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Basic quantitative and population genetics topics are typically taught in introductory plant breeding courses and are critical for success in upper-level study. Active learning, including simulations and games, may be useful for instruction of these concepts, which rely heavily on theory and may be more challenging for students. The statistical computing language "R" is now routinely used in the analysis of plant breeding experiments, but the command-line interface of the language may be unsuitable for an introductory course. Here we describe "qgshiny" (quantitative genetics in "shiny"), an interactive application for performing simulations to understand basic theory in quantitative and population genetics. The initial version of the application includes modules on three core topics in quantitative genetics: randomly mating populations, genetic variance, and response to selection. Students can specify parameters and initiate simulations to assess their impact on responses such as allele frequency, genetic variance, and genetic gain, which together can be used to reinforce more general learning objectives. Feedback collected from students after engaging with the application suggests this tool can have a positive impact on student learning. The application is bundled in an R package, "qgshiny," which is available through the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN), on GitHub (https://github.com/neyhartj/qgshiny), or interactively through the shinyapps.io platform (http://neyhartj.shinyapps.io/qgshiny).

As urbanization increases, managed urban landscapes are frequently the mode through which people experience nature and where careers in natural resources are increasing. There is a lack of knowledge related to curricula and programs where students are exposed to managed urban landscapes and careers related to them. We aimed to evaluate the current status of managed urban landscape curricula (MULC) in undergraduate programs in Minnesota through a systematic investigation of programs and courses at higher education institutions. All undergraduate courses offered by included higher education institutions were reviewed to determine the presence, absence, or possibility of MULC based on the course’s publicly available descriptions and were combined with departmental and institutional characteristics to identify patterns of MULC across the state. Only about 1% of over 50,000 courses reviewed contain MULC. Courses with MULC were concentrated in public doctoral-level institutions and in departments such as biology and environmental studies, however MULC courses were found at 94% of included institutions and across 60 different departments. While the number of courses with MULC was minimal, courses with the possibility of including MULC show there are ample opportunities for MULC to be added to existing courses, especially core requirements such as introductory biology or a survey of environmental science in the state of Minnesota and more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plain Language Summary: Weeds on sports fields pose a continuous challenge, requiring effective management to address impacts on aesthetics, playability, performance, and safety. Weed control involves various approaches, including herbicide application. However, concerns about human and environmental health have led to increased regulation. Unlike prior research on herbicide perceptions in home lawns and parks, this study focuses on sports fields. Participants preferred weed‐free fields and more effective control methods, despite acknowledging potential harms. Findings highlight the importance of aligning maintenance practices with user preferences for weed‐free surfaces and effective control methods in managing turfgrass sports fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard fescue is an allo‐hexaploid, caespitose, cool‐season grass that is part of the fine‐leaved ovina complex of the Lolium–Festuca clade in Poaceae. It is predominantly used as a low‐maintenance turfgrass and soil stabilization grass in situations with reduced inputs of nitrogen and water. While often recommended for use under tree canopies, prolonged foliar shade can thin turf stands and reduce their functionality; furthermore, gray snow mold caused by Typhula incarnata can further affect hard fescue turfgrass functionality. In this study, we gathered a diverse population of hard fescue collections and varieties, which fit into four genetic structures. Because no genomic reference sequences exist for this species, a contig‐level pseudohaploid genomic reference was assembled from a plant of the hard fescue variety Beacon. With 98% benchmarking universal single‐copy orthologs (BUSCO) coverage from 241 contigs, this reference assembly was used to conduct genome‐wide association analysis. Thirty‐eight single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were associated with foliar shade response phenotypes, including SNPs near molybdate transporter and cytochrome P450 genes. Three SNP markers were associated with gray snow mold responses, with one located near a Protein Kinase G11 gene and corresponding to a 20% improvement in gray snow mold resistance. Core Ideas: A primary contig‐level genome of Beacon hard fescue was assembled.A GWAS for shade tolerance resulted in 38 significant loci, with some loci shared among traits.A GWAS for gray snow mold resistance found three loci, two of which were near candidate genes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional turfgrass managers and