1. Selecting Cool Season Species and Varieties for Sports
Dr. Leah A. Brilman
Research Director
Seed Research of Oregon

2. Species Selection Typical problems Wear at goal mouth
Wear in middle of field
Wear near sidelines
Short repair times
Repair only at difficult times
Repair during play

3. Species Selection Goal -Sports Turf Usage Type of Sport
Football, soccer, baseball, field hockey
Season(s) of play
Type of construction - sand, soil
Time for renovation/repair
Budget for construction and maintenance
Other uses of field

4. Species Selection Turf characteristics for Sports Turf Wear tolerant
Fast establishment
Rapid recovery
Lateral stability
Stable footing
Tolerant of mowing height
Diesease tolerant

5. Species Selection Important characteristics for Sports Turf
Low light tolerant
Winter active growth
Drought tolerant
Good aesthetics
Nice color
Good mowing quality

6. Cool-season Species for Sports
Bluegrass species
Kentucky bluegrass
Texas x Kentucky bluegrass
Poa supina
Ryegrass
Perennial
Transitional
Tall fescue
Deschampsia

7. Types of Kentucky Bluegrasses
Compact Types CELA Type
Compact BVMG Type
Midnight Shamrock type
America Cheri Type
Aggressive Type Julia Type
Bellevue Type Common Type
Mid-Atlantic Type Other Type

8. Types of Kentucky Bluegrasses
Selection of type of bluegrass for sports
NJ Wear - Spring, summer and fall wear
High performers Low performers
Compact America
Midnight BVMG
Julia Cheri
Aggressive Common
Mid-Atlantic
Repeat with wear, compaction different seasons

9. Types of Kentucky Bluegrasses
Selection of type of bluegrass for sports
WI Wear trial - fall wear
Combined with perennial ryegrass varying percentages
Only obtained 50% KBG with less than 15% rye
No difference between Midnight types, BVMG types, Aggressive types
Common types less wear tolerant
Midnight, Fairfax more dominant in blends

10. Types of Kentucky Bluegrasses
MA Wear trial - unirrigated, no fungicides
Wear 75 passes over 4 days late Oct. - real life?
Shear strength in September
No consistent pattern of variety type
Little correlation shear strength and wear
No correlation with Rutgers except Avalanche and P-105. Others - Bedazzled, Brooklawn, Bedazzled, Baritone
Highest rated shear and wear low rated at Rutgers - Blue Sapphire

11. Types of Kentucky Bluegrasses
IA Wear trial NTEP
Cheri type - Serene
Other - Coventry, Chateau
Common - Kenblue
America - America, good - Unique, Brilliant, Apollo, Showcase
Midnight - Rugby II, good - Midnight, Award, Nustar, NuGlade
Shamrock- Champagne

12. Compact Types Compact, Midnight, America
Low, compact growth
High quality turf
1/2 inch cutting height
Excellent resistance to Leaf Spot
Long Winter dormancy
Variable under Summer stress
Often purple Winter color

13. Compact Type Cultivars
SR 2109 P-105
Ram I Diva
Moonshadow Platini
Wildwood Indigo
Moonlight Glade
Blackstone Alpine
Blacksburg Apex

14. Midnight Type Characteristics of compact type Very dark green color
Late Spring green-up
Good heat tolerance
Susceptible to powdery mildew
Variable resistance to Summer Patch
Not good in shade sites

15. Midnight Type Cultivars
Midnight II Rugby II Ginney
Award Impact Awesome
Midnight Total Eclipse Barrister
Liberator Quantum Leap Beyond
Odyssey Absolute Impact
NuGlade Tsunami Excursion
NuDestiny Arcadia Bluestone

16. Aggressive Type Aggressive lateral growth High shoot density
Very wear tolerant
Quickly knit sod and repair
May predominate in blend
Variable in other characteristics

17. Aggressive Type Cultivars
P-105 Cheetah
Bariris A-34
Touchdown Mystic
Limousine Northstar

18. Julia Type High turf quality High density Good Summer performance
Moderate Winter performance
Good Leaf Spot, Stripe Smut resistance
Susceptible to Brown Patch, Dollar Spot

19. Julia Type Cultivars
Avalanche
Julia
Caliber
Ikone
PpH 7832

20. America Type Characteristics of compact type
Finer leaf, higher density
Moderate Winter dormancy
Moderate Summer recovery
High Summer Patch resistance
Resistant to powdery mildew
Good in shade

21. America Type Cultivars
Showcase Apollo
SR Brilliant
Kingfisher Langara
America Unique
Bedazzled Sonoma
Boutique Royale
Arrow Bordeaux
Glenmont Mallard

