Breeding CWG-R crested wheatgrass for reduced-maintenance turf

Using reduced-maintenance turfgrass as an alternative to current high-maintenance turfgrass species would conserve resources, reduce labor, and potentially reduce pollutants in the environment. CWG-R is an experimental population of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.] from Iran that has shown potential as a low-maintenance turf. The objective of this research was to estimate the genetic variation for turf traits within the CWG-R population when evaluated under a reduced-maintenance regimen. Ninety CWG-R clonal lines were established in 1998 near Logan, UT, as spaced-plant plots in a RCB design with four replicates. Maintenance of 50% E[T.sub.0] replacement, 97.74 kg of nitrogen [ha.sup.-1] [yr.sup.-1], and mowing at 7.62 cm was approximately 40% lower than typical for high-input Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) turf. Critical turf traits, including spring regrowth, season-long (March-October) and mid-summer (June-July) turf quality, color, and rhizomatous spread were evaluated in 1999 and 2000. Significant genetic variation among clonal lines was evident with broad-sense heritabilities of 0.65, 0.76, 0.45, and 0.76 for spring regrowth, season-long turf quality, color, and rhizomatous spread, respectively. Several clonal lines remained green throughout the summer months and maintained acceptable turf quality and color ratings during the critical mid-summer period. The high broad-sense heritability estimates within this population indicate potential for successful improvement of critical turf traits by phenotypic selection. These results indicate that that CWG-R could be an important low-maintenance turf-type crested wheatgrass germplasm.
SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPE ACREAGE that has been planted to high-maintenance turf could be replaced with low-maintenance turf species or cultivars (Wu and Harivandi, 1988). Low-maintenance turf is a relative term describing [...]