      6.0     5.9   2.7   2.7   2.4                            

     A-34             6.2     5.6                                              

     Adelphi 6.4      6.1     5.9   2.4   2.7                                  

     Banff                    4.8                                              

     Baron   6.4      5.6     5.3   2.4                                        

     Birka   5.9      5.9           1.8                                        

     Bonnieblue                                                                

             6.7      5.8     5.0   2.3                                        

     Bono                           1.9                                        

     Bristol 6.5      5.9     5.0   2.3   2.7   2.3                            

     Eclipse 7.2      5.8     5.9                                              

     Fylking 5.7      6.1     4.9               2.1                            

     Geary   3.6                                                               

     Glade   6.7      6.4     5.3                                              

     Kenblue 3.3                    1.8         2.0                            

     Merion  6.0      5.9     5.3               2.2                            

     Merit   6.2      6.0     6.1   2.3         2.2                            

     Midnight                                                                  

             7.3      5.9     5.5   2.4                                        

     Monopoly                                                                  

             5.7              4.9                                              

     Nassau  5.9              4.5                                              

     Newport                                    2.1                            

     Parade  5.6      6.5     5.0         2.7                                  

     Park             5.7           2.0   2.1                                  

     Ram I   6.2      5.9     4.6   2.4                                        

     Rugby                          2.2                                        

     Shasta  5.7                                                               

     Sydsport                                                                  

             6.0      6.3     5.8               2.2                            

     Touchdown                                                                 

             6.1      5.9     5.8                                              

     Trenton                        2.4                                        

     Vantage 3.6      5.8     5.5   2.3   2.6   2.0                            

     Victa   6.5      5.7     5.5   2.3   2.6   2.3                            

     Wabash  4.8                                                               

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      Rating Scale: Larger number indicates higher quality.                    

                TABLE 12                                                    

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     Comparison of Turf Color of Ba 72-441 and Other                           

     Bluegrass Varieties at Various Locations in the U.S.A.                    

             St. Louis                                                         

                      Lincoln  Marysville                                      

                                       Prince Frederick                        

     Variety Missouri Nebraska Ohio    Maryland                                

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     Ba 72-441                                                                 

             9.1      7.0      8.3     7.5                                     

     A-34             6.5                                                      

     Adelphi 9.4      7.2      8.4     7.8                                     

     America 9.4      7.0      8.5                                             

     Baron   9.2      6.9      8.5     7.3                                     

     Birka   9.1      6.7      8.1     7.0                                     

     Bonnieblue       7.0              7.7                                     

     Bono    9.0                       6.6                                     

     Bristol 9.5      7.3      8.9     7.4                                     

     Eclipse          7.0      8.5                                             

     Fylking          6.8                                                      

     Glade   9.3      7.1      8.4                                             

     Kenblue                   8.1     5.9                                     

     Merion           6.9                                                      

     Merit   9.2      7.0              6.8                                     

     Midnight         7.9      8.9     7.4                                     

     Newport                                                                   

     Parade           6.8                                                      

     Park    9.0      6.1      8.1     6.6                                     

     Ram I            7.3              7.8                                     

     Rugby            6.8              7.9                                     

     Sydsport                                                                  

             9.2      7.0      8.2                                             

     Touchdown                                                                 

             9.0      6.8      8.1                                             

     Vantage 9.2      6.8      8.5     7.7                                     

     Victa   9.2      6.9      8.4     7.1                                     

     Wabash                            7.0                                     

     LSD(.05)                                                                  

             0.3      --       --      --                                      

     ______________________________________                                    

      Rating Scale: Larger number indicates darker green color.                

                TABLE 13                                                    

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     Winter Color of Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrass Varieties.                  

                Gervais, Oregon                                                

                             Marysville, Ohio                                  

     Variety    2 Year Mean  1 Year Mean                                       

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441  4.8          2.7                                               

     Adelphi    --           2.0                                               

     Bristol    5.4          6.7                                               

     Parade     --           3.8                                               

     Park       --           1.2                                               

     Vantage    --           1.7                                               

     Victa      3.4          2.7                                               

     LSD(.05)   0.9          --                                                

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      Rated 1-9: 9 = darkest green color.                                      

                TABLE 14                                                    

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     Spring Greening of Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrass Varieties.               

