BA 73-540 Kentucky Bluegrass

BACKGROUND
Kentucky bluegrasses have been disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156 which issued on May 9, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,186 which issued on May 23, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,336 which issued on Nov. 28, 1978; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,280 which issued on Sep. 6, 1988; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,537 which issued on Jan. 17, 1989; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,538 which issued on Jan. 17, 1989; 6,585 which issued on Feb. 7, 1989; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,831 which issued on Mar. 17, 1992 and U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 792,173, which was filed on Nov. 14, 1991, now abandoned.
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The present invention relates to a new and improved variety of Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis, that has been designated Ba 73-540.
Ba 73-540 plant material originated by crossing two Kentucky bluegrass plants maintained in the O. M. Scott & Sons Company plant nursery. The female parent plant for the present variety was a Kentucky bluegrass locally identified under the designation Bd 68-486 and the male parent plant was a Kentucky bluegrass locally identified under the designation Bd 64-36-1 in the plant nursery. Neither the Bd 68-486 plant nore the Bd 64-36-1 plant has been released as a commercial variety to date. As a result of this breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagated by rhizomes, tillers and disseminules. Seed of Ba 73-540 was produced first at Marysville, Ohio and later at Gervais, Oreg. This seed was used to plant turf performance evaluation trails and later seed production fields.
Asexual production of Ba 73-540 by propagules (tillers and rhizomes) and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis) has consistently produced progeny plants indistinguishable from the mother plant. The apomixis level of Ba 73-540 is 100% based upon examining seedling characteristics of approximately 130 to 140 seedlings from four different crop years in a growth chamber.
Ba 73-540 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including a good level of resistance to Drechslera spp. (formerly called Helminthosporium spp.) that causes leaf spot, melting out and crown rot; Sclerotinia homoeocarpa that causes dollar spot; Puccinia spp. that causes several types of rust infections and Erysiphe graminis that causes powdery mildew. Ba 73-540 has an attractive leafy turf type growth habit; moderately wide leaf blades; an attractive green color which can be maintained throughout the entire growing season; good drought and heat tolerance and good turf performance as evidenced by consistently high scores for quality, color and density in National Turfgrass Evaluation Tests sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and conducted throughout the U.S.A. and Canada. Ba 73-540 has a medium seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production region of the U.S.A.
In comparison with a number of other Kentucky bluegrasses, Ba 73-540 has a small seed, high seed count, the shortest and narrowest panicle, a short, narrow and thin flag leaf, a short and narrow peduncle, the shortest culm and the shortest and narrowest leaf blade when Ba 73-540 and the other Kentucky bluegrasses are grown as single, spaced plants without competition to the flowering stage. Under close mowing as practiced under lawn maintenance conditions, Ba 73-540 has a leaf blade coarser than a number of other Kentucky bluegrasses which all were treated as uniformly as possible before and during data collection. Thus, in relation to other Kentucky bluegrasses, Ba 73-540 has narrower leaf blades as a mature plant under non-mowed and non-competitive conditions and has coarser leaf blades under mowed and highly competitive conditions. In addition, Ba 73-45 exhibits a high degree of resistance to powdery mildew and various rust diseases. Ba 73-540 is a medium seed yielder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 hows a Ba 73-540 Kentucky bluegrass plant in the vegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;
FIG. 2 shows a Ba 73-540 Kentucky bluegrass panicle;
FIG. 3 shows Ba 73-540 Kentucky bluegrass seed; and
FIG. 4 shows a Ba 73-540 Kentucky bluegrass plant shortly after completing anthesis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Ba 73-540 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a dense turf. When plants overwinter in the field with freezing temperatures and are then brought into the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed by clipping under moderate temperatures (60.degree.-80.degree. F.), culms are erect averaging 416 mm in length with an average of 2.3 nodes per culm. The uppermost internode averages 10.1 cm, and the peduncle averages 11.4 cm in length, and 0.565 mm in width. The flag leaf averages 4.1 cm in length, 2.8 mm in width and 0.012 mm in thickness. The panicle has an average length of 6.3 cm, width of 3.6 cm, and 4.6 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 3.5 branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle has an average of 2.2 branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch in the lowest whorl is 5.3 mm in length and has 4.4 florets with an outer glume of 3.0 mm and an inner glume of 3.4 mm in length. A similar spikelet from the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle is 5.2 mm in length and has 4.4 florets with an outer glume of 3.1 mm and an inner glume of 3.4 mm in length. After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has a generally smooth keel with occasional short hairs and a few long fine hairs at the base. The seed of Ba 73-540 is 2.80 mm in length and 0.78 mm in width with approximately 1,357,914 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 73-540 with other varieties in terms of seed dimensions and on seed numbers per pound are shown in Tables 1 and 2 as follows:
TABLE 1______________________________________Seed Measurements of Ba 73-540 and Other BluegrassVarieties After Conditioning. Length WidthVariety (mm) (mm)______________________________________Ba 73-540 2.80 0.78Kelly 2.98 0.80Abbey 3.18 0.88Coventry 2.86 0.78Estate 2.53 0.76Chateau 2.77 0.80Baron 3.07 0.86Bristol 2.73 0.80Marquis 2.84 0.78Nassau 2.96 0.78Newport 2.76 0.71Park 3.04 0.72Ram I 3.51 0.84Victa 3.20 0.86LSD (.05) 0.19 0.06______________________________________
TABLE 2______________________________________Comparison of Seed Numbers Per Pound of Ba 73-540 andOther Bluegrass Varieties After Conditioning. Number of Seeds Per Pound______________________________________Ba 73-540 1,357,914Kelly 921,166Abbey 1,003,037Coventry 1,246,200Estate 1,275,740Chateau 1,300,105Adelphi 1,383,976America 1,659,824Gnome 1,017,641Baron 1,051,693Birka 1,223,530Bonnieblue 1,135,303Bristol 1,270,821Eclipse 1,335,668Fylking 1,130,000Glade 1,108,441Marquis 1,054,642Kenblue 1,463,923Merit 1,109,728Nassau 1,127,130Newport 1,226,481Park 1,248,349Sydsport 1,355,644Vantage 1,555,303Victa 1,038,298Windsor 1,520,885______________________________________
Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influence morphological characteristics to some extent, comparisons of morphological characteristics of Ba 73-450 are made with other Kentucky bluegrass varieties in Tables 3-10.