consumers continue to express interest in low‐input turfgrasses; however, the potential reductions in maintenance inputs from "low‐input" turfgrasses are largely assumed and have not been well‐quantified. Over 3 years, replicated field experiments at Purdue University and the University of Minnesota quantified the performance and the amount of fertilizer and pesticide inputs of cool‐season turfgrass species when managed as variable‐input turfgrass systems. Fifteen turfgrass cultivars including eight cultivars across five taxa of fine fescue (Festuca spp.), two cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), four cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and one perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) cultivar were investigated. Cultivars were selected to represent advances in breeding efforts. Plots received no irrigation after establishment and individual plots only received fertilizer or pesticide inputs from 2019 to 2021 if the turf in the plot exceeded or fell below a set threshold (i.e., too many pests or too low turf density). Monthly data collection and fertilizer and pesticide inputs were recorded for 3 years at each site. New fine fescue taxa cultivars provided consistently higher turf quality at both sites and required an average 56% and 41% fewer fertilizer and pesticide inputs than traditional species (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass) in Indiana and Minnesota, respectively. Compared to traditional species, older Festuca rubra ssp. cultivars reduced fertilizer and pesticide inputs by an average of 37% and 25% in Indiana and Minnesota, respectively. Fine fescue taxa, especially new cultivars, are good choices to reduce inputs and provide high turf quality for low‐input turfgrass systems. Core Ideas: Improved fine fescue cultivars provided the highest turf quality in a variable‐input system.Fine fescue taxa required 37% fewer fertilizer and pesticide inputs than tall fescue.Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass required >50% more fertilizer and pesticide inputs than fine fescues.New Festuca rubra ssp. cultivars required 21%–31% fewer fertilizer and pesticide inputs than older cultivars, which still performed well.Research findings highlight the importance of proper species and cultivar selection based on site conditions, expectations, planned management strategies, and available inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government rebates provide monetary incentives to encourage consumers' adoption of ecofriendly technologies. Understanding how consumers perceive the value of rebate is crucial to policy makers. We use the smart irrigation system as an example and design choice experiments that present rebates in two formats: the total device cost and the cost consumers needed to pay versus the total device cost and the rebate value. We find that consumers discount the value of the rebate more when presented with rebate value. Additionally, the framing of incentives has a spillover effect on the perceived value of a seemingly unrelated attribute (i.e., water saving). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turfgrass stakeholder surveys have indicated fine fescue (Festuca spp.) seed will become in higher demand, but fine fescue seed production in the United States, especially in Oregon, has not increased. Northern Minnesota is conducive for cool‐season turfgrass seed production and has existing infrastructure to produce turfgrass seed. There is an exciting opportunity for Northern Minnesotan farmers to increase revenue by producing fine fescue seed; however, fine fescues require a growing season for establishment prior to seed production, and an economic crop during the first growing season is needed. Most fine fescues are considered shade tolerant and should establish under spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), which is the current cropping system used for perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed production in Minnesota. Experiments were established in Roseau (2018 and 2019) and St. Paul (2018) in which several cultivars of Chewings, hard and strong creeping red fescue were interseeded with spring wheat. Our objectives were to examine stand and seed production of these three fine fescue taxa in comparison with perennial ryegrass. All three taxa were negatively affected by wheat, possibly from excessive shade from the wheat canopy. The fine fescue culm index (number of culms relative to whole‐plant biomass) grown in wheat was lower, indicating that vernalization was negatively impacted, resulting in seed yield reduction. Our results demonstrate that the currently used perennial ryegrass–spring wheat cropping system is not optimized for fine fescue seed production, especially hard fescue, and more research is needed to improve this cropping system in Northern Minnesota. Core Ideas: Turfgrass stakeholders desire lower input options, resulting in the need to increase fine fescue seed production.In Northern Minnesota, establishing fine fescue in spring wheat, as is currently done with perennial ryegrass, is preferred by growers.Fine fescue stand, culm index, and yield are negatively affected when established with spring wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision irrigation is a potential viable strategy for water use reductions on golf courses by making variable or site-specific irrigation applications. A group of US golf course superintendents were surveyed to examine whether and how superintendents' risk preferences (attitudes) affect the adoption decisions