Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting was called to order at 1:45 pm. at the Quality Inn, Pullman, WA. Dean Daniel Bernardo welcomed the group. He spoke highly of the WSU turf teams work, as well as the important role the turf industry plays in the state of Washington. He also commented on the high productivity of the WERA11 group. The meeting agenda was presented by Bill Johnston; asked for any changes or additions. Shearman motion to approve; Koski second. Passed unamimously. The 2007 minutes were distributed and read. Shearman motion to approve; Koski second. Passed unanimously. Koski welcomed, on behalf of Steve Wallner (administrative adviser), everyone to the meeting. He gave a brief report on the upcoming call for proposals for the Specialty Crops Program which will, for the first time, accept proposals for turf-related research. We are encouraged to consider the submission of proposals, noting that multi-state/multi-disciplinary projects are those standing the best chance for funding. This is a highly competitive program that receives a large number of applications; roughly 10% of submitted proposals have historically received funding. Washington State University Katie Dodson (M.S. Candidate) reported on her work to develop a high-yielding Kentucky bluegrass variety for non-thermal seed production. Matt Williams reported on his work with mesotrione. Gwen Stahnke (also reporting for Eric Miltner) reported on work in Puyallup: permeable pavements, phosphorus fertilization work, water quality research, and work with crane fly. University of Arizona David Kopec discussed results of lysimeter research (using weighing lysimeters) that compared the water use rates of bermudagrass, seashore paspalum and saltgrass. He also reported that a new department head would soon be joining the Plant Science department, after a long search process. Texas A&M University Ambika Chandra discussed efforts to use Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of zoysiagrass as a technique to develop improved zoysiagrass cultivars. This may increase efficiency compared to using traditional breeding methodology. University of Guam Greg Wiecko reported that, while he will continue to work in administration, he will begin working one day per week on turfgrass. New Mexico State University Bernd Leinauer discussed his continuing work on the evaluation of turf species (warm- and cool-season species) and cultivars for drought resistance and salinity tolerance. He also described his work on the evaluation of electrical and magnetic water treatment devices for improvement of high salinity water. He reported on Ryan Goss work with management of 2 important weeds, brass button (Cotula) and khaki weed (Alternanthera). University of Nebraska Bob Shearman reported on the progress being made in the development of new seeded buffalograss cultivars. A project involving the construction of 2 line source irrigation systems (one in Lincoln and one in Scottsbluff) will examine relative drought resistance of cool- and warm-season grasses. Roch Gaussoins work has concentrated on the dynamics of organic matter production in aging sand-based turf systems. University of California-Riverside Jim Baird has taken the turf position vacated by Vic Gibeaults retirement. He reported that he will begin research on shade tolerance among warm- and cool-season turfgrass species/cultivars and that he and a team of researchers will examine the fate and transport of disinfection byproducts, pharmaceutical, and personal care products on turfgrass irrigated with reclaimed water. Meeting was adjourned at 5pm. A BBQ dinner was provided at the WSU Turfgrass and Agronomy Research Center. Meeting continued on Friday, June 6th, at 8am. Historians Report Gwen Stahnke presented the Historians Report (attached). She also reported on the status of the 2009 ITS Conference in Santiago. NTEP Report Bernd Leinauer has finished a 5-year stint as the western region representative on the NTEP Advisory Committee. He reported that the seed companies are happier with NTEP now that it is out of the lobbying business. NTEP will be conducting more ancillary trials and fewer sites will have the standard cultivar evaluation trials, this due to decreased income and number of varieties being submitted for testing. A new data analysis method is being considered which may allow for fewer locations being required to get good data and cultivar evaluations. Koski motion to nominate Dave Kopec as the new western region representative to NTEP. Seconded by Wiecko. There were no other nominations. Unanimously approved. Future meeting sites and dates Koski will check with Mike Harrington about the possibility of designating the 2009 ITS meeting in Santiago as an official WERA11 meeting. If that is not possible, we will not have an official meeting in 2009. Greg Wiecko volunteered U. Guam as the host for the 2010 meeting. The best date for that meeting would be February 25-26. The cost of travelling there was expressed as a possible concern. Koski will check with Mike Harrington about having the meeting there. Alternatively, Jim Baird suggested U. California-Riverside as a host, probably during the 3rd week of May. Meeting was adjourned at 9:30am.