TABLE 3______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Panicles of Ba 73-540 andOther Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse atMarysville, Ohio. Number of Number ofPanicle Panicle Panicle Whorls Branches Nod- Length Width Per Lower ThirdVariety ding* (cm) (cm) Panicle Whorl Whorl______________________________________Ba 73-540 2.0 6.3 3.6 4.6 3.5 2.2Kelly 1.3 9.7 6.0 5.5 4.5 3.4Abbey 1.4 7.6 4.2 5.2 4.0 2.7Baron 1.0 7.8 4.1 5.2 3.8 2.5Bristol 2.0 9.7 5.0 5.0 3.3 2.7Chateau 2.0 6.8 3.8 5.0 4.0 2.4Coventry 2.0 6.7 3.7 4.8 3.8 2.7Estate 1.2 7.5 4.2 5.5 4.0 3.0Marquis 1.7 7.8 4.5 5.2 4.1 3.1Nassau 2.0 10.0 6.0 5.0 3.0 2.0Newport 2.0 10.3 4.4 4.5 2.3 2.3Park 1.6 9.0 3.7 4.0 4.3 3.7Ram I 2.0 9.0 4.7 4.0 2.5 2.0Victa 1.2 7.5 4.1 5.4 4.4 3.4LSD (.05) 0.5 1.6 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.8______________________________________ *Panicle nodding rated: 1 = erect, 2 = nodding
TABLE 4______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Spikelets of Ba 73-540and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse atMarysville, Ohio. Spikelet Number of Florets Length (mm) per Spikelet Lowest Third Lowest ThirdVariety Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl______________________________________Ba 73-540 5.3 5.2 4.4 4.4Kelly 5.8 5.6 4.4 4.1Abbey 5.1 5.0 3.9 3.8Baron 5.0 5.0 3.7 3.8Bristol 6.2 6.0 5.7 5.3Chateau 5.1 5.0 4.2 3.9Coventry 5.2 5.2 4.2 4.0Estate 5.2 5.0 4.2 4.2Marquis 5.4 5.2 4.1 3.9Nassau 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.5Newport 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.2Park 6.5 6.7 5.2 4.7Ram I 4.7 5.2 5.2 5.5Victa 5.2 5.0 3.8 3.8LSD (.05) 0.9 0.8 1.1 1.0______________________________________
TABLE 5______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Glumes of Ba 73-540 andOther Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse atMarysville, Ohio. Glume Length (mm) Outer Inner Lowest Third Lowest ThirdVariety Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl______________________________________Ba 73-540 3.0 3.1 3.4 3.4Kelly 3.2 3.3 3.7 3.6Abbey 2.9 2.9 3.3 3.3Baron 2.9 2.8 3.4 3.3Bristol 3.4 3.3 3.7 3.9Chateau 3.1 3.1 3.4 3.4Coventry 3.2 3.1 3.5 3.5Estate 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.3Marquis 2.9 2.8 3.3 3.2Nassau 2.3 2.4 2.7 2.7Newport 2.6 2.5 2.9 2.9Park 3.0 3.2 3.5 3.7Ram I 2.6 2.4 2.9 2.7Victa 2.8 3.0 3.3 3.3LSD (.05) 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4______________________________________
TABLE 6______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Flag Leaves of Ba 73-540and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse atMarysville, Ohio. Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Length Width ThicknessVariety (cm) (mm) (mm)______________________________________Ba 73-540 4.1 2.8 0.102Kelly 5.8 4.2 0.119Abbey 4.3 3.3 0.107Baron 4.5 3.2 0.119Bristol 5.5 3.4 0.127Chateau 4.1 3.2 0.111Coventry 4.7 3.2 0.112Estate 5.2 3.6 0.117Marquis 4.7 3.6 0.112Nassau 6.2 3.1 0.127Newport 6.1 3.5 0.135Park 4.2 2.6 0.110Ram I 4.7 3.1 0.127Victa 5.9 4.0 0.124LSD (.05) 1.8 0.6 0.013______________________________________
TABLE 7______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Peduncles, Culms, andInternodes of Ba 73-540 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesin the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Number Top Peduncle Peduncle Culm of Nodes Internode Length Width Length Per LengthVariety (cm) (mm) (mm) Culm (cm)______________________________________Ba 73-540 11.4 0.565 416 2.3 10.1Kelly 12.3 0.772 514 2.3 12.4Abbey 10.6 0.564 421 2.7 9.3Baron 12.7 0.555 482 2.5 10.1Bristol 15.0 0.677 522 2.7 11.3Chateau 12.9 0.654 439 2.7 9.8Coventry 13.2 0.607 435 2.7 10.2Estate 12.6 0.552 486 2.2 10.5Marquis 11.4 0.667 434 2.6 9.5Nassau 8.0 0.546 450 2.5 11.2Newport 18.0 0.567 547 2.3 11.2Park 14.3 0.779 578 3.0 13.0Ram I 18.5 0.622 527 3.0 10.2Victa 12.2 0.716 474 2.4 10.6LSD (.05) 3.7 0.018 79 0.6 2.1______________________________________
