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; and U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 872,537, filed June 10, 1986.
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Poa pratensis which has been designated Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass.
Ba 72-500 plant material originated by crossing a Kentucky bluegrass plant disclosed in U.S. plant 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 rhizones, tillers and disseminules.
Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass reproduced asexually by propagules, i.e., by tillers and rhizomes and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis). Progeny plants have been produced which are indistinguishable from the mother plant.
Ba 72-500 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; a 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 performance scores in tests throughout the U.S.A. and Canada, and a good-to-medium seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production region of the U.S.A.
In comparison with its seed parent, the new variety is more shade tolerant and has better resistance to powdery mildew and rust.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a photograph of Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass plant in the vegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;
FIG. 2 is a photograph of Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass panicle; and
FIG. 3 is a photograph of Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass seed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Ba 72-500 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a moderately dense turf. When plants winter 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.degree.-80.degree. F.), culms are erect averaging 439 mm tall with an average of 2.7 nodes per culm. The uppermost internode averages 9.8 cm, and the peduncle averages 12.9 cm in length and 0.660 mm in thickness. The flag leaf averages 4.1 cm in length, 3.2 mm in width, and 0.112 mm in thickness. The panicle is nodding with an average length of 6.8 cm, width of 3.8 cm, and 5.0 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 4.0 branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle has an average of 2.4 branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch in the lowest whorl is 5.1 mm in length and has 4.2 florets with an outer glume of 3.1 mm in length and an inner glume of 3.4 mm in length. A similar spikelet from the third whorl from the bottom is 5.0 mm in length and has 3.9 florets with an outer glume of 3.1 mm in length and an inner glume of 3.4 mm in length. After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has a rough keel with occasional long, fine hairs at the base. The seed of Ba 72-500 is 2.77 mm in length and 0.80 mm in width with approximately 1,300,105 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 72-500 and other bluegrasses for seed measurements and seed counts per pound are found in Tables 1 and 2.
TABLE 1______________________________________Seed Measurements of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass VarietiesAfter Conditioning. Length WidthVariety (mm) (mm)______________________________________Ba 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______________________________________Seed Counts Per Pound of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass VarietiesAfter Conditioning Number of Seeds Per Pound______________________________________Ba 72-500 1,300,105Adelphi 1,383,976America 1,659,824Gnome 1,017,641Baron 1,051,693Birka 1,223,530Bonnieblue 1,135,303Bristol 1,270,821Classic 1,250,316Eclipse 1,335,668Georgetown 1,232,913Glade 1,108,441Kenblue 1,463,923Merit 1,109,728Nassau 1,127,130Newport 1,226,481Park 1,248,349Sydsport 1,355,644Vantage 1,555,303Victa 1,038,298______________________________________
Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate influence morphological characteristics to some extent, comparisons of morphological characteristics of Ba 72-500 are made with other Kentucky bluegrass varieties in Tables 3-7.
TABLE 3______________________________________Morphological Comparisons of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass -VarietiesGrown as Unmowed Spaced Plants in the Field atMarysville, Ohio.Mature Plant Leaf Panicle SeedheadHeight (cm) Blade Width Density Weight2 Year 2 Year 2 Year 2 YearMean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 46 2.4 6 335Nugget 36 2.0 5 225Glade 53 2.2 7 314Vantage 67 2.5 6 786Adelphi 53 2.3 6 396Park 55 2.2 6 361Bristol 55 2.3 7 385Parade 53 2.5 5 372A-34 65 2.1 8 384Kenblue 63 2.4 6 498Victa 46 3.0 7 442Merion 49 2.2 7 191LSD (.05) 18 0.7 2 427______________________________________ Ratings: Leaf Blade Width: 1-4, 4 = wide blades Panicle Density: 0-9, 9 = very high panicle density Seedhead Weight: Weight (mg) of three panicles
TABLE 4______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Panicles of Ba 72-500 and OtherBluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.______________________________________ Panicle Panicle Number of Panicle Length Width WhorlsVariety Nodding* (cm) (cm) Per Panicle______________________________________Ba 72-500 2.0 6.8 3.8 5.0Baron 1.0 7.8 4.1 5.2Bristol 2.0 9.7 5.0 5.0Nassau 2.0 10.0 6.0 5.0Newport 2.0 10.3 4.4 4.5Park 1.6 9.0 3.7 4.0Ram I 2.0 9.0 4.7 4.0Victa 1.2 7.5 4.1 5.4LSD (.05) 0.5 1.6 1.0 0.8______________________________________ Peduncle PeduncleNumber of Branches Length WidthVariety Lower Whorl Third Whorl (cm) (mm)______________________________________Ba 72-500 4.0 2.4 12.9 0.660Baron 3.8 2.5 12.7 0.559Bristol 3.3 2.7 15.0 0.686Nassau 3.0 2.0 8.0 0.533Newport 2.3 2.3 18.0 0.558Park 4.3 3.7 14.3 0.787Ram I 2.5 2.0 18.5 0.610Victa 4.4 3.4 12.2 0.711LSD (.05) 0.7 0.8 3.7 0.018______________________________________ *Panicle nodding rated 1 = erect, 2 = nodding.
