TREA

Kentucky bluegrass--BA 70-139

Follow

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • PP6538
  • Patent Number
    PP6,538
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, March 17, 1987
    38 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 17, 1989
    36 years ago
  • US Classifications
    Field of Search
    • US
    • PLT 88
  • International Classifications
    • A01H500
Information
Abstract
A variety of Kentucky bluegrass having a high level of disease resistance, excellent turf performance in the sun and shade and a high level of seed yield potential.
Description

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 patent application, Ser. No. 872,537, filed June 10, 1986; U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 910,146, filed Sept. 19, 1986 and U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 027,285, filed of even date herewith.
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Poa pratensis which has been designated Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass.
Ba 70-139 plant material originated by crossing a Kentucky bluegrass plant ("Gnome") disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 872,537, the seed parent, with a pollen parent plant. As a result of this breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagated by rhizomes, tillers and disseminules.
Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass reproduced asexually by propagules, i.e., by tillers and rhizomes and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomoxis). Progeny plants have been consistently produced which are indistinguishable from the mother plant.
Ba 70-139 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including a good level of resistance to Helminthosporium spp. that causes leaf spot, melting out, and crown rot; Ustilago striiformis that causes stripe smut; Erysiphe graminis that causes powdery mildew; and Puccinia spp. that causes rust; 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 turf performance as evidenced by consistently high scores in tests throughout the U.S.A. and Canada, and a high seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production region of the U.S.A.
In comparison with its seed parent, Gnome, the new variety is more shade tolerant and has better resistance to powdery mildew and rust. In comparison to the Kentucky bluegrass ("Ba 72-492") disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 027,285, filed of even date herewith and the Kentucky bluegrass ("72-500") disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 910,146, filed Sept. 19, 1986, both of which also have Gnome as their seed parent, Ba 70-139 produces seeds that are longer, has panicles that nod more, and has peduncles that are thicker than Ba 72-492; and Ba 70-139 has peduncles that are thinner and a seed yield that is higher than Ba 72-500.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass plant in the vegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;
FIG. 2 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass panicle;
FIG. 3 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass seed; and
FIG. 4 is a photograph of Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass turf.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Ba 70-139 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a moderately dense turf. When plants overwinter in the field with freezing temperatures and then are brought into the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed by clipping under moderate temperatures (60-80 degrees F.), culms are erect averaging 435 mm in length with an average of 2.7 nodes per culm. The uppermost internode averages 10.2 cm, and the peduncle averages 13.2 cm in length and 0.610 mm in thickness. The flag leaf averages 4.7 cm in length, 3.2 mm in width, and 0.112 mm in thickness. The panicle is generally nodding with an average length of 6.7 cm, width of 3.7 cm, and 4.8 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 3.8 branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle has an average of 2.7 branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch in the lowest whorl is 5.2 mm in length and has 4.2 florets with an outer glume of 3.2 mm and an inner glume of 3.5 mm in length. A similar spikelet from the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle is 5.2 mm in length and has 4.0 florets with an outer glume of 3.1 mm and an inner glume of 3.5 mm in length. After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has a generally smooth keel and almost no long, fine hairs at the base. The seed of Ba 70-139 is 2.86 mm in length and 0.78 mm in width with approximately 1,246,200 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 70-139 with other bluegrasses varieties on seed measurements and on seed counts per pound are found in Tables 1 and 2.
TABLE 1______________________________________Seed Measurements of Ba 70-139and Other Bluegrass Varieties AfterConditioning. Length WidthVariety (mm) (mm)______________________________________Ba 70-139 2.86 0.78Ba 72-492 2.53 0.76Ba 72-500 2.77 0.80Baron 3.07 0.86Bristol 2.73 0.80Nassau 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 Counts Per Poundof Ba 70-139 and Other BluegrassVarieties After Conditioning.______________________________________ Ba 70-139 1,246,200 Adelphi 1,383,976 America 1,659,824 Gnome 1,017,641 Baron 1,051,693 Birka 1,223,530 Bonnieblue 1,135,303 Bristol 1,270,821 Eclipse 1,335,668 Glade 1,108,441 Kenblue 1,463,923 Merit 1,109,728 Nassau 1,127,130 Newport 1,226,481 Park 1,248,349 Sydsport 1,355,644 Vantage 1,555,303 Victa 1,038,298______________________________________
Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influence morphological characters to some extent, comparisons of morphological characteristics of Ba 70-139 are made with other Kentucky bluegrass varieties in Table 3-10.