TABLE 8______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Leaves of Ba 73-540 andOther Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse atMarysville, Ohio. Leaf Ligule Leaf Leaf Angle Length Length Width (DegreesVariety (mm) (mm) (mm) From Horizontal)______________________________________Ba 73-540 0.22 186 3.8 50Kelly 0.29 215 4.4 46Abbey 0.23 218 3.9 56Baron 0.30 313 4.4 63Bristol 0.30 253 4.3 37Chateau 0.25 204 4.1 50Coventry 0.26 218 4.1 55Estate 0.28 239 4.4 52Marquis 0.31 215 4.2 57Nassau 0.22 226 3.5 39Newport 0.22 251 4.1 50Park 0.33 329 4.2 44Ram I 0.18 188 3.7 40Victa 0.28 235 4.3 52LSD (.05) 0.11 49 0.6 10______________________________________
TABLE 9______________________________________Morphological Comparision of Leaf Hairs of Ba 73-540and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse atMarysville, Ohio. Hairs Around Ligule on Upper Surface Hairs on Hairs onVariety of the Leaf (a) Collar (a) Ligule (b)______________________________________Ba 73-540 1.0 3.2 2.1Kelly 1.2 4.2 3.6Abbey 1.0 3.4 2.2Baron 1.0 5.0 4.0Bristol 1.3 4.7 4.3Chateau 1.0 3.5 2.7Coventry 1.0 3.5 1.5Estate 1.0 3.2 1.3Marquis 1.2 4.4 2.6Nassau 2.7 5.0 1.0Newport 1.0 4.0 0.8Park 1.0 1.7 0.0Ram I 1.0 3.7 0.3Victa 1.0 3.3 2.2LSD (.05) 0.3 1.4 1.8______________________________________ (a) Hairs around ligule and on collar rated 1-5: 1 = none, 5 = many (b) Hairs on ligule rated 0-5: 0 = none, 5 = many
TABLE 10______________________________________Morphological Comparisons of Ba 73-540 and OtherBluegrass Varieties Grown as Unmowed Spaced Plantsin the Field at Marysville, Ohio.MaturePlant Height (a) Panicle Density (b) Maturity (c)______________________________________Ba 73-540 54 7 8Kelly 50 5 8Abbey 49 5 7Baron 44 5 9Chateau 49 5 7Coventry 48 5 7Marquis 47 5 9Estate 49 5 7Nassau 46 6 9Bristol 54 3 8Merit 61 5 9Glade 49 2 9Ram I 49 3 7Victa 54 6 8______________________________________ Ratings: (a) Mature Plant Height (cm) includes panicle (b) Panicle Density 1-10, 10 = high panicle density (c) Maturity 1-9, 9 = most mature
No discernible differences were noted in flower parts and seed coloration other than those characteristics listed in the above tables.
Ba 73-540 has performed well in regions throughout the U.S.A. and Canada, as exhibited by high turf quality ratings in many different locations in comparison to other varieties. In addition, Ba 73-450 has a pleasant medium green color which can be maintained throughout the growing season and good winter color. Comparisons of Ba 73-540 with other varieties for quality, genetic color and winter color are set forth in Tables 11-13 hereinafter. According to comparisons with the Munsell Book of Colors during mid-June, the color of Ba 73450 leaf blades is in the range of 5 GY 4/4 to 5 GY 4/8 to 7/5 GY 4/4. During the same time period the color of similar leaf blades of several other Kentucky bluegrass varieties--Gnome, Midnight, Bristol and Victa--fall in the same range and as a result were indistinguishable based upon use of this color dictionary. Plant age, time of year, management practices of fertilization, irrigation and mowing also influence this color range. Additional comparisons for leaf texture, and spring, summer and fall density, are presented in Tables 14-17.