of precision irrigation technologies on their golf courses. Under the prospect theory (PT) framework, a lottery experiment was used to elicit the measures of three risk attitudes, that is, risk curvature, probability distortion, and loss aversion. Using these three measures and other questions in the survey, we found that risk curvature has a significant positive effect on the precision irrigation technologies adoption on golf courses, while probability distortion affects the adoption negatively. Compared to the golf course in low precipitation areas, superintendents' risk attitudes are more likely to affect the precision irrigation technologies adoption in the golf course in high precipitation areas. Additionally, risk curvature dominates the adoption decisions for newer technologies, while probability distortion dominates the older technologies adoption decisions. Our research enriches the literature on the decision-making behaviors of managers by considering how probability distortion, a factor typically ignored by other studies, affects technology adoption decisions and adds to the literature on examining the technology adoption behaviors under PT by focusing on golf course superintendents, a group that has not been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Traditional evaluation procedure in National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) relies on visually assessing replicated turf plots at multiple testing locations. This process yields ordinal data; however, statistical models that falsely assume these to be interval or ratio data have almost exclusively been applied in the subsequent analysis. This practice raises concerns about procedural subjectivity, preventing objective comparisons of cultivars across different test locations. It may also lead to serious errors, such as increased false alarms, failures to detect effects, and even inversions of differences among groups. Methods: We reviewed this problem, identified sources of subjectivity, and presented a model-based approach to minimize subjectivity, allowing objective comparisons of cultivars across different locations and better monitoring of the evaluation procedure. We demonstrate how to fit the described model in a Bayesian framework with Stan, using datasets on overall turf quality ratings from the 2017 NTEP Kentucky bluegrass trials at seven testing locations. Results: Compared with the existing method, ours allows the estimation of additional parameters, i.e., category thresholds, rating severity, and within-field spatial variations, and provides better separation of cultivar means and more realistic standard deviations. Discussion: To implement the proposed model, additional information on rater identification, trial layout, rating date is needed. Given the model assumptions, we recommend small trials to reduce rater fatigue. For large trials, ratings can be conducted for each replication on multiple occasions instead of all at once. To minimize subjectivity, multiple raters are required. We also proposed new ideas on temporal analysis, incorporating existing knowledge of turfgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine fescues (Festuca spp.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) are low-input turfgrass species that perform well under less water, pesticides, and fertilizers when compared to commonly cultivated species in the Midwestern US. There are numerous benefits in increasing the use of low-input turfgrasses: lowering resource usage, reducing maintenance costs, improving the landscape aesthetic, and contributing to residents' health and general wellbeing. However, increasing the market share of these grasses requires an understanding of what influences buyers to purchase these turfgrasses. These grasses are usually purchased by consumers as seed; however, sod is a preferred method of establishment for many professional end users. To better understand the economic potential of low-input turfgrass sod, we surveyed sod buyers (landscapers, golf courses, sports turf managers) who purchased sod in 2020 to investigate (1) the factors impacting them to purchase low-input turfgrasses, and (2) the factors influencing the quantity purchased of low-input turfgrasses. The results from our model showed that larger businesses are the most likely to purchase low-input turfgrasses, and, once they purchase them, they tend to acquire a larger amount than their smaller counterparts. Landscaping businesses were more likely to purchase low-input turfgrasses, and factors such as availability, distance, drought, and shade tolerance impacted the decision to purchase low-input turfgrasses. Finally, turfgrass density, the ability to purchase directly from the sod grower, and availability impacted the amount of turfgrasses that buyers purchased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green spaces comprising natural turfgrass are ubiquitous in urban areas globally and allow for a variety of ecosystem services that benefit nature and people. However, traditional natural turfgrass is often critiqued for the number of inputs (e.g., fertilizer, water) required to maintain it. With those critiques in mind, some cities have turned to artificial turf as an alternative groundcover despite environmental and human health concerns (e.g., heavy metal leaching, volatile organic compounds). Research of artificial turf has been minimal compared with that of the growth of installations, especially related to social aspects of the surface. The current research used an in-person experiential case study of park visitors