TABLE 5______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Culms and Flag Leaves of Ba72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse atMarysville, Ohio.______________________________________ Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Length Width ThicknessVariety (cm) (mm) (mm)______________________________________Ba 72-500 4.1 3.2 0.112Baron 4.5 3.2 0.119Bristol 5.5 3.4 0.127Nassau 6.2 3.1 0.127Newport 6.1 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______________________________________ Top Internode Culm Number of Length Length Nodes PerVariety (cm) (mm) Culm______________________________________Ba 72-500 9.8 439 2.7Baron 10.1 482 2.5Bristol 11.3 522 2.7Nassau 11.2 450 2.5Newport 11.2 547 2.3Park 13.0 578 3.0Ram I 10.2 527 3.0Victa 10.6 474 2.4LSD (.05) 2.1 79 0.6______________________________________
TABLE 6______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Spikelets and Florets of Ba72-500 and 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 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______________________________________ Glume Length (mm) Outer Inner Lowest Third Lowest ThirdVariety Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl______________________________________Ba 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 7______________________________________Morphological Comparison of Leaves of Ba 72-500 and OtherBluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio. Leaf Ligule Leaf Leaf Angle Length Length Width (DegreesVariety (mm) (mm) (mm) From Horizontal)______________________________________Ba 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______________________________________ Hairs.sup.a Around Ligule on Upper Surface Hairs.sup.a on Hairs.sup.b onVariety of the Leaf Collar Ligule______________________________________Ba 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.
Ba 72-500 has performed very well throughout the U.S.A. and Canada as exhibited by high turf quality ratings in ten different locations as the comparisons show in Table 8.
TABLE 8______________________________________Comparison of the Turf Quality of Ba 72-500 and OtherBluegrass Varieties in the U.S.A. and Canada______________________________________ St. Louis Guelph Winnipeg Beltsville Missouri Ontario Manitoba Maryland 1 Year 2 Year 2 Year 1 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 3.2 7.7 6.9 5.8A-34 6.6 5.6Adelphi 2.9 5.9Admiral 6.0America 2.8Aquila 7.1Banff 4.8Baron 2.7 6.2 5.3Birka 2.3Bonnieblue 5.0BonoBristol 2.7 5.0Columbia 4.9Eclipse 5.9Enmundi 5.5Fylking 4.9GearyGeronimoGlade 2.8 5.3Gnome 2.9 7.0KenolueMerion 6.7 5.3Merit 2.8 6.5 6.1Midnight 5.5Monopoly 4.9Mystic 6.6Nassau 5.9 4.5NewportNugget 7.1Parade 5.0Park 1.8 6.7Ram I 4.6SO CommonShasta 6.7 7.1Sydsport 2.7 5.8Touchdown 2.7 6.8 5.8Trampas 6.3Vantage 2.6 5.5Victa 2.8 5.5Wabash______________________________________ Adelphia Lincoln Agassiz New Jersey Nebraska British Columbia 2 Year 2 Year 1 