TABLE 11______________________________________Comparison of Turfgrass Quality of Ba 73-540 andOther Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at variousLocations Over a Four Year Period in the U.S.A. and Canada. Turfgrass Quality - Annual Mean Values (a)Variety Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4______________________________________Ba 73-540 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.8Abbey 5.6 5.7 5.9 5.7Able I 5.7 5.7 6.0 6.1Amazon 5.4 5.5 5.5 5.5America 5.8 5.9 6.1 6.2Aquila 5.4 5.6 5.9 5.7A-34 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.1Aspen 5.6 5.7 6.0 6.2Asset 6.0 5.9 6.2 6.2Baron 5.8 5.6 5.9 5.8Barzan 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.4Bristol 5.7 6.0 6.1 6.0Challenger 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.9Chateau 6.0 5.8 6.0 6.0Cheri 5.8 5.7 6.1 5.9Classic 5.9 5.8 6.0 5.9Coventry 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.8Eclipse 5.6 5.9 6.2 6.3Estate 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.8Georgetown 5.8 5.6 5.8 5.8Glade 5.7 5.8 6.1 6.1Gnome 5.5 5.3 5.6 5.5Haga 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.9Julia 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.7Kelly 5.6 5.7 5.9 5.8Kenblue 5.0 4.7 5.0 5.2Liberty 5.7 5.7 5.8 5.7Marquis 5.3 5.6 5.7 5.7Merion 5.4 5.4 5.7 5.6Merit 5.6 5.6 5.9 5.8Midnight 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.3Monopoly 5.5 5.5 5.9 5.9Mystic 5.4 5.4 5.8 6.0Nassau 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.5Parade 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.8Ram I 5.7 5.6 5.9 5.8Rugby 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.9Sydsport 5.8 5.8 6.0 5.9Victa 5.8 5.7 5.8 5.8Wabash 5.7 5.4 5.8 5.9Welcome 5.3 5.5 5.7 5.5LSD 0.05 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = ideal turf
TABLE 12______________________________________Comparison of Genetic Color of Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Various LocationsOver a Four Year Period in the U.S.A. and Canada. Genetic Color - Annual Mean Values (a)Variety Year 1 Year 2 Year 2 Year 2______________________________________Ba 73-540 6.5 6.2 6.3 6.5Abbey 6.8 6.2 6.7 6.6Able I 7.1 6.8 6.7 6.9Amazon 6.2 6.9 7.0 6.5America 6.8 6.6 7.0 6.6Aquila 6.5 6.0 6.6 6.3A-34 5.7 5.6 5.7 5.7Aspen 7.1 6.4 6.7 6.5Asset 6.7 6.3 6.3 6.4Baron 6.8 6.5 6.9 6.8Barzan 6.5 6.1 6.6 6.3Bristol 7.3 7.1 6.6 6.6Challenger 7.2 6.9 6.8 6.7Chateau 6.5 6.0 6.2 6.5Cheri 6.6 5.9 6.3 6.3Classic 5.8 5.6 6.3 5.9Coventry 6.5 6.0 6.5 6.6Eclipse 7.7 6.7 6.5 6.6Estate 6.7 5.9 6.3 6.6Georgetown 6.1 5.7 5.9 5.7Glade 7.4 7.0 6.7 6.9Gnome 6.4 6.5 6.8 6.7Haga 5.8 5.5 6.1 5.8Julia 6.4 6.3 6.7 6.3Kelly 6.7 6.5 6.9 6.5Kenblue 5.2 5.2 5.5 6.0Liberty 6.5 6.5 6.4 6.0Marquis 7.2 6.6 6.8 6.5Merion 6.4 5.6 6.0 6.5Merit 6.7 6.4 6.5 6.1Midnight 8.0 7.9 7.5 7.7Monopoly 5.3 5.5 5 5 5.3Mystic 5.9 5.6 6.3 6.0Nassau 7.1 6.7 6.9 6.8Parade 5.9 5.5 6.0 6.1Ram I 6.9 6.6 6.9 6.6Rugby 6.2 5.4 6.1 5.8Sydsport 6.5 6.1 6.2 6.2Victa 6.7 6.3 6.7 6.5Wabash 6.0 5.1 5.7 5.3Welcome 6.1 6.0 6.1 6.4LSD (.05) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = dark green
TABLE 13______________________________________Comparison of Winter Color of Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegrass Varieties in the U.S.A. and Canada. Winter Color - Annual Mean Values (a) Wichita Agassiz Kansas British ColumbiaVariety Test Location Test Location______________________________________Ba 73-540 5.0 5.0Abbey 3.0 4.7Able I 5.7 4.0Amazon 4.0 8.7America 4.7 4.0Aquila 3.0 4.0A-34 4.7 4.3Aspen 4.7 4.0Asset 3.7 4.3Baron 3.3 4.7Barzon 4.7 5.0Bristol 5.7 5.0Challenger 5.0 4.0Chateau 5.0 5.0Cheri 4.3 5.0Classic 5.0 4.0Coventry 5.0 5.0Eclipse 4.0 4.3Estate 4.3 5.0Georgetown 5.3 4.0Glade 3.3 4.3Gnome 2.7 4.3Haga 5.0 4.0Julia 5.0 5.0Kenblue 3.0 3.0Liberty 5.0 --Merion 3.0 4.0Merit 3.3 5.0Midnight 4.3 4.7Monopoly 3.7 4.7Mystic 4.0 2.0Nassau 5.7 5.0Parade 5.3 4.0Ram I 5.0 4.7Rugby 4.7 4.3Sydsport 4.3 5.0Victa 3.7 5.0Wabash 4.7 3.3Welcome 4.3 5.0LSD (.05) 1.0 0.6______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale: 1-9: 9 = complete color retention.
