Doctoral Research
Assessment of Alternative Species Selections for Putting Green Use in the Transition Zone.
Ultra-dwarf bermudagrass, a warm-season turf, is increasingly being used as a putting green turf in the mid to upper transition zone because of its greater heat tolerance, increased photosynthetic efficiency, reduced water requirement, and decreased susceptibility to fungal pathogens when compared to creeping bentgrass, a cool-season turf. However, warm-season grasses lose their green color during winter dormancy and are not as cold hardy as cool-season grasses.
Warm-season putting greens are most often composed of an ultra-dwarf bermudagrass cultivar, but other warm-season options do exist. 'SeaDwarf' seashore paspalum and 'Diamond' zoysiagrass are two such options. 'SeaDwarf' generally requires less nitrogen than bermudagrass and is tolerant of brackish and saline irrigation water. 'Diamond' has an upright growth habit, requires little nitrogen, little water, and is tolerant of saline irrigation water and shady conditions.
The objectives of this research are to:
1) Examine the freeze tolerance of 'TifEagle' and 'Champion'
bermudagrass, 'Diamond' zoysiagrass, and 'SeaDwarf' seashore
paspalum.
2) Determine how stolon and rhizome proline content is related to
cold acclimation status and freeze tolerance.
3) Determine how stolon and rhizome ployamine content is related
to cold acclimation statis and freeze tolerance.
4) Assess late-season nitrogen application timings and PGR use on
winter survival and spring greenup of warm-season putting
greens.
5) Determine the effects of covering regimes and painting on
winter survival and spring greenup of the chosen species and
varieties.
Expected completion: May 2010
John M. Kauffman Information
Contact Information
John M. Kauffman Graduate Research Assistant Turfgrass Physiology
The University of Tennessee
Department of Plant Sciences
252 Ellington Plant Sciences
2431 Joe Johnson Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 Voice: 865-974-6730
Email: jkauffm1@utk.edu