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 6.1 6.0 5.4A-34 6.2Adelphi 6.4 6.1AdmiralAmericaAquila 5.7BanffBaron 6.4 5.6Birka 5.9 5.9Bonnieblue 6.7 5.8Bono 5.2Bristol 6.5 5.9 6.1Columbia 5.9Eclipse 7.2 5.8Enmundi 6.3 5.9Fylking 5.7 6.1Geary 3.6Geronimo 5.1Glade 6.7 6.4Gnome 6.4Kenolue 3.3Merion 6.0 5.9 5.3Merit 6.2 6.0 4.9Midnight 7.3 5.9Monopoly 5.7MysticNassau 5.9NewportNuggetParade 5.6 6.5Park 5.7Ram I 6.2 5.9SO Common 3.2Shasta 5.7Sydsport 6.0 6.3Touchdown 6.1 5.9Trampas 5.7Vantage 3.6 5.8Victa 6.5 5.7Wabash 4.8______________________________________ Gervais Marysville Prince Frederick Oregon Ohio Maryland 3 Year 5 Year 4 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 2.8 2.8 2.3A-34Adelphi 2.4 2.7 1.9AdmiralAmerica 2.5AquilaBanffBaronBirkaBonnieblueBonoBristol 2.8 2.7 2.1ColumbiaEclipseEnmundiFylkingGearyGeronimoGlade 2.5 1.8Gnome 2.3Kenolue 1.4MerionMerit 2.4 1.9MidnightMonopolyMysticNassauNewport 1.4NuggetParade 2.7Park 2.1 1.7Ram ISO CommonShastaSydsportTouchdownTrampasVantage 2.6 1.8Victa 2.2 2.6 2.1Wabash______________________________________ Rating Scale: Larger number indicates higher quality.
Good turf performance under shady conditions is an important characteristic for broad, general usage of a bluegrass variety. Ba 72-500 performs very well under shady conditions as seen from the comparative test results in Tables 9 and 10.
TABLE 9______________________________________Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shade of Ba 72-500 andOther Bluegrass Varieties at Marysville, Ohio. 4 Yr Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.4Merion 1.8 1.6 2.0 1.8 1.8Fylking 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.9A-34 2.0 2.2 2.6 2.7 2.4Park 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.9Newport 1.9 1.7 1.9 2.1 1.9Bristol 1.8 2.1 2.2 1.8 2.0Enmundi 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.5 2.2Bonnieblue 2.0 1.7 2.0 1.7 1.9Touchdown 1.8 2.1 2.1 1.7 1.9Aquila 1.8 1.7 1.7 2.1 1.8Parade 1.8 2.0 2.2 1.8 2.0Victa 2.0 1.5 1.8 2.0 1.8LSD (.05) .46 .47______________________________________ Rated 1-4, 4 = Best
TABLE 10______________________________________Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shade of Ba 72-500and Other Bluegrass Varieties at Gervais, Oregon.______________________________________QualityYear 1 Year 2 June Aug. Oct. Mean Feb. Sept Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 2.8 2.8 3.3 3.0 3.3 3.0 3.2Bristol 2.5 2.8 2.3 2.6 3.0 1.7 2.4Gnome 3.5 1.0 1.0 1.8 1.0 0.5 .8Victa 2.8 1.8 1.7 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.9LSD (.05) .97 .97 .63 .95 .96______________________________________ Quality Year 3 Year 4 4 Yr Feb. May Mean______________________________________ Ba 72-500 2.2 2.2 2.7 Bristol 2.0 2.3 2.3 Gnome 1.3 2.3 1.6 Victa 1.8 1.0 1.7 LSD (.05) .83 .80______________________________________ Rated 1-4, 4 = Best
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 as shown by the comparative test results in Table 11.