TABLE 14______________________________________Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Various LocationsOver A Four Year Period in the U.S.A. and Canada. Leaf Texture - Annual Mean Values (a)Variety Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4______________________________________Ba 73-540 5.8 5.6 5.3 4.8A-34 6.4 6.9 5.7 5.2Abbey 6.3 6.3 5.7 5.2Able I 7.1 7.3 6.0 6.0Amazon 7.5 7.2 6.3 5.8America 7.1 7.2 6.0 6.7Aquila 6.9 6.9 6.0 6.3Aspen 6.6 6.9 5.7 5.8Asset 6.8 6.7 6.0 6.2Baron 6.8 6.1 6.0 5.8Barzan 6.1 6.7 6.0 5.7Bristol 6.7 6.3 5.0 5.5Challenger 6.8 6.7 5.7 5.2Chateau 6.1 6.0 5.7 4.8Cheri 6.2 6.1 5.7 4.7Classic 6.6 7.0 6.0 6.0Coventry 5.9 5.7 5.3 4.7Eclipse 6.4 6.5 6.0 6.3Estate 6.3 5.9 5.7 4.8Georgetown 6.8 6.8 5.3 6.0Glade 6.8 6.7 6.0 5.7Gnome 6.1 6.2 5.3 5.2Haga 6.7 7.1 6.0 6.2Julia 6.7 6.3 6.0 5.8Kelly 6.4 5.7 5.3 5.0Kenblue 7.8 7.3 6.7 7.7Liberty 6.8 6.6 -- 5.2Marquis 6.1 5.7 5.3 5.3Merion 6.7 6.8 6.0 5.7Merit 6.3 6.1 6.0 5.2Midnight 7.3 6.7 6.0 4.8Monopoly 7.1 6.8 6.0 6.3Mystic 7.4 7.5 7.3 7.8Nassau 6.6 6.5 5.0 5.3Parade 7.1 7.0 6.0 6.3Ram I 7.3 7.1 6.3 4.8Rugby 6.8 6.7 6.0 6.2Sydsport 5.9 5.8 6.0 5.0Victa 6.3 6.0 5.7 5.3Wabash 7.1 7.2 6.3 7.7Welcome 7.5 7.1 6.0 7.2LSD 0.05 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.7______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = very fine
TABLE 15______________________________________Comparison of Spring Density of Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegras Varieties at Various Locations inthe U.S.A. and Canada Over a Three Year Period. Spring Density - Annual Mean Values (a)Variety Year 1 Year 2 Year 3______________________________________Ba 73-540 6.3 6.5 7.6Abbey 6.3 5.8 6.8Able I 5.4 5.8 7.4Amazon 6.7 6.7 6.7America 7.0 6.2 7.1Aquilla 5.9 6.5 6.6A-34 6.6 5.7 7.3Aspen 5.7 5.5 7.4Asset 6.0 7.5 7.7Baron 6.1 6.3 6.8Barzan 5.3 6.0 6.5Bristol 5.6 5.3 6.9Challenger 6.4 6.0 6.9Chateau 6.6 6.7 7.3Cheri 6.3 7.2 7.4Classic 6.9 5.5 7.2Coventry 6.7 6.5 7.1Eclipse 6.2 5.5 7.1Estate 6.1 6.3 7.2Georgetown 5.9 5.5 6.9Glade 5.9 6.8 7.3Gnome 5.8 6.0 6.3Haga 6.6 5.5 7.3Julia 6.0 6.5 7.4Kelly 6.1 6.3 6.7Kenblue 5.9 6.2 6.0Liberty 5.9 5.5 6.8Marquis 5.7 6.0 6.6Merion 6.3 6.3 7.3Merit 6.0 5.8 6.7Midnight 6.1 6.7 7.4Monopoly 6.0 6.2 7.0Mystic 6.3 6.7 6.9Nassau 5.7 6.2 6.6Parade 6.2 6.0 6.9Ram I 6.6 7.0 6.4Rugby 5.8 5.3 7.0Sydsport 6.3 6.3 7.2Victa 5.8 5.8 6.8Wabash 6.8 6.7 7.0Welcome 6.2 6.0 6.6LSD (.05) 0.8 0.8 0.7______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = maximum density
TABLE 16______________________________________ Comparison of Summer Density of Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegrass at Various Locations in Canadaand U.S.A. Over a Two Year Period Summer Density - Annual Mean Values (a)Variety Year 1 Year 2______________________________________Ba 73-540 6.7 8.2Abbey 7.1 8.0Able I 6.8 7.8Amazon 6.8 8.2America 6.8 7.7Aquilla 6.7 8.0A-34 6.8 7.8Aspen 6.2 7.5Asset 7.3 8.2Baron 6.3 7.7Barzan 5.3 7.3Bristol 6.4 7.8Challenger 6.2 7.5Chateau 7.3 8.3Cheri 7.0 8.0Classic 6.3 8.0Coventry 6.8 8.2Eclipse 6.3 7.7Estate 6.6 8.2Georgetown 5.9 7.3Glade 6.2 8.2Gnome 6.3 7.3Haga 6.3 7.7Julia 6.1 8.3Kelly 6.4 7.7Kenblue 6.1 7.2Liberty 5.5 7.5Marquis 6.3 7.0Merion 6.4 7.8Merit 6.3 7.8Midnight 6.5 7.8Monopoly 5.8 7.7Mystic 7.3 8.0Nassau 6.1 7.0Parade 6.5 7.7Ram I 6.7 7.8Rugby 5.6 7.5Sydsport 6.8 8.0Victa 6.2 8.0Wabash 7.1 8.7Welcome 6.7 7.7LSD (.05) 0.8 0.7______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = maximum density
TABLE 17______________________________________Comparison of Fall Density of Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Various Locations inthe U.S.A. and Canada Over a Three Year Period Fall Density - Annual Mean Values (a)Variety Year 1 Year 2 Year 3______________________________________Ba 73-540 7.7 8.7 7.8Abbey 7.3 7.0 7.2Able I 6.7 8.2 7.4Amazon 7.0 9.0 7.8America 7.0 8.7 7.5Aquilla 6.7 7.5 7.8A-34 7.0 8.2 7.9Aspen 6.7 7.2 7.7Asset 6.0 8.7 7.5Baron 7.3 8.0 7.0Barzan 6.0 7.8 7.3Bristol 6.7 7.8 7.5Challenger 6.7 8.3 7.9Chateau 7.7 8.2 7.5Cheri 7.3 8.5 7.5Classic 7.3 8.2 7.5Coventry 7.3 9.0 7.3Eclipse 7.3 8.0 7.5Estate 6.3 8.0 7.4Georgetown 7.3 7.3 7.1Glade 6.0 7.8 7.6Gnome 7.0 7.7 7.1Haga 7.0 8.3 7.5Julia 7.0 8.0 7.4Kelly 7.3 7.2 7.0Kenblue 7.7 8.3 7.5Liberty 6.7 8.0 7.0Marquis 6.0 6.2 6.8Merion 6.3 7.3 7.3Merit 7.0 7.2 7.0Midnight 7.0 8.3 8.1Monopoly 6.7 7.5 7.1Mystic 7.3 8.8 7.8Nassau 6.3 6.5 7.3Parade 7.0 8.7 7.5Ram I 8.0 9.0 7.6Rugby 6.3 7.8 7.3Sydsport 7.0 8.7 7.5Victa 7.3 7.8 7.1Wabash 7.7 9.0 8.1Welcome 7.7 9.0 7.7LSD (.05) 1.4 0.5 0.6______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = maximum density
Turf diseases are one of the major causes of inconsistent and poor turf performance. Ba 73-540 has been found to have a high level of resistance to a serious bluegrass disease known as leaf spot (also known as melting out) caused by Drechslera poae (formerly called Helminthosporium vagans); a medium to high level of resistance to several rust diseases caused by Puccinia spp.; and a medium to high level of resistance to dollarspot caused by Sclerotina homoeocarpa, to snow mold caused by Typhula incarnata and to powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe graminis. Comparisons of disease incidence of Ba 73-540 as compared with other varieties in regard to leaf spot, rusts, dollarspot, snow mold and powdery mildew are presented in Tables 18-23. Additional comparisons are presented in Tables 24-27 for browning due to heat and drought stress, sod strength and seed yields.