22. Mid-Atlantic Type Deep, extensive roots and rhizomes
Vigorous turf & medium-high density
High Summer stress tolerance
Early Spring green-up
Good Winter performance
Rapid recovery from disease
Leaf spot susceptible except: SR 2000 and Preakness

23. Mid-Atlantic Type Cultivars
SR 2000 Livingston
Monopoly Bel-21
Preakness Plush
Eagleton Wabash
Cabernet

24. Shamrock Type Moderate Winter color Good resistance to Leaf Spot
Good turf quality and sod strength
Billbug susceptible
High seed yields
Less stemmy than BVMG types
Summer performance variable
Large seed - quick germination

25. Shamrock Type Cultivars
SR 2100
Shamrock
Champagne
Parkland

26. BVMG Type High seed yields Medium wide leaves Medium-good turf
Stripe Smut susceptible
Medium low growth
Large seed - quick germ
Medium wide leaves
Very stemmy turf
Poor Winter performance
Billbug susceptible

27. BVMG Type Cultivars Baron Nassau Victa Raven Merit Marquis
Gnome BlueChip
Dragon Fortuna
Abbey Goldrush
BlueStar Crest
Cannon

28. Common Type (Midwest Ecotypes)
Erect growth and narrow leaf blades
Good Summer stress tolerance (may go dormant)
High Leaf Spot susceptibility
Poor Winter color and performance
Early seed production
Good for soil stabilization/conservation

29. Common Type (Midwest Ecotypes)
Kenblue Huntsville
S Park
Geary Piedmont
Alene Greenley
Ginger Garfield
South Dakota Cert

30. Texas X Kentucky bluegrass
Texas bluegrass heat and drought tolerant, extensive and deep rhizomes
Kentucky bluegrass turf quality
1st generation low fertility, low germination
Backcrossed to Kentucky bluegrass
More extensive rhizomes
Greater heat and drought tolerance
Must evaluate for diseases, germination vigor, apomixis

31. Texas x Kentucky bluegrass
Many first hybrids poor germination
Thermal Blue = HB 129 = BH
Improved establishment
High shear strength
Excellent rhizomes = good recovery
Good wear tolerance in Ohio - not high Rutgers
Additional new hybrids with good establishment, high drought tolerance

32. Texas X Kentucky bluegrass
Rhizomes on young spaced plants
Deep rhizomes contribute to recovery
Bluegrass usage further south
Top rated for shear strength NTEP

33. Poa supina bluegrass Very wear tolerant Very shade tolerant
Fast coverage, aggressive
Current material light green
Used for sports turf in Northern climates
Needs
Darker color and heat tolerance
Improved establishment, especially during play

34. Perennial ryegrass Advantages in mixtures Quick establishment
Very dark green color
Resistant to different diseases than KBG/TF
Endophyte-enhanced
Disadvantages in mixtures
Overdominate other components
Bunch-type growth
Reduced stress tolerance

35. Perennial ryegrass Advantages and varietal needs
Rapid establishment - Best species for establishment during play
Winter-active growth for many uses
Daylength-dependent dwarf types less suitable
Less slickness (interspecific crosses)
Decumbent, spreading growth - superior in Europe for repair
Trials at STRI, WSU, MO, NY
Reduce nitrogen requirements
Best in regular trials may not be best in wear trials
Season of play, establishment important

36. Perennial ryegrass
Highest rated NTEP Athletic field management without traffic
MACH 1 (ROBERTS-627) APPLAUD (PENNINGTON-11301)
PIZZAZZ SR 4220 (SRX 4801)
ALL STAR2 (CIS-PR-78) JET
CHARISMATIC (LTP ) PINNACLE II (BAR 9 B2)
GATOR 3 (CIS-PR-85) KOKOMO (CIS-PR-69)
CITATION FORE (PST-2BR) PENTIUM (NJ-6401)
SUNKISSED (ABT ) AMAZING (B1)
SR 4420 (SRX 4820) GRAND SLAM 2L96 (PST-2L96)
ARRIVAL (CIS-PR-84) INSPIRE (R8000)
BLAZER IV (PICK MDR) SEVILLE II
SR HAWKEYE (SRX 4RHT)

37. Perennial ryegrass Highest rated four traffic sites in NTEP Trial
CITATION FORE (PST-2BR)* MACH 1 (ROBERTS-627*
COURAGE (MB 410) MANHATTAN 4 (PST-2CRL
RACER II (PICK RC2) SR 4500*
PENTIUM (NJ-6401)* GRAND SLAM 2L96 (PST-2L96)*
SR 4220 (SRX 4801)* SR 4350 (APR 1237)
GATOR 3 (CIS-PR-85) PACESETTER (6011)*
STELLAR (CIS-PR-72 RADIANT
EXACTA BLAZER IV (PICK MDR)*
KOKOMO (CIS-PR-69)* CATALINA II (PST-CATS)*
SEVILLE II* FIESTA 3

