Multilocational screening identifies new drought‐tolerant, warm‐season turfgrasses

• DOI: 10.1002/csc2.20726
• Publication Date: 2022-02-20T10:48:57Z
• Authors: Krishna B Katuwal; David Jespersen; Uttam Bhattarai; Ambika Chandra; Kevin E Kenworthy; Susana R Milla‐Lewis; Brian Matthew Sch...; Yanqi Wu; Paul Raymer
• Keywords: Paspalum; Drought Tolerance; Germ plasm; Zoysia japonica; Cynodon; Cynodon dactylon; Growing season; Breeding program

Abstract During periods of drought, the irrigation needs current warm‐season turfgrass cultivars and frequent municipal water use restrictions present a major challenge to industry. Turfgrass breeding programs have responded by placing more emphasis on improved drought response. 2012–2013, 560 genotypes four species developed five southern were evaluated for response in replicated field trials at seven locations. Breeders selected 35 as drought‐tolerant selections (DTS) further evaluation. The objectives this study verify superior among DTS under short‐term conditions assess effectiveness approach viable strategy improve turfgrasses. Forty‐seven including standard commercial zoysiagrass ( Zoysia spp. Willd.), bermudagrass [ Cynodon (L.) Pers.], St. Augustinegrass Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze], seashore paspalum Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) exposed dry‐downs three consecutive years withholding excluding rainfall. Significant differences performance seen across over multiyear study. Statistical contrasts found that zoysiagrass, Augustinegrass, generally performed better than cultivars. Top‐performing maintained >50% green cover longer average Based research, multilocational screening tolerance was effective selection new with continued germplasm identify is warranted.