TABLE 18______________________________________Comparison of Leaf Spot Disease Incidence ofBa 73-540 and other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties atVarious Locations in the U.S.A. and Canada Over aFour Year Period Leaf Spot - Annual Mean Values (a)Variety Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4______________________________________Ba 73-540 5.9 5.7 6.7 6.0Abbey 4.6 5.8 6.0 5.3Able I 6.8 5.7 6.0 8.0Amazon 5.2 5.8 6.3 7.0America 5.7 6.5 6.0 6.3Aquilla 6.3 4.3 6.0 3.7A-34 6.3 5.7 5.8 6.3Aspen 6.6 6.3 6.0 6.3Asset 6.7 5.7 6.3 6.0Baron 6.0 6.5 6.0 5.3Barzan 6.4 5.3 6.3 1.3Bristol 7.9 6.5 5.7 5.3Challenger 7.2 6.7 6.3 5.0Chateau 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.3Cheri 5.7 5.7 6.7 4.7Classic 6.2 6.0 6.3 4.3Coventry 5.0 6.2 5.7 6.0Eclipse 7.4 7.0 6.7 7.7Estate 6.8 5.8 6.3 6.7Georgetown 6.7 6.5 5.7 4.3Glade 7.4 5.8 6.3 7.0Gnome 6.0 6.3 6.0 4.3Haga 6.7 6.0 6.0 4.7Julia 6.0 6.0 6.7 4.7Kelly 5.1 6.2 6.0 5.0Kenblue 4.8 2.0 5.3 1.0Liberty 6.9 6.3 -- 5.3Marquis 6.4 6.2 6.3 4.7Merion 6.2 6.3 6.7 3.7Merit 5.6 6.5 5.7 5.0Midnight 7.2 6.2 6.3 6.3Monopoly 5.6 5.7 6.7 3.3Mystic 5.6 5.0 5.7 5.7Nassau 6.6 6.2 6.3 5.3Parade 5.3 5.3 6.0 5.0Ram I 4.9 5.0 6.3 2.3Rugby 6.4 5.8 6.3 4.3Sydsport 6.7 6.5 6.3 6.3Victa 6.0 6.2 6.7 4.7Wabash 4.2 2.3 5.3 2.0Welcome 5.2 4.8 6.0 3.7LSD (.05) 1.0 0.9 0.9 1.6______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = no disease
TABLE 19______________________________________Comparison of Melting Out Disease Incidence of Ba 73-540and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties at VariousLocations in the U.S.A. and Canada Over a Two Year Period Melting Out - Mean Values (a) Year 2 Year 1 FallVariety Spring (b) Fall (c) Spring (d) Mean (e)______________________________________Ba 73-540 5.2 8.7 7.3 6.3Abbey 3.7 8.0 6.3 6.7Able I 4.5 9.0 6.5 6.3Amazon 4.2 7.0 7.2 6.3America 5.2 8.7 6.8 7.0Aquila 3.8 7.3 6.8 5.7A-34 4.8 8.7 6.5 6.3Aspen 5.0 8.7 6.2 6.0Asset 4.7 9.0 6.8 7.0Baron 4.3 8.3 6.5 6.3Barzan 4.0 3.3 6.2 6.7Bristol 5.7 9.0 6.5 6.3Challenger 4.8 9.0 6.5 6.0Chateau 5.5 9.0 5.7 6.7Cheri 4.7 8.7 6.7 6.7Classic 6.2 8.7 6.3 6.7Coventry 4.3 9.0 6.2 6.7Eclipse 5.0 7.0 7.2 7.0Estate 5.3 9.0 6.5 6.7Georgetown 5.8 9.0 6.0 6.0Glade 4.5 8.0 7.3 6.7Gnome 4.5 8.7 6.7 6.3Haga 6.2 9.0 6.0 6.3Julia 6.0 9.0 6.8 6.3Kelly 3.8 8.3 6.5 6.3Kenblue 3.7 1.0 4.3 5.3Liberty 5.5 8.7 7.7 --Marquis 4.8 7.7 6.7 6.0Merion 5.0 9.0 7.0 7.0Merit 4.2 8.3 6.3 6.3Midnight 4.0 9.0 7.2 6.0Monopoly 4.5 8.0 6.5 6.7Mystic 5.0 1.0 6.3 4.7Nassau 5.0 9.0 6.5 7.0Parade 5.7 9.0 6.2 6.0Ram I 4.5 5.3 6.3 7.0Rugby 5.7 9.0 6.3 6.7Sydsport 5.5 9.0 6.5 6.7Victa 5.2 8.0 7.2 6.7Wabash 4.7 6.3 4.7 4.7Welcome 3.8 1.3 6.5 7.0LSD (.05) 0.7 1.6 1.1 1.0______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = no disease (b) Test Locations: Blacksburg and Blackstone, Virginia (c) Test Location: Puyallup, Washington (d) Test Locations: Agassiz, British Columbia; Post Falls, Idaho (e) Test Location: Agassiz, British Columbia