TABLE 3______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Paniclesof Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesin the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio NumberPanicle Panicle Panicle Number of of Branches Nod- Length Width Whorls Lower ThirdVariety ding* (cm) (cm) Per Panicle Whorl Whorl______________________________________Ba 70-139 2.0 6.7 3.7 4.8 3.8 2.7Ba 72-492 1.2 7.5 4.2 5.5 4.0 3.0Ba 72-500 2.0 6.8 3.8 5.0 4.0 2.4Baron 1.0 7.8 4.1 5.2 3.8 2.5Bristol 2.0 9.7 5.0 5.0 3.3 2.7Nassau 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 0.5 1.6 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.8(.05)______________________________________ *Panicle nodding rated 1 = erect, 2 = nodding.
TABLE 4______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Spikeletsof Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesin the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Spikelet Number of Florets Length (mm) per Spikelet Lowest Third Lowest ThirdVariety Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl______________________________________Ba 70-139 5.2 5.2 4.2 4.0Ba 72-492 5.2 5.0 4.4 4.2Ba 72-500 5.1 5.0 4.2 3.9Baron 5.0 5.0 3.7 3.8Bristol 6.2 6.0 5.7 5.3Nassau 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 Glumesof Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesin the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Glume Length (mm) Outer Inner Lowest LowetVariety Whorl Third Whorl Whorl Third Whorl______________________________________Ba 70-139 3.2 3.1 3.5 3.5Ba 72-492 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.3Ba 72-500 3.1 3.1 3.4 3.4Baron 2.9 2.8 3.4 3.3Bristol 3.4 3.3 3.7 3.9Nassau 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 Leavesof Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesin the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Length Width ThicknessVariety (cm) (mm) (mm)______________________________________Ba 70-139 4.7 3.2 0.112Ba 72-492 5.2 3.6 0.117Ba 72-500 4.1 3.2 0.112Baron 4.5 3.2 0.119Bristol 5.5 3.4 0.127Nassau 6.1 3.1 0.127Newport 6.2 3.5 0.135Park 4.2 2.6 0.109Ram 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,and Internodes of Ba 70-139 and Other BluegrassVarieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Pe- Top duncle Peduncle Culm Number of Internode Length Width Length Nodes Per LengthVariety (cm) (mm) (mm) Culm (cm)______________________________________Ba 70-139 13.2 0.610 435 2.7 10.2Ba 72-492 12.6 0.558 486 2.2 10.5Ba 72-500 12.9 0.660 439 2.7 9.8Baron 12.7 0.559 482 2.5 10.1Bristol 15.0 0.686 522 2.7 11.3Nassau 8.0 0.533 450 2.5 11.2Newport 18.0 0.558 547 2.3 11.2Park 14.3 0.787 578 3.0 13.0Ram I 18.5 0.610 527 3.0 10.2Victa 12.2 0.711 474 2.4 10.6LSD(.05) 3.7 0.018 79 0.6 2.1______________________________________
TABLE 8______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Leaves ofBa 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesin the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Leaf Ligule Leaf Leaf Angle Length Length Width (DegreesVariety (mm) (mm) (mm) From Horizontal)______________________________________Ba 70-139 0.26 218 4.1 55Ba 72-492 0.28 239 4.4 52Ba 72-500 0.25 204 4.1 50Baron 0.30 313 4.4 63Bristol 0.30 253 4.3 37Nassau 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 Comparison of Leaf Hairsof Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesin the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Hairs.sup.a Around Ligule on Upper Surface Hairs.sup.a on Hairs.sup.b onVariety of the Leaf Collar Ligule______________________________________Ba 70-139 1.0 3.5 1.5Ba 72-492 1.0 3.2 1.3Ba 72-500 1.0 3.5 2.7Baron 1.0 5.0 4.0Bristol 1.3 4.7 4.3Nassau 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______________________________________ .sup.a hairs around ligule and on collar rated 1-5: 1 = none, 5 = many .sup.b Hairs on ligule rated 0-5: 0 = none, 5 = many
TABLE 10______________________________________Morphological Comparisons of Ba 70-139 andOther Bluegrass Varieties Grown as UnmowedSpaced Plants in the Field at Marysville, Ohio.MaturePlant Height Panicle Density Seedhead Weight______________________________________Ba 70-139 35 5 402Adelphi 42 3 345Nugget 17 3 233Bristol 40 4 511Merion 25 2 320Glade 20 3 214Vantage 52 2 1019Victa 23 2 648______________________________________ Ratings: Mature Plant Height (cm) includes panicle Panicle Density 1-10, 10 = high panicle density Seedhead Weight Weight (mg) of 3 panicles
Ba 70-139 has performed well 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 70-139 tolerates shady growing conditions very well, which is an important characteristic that allows an even broader range of use. The new variety has a pleasant medium green color which can be maintained throughout the growing season and widely scattered locations in the U.S.A. and Canada. The color of Ba 70-139 is enhanced compared to other varieties when grown in the shade due to its high tolerance to the various stresses and diseases that occur frequently under shady conditions. Comparisons of Ba 70-139 with other varieties for quality, color, and shade performance are shown in Tables 11-14.