                Maryland                                                       

     Lincoln      Prince    Belts-  Marysville, Ohio                           

     Variety Nebraska Frederick ville Test 1 Test 2                            

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     Ba 72-441                                                                 

             6.0      7.0       5.3   5.3    3.5                               

     A-34    5.0                5.3                                            

     Adelphi 6.8      7.0       4.7   7.7    2.8                               

     America 4.8                4.7   6.3                                      

     Banff                      5.3                                            

     Baron   5.3      7.0       4.3   3.0                                      

     Birka   5.0      7.3       4.7   5.7                                      

     Bonnieblue                                                                

             5.3      7.0                                                      

     Bono             8.3                                                      

     Bristol 5.5      7.3       4.7   5.7    4.2                               

     Cheri   4.8                4.3                                            

     Eclipse 5.5                5.7   6.5                                      

     Enmundi 5.3                4.7                                            

     Fylking 4.8                4.7                                            

     Geronimo                   6.3                                            

     Glade   5.3                5.3   5.0                                      

     Kenblue          6.3       3.3   8.0                                      

     Merion  5.0                4.0                                            

     Merit   5.5      6.0       4.3                                            

     Midnight                                                                  

             4.8      7.0       4.7   2.0                                      

     Monopoly                   5.3                                            

     Nassau                     7.7                                            

     Nugget                     2.3                                            

     Parade  5.5                4.3          3.2                               

     Park    5.8      6.0             7.7    2.5                               

     Ram I   5.5      7.7       6.5                                            

     Rugby   5.0      7.0                                                      

     Shasta                     5.3                                            

     Sydsport                                                                  

             4.8                4.7   5.3                                      

     Touchdown                                                                 

             5.3                4.3   5.7                                      

     Vantage 5.8      7.7       5.0   8.0    3.0                               

     Victa   5.8      5.7       3.7   4.3    3.0                               

     Wabash           6.7       5.3                                            

     LSD     0.8      1.8             1.6                                      

     ______________________________________                                    

      Rated 1-9: 9 = darkest green color.                                      

Turf diseases are one of the major causes of inconsistent and poor turf performance among locations and years. Ba 72-441 has been found to have a high level of resistance to leaf spot (also known as melting out and crown rot) caused by Helminthosporium vagans, a medium to high level of resistance to rust caused by Puccinia spp., a medium level of resistance to dollarspot caused by Sclerotina homeocarpa, and a high level of resistance to stripe smut caused by Ustilago striiformis.

Resistance to stripe smut was determined in tests in Ohio and Maryland where Ba 72-441 and the standard varieties included in the tests had little or no incidence of stripe smut but several experimental selections were heavily infected. Comparisons of resistance to leaf spot, rust, and dollarspot are presented in Tables 15-17.

                TABLE 15                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Comparison of Leafspot Disease Incidence on Ba 72-441 and                 

     Other Bluegrasses at Several Locations in the U.S.A.                      

     St.                              Marysville,                              

     Louis.sup.a  Beltsville.sup.b                                             

                            Adelphia.sup.b                                     

                                      Ohio.sup.a                               

     Variety Missouri Maryland  New Jersey                                     

                                        Test 1                                 

                                              Test 2                           

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441                                                                 

             2        8.0       8.0     6     42                               

     A-34             5.3       4.3                                            

     Adelphi 2        8.0       5.7     9     75                               

     America 8                                43                               

     Banff            5.3       7.0                                            

     Baron   2        7.0       8.7           42                               

     Birka   5                  6.3           58                               

     Bonnieblue                 7.0                                            

     Bono    7                                63                               

     Bristol 2        7.0       8.3     5     43                               

     Eclipse          7.7       9.0           80                               

     Fylking          6.7       6.3                                            

     Geary                      2.0                                            

     Glade   2        7.3       6.3           38                               

     Kenblue          3.3       1.7           93                               

     Merion           6.1       7.7                                            

     Merit   3        7.3       7.7                                            

     Midnight         7.0       7.0                                            

     Monopoly         5.3       6.0                                            

     Nassau           7.7       7.4                                            

     Parade           6.0       5.0     10                                     

     Park    52                         54    95                               

     Ram I            6.5       7.0                                            

     Rugby                      5.0                                            

     Shasta                     6.0                                            

     Sydsport                                                                  

             3        7.3       6.3           48                               

     Touchdown                                                                 

             7        7.7                     57                               

     Trenton                    6.0                                            

     Vantage 7        5.0       2.0     15    90                               

     Victa   2        8.0       7.0     7     22                               

     Wabash                     2.0                                            

     LSD(.05)                                                                  