in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, USA, to investigate how individuals perceived artificial turf compared with natural turfgrass as it relates to potential uses (e.g., resting/relaxing) and beliefs about sustainability (e.g., environmental impacts). Overall, participants preferred natural turfgrass across all uses but two (recreational and organized sports). The largest differences were observed for the use for picnic areas and the use for play areas for pets. Participants also perceived natural turfgrass as more sustainable than artificial turf, corresponding to the contribution to human health and well-being. In contrast, participants equally perceived the use of these surfaces in terms of natural resources. These findings have implications for public land managers, urban planners, city councils, and other stakeholders because they consider the adoption of artificial turf or other possible alternatives (e.g., low-input turfgrasses, bee lawns) to traditional turfgrass in the communities and their sustainability, maintenance, and cost-savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting eco-friendly technologies, such as converting lawns to alternative low-input grass species, can reduce household expenditures and mitigate negative environmental impacts at the same time. However, the rate of adoption of these technologies has not been as high as expected. This study develops a behavioral framework to identify barriers to new technology adoption by incorporating both prospect theory and present bias. We apply the framework in a choice experiment to investigate the relative importance of several factors that shape decisions associated with adoption of low-input turfgrass. We find that loss aversion plays a significant role. Though consumers exhibit present bias, long-term benefits still matter to them. Insights from the behavior model suggest that marketing and government programs that promote cost–benefit-efficient technologies should focus on eliminating or reducing potential losses caused by product failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional golf course fairway irrigation relies on visual observation of the turfgrass, followed by secondary considerations of short‐term weather forecasts, which oftentimes lead to 'blanket' applications to an entire area. Precision irrigation may achieve water use reductions by irrigating only where, when, and in the amount needed. Technology can further enhance its application; for example, using global navigation satellite system (GNSS)‐equipped soil moisture sensors for creating fairway soil moisture maps to identify variability. However, research regarding soil moisture variability on fairways at golf courses that differ by climatic region and course characteristics is limited. The objective of this case study was to report fairway soil moisture variability findings from nine golf courses in eight states in the United States that completed a soil moisture mapping protocol during 2019–2022. Each course used a handheld GNSS‐equipped soil moisture device to collect georeferenced soil moisture (percentage volumetric water content [VWC]) data from seven to 14 of their fairways. Soil moisture variability was assessed through summary statistics, box and whisker plots, and spatial maps. The mean soil moisture on fairways across courses was 22.4–48.8% VWC, the range was 27.6–43.7% VWC, and the CV was 7.5–39.4%. Box and whisker plots and spatial maps of soil moisture aided in visualizing variability within and between fairways at all courses. Results suggest that golf course fairway soil moisture variability is inevitable regardless of climatic region and course characteristics, which further reiterates the need for advanced irrigation practices and technologies for water conservation via precision irrigation. Core Ideas: GNSS‐equipped soil moisture sensors allow for mapping fairway soil moisture variability.Soil moisture variability on fairways at nine U.S. golf courses was evaluated.Soil moisture variability is inevitable between and within fairways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prairie junegrass [Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Shultes] is a perennial, short-grass prairie species distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This species demonstrates tolerance to many environmental stresses in Minnesota. Forty-eight K. macrantha accessions from the United States National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) were grown under low-input conditions to evaluate turfgrass quality characteristics for use in a breeding program. A second objective was to identify key geographical locations for germplasm collection. The experiment was conducted at Becker and St. Paul, MN. Nineteen accessions at Becker and 30 accessions at St. Paul performed with an adequate turf quality rating of 5.0 or higher when averaged over the 3-yr study, suggesting the potential for use in low-input areas. Prairie junegrass from northern collection regions displayed the highest spring green-up ratings, an important turf trait in northern climates. There was a negative correlation between this trait and mowing quality at Becker (r = -0.44) and at St. Paul (r = -0.34). Several accessions had acceptable mowing quality and would be candidates for integration into a native prairie junegrass turfgrass breeding program. There was no correlation between inflorescence emergence and turf quality, or between inflorescence emergence and persistent straw suggesting that flowering does not necessarily affect turf quality ratings. Rust (unknown Puccinia species) was present at both locations. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2010.02.0068