TABLE 11______________________________________Comparison of Turf Color of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varietiesat Various Locations in the U.S.A. and Canada.______________________________________ St. Louis Truro Winnipeg Lincoln Missouri Nova Scotia Manitoba Nebraska 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 9.4 7.1 7.0 7.0A-34 6.3 6.5Adelphi 9.4 7.2America 9.4 7.0Aquila 7.3 6.7Baron 9.2 7.3 6.9Birka 9.1 6.7Bonnieblue 7.0Bono 9.0Bristol 9.5 7.3Eclipse 7.0Enmundi 7.0Fylking 6.8GeronimoGlade 9.3 7.1Gnome 9.3 7.5KenblueMerion 6.9Merit 9.2 7.2 7.0Midnight 8.1 7.9Mystic 6.5Nassau 7.2NewportNugget 7.3Parade 6.8Park 9.0 6.1Ram I 7.3Rugby 6.8Shasta 7.2Sydsport 9.2 7.0Touchdown 9.0 6.6 6.8Trampas 6.9Vantage 9.2 6.8Victa 9.2 7.5 6.9______________________________________ Marys- Prince Agassiz Gervais ville Frederick British Columbia Oregon Ohio Maryland 1 Year 3 Year 2 Year 3 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 5.5 7.2 8.1 7.7A-34Adelphi 7.6 8.4 7.4America 7.6 8.5AquilaBaron 8.5Birka 8.1BonnieblueBono 6.0Bristol 7.0 9.3 8.9 8.3Eclipse 8.5EnmundiFylkingGeronimo 5.8Glade 8.3 8.4 8.0Gnome 7.4 8.1Kenblue 6.6 8.1Merion 5.7Merit 6.5 7.4 7.4Midnight 8.9MysticNassauNewport 7.5NuggetParadePark 8.1 6.8Ram IRugbyShastaSydsport 8.2Touchdown 8.1TrampasVantage 8.5 6.8Victa 7.1 8.4 7.6______________________________________ Rating Scale: Larger number indicates darker green color.
Resistance to common turf diseases is important for consistent performance throughout the year and among locations. Comparisons of resistance to leaf spot (also known as melting out and crown rot) caused by the fungus Helminthosporium vagans are presented in Table 12.
TABLE 12______________________________________Comparison of Leafspot Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 andOther Bluegrasses at Several Locations in the U.S.A. and______________________________________Canada. Agassiz.sup.c St. Louis.sup.a Beltsville.sup.b Adelphia.sup.b British Missouri Maryland New Jersey Columbia 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 3 7.7 7.0 3.0A-34 5.3 4.3Adelphi 2 8.0 5.7America 8Aquila 6.3Banff 5.3 7.0Baron 2 7.0 8.7Birka 5 6.3Bonnieblue 7.0Bono 7 3.0Bristol 2 7.0 8.3 2.3Columbia 5.7 6.3Eclipse 7.7 9.0Enmundi 7.0Fylking 6.7 6.3Geary 2.0Geronimo 4.7Glade 2 7.3 6.3Gnome 2 7.0 8.0Kenblue 3.3 1.7Merion 6.3 7.7 3.0Merit 3 7.3 7.7 3.7Midnight 7.0 7.0Monopoly 5.3 6.0Nassau 7.7 7.4NewportParade 6.0 5.0Park 52Ram I 6.5 7.0Rugby 5.0Shasta 6.0Sydsport 3 7.3 6.3Touchdown 7 7.7Trenton 6.0Vantage 7 5.0 2.0Victa 2 8.0 7.0Wabash 2.0LSD (.05) 7 1.9______________________________________ Gervais.sup.a Marysville.sup.a Accokeek.sup.a Marysville.sup.a Oregon Ohio Maryland Ohio (Shade) 3 Year 5 Year 2 Year 1 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 21 4 1 0A-34Adelphi 46 9America 29 0AquilaBanffBaronBirka 0BonnieblueBonoBristol 8 5 2ColumbiaEclipseEnmundiFylkingGearyGeronimoGlade 46 0Gnome 76 0Kenblue 75 67MerionMerit 65MidnightMonopolyNassauNewport 45Parade 10Park 54Ram IRugbyShastaSydsport --Touchdown 0TrentonVantage 15 30Victa 70 7 12 0WabashLSD (.05) 15 5 10 4______________________________________ Ratings .sup.a % of turf affected by disease .sup.b 1-9, 9 = least disease .sup.c 1-9, 9 = most disease
Comparisons of resistance to powdery milkdew caused by Erysiphe graminis, rust caused by Puccinia spp., dollarspot caused by Sclerotina homeocarpa, stripe smut caused by Ustilago striiformis, and red thread caused by Corticium fuciform are presented in Tables 13-18.