             7                  1.9           34                               

     ______________________________________                                    

      Ratings                                                                  

      .sup.a % of turf affected by disease.                                    

      .sup.b 1-9: 9 = least disease.                                           

                TABLE 16                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Comparison of Rust (Puccinia spp.) Disease Incidence on                   

     Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrasses.                                          

             Adelphia.sup.a                                                    

                       Gervais, Oregon                                         

     Variety   New Jersey  Turf.sup.b                                          

                                   Seed Production.sup.c                       

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441 7.0         43      2.0                                         

     Adelphi   7.1                                                             

     America   7.4                                                             

     Banff     6.5                                                             

     Baron     6.4                                                             

     Birka     3.5                                                             

     Bonnieblue                                                                

               5.4                                                             

     Bristol   7.7          7      4.0                                         

     Eclipse   4.7                                                             

     Julia                         4.0                                         

     Merion    2.4                                                             

     Merit     5.7                                                             

     Midnight  7.0                                                             

     Monopoly  7.1                                                             

     Mosa                          4.0                                         

     Nassau    6.8                                                             

     Newport                       4.0                                         

     Parade    6.2                                                             

     Ram I     7.0                                                             

     Touchdown 3.5                                                             

     Vantage   6.2                                                             

     Victa     5.6         63      2.0                                         

     LSD(.05)  0.9                                                             

     ______________________________________                                    

      Ratings:                                                                 

      .sup.a Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis Pers.)0-9: 9 = no disease.           

      .sup.b % of turf affected by disease.                                    

      .sup.c 1-4: 4 = very susceptible.                                        

                TABLE 17                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Comparison of Dollarspot Disease Incidence on Ba 72-441                   

     and Other Bluegrasses. -                                                  

                      Prince Frederick                                         

                                   Marysville                                  

     Variety                                                                   

         Maryland     Ohio                                                     

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441    15           27                                              

     Adelphi      8            20                                              

     America                   13                                              

     Baron        50           23                                              

     Birka        6            47                                              

     Bonnieblue   10                                                           

     Bono         4            63                                              

     Bristol      6            17                                              

     Eclipse                    8                                              

     Glade                     40                                              

     Kenblue      8            37                                              

     Merit        4                                                            

     Midnight     6                                                            

     Park                      33                                              

     Ram I        40                                                           

     Rugby        12                                                           

     Sydsport                  43                                              

     Touchdown                 50                                              

     Trenton      28                                                           

     Vantage      11           15                                              

     Victa        5            23                                              

     Wabash       11                                                           

     LSD(.05)     19           24                                              

     ______________________________________                                    

      Rating: % of turf affected by disease.                                   

Ba 72-441 has the capability to tolerate heat and drought stress. In addition, it has a low growth habit and a slower vertical growth rate than many varieties, especially the common type of varieties such as Park, Newport, and Kenblue, that should allow it to tolerate lower mowing heights and possibly decrease the total number of mowings per year without sacrificing overall turf performance. The leaf texture of the new variety is similar to many bluegrass varieties when maintained under mowed turf conditions. Comparisons showing tolerance to drought and heat stress, growth habit, and leaf texture are presented in Tables 18-20.

                TABLE 18                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Comparison of Drought and Heat Tolerance of Ba 72-441                     

     and Other Bluegrasses.                                                    

                  Prince Frederick                                             

                               Marysville                                      

     Variety      Maryland     Ohio                                            

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441    2             1                                              

     Adelphi      12           18                                              

     Baron        10                                                           

     Birka        5                                                            

     Bonnieblue   4                                                            

     Bono         13                                                           

     Bristol      11            8                                              

     Kenblue      15                                                           

     Merit        7                                                            

     Midnight     13                                                           

     Parade                    27                                              

     Park         7            13                                              

     Ram I        6                                                            

     Rugby        9                                                            

     Vantage      10            8                                              

     Victa        9            13                                              

     Wabash       9                                                            

     ______________________________________                                    

      Rated as % turf losing healthy green color.                              

