SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Sections

Basic Information
Additional Info

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Project No. and Title: WERA11 : Western Regional Turfgrass Research
Period Covered: 10/01/2016 to 09/30/2017
Date of Report: 12/12/2017
Annual Meeting Dates: 07/15/2017 to 07/16/2017

Paul G. Johnson Utah State University Kelly Kopp Utah State University Cheng, Zhiqiang - University of Hawaii Fei, Shui-Zhang - Iowa State University William Johnston (Prof. emeritus) Washington State University Keenan Amundsen, University of Nebraska Greg Wiecko - University of Guam

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

2017 WERA-11 meeting was held on July 16 in Heldridge Hotel in New Brunswick, NJ in conjunction with International Turf Conference.

Admin Advisor(s): Paul G. Johnson

Host: Greg Wiecko (University of Guam)

Individual state reports were presented by attending delegates. Drs. Amundsen, Cheng, and Johnson spearheaded WERA-11 renewal effort with all members supporting the new revised project that was approved in 2016. Virtually all delegates have reported considerable reduction in funding as well as reductions in faculty positions addressing research, extension and instruction. As a regional turfgrass group we have met individually in recent years but the benefit of coordinating with other regions was recognized and it was decided that the next meeting in 2018 would be merged most likely with the Southern Turfgrass Regional group. There are opportunities to work across state lines to develop cohesive educational/training workshops throughout the region. Because of the low attendance in 2017, regional distance-based instruction, training, and extension education was discussed only briefly and tabled until 2018.

Accomplishments

Objective 1 - Develop improved turfgrass cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses important to the western states and identify genetic components conferring drought resistance and salinity tolerance to improve the efficiency of stress resistant germplasm identification and selection.

University of Nebraska program remains to be one of the most vibrant in the West. Researchers are actively breeding for improved turf type buffalograss that is resistant to chinch bugs, tolerant of shade and traffic, and has minimal winter injury. Adapted cultivars will reduce management inputs.

Another leading project is designed to identify the genetic components conferring seed dormancy in buffalograss. Seed dormancy is an issue with many native grass species, and buffalograss could serve as a model to overcome dormancy as other native grasses are explored for use as turf.

Another study is to develop drought tolerant and Midwest adapted bentgrass cultivars suitable for golf course putting greens or roughs. Alternative bentgrass species have not been studied much for their use as turf, but there is great potential. A two year study was completed evaluating performance of 69 alternative bentgrasses, and pre-breeding is now being done to develop regionally adapted germplasm.

Utah State University (USU) is conducting a selection program for salt and drought tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass. At the same time, they are evaluating seed production characteristics of hybrids developed which is directing further germplasm improvement. The goals of this program are to produce materials to be used by private companies for further breeding improvement. This is a cooperative project with the USDA-ARS Forage & Range Research Lab which is located on the USU campus.

Objective 2 - Exchange information on features and importance of newly developed cultivars and coordinate research to develop and evaluate optimal low-input management practices.

University of Nebraska managed three NTEP trials (“Tall Fescue”, “Cool-season low input” and “Perennial ryegrass”) and reported data to NTEP. Data is publicly available and can be used to make turf selection decisions.

University of Hawaii continued work on shade tolerant turfgrass species as a part of tropical landscapes.

Iowa state University work concentrated on gene editing in perennial grasses, doubled haploid induction in turfgrass; screening perennial grasses as cover crops for corn and soybean production and developed plant breeding curricula for African universities (funded by the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation).

Utah State University continues to evaluate varieties and germplasm of various turfgrasses for acute and chronic drought tolerance and adaptation to the cool-arid regions of North America.

All delegates addressed the significance of regional cultivar performance.

Objective 3 - Develop, refine and disseminate sustainable turfgrass management protocols for turfgrass managers throughout the western United States

While not in the region, collaboration was initiated University of Nebraska and University of Arkansas to optimize buffalograss establishment into existing turf (tall fescue in Nebraska and bermudagrass in Arkansas). The information will provide homeowners interested in converting their lawn to a low input native grass species the necessary tools for successful conversion.

Issues with weeds and diseases were addressed in Hawaii. The use of native plants, particularly in low input areas along highways was evaluated.

In Iowa State University creeping bentgrass (cool-season grass that is commonly used for intensely managed, high value sports surfaces) was evaluated for its tolerance to warm temperatures. . As temperatures increase during the summer months, creeping bentgrass experiences abiotic stress due to a combination of heat and drought. At this point, plant respiration rates often exceed plant photosynthesis rates, resulting in what is commonly referred to as summer bentgrass decline. Symptoms of summer bentgrass decline included root dieback, excessive leaf senescence, and thinning of the turf canopy. One way to possibly alleviate this stress, and prevent summer bentgrass decline, is the use of amino acid containing products. The purpose of current research is to evaluate the effect of the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine and valine on creeping bentgrass performance.

