1. Seed Research of Oregon
Perennial Ryegrass Improvement
Seed Research of Oregon
Dr. Leah A. Brilman

2. Improving Perennial Ryegrass
Gray Leaf Spot
Germination with salt stress
Winter-active growth

3. 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

4. GLS - What me worry? Gray leaf spot in perennial ryegrass
First reported in 1991 Pennsylvania
Epidemics in 1995, 1997 and 2000 in Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and transition zones
Verified also in MidWest, New England, now West
Large areas of fairways, roughs and athletic fields can be rapidly lost
In California both permanent and overseeded turf

5. Gray leaf spot Water-soaked lesions Dark colored spots
Gray to brown lesions with darker border
Twisting, hooked leaves
Leaf and plant death
Grayish color

6. Gray Leaf Spot Fairway CA

7. GLS in CA
Almost 30 courses with positive diagnoses – mainly perennial ryegrass
1st epidemic:
August – September
2nd epidemic
October – November
Ryegrass
Kikuyugrass

8. What we know
Gray leaf spot spores primarily airborne and spread by mowers, equipment (How did it get to CA?)
Gray leaf spot overwinters as dormant mycelium in dead tissue - cold winters can reduce initial innoculum
Long periods of leaf wetness under hot conditions favor the disease
Initial innoculum builds up under lower temperatures then it explodes
Often first occurs in shady, wet areas

9. Temperature and Leaf Wetness

10. What we know Initial symptoms are an off-color, wilted appearance
Often mistaken for drought stress so irrigation is applied increasing period of leaf wetness = more disease
Seedlings tend to be more susceptible than mature plants - could partially be due to maintenance of wet conditions in seedbed
High nitrogen makes it worse
Primo in spring can make it worse, but not in fall
Putting a tarp on a field not a good idea during heat

11. What we know Fungicide control
QoIs - Heritage at high rate good with high disease pressure, Compass at label rate sometimes has reduced control
Benzimidazole - Clearys 3336 good at 3 oz except highest pressure
Always add in a contact fungicide for spores
Resistance already reported to QoIs - switch to fungicide with moderate activity for part of year
Best long term solution lies in breeding for resistance

12. What we know
California has four strains of disease - more than Eastern US
Appears to indicate longer term presence or multiple introductions
Origin of strains uncertain
Resistant cultivars show variability in resistance from Eastern US
High resistant cultivars still show resistance but highest level may vary
One verified incidence in Oregon

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

14. Gray Leaf Spot Resistance
Rutgers University Trial 1-9, 9 = Best
Cultivar GLS Res Quality SR
Panther GLS
SR 4550 (1557)
Integra C
Integra
Pizzazz

15. SR 4600 Perennial ryegrass Superior Gray Leaf Spot resistance
Excellent wear tolerance due to spreading growth habit
Superior Summer stress tolerance
Enhanced Winter active growth
Fine leaf texture and vivid, dark green color
Widely adaptable to differing climates
Highest rated wear tolerance Puyallup, WA

16. Harrier Perennial ryegrass
Excellent Gray Leaf Spot resistance
High close mowing quality due to upright-growth habit
Superior Spring green-up
Excellent traffic stress tolerance
Fine leaf texture and viivid, dark green color
Upright-growth habit reduces stemminess for dense fine-textured turf under close mowing
High Red Thread and Brown Patch resistance
High seedling vigor for fast emergence and establishment

17. Gray Leaf Spot Resistance
2004 NTEP National Perennial Ryegrass Trial Gray Leaf Spot Ratings - Mean of 2 Locations Data Disease Rating: 1-9; 9=No Disease
Variety Mean Variety Mean
Fiesta Keystone
SR Overdrive 6.5
Harrier Pizzazz 5.5
Derby Xtreme Palmer III 5.3
Manhattan 5 GLR Affinity 5.2
Charismatic II GLSR 8.2 Pianist 5.2
Palmer IV Brightstar SLT 4.7
Regal Pinnacle 3.3
Revenge GLX 7.7
Fusion LSD Value 1.1
Buena Vista 7.2

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

19. Ryegrass and GLS Further studies and needs
Pyricularia grisea (Magnaporthe grisea) can rapidly change races
Currently unknown number of races in US
Do resistance genes work against all current races?
Some variability in results from seedling trials in NJ and mature plants in MD - high resistant types remain resistant
New germplasm sources - many resistant genes from European collections
Genetic studies currently being done

20. Ryegrass and GLS Current and future buying decisions
Varieties take two years to get some production started, three years for maximum production
Current varieties with good resistance in last NTEP
SR 4500, SR SR 4350, Racer 2, Calypso II
Varieties with improved resistance in production
SR 4550, SR 4600, Peregrine, Harrier
Varieties available next year
SRX 4692, SRX 4682, LCK

21. 2004 NOT AS SEVERE AS 2003, BUT SOME COURSES STILL HARD HIT

22. Perennial ryegrass
Gray leaf spot is not only characteristic - other goals
Salt tolerance for effluent use, rapid blight resistance
Wear tolerance
Rapid establishment - Best species for establishment during play
Winter-active growth for many uses
Daylength-dependent dwarf types less suitable
Heat, drought and cold tolerance
Decumbent, spreading growth - superior in Europe for repair
Reduce nitrogen requirements
Quick transitioning

23. Headstart II Perennial ryegrass
Excellent winter color and winter active growth
Superior Spring green-up
Excellent traffic stress tolerance
Fine leaf texture and vivid, dark green color
High Red Thread , Pythium Blight and Brown Patch resistance
High seedling vigor for fast emergence and establishment

24. Firebolt Perennial ryegrass
High performance under “Schedule C” homeowner
High turf quality in Transition zone
Excellent performance in PNW - low light intensity
Excellent performance Mountain West
Very Dark Green Color, fine leaf texture
Superior red thread resistance
Good brown patch resistance

