E N Weibel’s research while affiliated with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and other places

There is a need to identify turfgrass species and mixtures for golf course fairways that can be managed sustainably with reduced fertility, pesticides, and irrigation. The current study evaluated Agrostis stolonifera L. (creeping bentgrass [AST]), Agrostis capillaris L. (colonial bentgrass [ACP]), Agrostis canina L. (velvet bentgrass [ACN]), Festuca rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaudin (Chewings fescue [FRC]), Festuca brevipila Tracey (hard fescue [FBP]), and Festuca rubra L. ssp. littoralis (G. Mey) Auquier (slender creeping red fescue [FRL]) planted as monostands and in mixtures to determine the ideal choice for low maintenance fairway management. Plots were established in the fall of 2014 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Turf quality and disease resistance were evaluated visually from 2015–2018. Divots were mechanically created during the growing seasons of 2017 and 2018 and evaluated visually for initial divot injury and recovery every two weeks. Monostands and mixtures of ACN had the best turf quality and least brown patch (caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn) but took longer to recover from divots. A. capillaris monostands and mixtures exhibited above average turf quality but were more susceptible to brown patch disease. Compared to all other entries, monostands and mixtures of AST had the lowest turf quality and most dollar spot (caused by Clarireedia jacksonii C. Salgado, L.A. Beirn, B.B. Clarke, & J.A. Crouch sp. nov.). Festuca L. spp. (fine fescue spp.), when mixed with improved ACP cultivars such as ‘Puritan’ and ‘Capri’, exhibited above average turf quality but had below average performance in monostands or when combined with older ACP cultivars such as SR 7100. Divot resistance and recovery were variable between years but the FRL cultivar Shoreline and most FRC cultivars recovered quickly in both years, while ACP cultivar Capri and FBP cultivar Beacon were slow to recover in both years. Most species and mixtures were comparable and, in some cases, better than AST for divot recovery indicating that the alternative species tested in this study could provide sustainable turfgrass management on golf course fairways. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum navitas) has the potential to significantly reduce biomass yield of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.); however, limited information is available on the impact of growing environment on tolerance of switchgrass to anthracnose. Therefore, the major objectives of this study were to (i) examine genotype–environment (G × E) effects on anthracnose severity in populations of switchgrass cultivars and individual genotypes and (ii) determine clonal repeatability estimates and stability analysis of anthracnose tolerance on individual switchgrass genotypes. Two experiments were conducted at one prime and two marginal soil locations in New Jersey. In all, 14 switchgrass cultivars were established from seed in 2008 for experiment 1 and 50 replicated switchgrass clones were planted in 2009 for experiment 2 at all three locations. Anthracnose was rated visually in 2010 for experiment 1 and in 2010 and 2011 for experiment 2. Significant G × E interactions were detected for both experiments (P ≤ 0.05) and anthracnose severity varied by location and cultivar. Clonal repeatability estimates for disease tolerance among clones was 0.78 on a clonal basis and 0.32 on a single-plant basis. Lowland ecotypes exhibited less disease overall than upland ecotypes. Results from this study indicate that selection for improved tolerance to anthracnose should be conducted after evaluation across several environments over multiple years.

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) is the most widely utilized cool-season turf species for intensively managed sports playing surfaces, including bowling greens and golf course putting greens, tees, and fairways. One of the biggest disease problems affecting creeping bentgrass is dollar spot disease caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett. Relative to traditional food crops, little attention has been paid to applying molecular technology to traditional creeping bentgrass breeding programs. The objective of this study was to develop a PCR-based linkage map of creeping bentgrass and identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with dollar spot resistance. Mapping populations segregating for dollar spot resistance were created, phenotyped for disease resistance, and genotyped for simple sequence repeat, conserved intron scanning primer, intron length polymorphism, and amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. As expected, 14 linkage groups (LGs) were detected for each parental map, covering a total of 1,424 and 1,374 cM for the 7418-3 and the L93-10 parental maps, respectively. A total of eight QTL regions (23 markers) for dollar spot resistance were observed for three isolates (Crenshaw, PRG, and UMass1) in our creeping bentgrass mapping populations. LGs 1, 4, and 5 contained at least two overlapping QTL regions to different isolates, indicating that these regions may play a significant role in dollar spot resistance. Identification of QTLs associated with disease resistance will help to facilitate marker-assisted selection in traditional creeping bentgrass breeding programs.

Bentgrass species have the distinct ability to form very dense, uniform, and fine textured surfaces un- der an extremely low height of cut. Because of these unique qualities, bentgrasses can be used in spe- cialized, high maintenance areas such as golf course fairways, tees, and putting greens. There are three bentgrass species typically used for turf. These in- clude creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.; synonym = A. stolonifera L.), colonial bentgrass (A. tenuis L. or A. capillaris L.), and velvet bentgrass (A. canina L.). Used less frequently, highland or dryland bentgrass (A. castellana Boiss. & Reut.) can be op- tions for turf in stressful areas. Creeping and velvet bentgrasses are best conditioned for the very low cutting heights required for golf course greens in the United States. Colonial bentgrass, which does best with a slightly greater height of cut, is better suited for fairways in temperate areas of the United States. Creeping bentgrass, which is highly stolonifer- ous and has a prostrate growth habit, persists under