                TABLE 19                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Comparison of Growth Habit of Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrass               

     Varieties Under Mowed Conditions at Marysville, Ohio.                     

              Test 1.sup.a                                                     

     Variety    Year 1       Year 2  Test 2.sup.b                              

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441  79           61      1.7                                       

     Adelphi                         2.7                                       

     Bristol    69           73      2.0                                       

     Fylking    95           80                                                

     Kenblue    96           81                                                

     Merion     76           71                                                

     Merit      86           76                                                

     Newport    92           78                                                

     Parade                          2.3                                       

     Park                            2.3                                       

     Sydsport   70           64                                                

     Vantage    85           65      2.0                                       

     Victa      81           64      2.0                                       

     LSD(.05)   15           13      0.6                                       

     ______________________________________                                    

      Rating:                                                                  

      .sup.a Height (mm) of turf about one week after last mowing.             

      .sup.b 0-9: 9 = very tall growing turf, 0 = no growth since last mowing. 

                TABLE 20                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 72-441 and Other                         

     Bluegrasses Under Mowed Turf Conditions.                                  

                    St. Louis                                                  

                             Marysville                                        

     Variety        Missouri Ohio                                              

     ______________________________________                                    

     Ba 72-441      4.6      5.0                                               

     Adelphi        5.3                                                        

     America        6.0                                                        

     Baron          4.6                                                        

     Birka          6.0                                                        

     Bono           5.6                                                        

     Bristol        5.3      5.0                                               

     Fylking                 5.8                                               

     Glade          6.0                                                        

     Kenblue                 5.5                                               

     Merion                  5.0                                               

     Merit          4.3      5.0                                               

     Newport                 5.0                                               

     Park           6.0                                                        

     Sydsport       5.0      5.0                                               

     Touchdown      5.0                                                        

     Vantage        6.0      5.3                                               

     Victa          4.4      4.8                                               

     LSD(.05)       0.7      0.4                                               

     ______________________________________                                    

      Rating: 1-9: 9 = narrowest leaf blade.                                   

The new variety has a very high level of seed yielding potential which will make it economical to produce and aid in its commercial success. Comparative results on seed yield are shown in Table 21.

                TABLE 21                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Seed Yield Comparisons of Ba 72-441 and Other Bluegrass                   

     Varieties in Oregon.                                                      

     Location Gervais             LaGrande                                     

     Harvest Year                                                              

              Year 1  Year 2  Mean  Year 1                                     

                                          Year 2                               

                                                Mean                           

     ______________________________________                                    

     Variety                                                                   

     Ba 72-441                                                                 

              691     1586    1139  1512  1253  1383                           

     Victa    780     1394    1087  1419  1200  1310                           

     Newport  435     1256    846                                              

     Bristol  347      808    578   1089   970  1030                           

     Mosa     322     1060    691                                              

     Julia    296     1016    656                                              

     LSD(.05) 140      134           149   181   220                           

     ______________________________________                                    

      Rating: Pounds per acre of conditioned seed.                             

Claims

1. A variety of Kentucky bluegrass plant, substantially as shown and described, characterized by a high level of resistance to disease, especially leaf spot disease, a desirable green color throughout the growing season, a high quality persistent turf under a wide variety of environmental conditions and a very high level of seed yielding capacity.

Patent History
Patent number: PP6585
Type: Grant
Filed: May 29, 1987
Date of Patent: Feb 7, 1989
Assignee: The O. M. Scott & Sons Company (Marysville, OH)
Inventors: Virgil D. Meier (Marysville, OH), James K. Turner (Salem, OR), Eugene W. Mayer (Marysville, OH)
Primary Examiner: Robert E. Bagwill
Application Number: 7/55,435
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Plt/88
International Classification: A01H 500;