TABLE 19______________________________________Comparison of Dollar Spot and Powdery Mildew DiseaseIncidence of Ba 73-540 and Other Kentucky BluegrassVarieties in the U.S.A. Columbia Adelphia Missouri New JerseyVariety Dollar Spot Powdery Mildew______________________________________Ba 73-540 8.0 5.7Abbey 7.3 1.0Able I 7.7 6.7Amazon 6.7 5.0America 7.3 7.7Aquila 7.3 8.3A-34 7.3 6.7Aspen 6.7 4.7Asset 7.0 2.0Baron 7.0 1.3Barzan 6.3 8.3Bristol 7.7 7.0Challenger 7.3 3.3Chateau 6.7 5.3Cheri 8.0 3.3Classic 6.3 2.7Coventry 7.7 6.0Eclipse 7.7 5.0Estate 7.3 7.0Georgetown 7.3 2.7Glade 7.3 3.3Gnome 8.0 1.0Haga 7.3 3.0Julia 7.7 2.0Kelly 7.0 1.7Kenblue 7.3 5.0Liberty 7.0 4.0Marquis 7.7 1.0Merion 7.3 1.0Merit 6.7 1.7Midnight 6.7 1.7Monopoly 7.0 6.7Mystic 8.0 8.0Nassau 6.7 2.3Parade 7.7 2.0Ram I 6.0 6.7Rugby 6.7 2.7Sydsport 7.3 6.7Victa 7.7 1.7Wabash 7.3 6.7Welcome 7.7 6.3LSD (.05) 1.4 1.4______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = no disease
TABLE 21______________________________________Comparison of Powdery Mildew Disease Incidence ofBa 73-540 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties atMarysville, OH. % Mildew (a)Variety Test 1 Test 2______________________________________Ba 73-540 19.2 18.3Adelphi 29.2 24.2America 0.0Banff 5.0Bristol 5.8 16.7Classic 54.2Eclipse 1.7Georgetown 12.5Glade 40.0 27.5Merion 37.5 48.3Merit 66.7Monopoly 7.5Nassau 24.2 24.2Newport 20.0Park 0.8 28.3Ram I 12.5 30.8Sydsport 7.5Vantage 12.5 15.8Victa 56.7 45.8Wabash 10.0______________________________________ (a) Mean for three ratings taken during summer months.
TABLE 22______________________________________Comparison of Four Rust Disease Incidence ofBa 73-540 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties atin the U.S.A. and Canada.______________________________________ Stem Stripe Rust (a) Rust (a) Post Agassiz, Adelphia, Falls BritishVariety NJ Idaho Columbia______________________________________Ba 73-540 8.0 8.0 8.0Abbey 6.3 8.3 6.3Able I 7.0 8.0 7.3Amazon 6.0 7.3 7.0America 8.3 7.7 8.0Aquila 8.0 7.0 6.7Aspen 8.0 7.0 6.7Asset 8.0 8.7 7.3A-34 8.0 8.0 7.0Baron 7.3 8.0 7.0Barzan 8.0 8.0 7.0Bristol 8.7 8.0 8.0Challenger 7.7 8.0 6.7Chateau 8.3 7.3 7.3Cheri 7.7 8.7 6.7Classic 8.7 8.3 8.0Coventry 8.3 8.0 8.0Eclipse 7.7 8.3 6.3Estate 7.3 7.7 8.0Georgetown 9.0 7.7 7.0Glade 7.7 8.0 6.0Gnome 7.7 8.7 7.0Haga 9.0 7.3 7.3Julia 8.0 7.3 7.0Kelly 7.3 8.7 5.7Kenblue 8.3 7.7 7.7Liberty 8.3 8.0 --Marquis 6.3 7.7 7.3Merion 2.7 4.0 5.3Merit 8.0 8.0 6.7Midnight 8.3 7.3 5.7Monopoly 8.0 7.3 7.3Mystic 5.3 6.0 5.3Nassau 7.7 8.0 7.3Parade 9.0 7.0 7.7Ram I 8.7 6.7 7.0Rugby 8.7 7.3 7.7Sydsport 8.0 7.7 8.0Victa 7.7 5.7 5.7Wabash 8.0 8.0 6.3Welcome 7.3 7.7 7.3LSD (.05) 1.0 2.0 1.2______________________________________ Crown Rust (a) Leaf Columbia Rust (a) Mo. and Santa Ana Agassiz Ritzville, Variety Cal. BC Wash.______________________________________ Ba 73-540 5.0 9.0 8.0 Abbey 3.0 7.0 6.8 Able I 2.0 8.3 7.5 Amazon 3.0 9.0 6.7 America 5.0 8.3 9.0 Aquila 3.0 7.0 9.0 Aspen 3.7 6.0 8.2 Asset 2.7 9.0 8.8 A-34 3.7 8.3 7.7 Baron 3.3 8.0 7.7 Barzan 5.0 8.3 8.7 Bristol 5.3 8.3 9.0 Challenger 4.0 6.3 8.0 Chateau 4.0 9.0 9.0 Cheri 5.3 9.0 8.7 Classic 6.3 9.0 8.2 Coventry 4.0 8.9 9.0 Eclipse 2.0 9.0 7.5 Estate 5.0 9.0 8.2 Georgetown 5.3 8.7 7.2 Glade 5.0 6.7 8.0 Gnome 2.7 7.7 6.5 Haga 5.7 8.0 8.7 Julia 2.0 9.0 7.0 Kelly 5.2 6.3 6.3 Kenblue 4.0 6.7 7.0 Liberty 5.3 -- 7.7 Marquis 5.0 6.7 8.5 Merion 2.3 5.0 6.2 Merit 2.7 7.0 8.0 Midnight 4.0 6.3 6.7 Monopoly 3.7 9.0 8.2 Mystic 3.0 7.0 7.0 Nassau 4.3 8.3 8.8 Parade 5.3 9.0 7.2 Ram I 5.0 8.3 7.7 Rugby 5.0 8.7 8.5 Sydsport 4.0 8.7 7.8 Victa 3.0 7.3 7.7 Wabash 4.3 7.3 7.7 Welcome 4.7 9.0 7.5 LSD (.05) 1.7 1.4 1.7______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale: 1-9 9 = no disease