25. Salt tolerance in ryegrass
Tolerance during seed germination
May be different than tolerance as adult plants
Important to aid establishment - especially in overseeding
Temperatures shown to have an effect
Different salts - we use artificial sea salt
Studies with barley looking for genes suggest relationship to ABA synthesis
High varieties in our trials also show high adult salt tolerance and rapid blight resistance

26. Germination with salt

27. Germination with salt

28. Germination with salt

29. Salt tolerant and other ryes
STR 4PSLT - plants from salt screening planted and rouged for uniformity, color and yield. Has germplasm from Penguin plus SR 4420, 4220 and Hawkeye. Planted fall, 2005.
STR 4TPC - Progeny of survivors in very heavy salt at TPC Scottsdale.
STR 45AB - Winter-active material.
STR 4QTR - Quick transitioning ryegrass

30. Gray leaf spot resistant ryes
Peregrine - 1st cycle - certified seed
SR nd cycle - certified seed
SR 4600 (SRX 4SP) - Certified this fall - brown patch resistance, lateral spread, highest turf quality
Harrier (SRX 4UP3) - Certified this fall - stress tolerant, high turf quality
SRX Certified next fall - Hawkeye II, high gray leaf spot resistance
SRX Certified next fall - SR 4220 der.
LCK - Certified next fall - High brown patch and GLS

31. Why overseed with different species?
Use mixtures for genetic diversity
Resistance to diseases and stresses
Color contrast
Improved transition
Improved quality
Smaller seeds
Potential cost savings

32. Velvet Bentgrass - Overseeding
Very small seed size (best for ultradwarfs)
Best putting surface
Highest wear tolerance, high density
Medium establishment
Germinates well at low soil temperatures
Medium dark green – Mixes well
Best low light or shade tolerance
Excellent Spring transition

33. Velvet Bentgrass - Overseeding
Creeping bentgrass
SR 7200 Velvet bentgrass

34. Why overseed with different species?
Labyrinthula on Poa trivialis in SC

35. Fine fescues - Overseeding
Very fine with stiff texture
Good wear tolerance
Winter-active growth
Improved transition with high quality
Rapid germination - Chewings and red
Resistance to Labyrinthula fungus
Medium seed size

36. Fine fescues - Overseeding
High salt tolerance
Color and texture contrast
Increase genetic diversity of mixtures
Mixtures with perennial ryegrass,
bentgrasses, Poa trivialis
Seeding rates (alone) - Do not mow too soon
Greens lbs./1000 sq. ft.
Tees lbs./1000 sq. ft.
Fairways lbs./1000 sq.ft. - Excellent

37. Chewings Fescue Strengths
Rapid germination - close to perennial ryegrass
Winter-active growth
Heat tolerance - improved cultivars
Tolerant of low height of cut - most improved cultivars
Shade tolerance
Recent studies on low maintenance fairways in WI, MN and IL showed highest performance by Chewings
WI NTEP Fairway Trials with wear applied Chewings fescue was highest ranked
Good summer patch, leaf spot resistance

38. Chewings Fescue Where to use
Fairways - Northern United States, PNW, Coastal CA
Fairways - Overseeding blends with perennial ryegrass
Roughs - Northern through transition zone.
How to use
With all bentgrasses for divot repair or greens repair
Low maintenance fairways
Roughs - shaded, ornamental seedheads
Overseeding blends - better transition, fine textured
In blends with Kentucky bluegrass for fairways/roughs

39. Slender Creeping Red Fescue
Strengths
High salt tolerance
Resistance to rapid blight
Short rhizomes for repair
Tolerant of short cutting heights for fairways
Improved ones with high heat tolerance
Excellent fall, winter and spring color
Extensively used in Europe for fairways . European types have less heat tolerance, higher density, low seed yields.
Short growing height

40. Slender Creeping Red Fescue
Weaknesses
Brighter green color - not as dark green
Limited number of cultivars with endophytes
New cultivars tolerate heat in Central Valley of California - others not enough heat tolerance for some areas
Most cultivars with good resistance to leaf spot and red thread, but poor resistance to dollar spot and summer patch. Newest cultivars improved resistance to all diseases.

41. Slender Creeping Red Fescue
Where to use
Fairways - areas with salt problems overseeding blends and permanent turf in cool season areas
Greens and tees for overseeding in salt areas - used for permanent greens in UK
Roughs - mown and unmown.
Important component in links style blends
Besides parking lots, roadways where salt is used
How to use
Blends with other fine fescues, colonial bentgrass, bluegrass and perennial ryegrass

42. Dawson slender creeping red fescue Perennial ryegrass

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
Dr. Gwen Stahnke - Washington State University Puyallup, WA Dr. Leah A. Brilman - Seed Research of Oregon

44. Transitional Ryegrass
Strengths
Very quick establishment
Less expensive seed
Lasts only one to two seasons
Germination and growth at cooler temp.
Moderate green color
Less mowing requirement than annual
Does not overdominate mixtures
Can be used with Kentucky bluegrass as nurse grass

45. Transitional ryegrass
PR TR AR
PR/TR

46. Transitional Ryegrass
Weaknesses
Poor mowing quality in spring
Lighter green than current perennial ryegrass varieties
Low salt tolerance as mature plants
Germination excellent with salts
Dr. Gwen Stahnke - Washington State University Puyallup, WA Dr. Leah A. Brilman - Seed Research of Oregon

47. Transitional Ryegrass
Where to use
Overseeding south
Nurse crop north
How to use
Overseeding - to improve transition
Nurse grass
Repair during colder times of the year
Dr. Gwen Stahnke - Washington State University Puyallup, WA Dr. Leah A. Brilman - Seed Research of Oregon