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a cool-season turfgrass species that can exhibit significant freezing injury in northern climatic regions. The objective of this study was to quantify major physiological and biochemical changes occurring during the cold acclimation period in four perennial ryegrass accessions varying in freezing tolerance (two freezing-tolerant accessions, TOL-1 and TOL-2, and two freezing-susceptible accessions, SUS-1 and SUS-2). Plants were subjected to a cold acclimation period of 2[degrees]C for 21 d in a controlled environment chamber. Crown tissues were harvested at 0, 7, 14, and 21 d of acclimation for determination of proline, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and lipid composition. Leaf photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) was also measured weekly before plant sampling for biochemical components. In general, proline levels increased and Fv/Fm decreased during cold acclimation; however, there were no differences in proline accumulation or Fv/ Fm among the accessions in response to cold acclimation. Water soluble carbohydrates significantly increased in response to 2[degrees]C, with TOL accessions (TOL-1 and TOL-2) accumulating higher WSC than SUS (SUS-1 and SUS-2) by 21 d of acclimation. There were also significant changes in major phospholipids classes at 2[degrees]C. Specifically, TOL-2 exhibited a higher ratio of membrane stabilizing lipids and unsaturated fatty acid content compared to SUS-1, SUS-2, and TOL-1 by 21 d of cold acclimation. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2009.06.0293

Prairie junegrass [Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Shult.] is a perennial, short-grass prairie species distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. This species is known to require fewer inputs than other cool-season turfgrasses and it demonstrates tolerance to many environmental stresses found in Minnesota. In June 2007, 48 K. macrantha accessions from the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) were grown and evaluated for seed production characteristics in 2 locations (St. Paul, MN, and Becker, MN). Significant variation was found among accessions for several seed production traits including harvest date, plant height, seedhead number, and seed yield. A significant correlation between seedhead number and seed yield was found, which can be utilized for indirect selection in the production nursery. Plant growth and seed yield were highest at the Becker location, demonstrating the species' preference for well-drained soils. Flowering times were significantly different between the locations; however, there were no significant differences in the duration from seedhead emergence to harvest between the locations. Multivariate analysis did not reveal clustering of accessions based on geographic origin, suggesting a diversity of material within collection regions. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2009.05.0235

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Sellars and McDowell, among others, attribute a prominent role to the Myth of the Given. In this paper, I suggest that they have in mind two different versions of the Myth of the Given and I argue that Kant is not the target of one version and, though explicitly under attack from the other, has resources sufficient to mount a satisfactory response. What is essential to this response is a proper understanding of (empirical) concepts as involving unifying functions that can take sensations as input and deliver normative representations as outputs. By understanding concepts in this way, one need not, as the second version of the Myth of the Given maintains, take sensations to be both natural and normative. Instead, they can be understood as the natural effects of external objects on us, but natural effects that can nonetheless play a role in a normative process because the concepts that are responsible for the normativity of the results can require that such natural effects be present as inputs into the process.

The lack of winterhardiness of some cool-season grasses limit their usefulness in northern climates. Perennial ryegrass (Lofium perenne L.) lacks winterhardiness in Minnesota but has desirable qualities, such as wear tolerance and rapid establishment, that are useful in many turf applications. While domesticated germplasm may lack winterhardiness, undomesticated wild or landrace germplasm may have genes for better winterhardiness in environments like Minnesota's. In 2004, 300 accessions from two public sources in the USA were planted with eight check varieties and populations in two environments in central Minnesota, St. Paul and Becker. Thirty individuals of each accession were evaluated for seedling vigor and tiller survival after the first winter. Other turf-quality traits and tiller survival after the second winter were evaluated on those plants that survived the first winter. The first winter was extremely harsh and resulted in the death of all accessions and checks at Becker. There was good differentiation among accessions at St. Paul for tiller survival, with 8 of the 300 accessions performing better than NK200, the most winterhardy check variety. The second winter was considerably less harsh, with less death of tillers and whole plants. While the accessions do not have suitable turf quality for direct domestication, turf quality can be improved through breeding.