TABLE 11______________________________________Comparison of the Turf Quality of BA 70-139and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the U.S.A.______________________________________ St. Louis Adelphia Marysville Missouri New Jersey Ohio 1 Year 2 Year 5 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean______________________________________BA 70-139 3.2 6.1 2.3America 2.8Adelphi 2.9 6.4 2.3BanffBaron 2.7 6.4 2.3Birka 2.3 5.9Bonnieblue 6.7Bristol 2.7 6.5Columbia 5.9Eclipse 7.2Flyking 5.7Glade 2.8 6.7 2.3Gnome 2.9 6.4 2.2Kenblue 3.3Merion 6.0 2.1Merit 2.8 6.2Midnight 7.3Monopoly 5.7Nassau 5.9Newport 2.0Nugget 2.4Parade 5.6Park 1.8Ram I 6.2Sydsport 2.7 6.0Touchdown 2.7 6.1Vantage 2.6 3.6 2.1Victa 2.8 6.5 2.3Wabash 4.8Windsor 2.0______________________________________ Maryland Gervais Prince Oregon Beltsville Frederick 1 Year 1 Year 1 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 70-139 2.9 5.8 2.4AmericaAdelphi 2.8 5.9 2.0Banff 4.8Baron 5.3BirkaBoonieblue 5.0 1.1Bristol 3.0 5.0 1.5Columbia 4.9Eclipse 5.9Flyking 4.9Glade 5.3 1.3GnomeKenblueMerion 5.3 1.2Merit 6.1 1.5Midnight 5.5Monopoly 4.9Nassau 4.5NewportNuggetParade 5.0Park 1.8 1.3Ram I 2.4 4.6Sydsport 5.8Touchdown 5.8Vantage 5.5 2.0Victa 2.7 5.5 1.6WabashWindsor______________________________________ Rating Scale: Larger number indicates higher quality.
TABLE 12______________________________________Comparison of Turf Color of Ba 70-139and Other Bluegrass Varieties atVarious Locations in the U.S.A. Somis Prince Marys- St. Louis Cal- Gervais Frederick ville Missouri ifornia Oregon Maryland Ohio 1 Year 1 Year 2 Year 1 Year 3 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 70-139 9.1 6.3 8.7 6.9 8.5Adelphi 9.4 6.5 9.6 6.7 8.7America 9.4Baron 9.2Birka 9.1 6.3Bono 9.0 6.2Bristol 9.5 7.6 9.5 7.3Fylking 8.4Glade 9.3 7.0 7.4 8.8Gnome 9.3 8.7Kenblue 5.8Merion 4.7 8.4Merit 5.8Midnight 5.5Newport 6.0 8.3Nugget 8.8Park 9.0 6.9 5.5Ram I 7.3 8.6Rugby 6.7Sydsport 9.2Touchdown 9.0Vantage 9.2 5.7 6.3 8.4Victa 9.2 6.0 8.5 6.8 8.7Windsor 8.4LSD(.05) 0.3 0.2______________________________________ Rating Scale: Larger number indicates darker green color.