TABLE 23______________________________________Comparison of Snow Mold Disease Incidence ofBa 73-540 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties Snowmold (a) East LansingVariety Michigan______________________________________Ba 73-540 6.7Abbey 7.0Able I 4.7Amazon 1.7America 3.7Aquila 6.0Aspen 6.7Asset 4.7A-34 5.3Baron 5.0Barzan 6.7Bristol 7.3Challenger 6.3Chateau 4.3Cheri 4.3Classic 5.7Coventry 4.7Eclipse 4.7Estate 5.0Georgetown 6.7Glade 5.7Gnome 4.7Haga 6.0Julia 6.0Kelly 6.0Kenblue 5.0Liberty 5.7Marquis 5.0Merion 4.0Merit 7.3Midnight 3.7Monopoly 5.0Mystic 5.3Nassau 6.7Parade 6.3Ram I 5.3Rugby 6.7Sydsport 4.3Victa 4.7Wabash 3.3Welcome 4.0LSD (.05) 2.5______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale: 1-9 9 = no disease
TABLE 24______________________________________Comparison of % Browning of Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegrasses Under Heat and Drought Stressat Prince Frederick, Maryland. % BrowningVariety Mean (a)______________________________________Ba 73-540 11.3Adelphi 20.0Bristol 18.7Cynthia 36.3Glade 20.0Merion 28.0Merit 28.5Nugget 32.5Park 24.5Pascal 45.0Vantage 19.2Victa 18.2______________________________________ (a) Mean for two ratings taken in August
TABLE 25______________________________________Comparison of Drought Tolerance Ba 73-540 and OtherKentucky Bluegrass Varieties at Various Locations inthe U.S.A. and CanadaVariety Drought Tolerance (a)______________________________________Ba 73-540 7.7Abbey 7.7Able I 7.7Amazon 7.0America 8.0Aquila 7.3A-34 6.0Aspen 7.3Asset 7.0Baron 7.0Barzan 6.0Bristol 6.7Challenger 8.3Chateau 7.0Cheri 7.3Classic 7.3Coventry 7.3Eclipse 7.3Estate 7.0Georgetown 6.7Glade 6.7Gnome 8.0Haga 6.7Julia 7.3Kelly 7.7Kenblue 6.3Liberty 7.7Marquis 7.7Merion 7.3Merit 8.0Midnight 6.0Monopoly 6.7Mystic 7.7Nassau 8.0Parade 5.7Ram I 8.7Rugby 7.0Sydsport 7.0Victa 7.7Wabash 6.7Welcome 7.3LSD 0.05 1.7______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = no dormacy
TABLE 26______________________________________Comparison of Sod Strength Eight Months AfterPlanting of Ba 73-540 and Other Kentucky Bluegrassesat Remington, Va. SOD STRENGTH (a)Variety 8 Months______________________________________Ba 73-540 20.3Abbey 17.0Able I 16.3Amazon 18.0America 30.7Aquila 19.3A-34 21.7Aspen 21.7Asset 23.7Baron 25.7Barzan 13.0Bristol 24.7Challenger 23.0Chateau 23.3Cheri 28.3Classic 23.0Coventry 18.0Eclipse 22.0Estate 23.3Georgetown 30.0Glade 26.3Gnome 22.0Haga 22.3Julia 12.3Kenblue 22.0Liberty 20.3Marquis 23.0Merion 21.3Merit 25.3Midnight 22.3Monopoly 26.0Mystic 21.3Nassau 22.3Parade 26.0Ram I 22.3Rugby 20.3Sydsport 26.0Victa 29.3Wabash 16.7Welcome 24.7LSD (.05) 6.9______________________________________ (a) Rating Scale: Kilograms of tension needed to tear sod.
TABLE 27______________________________________Seed yield Comparisons in Pounds Per Acre ofBa 73-540 and Other Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties inOregon Over a Three Year Period Lbs/Acre Gervais LaGrandeVariety Year 1 Year 2 Year 3______________________________________Ba 73-540 859 1224 993Bristol 862 1021 690Victa 1342 1425 1224LSD (.05) 220 160______________________________________

BA 73-540 Kentucky Bluegrass

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