38. Perennial ryegrass Gray leaf spot resistance
Important in MidWest, transitional zone and now California
California reports in both permanent and overseeded turf
Seedlings most vulnerable
Warm, moist conditions, especially with less hours of sunlight
Rapid advances in resistance

39. Gray Leaf Spot Resistance
Rutgers University Trial 1-9, 9 = Best
Cultivar GLS Res Quality
Peregrine (1425)
Integra
Pinnacle II
AllStar
Brightstar II
Calypso II
Fiesta

40. Gray Leaf Spot Resistance
Rutgers University Trial 1-9, 9 = Best
Cultivar GLS Res Quality
MS1 Comp
Integra Select
SR 4550 (1557)
Integra
Amazing
Pizzazz

41. Gray Leaf Spot Resistance
2004 Perennial ryegrass
NTEP Gray leaf spot -
Rutgers University

42. Transitional ryegrass
Advantages in mixtures
Very quick establishment
Less expensive seed
Lasts only one to two seasons
Germination and growth at cooler temp.
Moderate green color
Improved mowing quality
Less mowing requirement than annual
Does not overdominate mixtures

43. Transitional ryegrass
Percent Cover Annual, Transitional, Perennial + mixtures. Seeded Feb. 20, Puyallup, WA.
Treatment March March April April April April
Axcella AR
Transeze TR
PR Blend
TR + PR
AR + PR

44. Transitional ryegrass
PR TR AR
PR/TR

45. Tall Fescue Excellent wear tolerance once established
Speed of establishment
New data Ohio State - new varieties can maintain quality with wear after 15 weeks, spring establishment
Speed of repair
Rhizomes in new varieties may help
Drought tolerance useful many sites
Need more winter-active growth

46. Tall Fescue Highest rated NTEP traffic in New Jersey
DOMINION OLYMPIC GOLD
ELISA APACHE III (PST-5A1)
TULSA II (ATF 706) SR 8550 (SRX 8BE4)
MASTERPIECE EXPEDETION (ATF-803)
JAGUAR SILVERSTAR (PST-5ASR)
ENDEAVOR FOCUS
TAR HEEL TEMPEST
BINGO RENDITION
TITAN LTD. NINJA 2 (ATF-800)
SR TAR HEEL II (PST-5TR1)
TOMAHAWK GT WYATT

47. Tall Fescue Highest rated NTEP traffic in St. Louis, MO
ULTIMATE (01-RUTOR2) GUARDIAN-21 (ROBERTS DOL)
PADRE (NJ4) 2ND MILLENNIUM
AVENGER (L1Z) BLACKWATCH (PICK-OD3-01)
BINGO FIREBIRD (CIS-TF-65)
DAVINCI (LTP-7801) FINESSE II
FORTE (BE-2) GRANDE II
PICASSO MATADOR GT (PST-5TUO)
REBEL EXEDA SILVERSTAR (PST-5ASR)
SR 8550 (SRX 8BE4) ESCALADE (01-ORU1)
BILTMORE CONSTITUTION (ATF-593)
INFERNO (JT-99) JAGUAR 3

48. Rhizome Reproduction Underground repair
Kentucky bluegrass, creeping red fescue, bermudagrass
Present on certain tall fescues, observed on plants
Wear, divot repair
Soil compaction, season influence repair
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49. Tall Fescue Turf Rhizome
4 inch wide divot cut May 4 , 6 weeks growth
Tall fescue rhizome 3 inches
from mother plant
Not as many as in bluegrass
More rhizomes observed in fall than spring
Use this slide if you are going to use a picture. To make a presentation interesting, you should have images on at least 50% of the slides. Without visuals, you will quickly put people to sleep. You might anyway, but you have a better chance of keeping their attention if you use some nice visuals. Pictures can make the presentation look more professional.
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50. Tall Fescue Turf Rhizome
6 week divot repair sand
2 week divot repair sand
Use this slide if you are going to use a picture. To make a presentation interesting, you should have images on at least 50% of the slides. Without visuals, you will quickly put people to sleep. You might anyway, but you have a better chance of keeping their attention if you use some nice visuals. Pictures can make the presentation look more professional.
Delete this text and place picture in same area, lining picture up with top of yellow text.
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Grande II Labarinth