Objective 4 - Coordinate reduced input turfgrass management practices

In Nebraska, a USGA funded project investigated consumer perceptions of input-limited fairway management in the north-central U.S. Buffalograss, creeping bentgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass are being managed at various irrigation, fertilizer, and pest management levels. Consumers were surveyed to determine their turf preferences when inputs are known and unknown.

Various integrated turf weed management studies were conducted in cooperators with Kansas State, Iowa State, the Chicago District Golf Association, Ohio State ATI and researchers at Rutgers. Two studies were evaluating best management for mowing/defoliation following applications of common herbicides. A third study revisited soil temperature triggers for spring applications of preemergence herbicides for the control of crabgrass. and goosegrass control. Another herbicide study was designed to evaluate the ability of PRE and POST herbicide programs to reduce crabgrass seed in the soil seed bank. Finally, a cultural crabgrass management study is underway to investigate the effects of aeration timing on crabgrass establishment.

University of Hawaii continued research on alternative methods for pest control to reduce pesticide loads.

Representative of Washington State University pointed to the need of alternative methods for weed control in seed production fields, however after his retirement, research and practically all turf activities are nonexistent in the state.

In Iowa, during preliminary greenhouse studies, it was shown that when applied as a standalone treatment, leucine, isoleucine and valine could be used as a nitrogen source, but their effect on plant growth was not different than an application of mineral nutrition only. However, when applied in a three-way combination, these compounds did exhibit plant-growth regulating responses, with some experimental ratios resulting in an increase in creeping bentgrass shoot density. Through that work, a handful of optimal ratios were identified and selected for a outdoor research trial.

Objective 5 - Assess environmental impacts of turf management

No progress was reported by a handful of states present at the 2017 meeting.

Objective 6 - Communicate research results and promote sustainable practices to the public through workshops, conferences, websites, extension publications, social media, and research publications

Iowa State University gave several presentations to Iowa Master Gardeners. Shade Tree Short Course, Iowa State Pesticide Applicator Video Training, Regional Extension Training, were given to multiple groups of stakeholders at the Iowa Turf Conference.

Joint Extension publication with other regional collaborators were published: Patton and D. Weisenberger. 2017. Turfgrass weed control for professionals. Collaborators: A. Thoms and N. Christians. Purdue Ext. Pub. ISU Hort. 3066. Several more are in the works.

Impacts

Scientists in the WERA-11 group are actively breeding improved types of native and adapted grasses than can reduce irrigation up to 50% due to increased drought tolerance or use lower quality irrigation water which saves high quality water for more sensitive uses.
Working with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, WERA-11 scientists are evaluating many species of turfgrass and making the data available publicly at no cost to the consumer.
WERA-11 scientists are selecting varieties and developing alternative pest management strategies to reduce pesticide use and reduce overall management. Actual reductions are being estimated.

Publications

Adams R. 2016. PM. 3047. Mowing Your Lawn. Revised by Marcus Jones, horticulture graduate student; Nick Christians,

Adams R. 2016. PM. 3048. Putting a Field to Bed. Iowa State Extension Store. Prepared by Ryan Adams, turfgrass

Adams R. 2016. PM. 3050. Topdressing Athletic Fields. Iowa State Extension Store. Prepared by Ryan Adams, turfgrass

Adams, R. 2015. PM.3031. Organic Turfgrass Fertilization. Prepared by Ryan Adams, turfgrass specialist, Iowa State University.

Adams.R 2016. PM. 3046. Managing the Field within the Field. Iowa State Extension Store.

Amaradasa, B.S., and K. Amundsen. 2016. Characterization of defense-related genes of buffalograss challenged with the leaf spot pathogen Curvularia inaequalis. Frontiers in Plant Science DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00715.

Amundsen, K., G. Sarath, T. Donze-Reiner. 2017. Genomic approaches for improvement of understudied grasses. Frontiers in Plant Science doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00976

Amundsen, K.L., L. Li, R. Shearman, R. Gaussoin. 2017. Addressing misperceptions regarding buffalograss tolerance to sandy soils, traffic, and shade. International Turfgrass Research Journal (in press).

Fresenburg, J. Fry, D. Gardner, D. Martin, J. Ostrander, K. Rincker, D. Settle, D. Soldat, and X. Xiong. 2017. Dollar spot susceptibility of 25 creeping bentgrass cultivars maintained under golf course putting green and fairway conditions in the central United States. Crop Forage Turfgrass Manage. (accepted).