TABLE 13______________________________________Comparison of Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis) Disease lncidenceon Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrasses at Adelphia, New Jersey Test 1 Test 2______________________________________Ba 72-500 7.2 7.7Midnight 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 7.0Aquila 6.9 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 14______________________________________Comparison of Rust (Puccinia spp.) Disease Incidence on Ba72-500 and Other Bluegrasses. Turf Unmowed Spaced Plants Location Aggasiz.sup.a Gervais.sup.b Marysville.sup.b British Columbia Oregon Ohio Rating YearsVariety 2 Year Mean 1 Year Mean 1 Year Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 1.3 1 17A-34 10Adelphi 23 10America 9Bono 2.1Bristol 1.2 6 9Geronimo 1.5Glade 4 13Gnome 13Kenblue 30 24Merion 2.8 33Merit 2.9 8Newport 23Nugget 13Parade 7Park 32Vantage 43Victa 9 18LSD (.05) 12 16______________________________________ .sup.a Rated 1-9, 9 = most disease .sup.b Rated as % of disease incidence
TABLE 15______________________________________Comparison of Dollarspot Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 andOther Bluegrasses. Prince Frederick MarysvilleVariety Maryland Ohio______________________________________Ba 72-500 24 47Adelphi 8 20America 13Baron 50 23Birka 6 47Bonnieblue 10Bono 4 63Bristol 6 17Columbia 10Eclipse 8Glade 40Gnome 22Kenblue 8 37Merit 4Midnight 6Park 33Ram I 40Rugby 12Sydsport 43Touchdown 50Trenton 28Vantage 11 15Victa 5 23Wabash 11LSD (.05) 19 24______________________________________ Rating: % of turf that is affected by disease.
TABLE 16______________________________________Comparison of Stripe Smut Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 andOther Bluegrasses. Prince Frederick Accokeek Maryland MarylandVariety 3 Year Mean 2 Year Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 0 2Bristol 7Mosa 23Vantage 3Victa 9LSD (.05) 16 9______________________________________ Rating: % of turf affected by disease.
TABLE 17______________________________________Comparison of Red Thread Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 andOther Bluegrasses at Gervais, Oregon Red Thread______________________________________ Ba 72-500 0 Victa 10 Bristol 0 Glade 15 Adelphi 0 Kenblue 23 Newport 3 America 2 Merit 7 Gnome 0 LSD (.05) 13______________________________________ Rating: % of turf affected by disease.
TABLE 18______________________________________Comparison of Powdery Mildew Disease Incidence on Ba 72-500 and OtherBluegrasses.______________________________________ Greenhouse.sup.a Natural Shade.sup.b Adelphia Gervais Marysville New Jersey Oregon Ohio 1 Year 1 Year 3 Year 2 YearVariety Mean Mean Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 5.4 3 3 0A-34 4.5Adelphi 0.8America 6.7 7Aquila 8.7Banff 0.4 15Baron 1.4Birka 5.7 2Bonnieblue 0.8Bristol 6.4 3 10 1Columbia 0.5Eclipse 6.9 3Enmundi 6.9Fylking 1.3Geronimo 40Glade 7.0 37 21Gnome 1.7 78 61Kenblue 2Kimono 0.9Majestic 0.9Merion 0.9Merit 2.3Midnight 0.7Monopoly 5.9 2MosaMystic 8.3Newport 33Nugget 7.0Parade 2.2Ram I 7.2Rugby 0.6 15Shasta 0.7Sydsport 6.1Touchdown 0Vantage 5.0Victa 1.9 35 47 52LSD (.05) 0.8 21 16 6______________________________________ Spaced Plants - Sun.sup.b Prince Frederick Marysville Maryland Ohio 1 Year 2 YearVariety Mean Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 0 0A-34 2 15Adelphi 12 23AmericaAquilaBanffBaronBirkaBonnieblueBristol 1 0ColumbiaEclipseEnmundiFylkingGeronimoGlade 57 23GnomeKenblue 10KimonoMajesticMerion 5MeritMidnightMonopolyMosa 58MysticNewportNugget 3Parade 0Ram IRugbyShasta --SydsportTouchdownVantage 34Victa 13LSD (.05) 25 12______________________________________ .sup.a Rated 0-9, 9 = least disease .sup.b Rated as % of turf affected by disease
Ba 72-500 has the ability to tolerate heat and drought stress as illustrated in Table 19.