51. Wear tolerance 50 passes OH
Treatment Name Wear Tol. 1.5” Mowing Height Wear Tol. 3” Mowing Height
Bariris KBG
Grande ll TF + Rugby ll KBG
Rugby ll KBG + Renaissance PRG
Aberelf + SR4420 PRG
Thermal Blue Texas x KBG hybrid
Rendition TF
Grande II TF
Barlennium PRG
Nexus PRG
Orfeo KBG
Titan, Kittyhawk + Rendition TF
Winter Active Fescue (WAF)
Showcase KBG + fine fescues
Spring Green Festulolium
Barfest Festulolium
Labyrinth RTF™
LSD (0.05)

52. Tall Fescue
Best results when blended with Kentucky bluegrass - 85 to 90% Tall fescue
Blending with Texas x Kentucky hybrids may be useful in stress sites
Brown patch reduced in blends
Establish in spring or late summer
Provide protection against Pythium and seedling brown patch
Overseed on yearly basis - Before or after play preferred. Use Transitional ryegrass to patch.

53. Deschampsia cespitosa
Common name is tufted hairgrass
Circumpolar native
Extends around the globe in the northern hemisphere
Middle latitudes found at high altitudes
Native in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina
Native to United States and Canada

54. Tufted Hairgrass Attributes suggesting turf potential
First colonizer of disturbed sites
Tolerant of very low light levels
Found in low nitrogen sites
Waterlogged sites with high ammonium
Sites with heavy wear
Acid soil, salt and heavy metal tolerant

55. Winter wear tolerance Bluegrass STRI Bingley, UK. Merit Dec
Winter wear tolerance Bluegrass STRI Bingley, UK. Merit Dec. 1997, Wear applied from October. Seeded June Kentucky bluegrass, tufted hairgrass, Poa supina and Poa trivialis.
Dec Dec.
Cultivar Merit Cultivar Merit
Supra Poa supina Miracle KBG
Barcampsia TH Solo Poa trivialis
Julia KBG Conni KBG
Albany KBG Princeton
Limousine KBG Unique KBG
Ikone KBG Asset KBG
Broadway KBG NuGlade KBG
Haga KBG Award KBG
5% 0.9

56. Winter wear tolerance w/ high nitrogen STRI Bingley, UK. Mean Nov
Winter wear tolerance w/ high nitrogen STRI Bingley, UK. Mean Nov. and Dec. 2000, Wear applied from October. Seeded June Perennial rye and tufted hairgrass.
Cultivar Quality Cultivar Quality
SR 6000 (Voyager) TH Gator II PR
Essence PR AberImp PR
Churchill PR Barclay PR
Repell PR Charger II PR
BAR DC TH Advent PR
Barcampsia TH Elka PR
Manhattan II PR Superstar PR
Paragon PR Master
Secretariat %

57. Winter wear tolerance w/ low nitrogen STRI Bingley, UK. Mean Nov
Winter wear tolerance w/ low nitrogen STRI Bingley, UK. Mean Nov. and Dec. 2000, Wear applied from October. Seeded June Perennial rye and tufted hairgrass.
Cultivar Quality Cultivar Quality
Ritmo PR AberImp PR
SR 6000 (Voyager) TH Advent PR
Churchill PR Secreteriat PR 5.8
BAR DC TH Repell PR
Barcampsia TH Yorktown III PR
Essence PR Elka PR
Paragon PR Manhattan II PR
Gator II PR Charger II PR
5% 0.9

58. 1997 Fine Fescue NTEP Shade trials. Mean of MI and NE. 1999 Data.
Shade Shade
Cultivar Mean Cultivar Mean
Quatro SF SR 6000 TH
Jasper II STCRF Banner III CF
Pathfinder Manhattan II PR
SR 5100 CF Discovery HF
Oxford HF Jamestown II CF
Dawson E+ SLCRF SR 3200 BF
Brittany Shadow II CF
Attilla E HF Treazure CF
5% 1.1

59. Tufted hairgrass Use for turf in Pacific Northwest
Primary sports trials in England. Lower light intensity in winter than PNW.
Used in shaded sports fields in UK and Europe.
Blended with different species depending on
site conditions.
Bluegrass use only rust/shade tolerant
Tall fescue non-irrigated sites
Perennial ryegrass - watch seed rates

60. Final recommendations
Each sports site is unique
Stadium shading complicates recommendations
Most trials in full sun - Puyallup data useful
Most turf trials on soil - look for those on sand
Balance local varietal performance data with wear trial data
Breeders are working on new varieties and new species for sports turf
Work with local sod grower to have replacement turf available - cheaper than artificial