TABLE 13______________________________________Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shadeof Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass Varieties. MarysvillePrince Frederick Ohio Maryland Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 3 Year 4 Year 4 Year 4 Year 2 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 70-139 2.1 2.6 2.4 3.1 2.6Adelphi 2.6 2.0Banff 2.4Birka 2.2Bonniblue 1.9 1.9Bristol 1.8 2.4 2.0 2.6 1.7Flyking 1.9 1.5Glade 2.1 2.5 1.5Merion 1.8 2.2 1.7Monopoly 2.8 2.4Nassau 1.9Newport 1.2 1.8 1.9Nugget 2.3Parade 2.0 2.3Park 1.9 1.8Ram I 2.0Rugby 2.2Sydsport 2.5Touchdown 1.9 2.1Vantage 1.8 2.2Victa 1.2 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.5Wabash 2.2Windsor 1.7______________________________________ Rated 1-4, 4 = Best
TABLE 14______________________________________Comparison of Turf Color UnderNatural Shade Conditions of Ba 70-139and Other Bluegrass Varieties. Prince FrederickMarysville MarylandOhio 3 YearTest 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Mean______________________________________Ba 70-139 8.8 8.3 8.3 8.2 8.2Adelphi 7.8 7.9America 7.5Banff 8.3Bonnieblue 8.5 7.5Bristol 8.4 7.8 7.5 7.9 8.2Flyking 8.1Glade 8.0 7.5 8.1Merion 8.3 8.1Monopoly 8.3 7.8Mystic 7.8Nassau 8.0Newport 8.3 7.5 8.2 5.5Nugget 8.3Parade 8.2Park 8.1 7.0 7.8Ram I 7.8 8.0Rugby 8.3Sydsport 7.5Touchdown 8.3Vantage 8.0Victa 8.3 8.0 7.9 8.1 6.0Wabash 7.5 8.0LSD(.05) 0.4 0.7 0.3______________________________________ Rated 1-9, 9 = darkest green
Turf diseases are one of the major causes of inconsistent and poor turf performance among locations and years. Comparisons of resistance to leaf spot (also known as melting out and crown rot) caused by Helminthosporium vagans, powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe graminis, rust caused by Puccinia spp., dollarspot caused by Sclerotina homeocarpa, and stripe smut caused by Ustilago striiformis, are presented in Tables 15-21.
TABLE 15______________________________________Comparison of Leafspot Disease Incidence on Ba 70-139 and -OtherBluegrasses at Several Locations in the U.S.A.______________________________________ St. Louis.sup.a Beltsville.sup.b Adelphia.sup.bVariety Missouri Maryland New Jersey______________________________________Ba 70-139 2 7.3 7.0A-34 5.3 4.3Adelphi 2 8.0 5.7America 8Banff 5.3 7.0Baron 2 7.0 8.7Birka 5 6.3Bonnieblue 7.0Bono 7Bristol 2 7.0 8.3Columbia 5.7 6.3Eclipse 7.7 9.0Flyking 6.7 6.3Glade 2 7.3 6.3Gnome 2 7.0 8.0Kenblue 3.3 1.7Merion 6.3 7.7Merit 3 7.3 7.7Midnight 7.0 7.0Monopoly 5.3 6.0MysticNassau 7.7 7.4Parade 6.0 5.0Park 52Ram I 6.5 7.0Rugby 5.0Sydsport 3 7.3 6.3Touchdown 7 7.7Vantage 7 5.0 2.0Victa 2 8.0 7.0Wabash 2.0WindsorLSD(.05) 7 1.9______________________________________ Gervais.sup.a Accokeek.sup.a Marysville.sup.aVariety Oregon Maryland Ohio______________________________________Ba 70-139 7 4 0A-34Adelphi 0AmericaBanffBaronBirkaBoonieblueBonoBristol 1 3 0ColumbiaEclipseFlyking 16Glade 27Gnome 0Kenblue 3 40Merion 5 0MeritMidnightMonopoly 13Mystic 35NassauParadePark 13 40Ram I 3RugbySydsport 0TouchdownVantage 5Victa 3 0WabashWindsor 53LSD(.05) 5 22 9______________________________________ Ratings .sup.a % of turf affected by disease .sup.b 1-9, 9= least disease
TABLE 16______________________________________Comparison of Powdery Mildew DiseaseIncidence Under Natural Shade Conditionson Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses. MarysvillePrince Frederick OhioVariety Maryland Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4______________________________________Ba 70-139 5 5 0 15 0Adelphi 15 10America 13 0Banff 45BaronBirka 8 3Bonnieblue 58 0Bristol 5 5 2 30 10ColumbiaEclipse 5Flyking 50Glade 5 36 65 0Gnome 72Kenblue 4Merion 83MeritMidnightMonopoly 5Mystic 5NassauNewport 53 75 0Nugget 18Parade 60Park 0Ram I 25Rugby 40Sydsport 15 20Touchdown 5 0Vantage 30Victa 60 84 69 60 8Windsor 26LSD(.05) 10 22 31 8______________________________________ Rated as % of turf affected by disease.