Baldin, E.L.L., L. Marchi-Werle, L.E.R. Pannuti, A.L. Lourenção, T. Heng-Moss and T.E. Hunt. 2016. Evaluating Categories of Resistance in Soybean Genotypes from the United States and Brazil to Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Florida Entomologist 99:487-495.

Brachypodium Distachyon. Plant Science doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.06.001

Bushman, S., K. Amundsen, S. Warnke, J. Robins, P. Johnson. 2016. Transcriptome Profiling of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) Accessions in Response to Salt Stress. BMC Genomics 17:48. DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2379-x (Bushman and Amundsen are co-first authors).

Christians, A. Thoms, and I. Mertz. 2017. Fairway height bentgrass cultivar trial. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1635. P. 55

Christians, A. Thoms, and I. Mertz. 2017. Green height bentgrass cultivar trial. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1636. P. 56-57.

Christians, A. Thoms, and I. Mertz. 2017. NTEP Kentucky bluegrass study. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1632. P. 62-64.

Christians, A. Thoms, and I. Mertz. 2017. NTEP perennial ryegrass study. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1633. P. 65-67.

Christians, A. Thoms, and I. Mertz. 2017. NTEP turf-type tall fescue study. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1634. P. 58-61.

Cruz, P., E.L.L., Baldin, L.R.P Guimaraes, L. Pannuti, G. Lima, T. Heng-Moss, and T. Hunt. 2016. Tolerance of KS-4202 soybean to the attack of Bemisia tabaci biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Florida Entomologist 99:600-607.

Dickson, K.H., J.C. Sorochan, J.T. Brosnan, J.C. Stier, J. Zobel, and A.W. Thoms. 2017. Crumb rubber depth is more important than particle size for improving bermudagrass traffic tolerance Crop Sci. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2017.03.0168

Donze-Reiner, T., Palmer, N.A., Scully, E.D., Prochaska, T.J., Koch, K.G., Heng-Moss, T, Bradshaw, J., Twigg, P., Amundsen, K., Sattler, S.E., Sarath, G. 2017. Transcriptional analysis of defense mechanisms in upland tetraploid switchgrass to greenbugs. BMC Plant Biology 17(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12870-017-0998-2.

Feng Y, Yin Y, Fei S. 2017. BdVRN1 expression confers flowering competency and is negatively correlated with freezing tolerance in Brachypodium distachyon. Frontiers in Plant Science doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.01107

Hao J, Yang J, Dong J, Fei S. 2017. Characterization BdCBF genes and genome-wide transcriptome profiling of BdCBF3-dependent and -independent cold stress responses in

Infante, P. A., Moore, K., Scott, P., Archontoulis, S., Lenssen, A., S. Fei. 2017. Phenology and biomass production of adapted and non-adapted tropical corn populations in Central Iowa. Agronomy Journal, accepted.

Jiang J, Guan Y, McCormick S_,Juvik J, Lubberstedt T, Fei S. 2016. Gametophytic self-incompatibility is operative in Miscanthus sinensis (Poaceae) and is affected by pistil age. Crop Sci doi:10.2135/cropsci2016.11.0932.

Dickson, G. Munshaw, J.C. Sorochan, and A.W. Thoms. 2017. Comparison of Cultivation Methods Impact on Playability of Agrostis stolonifera Greens J. of Testing and Evaluation. (In press)

Kreuser, K, G. Sarath, W. Kreuser, K. Amundsen. 2016. Potassium nitrate effect on buffalograss bur dormancy. HortScience 51(12):1566-72. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI11126-16

Kreuser, W. C., J. R. Young, and M. D. Richardson. 2017. Modeling performance of plant growth regulators. Agricultural and Environmental Letters. 2:1-4.

Li, L., M. Sousek, R, Gaussoin and Z Reicher. 2017. Herbicide Tolerance of Established Buffalograss. Applied Turfgrass Science. Crop Forage Turfgrass Manage.3: doi:10.2134/cftm2016.10.0065

Li, L., M.D. Sousek, K.L. Amundsen, Z.J. Reicher. 2016. Cultivar, seeding rate, or date has little effect on establishment of dormant seeded buffalograss. HortScience 51(6):750-53.

Li, L., M.D. Sousek, K.L. Amundsen, Z.J. Reicher. 2016. Seeding date and bur treatment affect establishment success of dormant-seeded buffalograss. Agronomy Journal 109:1-6. doi:10. 213 4/ag ronj2016 .03.016 4

Liu Y, Merrick P, Yang B, Fei S. 2017.Targeted mutagenesis in tetraploid switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) by CRISPR/Cas9. Plant Biotechnology J. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12778

Obear, G. R., W. C. Kreuser, K. Hubbard, B. DeBels, and D. J. Soldat. 2017. Plant colorants interfere with reflectance-based vegetation indices. Crop Sci. 57:595-601.

