Patent Grant
PP36244
Genus and species: Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis.
Variety denomination: ‘MSB-1017’.
Bermudagrass ‘MSB-1017’ is a new and distinct bermudagrass cultivar. The female parent is ‘Riley's Super Sport’ with the commercial name Celebration (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,131), a tetraploid (2n=4x=36) common bermudagrass (C. dactylon) cultivar; the male parent is an African bermudagrass (C. transvaalensis) named ‘trans1’ (2n=2x=18). Accordingly, ‘MSB-1017’ is a triploid (2n=3x=27) and does not produce viable seed. Cross pollination was performed in summer 2015 in Starkville, Mississippi. Seeds from the cross were germinated in February 2016 in a controlled-temperature chamber. The seedlings were then individually transplanted to a greenhouse. ‘MSB-1017’ has been vegetatively propagated since germination. ‘MSB-1017’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Starkville, Mississippi.
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Starkville, Mississippi.
This new Bermudagrass plant ‘MSB-1017’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.
The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘MSB-1017’.
‘MSB-1017’ has been tested in the 2019 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP trial) bermudagrass test which involves 19 environments at 16 locations where each location is identified by a code in column 3 (Table 1).
A total of 22 vegetative bermudagrass entries (17 experimental lines and 5 commercial standards) were tested in the following trials:
The following are detailed botanical descriptions of the characteristics of this new cultivar, based upon the first year (2020) data of the 2019 NTEP trial, three years (2016-2018) data of MSU 2016 trial, one year (2017-2018) data of the MSU 2017 trial, and two years (2020-2021) data of MSU 2018 trial.
Turfgrass quality ratings are based on a combination of color, density, uniformity, texture, and disease or environmental stress. Quality ratings are based on 1-9 scale, with 9 being the best and 1 being poorest.
Data from the NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’, along with commercial standards ‘Tahoma 31’ and ‘Tiftuf’, exhibited highest quality (mean quality rating of 6.4) when averaged across all 13 testing locations (Table 2).
Patent status of varieties listed in Tables 2-17: ‘OKC1876’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 35,548; ‘TifEagle’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,163; ‘TifGrand’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,017; MSB-04-264′, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,407; ‘Riviera’, U.S. PVP Certificate No. 009500227; ‘Astro’, unpatented; ‘Latitude 36’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,271; ‘Tahoma 31’, patented under the name ‘OKC 1131’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,695; ‘OKC 1876’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 35,548, ‘TifTuf’, experimental name ‘DT-1’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,392; FB 1628, unpatented; OKC1873, unpatented; MSB-1042, unpatented; MSB-1050, unpatented; MSB-1026, unpatented; FB 1630, unpatented; *Tifway, unpatented; MSB-1048, unpatented; JSC 80V, unpatented; JSC 77V, unpatented; OKC1406, unpatented; OKC1682, unpatented; OKC1666, unpatented; FB 1903, unpatented; FB 1902, unpatented; MSB-1075, unpatented.
In MSU 2016 trial, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 1st in mean quality ratings (7.0) and was ranked significantly higher than its female parent ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 3).
Similarly, in MSU 2018 trial, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 4th in mean quality ratings (6.6) and was ranked significantly higher than ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 4).
Leaf texture is a measure or estimate of leaf width. The visual rating of texture is based on 1-9 scale with 1 equaling coarse and 9 equal fine. NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 3rd across nine locations, with a mean rating of 7.5 (Table 5), which was slightly lower than two MSU experimental lines, MSB-1050 and MSB-1048, both had a mean rating of 7.6 (Table 5).
MSU 2016 trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ had the highest leaf texture rating (7.1) and was ranked significantly higher than ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 6).
Genetic color reflects the inherent color of the grasses. It is based on a visual rating scale of 1-9 with 9 being dark green and 1 being light green. In the 2019 NTEP trial, genetic color ratings were taken at ten locations when the tested bermudagrasses were actively growing and were not stressed (Table 7). ‘MSB-1017’ showed good genetic color ratings, ranking 5h (tied with another entry FB 1903) with a mean rating of 6.6, which was not statistically different from the best rating (Table 7).
Fall color retention rating is typically used to assess the ability of a grass to hold color during the changing climatic conditions of fall, including chilling, frost, and shorter days and daylength hours. NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ had a fall color retention rating of 6.0 across seven locations, making it ranking in the top statistical group (Table 8). In Missouri (MO1) fall color retention of ‘MSB-1017’ was higher than ‘Latitude 36’, ‘Tahoma 31’ and ‘Tifway’, but lower than ‘TifTuf’ and three experimental entries (‘MSB-1042’, ‘OKC1666’ and ‘OKC1876’—U.S. Plant Pat. No. 35,548).
Seedhead production is an undesirable trait in turfgrasses. It is evaluated based on a 1-9 scale with 9 being no seedheads. NTEP trial indicated that ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 2nd with a mean of 8.3 in seedhead rating, and it was ranked significantly higher than two commercial standards ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tahoma 31’ (Table 9). In 2019 NTEP trial seedhead production of ‘MSB-1017’ varied across locations. Mean seedhead production of ‘MSB-1017’ was 8.3 (LSD0.05=2.6) and was lower than ‘Astro’, Latitude 36′ and ‘Tahoma 31’, similarly to seedhead production in Mississippi (MS1). In Indiana (IN1) seedhead production of ‘MSB-1017’was lower also than ‘Tiftuf’. In Kansas (KS2) it was lower than all standard entries, as well as ‘FB1628’, ‘OKC1666’ and ‘OKC1876’.