TABLE 17______________________________________Comparison of Powdery Mildew Disease IncidenceUnder Conditions Other Than Natural Shade onBa 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses.Greenhouse Spaced Plants - Sun.sup.c New Brunswick.sup.a Marysville.sup.b MarysvilleVariety New Jersey Ohio Ohio______________________________________Ba 70-139 4.7 2 0Adelphi 0.8 6America 6.7Banff 0.4Baron 1.4 9 2Birka 5.7Bonnieblue 0.8Bristol 6.4 2 2Columbia 0.5Eclipse 6.9Flyking 1.3Glade 7.0 7Gnome 1.7Kenblue 2Merion 0.9 6 1Merit 2.3 8Midnight 0.7Monopoly 5.9Mystic 8.3Nassau 7Newport 2Nugget 7.0 0Parade 2.2Park 6 2Ram I 7.2 2Rugby 0.6Sydsport 6.1 2TouchdownVantage 5.0 4Victa 1.9 9 3Windsor 3LSD(.05) 0.8 3 2______________________________________ .sup.a Rated 0-9, 9 = least disease .sup.b Rated 1-9, 9 = most disease .sup.c Rated 1-5, 5 = most disease
TABLE 18______________________________________Comparison of Rust (Puccinia spp.) DiseaseIncidence on Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses.Turf.sup.b Unmowed Spaced Plants.sup.aGervais MarysvilleOregon OhioVariety Test 1 Test 2 Test 1 Test 2______________________________________Ba 70-139 12 1 1 0Adelphi 4 0Baron 3Bristol 7 2 2 0Glade 0Kenblue 2Merion 2 2Nugget 3 0Park 49 1Ram I 15Victa 63 13 2 1Vantage 2Windsor 3LSD(.05) 26 1______________________________________ .sup.a Rated 1-5, 5 = most disease? .sup.b Rated as % of disease incidence
TABLE 19______________________________________Comparison of Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis)Disease Incidence on Ba 70-139 and OtherBluegrasses at Adelphia, New Jersey. Test 1 Test 2______________________________________Ba 70-139 7.8 7.2Midnight 7.0 7.8Columbia 6.7 7.8Banff 6.5 7.7Bristol 7.7 7.7Parade 6.2 7.5Monopoly 7.1 7.4Ram I 7.0 7.3Victa 5.6 7.2Merit 5.7 7.0Baron 6.4 7.0Nassau 6.8 7.0Eclipse 4.7 7.0Bonnieblue 5.4 7.0Adelphi 7.1 6.9America 7.4 6.9Vantage 6.2 5.9Touchdown 3.5 5.7Birka 3.5 5.6Merion 2.4 3.6LSD(.05) 0.9 1.0______________________________________ Rated 1-9, 9 = No Disease
TABLE 20______________________________________Comparison of Dollarspot Disease Incidenceon Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrasses. Marysville Prince Frederick OhioVariety Maryland Test 1 Test 2______________________________________Ba 70-139 30 37 32Adelphi 8 20 36America 13Banff 70Baron 50 23 53Birka 6 47Bonnieblue 10 57Bono 4 63Bristol 6 17 43Columbia 10Eclipse 8 60Glade 40 43Gnome 22Kenblue 8 37 30Merion 50Merit 4 50Midnight 6Newport 67Park 33 43Ram I 40 25Rugby 12 73Sydsport 43Touchdown 50Vantage 11 15 32Victa 5 23 30Wabash 11Windsor 33LSD(.05) 19 24 38______________________________________ Rating: % of turf that is affected by disease.
TABLE 21______________________________________Comparison of Stripe Smut DiseaseIncidence on Ba 70-139 and OtherBluegrasses in Maryland.Variety Prince Frederick Accokeek______________________________________Ba 70-139 0 0Bristol 13 0Flyking 2Kenblue 0Merion 2Mosa 28Vantage 4Windsor 58LSD(.05) 18 8______________________________________ Rating: % of turf that is affected by disease.