Obear, G.R., M. Pedersen, and W.C. Kreuser. 2017. Genesis of clay lamella in golf course soils of Mississippi, USA. Catena 150:62-70.

Pedersen, M., C. Wegner., P. Phansak, G. Sarath, R. Gaussoin, and V. Schlegel. 2017. Monitoring wheat mitochondrial compositional and respiratory changes using Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy in response to agrochemical treatments. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 173, 727-732.

Richardson, G. Mattina, M. Sarno, J.H. McCalla, D.E. Karcher, A.W. Thoms and J.C. Sorochan. 2017. Shade effects on overseeded bermudagrass athletic fields: II. Rooting, botanical composition, and traction. Crop Sci. (In press).

Richardson, M. Girolamo, M. Sarno. D.E. Karcher, D.E. J. McCalla, J.C. Sorochan, and Thoms. 2016. Shade effects on overseeded bermudagrass athletic fields. Intl. Agron. Ann. Meet. Abstracts. P 101390.

Scully, E., T. Donze-Reiner, H. Wang, T. Eickhoff, F.Baxendale, P. Twigg, F. Kovacs, T. Heng-Moss, S. Sattler, and G. Sarath. 2016. Identification of an orthologous clade of peroxidases that respond to feeding by greenbugs (Schizaphis graminum) in C4 grasses. Functional Plant Biology 43:1134-1148.

Thompson, C., J. Fry, R. Braun, and M. Kennelly. 2017. Rough bluegrass incidence in a new tall fescue sward as affected by seeding rate and mowing height. Crop Forage Turfgrass Manage. 3:1-4. doi:10.2134/cftm2016.11.0074.

Thompson, C., M. Kennelly, J. Fry, M. Sousek, and Z. Reicher. 2017. Physiological and pathogenic contributors to summer decline of roughstalk bluegrass. Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 13:1-9. doi:10.2134/itsrj2016.05.0304.

Thompson, C., M. Sousek, Z. Reicher, J. Fry, and M. Kennelly. 2016. Evaluation of selective herbicide combinations for rough bluegrass control. Crop Forage Turfgrass Manage. doi:10.2134/cftm2015.0213.

Thoms and D. Minner. 2016. Chapter 15: Turfgrass Management. Ed. D. Schrock and S. DeBlieck. Resource Guide for Iowa Master Gardeners. MG 15. P. 207-223.

Thoms, A.W., J.T. Brosnan, and J.C. Sorochan. 2016. Root zone construction affects hybrid bermudagrass responses to simulated traffic. Procedia Eng. 147:824-829.

Thoms, A.W., J.T. Brosnan, J.C. Sorochan, and A.M. Saxton. 2016. Exploring relationships in surface hardness data collected with different instruments. J. of Testing and Evaluation 44(2):945-951.

Thoms, I. Mertz, and N. Christians. 2017. Athletic field safety and performance study. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1619. P. 47-48.

Thoms, I. Mertz, and N. Christians. 2017. Golf course fairway organic matter management with Fraze mowing. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1616. P. 51-52.

Thoms, I. Mertz, and N. Christians. 2017. Golf course putting green organic matter recycling study. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1617. P. 49-50.

Thoms, I. Mertz, and N. Christians. 2017. Home lawn seeding mixtures and timing trial. 2016 Ann. Progress Rpts. Hort. Res. Station. ISRF16-36. RFR-A1618. P. 53- 54

Wang, H., C. Zhang, Y Dou, B. Yu, Y. Liu, T. Heng-Moss, G. Lu, M. Wachholtz, J. Bradshaw, P. Twigg, E. Scully, N. Palmer, and G. Sarath. 2016. Insect and plant-derived miRNAs in greenbug (Schizaphis graminum) and yellow sugarcane aphid (Sipha flava) revealed by deep sequencing. Gene 599:68-77.

Warnke S., C. Thammina, K. Amundsen, P. Miljanic, H. Hershman. 2017. High resolution melt analysis of simple sequence repeats for bentgrass species differentiation. International Turfgrass Research Journal (in press).

Warnke S., C. Thammina, K. Amundsen, P. Miljanic. 2017. Simple sequence repeat markers for interspecific hybrid detection in Agrostis. International Turfgrass Research Journal (accepted).

Zhang C, Fei S, Liu P, Ji T, Peng J, Frei U, Hannapel D., 2016. Transcriptome changes in response to cold acclimation in perennial ryegrass as revealed by a cross-species microarray analysis. Crop Science. DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2016.04.0252.

Zhang, Q., C. Thompson, M. Kennelly, J. Stier, C. Blume, N. Christians, K. Diesburg, K. Frank

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