The list of landscape salt tolerance selection guide and the research on salt and boron resistance and recycled water irrigation generated a guideline for landscape irrigation management using recycled water. Anthracnose research has resulted in an increased awareness of fungicide resistance issues in the southern U.S., resulting in a change in management practices to reduce those that increase fungicide resistance development. These include a focus on less reliance for pesticidal control of the pathogen and a focus on cultural practices. Research on Gray Leaf Spot has lead to an understanding of how the disease emerged in the western U.S. and how it can spread and cause disease. A better understanding of the host-pathogen relationship has allowed for turf managers to choose more tolerant varieties or species to grow. The discovery of the two mating types of the pathogen on kikuyugrass also has changed the knowledge base as this is the first sexual population of the pathogen to be found in the western U.S. Work on Waitea patch has also lead to a similar understanding of the how the disease has emerged and spread and causes disease. This work has also increased the knowledge of this and related fungi and may cause a reclassification of one genus of fungi that are considered Rhizoctonias. The field trial results from fungicide testing has produced better guidelines for fungicide use patterns for disease control. These included changing the way that algae is managed and the importance of application techniques for the control of soil borne diseases. Finally, the information generated from the disease diagnostic lab has allowed turf managers to make the correct decisions for pest management. We have also used this information to track the spread of various turf diseases and identify that stress and soil borne diseases are of increasing importance in turf management. (California) Results of the N mobility study are conveyed to golf course superintendents to help them design management systems that limit negative impacts on water quality. Buffers and bioswales are becoming more common as methods to increase residence time of runoff and allow for nutrient filtering, especially on sand-capped courses. (Washington) Utah, like much of the Intermountain West, is an urban state and turfgrass is the largest component of most urban landscapes. We are working to develop grasses and mixtures of grasses for these landscapes that can remain green and offer a safe surface for recreation while saving up to 50% of the water currently needed for turfgrass areas. For a 5000 sq. ft. lawn this equates to a savings of almost 39,000 gallons per year. For the traditionally used species, management tailored to the Intermountain West will reduce the amount of pesticides applied as well as 10-15% water savings. Identification of new turfgrass species for Utah will also diversify the urban landscapes and offer new high value products to seed and sod producers. (Utah) In Colorado, the use of recycled wastewater has risen significantly in recent years; there are about 50 golf courses in Colorado are using recycled wastewater for irrigation. Understanding the responses of turfgrass and urban landscape plants and soils to recycled wastewater irrigation is critical to the long-term success of water reuse. Proper species selection at the time of landscape planning and during the subsequent replacement of damaged plants is important to mitigate the potential negative effects of recycled wastewater irrigation. Our recycled water irrigation project has already provided valuable information to city planners, water specialists, and landscape managers with information regarding what proactive steps should be taken to minimize negative effects during the planning and managing of landscapes receiving recycled wastewater. Our research reports published last year were recommended to their members by the Water Reuse Committee of Rocky Mountain Section of American Water Works Association. (Colorado) Based on our field studies, we have developed an integrated approach to managing necrotic ring spot disease in home lawns. Turfgrass managers should avoid excessive irrigation and apply a soil acidifying source of nitrogen or sulfur to lower pH and reduce disease severity. Preventive fungicide applications beginning in May are also beneficial. Implementation of these practices will help turfgrass managers suppress necrotic ring spot. (Colorado) Understanding the nature of salinity induced plant diseases such as rapid blight will make efforts for prevention and control move from reactive applications to proactive preventions. These results have demonstrated that Labyrinthula is probably present in turfgrass sites without causing disease and that a temporary increase in salinity may not be the only criteria in the field for disease development. It has made turf managers aware of the potential for disease and also that irrigation with effluent may not be as problematic as many had thought. (Arizona) Turf-type cultivars of saltgrass, products of an active United States Golf Association-sponsored breeding project at Colorado State University, will be evaluated for their potential to produce turf of acceptable quality for golf and residential lawn uses. This alternative turfgrass and its cultivars must be evaluated for basic fertilization, cultivation, irrigation and pest management needs before it can be released for public use; these requirements will be determined through the use of small plots planted at the Horticulture Research Center, as well as plots planted at other sites around the state. Sod production techniques will be developed for this species, in cooperation with local sod producers, to assess the feasibility of producing marketable sod. We will also determine the feasibility of producing seed of this species through the initial use of small plots at the Horticulture Research Center; studies will examine possible methods for harvesting seed of this species, as well as the evaluation of cultivar lines for greatest seed production potential. Work towards the development of turf-type saltgrass continues. In 2007, we investigated the salinity tolerance of 14 saltgrass [Distichlis spicata var. stricta (Greene.)] selections. Breeding work continues to produce selections which possess greater turf quality, enhanced resistance to rust, and increased seed production potential. Saltgrass plug propagation techniques were refined in the greenhouse. The potential to use vegetatively propagated plugs for saltgrass establishment will be further evaluated this coming year, to include herbicide evaluation during establishment. Cold hardiness is an important biological adaptation that controls plant distribution especially for a potential turfgrass. We have compared the cold hardiness and winter survival of saltgrass [Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene] accessions collected from southern and northern climates. Northern accessions were collected from the Front Range of Colorado. Southern accessions were collected from San Joaquin Valley, California. Plugs of these accessions were planted in the field in 2003. Rhizomes of each accession were sampled during multiple years for freezing tests. Winter injury was evaluated in the field. LT50 data over three winters suggested that the northern accessions were 5 to 10 degrees more cold hardy than the southern accessions. During the first winter, the southern accessions suffered 85-92% winter injury in the field whereas 10 % winter injury. No significant£the northern accessions exhibited difference in field winter injury among accessions was observed in the second and third winters. (Colorado)

Please see attached document.