Ba 70-139 has the capability to tolerate heat and drought stress, and it has a low growth habit and a lower vertical growth rate than many varieties, especially the common type of varieties such as Park, Kenblue, and Newport, that should allow it to tolerate lower mowing heights and possibly decrease the total number of mowings per year without sacrificing overall turf performance. The leaf texture of the new variety is similar to many bluegrass varieties when maintained under mowed turf conditions. Comparisons showing heat and drought stress, low growth habit, and leaf texture are presented in Tables 22-24.
TABLE 22______________________________________Comparison of Drought and Heat Toleranceof Ba 70-139 and Other Bluegrass in Maryland.Variety Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4______________________________________Ba 70-139 6 0 8 3Adelphi 7 4Baron 0Birka 11Bonnieblue 12 8Bono 10Bristol 31 50 10 5Flyking 50Glade 13Kenblue 50 7Merion 25 20Merit 18 2Midnight 17Mosa 27Park 20 3Ram I 0Rugby 6Vantage 0 7 7Victa 17 10Wabash 13Windsor 50LSD(.05) 33 14______________________________________ Rated as % brown turf due to drought and heat stress.
TABLE 23______________________________________Comparison of Growth habit of Ba 70-139and Other Bluegrasses at Marysville, Ohio.Variety Test 1 Test 2______________________________________Ba 70-139 2.0 1.8Adelphi 2.0 2.1America 1.8Baron 1.8 2.0Birka 2.0Bono 2.0Bristol 2.0Eclipse 2.0Flyking 2.3Glade 2.2 1.7Gnome 2.0 1.7Kenblue 2.9Merion 2.2Newport 2.4Nugget 1.5Park 2.9Sydsport 1.9Touchdown 2.0Vantage 2.7 3.0Victa 1.9 1.8Windsor 2.0LSD(.05) 0.3______________________________________ Rated 1-5, 5 = Highest Growth Habit
TABLE 24______________________________________Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 70-139 andOther Bluegrasses Under Mowed Turf Conditions. St. Louis GervaisVariety Missouri Oregon______________________________________Ba 70-139 4.0 2.0Adelphi 5.3 2.8America 6.0Baron 4.6Birka 6.0Bono 5.6Bristol 5.3 3.0Glade 6.0Gnome 4.3Merit 4.3Park 6.0 3.0Ram I 3.0Sydsport 5.0Touchdown 5.0Vantage 6.0Victa 4.4 1.7LSD(.05) 0.7 0.5______________________________________ Rating: Largest number indicates finest texture
Ba 70-139 has a high level of seed yielding ability which should make it an economically feasible variety to produce for commercial markets. The low susceptibility of Ba 70-139 to rust and lodging under typical seed field conditions should aid in producing economical seed crops. Comparative results on seed yield, rust, and lodging are shown in Table 25 and Table 26.
TABLE 25______________________________________Seed Yield Comparisons of Ba 70-139 andOther Bluegrass Varieties in Oregon.Variety Year 1 Year 2 Mean______________________________________Ba 70-139 643 930 787Ba 72-492 585 864 725Ba 72-500 559 757 658Victa 780 1394 1087Newport 435 1256 846Bristol 347 808 578Mosa 322 1060 691LSD(.05) 140 134______________________________________ Rating: Pounds per acre of conditioned seed.
TABLE 26______________________________________Plant Characteristics of Ba 70-139 andOther Bluegrass Varieties at Gervais, OregonUnder Seed Production Conditions. Lodging Rust Year 1 Year 2______________________________________Ba 70-139 2 2.5 0Ba 72-500 1 2.5 0.2Ba 72-492 1 2.5 0.2Victa 2 2.0 0Bristol 4 4.0 1Newport 4 4.0 1Mosa 4 2.0 0______________________________________ Ratings Rust: 1-4, 4 = very susceptible Lodging: 0-5, 5 = severe lodging
Claims
  • 1. A variety of Kentucky bluegrass plant, substantially as shown and described, characterized particularly by a high level of resistance to diseases, a desirable green color throughout the growing season, a high quality persistent turf under a wide range of environmental conditions including shady conditions, and a high level of seed yielding capacity.