In MSU 2016 trial, ‘MSB-1017’ also performed well in the top statistical group with a mean rating of 8.5, which was ranked significantly higher than ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 10).
Percentage of establishment reflects the relative speed of grass to develop into a mature sod. It is evaluated based on percentage coverage basis, with 100 being maximum establishment and 0 being minimal/no establishment. The NTEP trial revealed that ‘MSB-1017’ had the 2nd highest percentage of establishment among 22 entries (Table 11). This indicates that ‘MSB-1017’ is very fast in establishment, which is a preferred trait in turfgrass.
Percent living ground cover is based on surface area covered by the originally planted species. It is generally used to express damage caused by disease, insects, weed encroachment, or environmental stress. Percent living ground cover was evaluated in spring, summer, and fall depending on individual locations in the NTEP trial (Tables 12).
Across eight locations where percent living ground cover data were collected in spring, ‘MSB-1017’ had the 2nd highest mean rating of 88.7, slightly lower than ‘Tiftuf’ with an average rating of 89.5 (Table 13). ‘MSB-1017’ had the highest rating of 97.4 in summer, and 3rd highest rating of 84.2 in fall (Table 13).
Turfgrass density is a visual estimate of living plants or tillers per unit area. A visual rating of 1-9 is used with 9 equaling maximum density. In the NTEP trial, density ratings were performed at two to four locations in spring, summer, and fall (Table 14). ‘MSB-1017’ had an average of 5.7, 6.3, and 4.9 in summer, spring, and fall, respectively (Table 14). Although ‘MSB-1017’ was not highly ranked in density ratings, the least significant different tests indicated that it was not significantly different from the top ratings (Table 14). Density in 2019 NTEP trial depended on location and season (Table 14). In Oklahoma (OK1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower only than ‘MSB-1050’ and higher than ‘Astro’, ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tifway’. In Tennessee (TN1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower than ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tahoma 31’, as well as seven experimental entries, including ‘OKC 1876’. Density in 2019 NTEP trial depended on location and season. In Oklahoma (OK1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower only than ‘MSB-1050’ and higher than ‘Astro’, ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tifway’. In Tennessee (TN1) spring density of ‘MSB-1017’ was lower than ‘Latitude 36’ and ‘Tahoma 31’, as well as seven experimental entries, including ‘OKC 1876’.
Spring green-up is a measure of the transition from winter dormancy to active spring growth. It is based on plot color rather than genetic color. The visual rating of spring green-up is based on a 1-9 scale with 1 being straw brown and 9 being dark green. Spring green-up data were collected across nine locations, and ‘MSB-1017’ had an average rating of 5.0 across nine locations, similar to the mean rating of ‘Tifway’ (Table 15). This indicates that ‘MSB-1017’ has similar cold tolerance with ‘Tifway’, a successful bermudagrass cultivar that has been used for over half a century.
Disease resistance is important factor in cultivar development. In MSU 2017 home lawn trial, disease resistance rating of experimental lines to leafspot (Bipolaris cynodontis) were collected from September 7 to Sep. 25, 2017. Area under disease pressure curve (AUDPC) values were calculated for this period. Encouragingly, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked in the top among tested entries and was ranked significantly higher than both ‘Tifway’ and ‘Riley's Super Sport’ (Table 16).
In addition, ‘MSB-1017’ ranked 2nd in turfgrass quality rating (6.5), 1st in leaf texture (7.0), and 3rd in seedhead rating (Table 17). In the 2019 NTEP trial, disease and insect ratings were collected in Indiana using 1-9 scale, with 1 equaling no resistance or 100% injury, and 9 equaling complete resistance or no injury. ‘MSB-1017’ was the best entry in this trial with a mean rating of 8.0 (Table 17).
Table 18 below provides a comparison of MSB-1017 with seven other grass varieties. Four pots of each grass were grown in the greenhouse. The longest leaf at the third node below the apical meristem of the stolon and erect shoot was used for the measurement of leaf length (mm) and leaf width (mm) with digital calipers with four replications. Four random stolons and erect shoots on each pot were measured for internode length (mm) and diameter (mm) between the third and fourth fully extended nodes from the apical meristem. All pots grew from plugs harvested from Starkville, Mississippi in May 2023.
Table 19 below provides a comparison of MSB-1017 with 22 other grass varieties Riverside, California in 2020 under drought conditions. Table 19 shows ‘MSB-1017’ having a better fall color retention in Riverside, California than ‘Tifway’, ‘Latitude 36’ and but lower fall color retention than ‘OKC 1876’.
‘MSB-1017’ can be distinguished from other bermudagrass cultivars by DNA profiling.
In addition, morphological characteristics allow to distinguish ‘MSB-1017’ from its parents. Hairs on adaxial surface of ‘Riley's Super Sport’ are abundant, while ‘Trans 1’ has very sparse and short hairs on adaxial surface ‘MSB-1017’ is intermediate between two parents in leaf hair abundance. Leaf color of ‘Trans 1’ assessed using Munsell® Color Chart matches 5GY/4/4 for both sides of the leaf blade, and color of leaf sheath matches 5GY/6/6. Both sides of the leaf blade of ‘Riley's Super Sport’ matched 7.5GY/4/4 and leaf sheath 5GY/6/6. ‘MSB-1017’ has leaf blade color similar to ‘Trans 1’ (5GY/3/4; 5GY/4/4), but color of leaf sheath is distinct from both parents (2.5GY/6/4).