TABLE 19______________________________________Comparison of Drought and Heat Tolerance of Ba 72-500 andOther Bluegrasses in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Test 1 Test 2 Test 3Variety 4 Year Mean 1 Year Mean 3 Year Mean______________________________________Ba 72-500 20 0 27Adelphi 36Bristol 31 36Glade 49Merit 43Mosa 27Park 39Vantage 50 39Victa 50 30LSD (.05) 12 24 22______________________________________ Rated as % brown turf due to drought and heat stress.
The low growth habit and slower vertical growth rate of Ba 72-500 indicates that it should withstand low mowing heights as well as possibly decrease the total number of mowings per year under favorable enviromental conditions, especially in comparison to the common type varieties of Kenblue, Newport, and Park as presented in Table 20.
TABLE 20______________________________________Comparison of Growth Habit of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrasses atMarysville, Ohio. Test 1 Test 2 Test 3Variety 1 Year Mean.sup.a 2 Year Mean.sup.b 3 Year Mean.sup.b______________________________________Ba 72-500 2.0 1.4 66Adelphi 2.0 2.4America 1.8Baron 1.8Birka 2.0Bono 2.0Bristol 2.0 2.0 74Eclipse 2.0Fylking 93Glade 2.2Gnome 2.0Kenblue 2.9 96Merion 78Merit 84Newport 100Parade 2.2Park 2.9 2.2Sydsport 1.9 72Touchdown 2.0Vantage 2.7 2.0 84Victa 1.9 2.0 77LSD (.05) 0.3 0.5 12______________________________________ .sup.a Rated 1-5, 5 = high growth, 1 = dwarf. .sup.b Rated as height (mm) of turf about one week after last mowing.
The leaf texture of Ba 72-500 is similar to many bluegrass varieties when maintained under mowed turf conditions as the comparative test results show in Table 21.
TABLE 21______________________________________Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 72-500 and Other BluegrassesUnder Mowed Turf Conditions. St. Louis Agassiz MarysvilleVariety Missouri British Columbia Ohio______________________________________Ba 72-500 4.3 6.0 5.0Adelphi 5.3America 6.0Baron 4.6Birka 6.0Bono 5.6 6.7Bristol 5.3 7.0 5.0Fylking 5.8Geronimo 5.7Glade 6.0Gnome 4.3Kenblue 5.5Merion 6.3 5.0Merit 4.3 5.0 5.0Newport 5.0Park 6.0Sydsport 5.0 5.0Touchdown 5.0Vantage 6.0 5.3Victa 4.4 4.8LSD (.05) 0.7 0.4______________________________________ Rating: 1-9, 9 = finest texture.
Ba 72-500 has a good level of seed yielding ability which should make it an economically feasible variety to produce for commercial markets as shown in Table 22.
TABLE 22______________________________________Seed Yield Comparisons of Ba 72-500 and Other BluegrassVarieties in OregonLocation Gervais La GrandeSeeded Year Year Year Year MadrasHarvest Year 1 2 Mean 1 2 Mean Year 1______________________________________VarietyBa 72-500 559 757 658 876 857 867 1113Victa 780 1394 1087 1419 1200 1310 1324Newport 435 1256 846Bristol 347 808 578 1089 970 1030Mosa 322 1060 691Julia 296 1016 656Baron 1194Trampas 388LSD (.05) 140 134 149 181 220______________________________________ Rating: Pounds per acre of conditioned seed.
The low susceptibility of Ba 72-500 to rust and lodging under typical seed field conditions should aid in producing enconomical seed crops as indicated by the comparative results in Table 23.
TABLE 23______________________________________Plant Characteristics of Ba 72-500 and Other Bluegrass Varieties atGervais, Oregon Under Seed Production Conditions. Lodging Rust Year 1 Year 2______________________________________Ba 72-500 1 2.5 0.2Victa 2 2.0 0Bristol 4 4.0 1Newport 4 4.0 1Mosa 4 2.0 0Julia 4 5.0 4______________________________________ Ratings Rust: 1-4, 4 = very susceptible Lodging: 0-5, 5 = severe lodging

Kentucky bluegrass

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