NuGlade Kentucky bluegrass, introduced in 1997, advanced through Jacklin research as part of the 5-Steps Above program. Following Jacklin’s Glade program, NuGlade is dark green bluegrass that performs well in shade. Consistently rated in the top of NTEP trials, it showed improvements in disease and pest tolerances and turf quality and still successfully competes with new introductions.

Arid tall fescue, released in 1986, caught turf producers’ attention with its dark-green color previously unavailable in tall fescues. Arid quickly gained a reputation for great turf quality. Its popularity inspired future generation varieties with Arid II and Arid 3.

Jonathan Green & Sons, Inc./ Cascade International Seed Co.

Adelphi, the first man-made Kentucky bluegrass, was bred by Dr. C. Reed Funk of Rutgers University, who developed the breeding tool named interspecific hybridization. All previous Kentucky bluegrass releases were natural selections with natural mutations. Adelphi, released in 1967 just as Merion Kentucky bluegrass had peaked, became an important variety in sod production for the next decade. Barry Green, Sr. was the first to sell Adelphi to sod growers.

Onyx, the first Black Beauty tall fescue variety, was planted by Fred Pittillo and David Bradley at Turf Mountain Sod in Hendersonville, NC. Onyx was seeded into a sod field in Brevard, NC, which also contained Montauk tall fescue. Months later, Fred's sister, a professional photographer, snapped photos of the field during an aerial, fall-color photo shoot for the Biltmore Estate. When Barry Green, Jr. saw the photos and how much darker green the Onyx was, he launched a great new sod brand— Black Beauty! Six generations later the Black Beauty brand is still going strong.

Washington, the first elite Kentucky bluegrass grown in the drylands production region of eastern Washington State, exhibited great spring green-up and seedling vigor. Despite its lighter green in color, it became an important component in mixtures for sod production for its drought tolerance and sod strength. Production of Washington ceased a few years ago.

TPI Turf News July/August 2016

Landmark Turf & Native Seed

Fullback Kentucky bluegrass has excellent seedling vigor and establishment, spring green-up, summer density and drought performance (wilting and dormancy) and low seed head expression. It maintains good winter color; is disease resistant and an outstanding competitor to Poa annua.

Hampton Kentucky bluegrass stands out for deep and fibrous root production and shear strength. It has excellent winter color, spring green-up, seedling vigor, drought tolerance and traffic performance.

Lunar is an elite Kentucky bluegrass with deep, dark green color, fine texture, and durable density. It exhibits good spring green-up, improved heat tolerance and rates very high in drought tolerance.

SPF30 is a high-performance Texas bluegrass x Kentucky bluegrass cross, extending the southern bluegrass range, and improving heat tolerance and summer performance. It recovers quickly from drought and is resistant to brown patch.

Regenerate IRTTM (Inherent Rapid Tillering) type tall

fescue has improved recovery from wear, drought tolerance, and exhibits improved tolerance to billbug damage and brown patch disease. It can excel at lower mowing heights and mixes well with perennial ryegrasses and Kentucky bluegrasses in many golf, sports and lawn turf applications.

Maestro turf type tall fescue exhibits improved turf quality, brown patch resistance and other disease tolerance. Its fast growth rate equates to resiliency and the ability to grow through tough conditions.

Reflection turf type tall fescue rates high in turf quality and brown patch resistance. It excels in challenging southern transition zone conditions, has improved recovery from wear, and drought tolerance. It retains color into late fall and winter.

Lebanon Turf

Declaration creeping bentgrass was developed by Dr. Stacy Bonos from Rutgers University and Tim Ford from Lebanon Turf. In the 2004-2007 Final NTEP Greens trial, Declaration tied for #1 overall for turf quality, and ranked #1 for dollar spot resistance. Reducing dollar spot through genetics has provided large savings for maintenance and lower environmental impact by reducing inputs needed to manage the disease. Declaration is used on golf course greens, tees, and fairways worldwide.

Rembrandt was one of the last tall fescue breeder blocks put together by legendary turfgrass breeder Dr. C. Reed Funk. It was the #1 rated tall fescue in NTEP trials in 28 locations in the US from 1996-2001. It also ranked #1 at the 13 transition zone locations. Rembrandt is still in demand by end users due to its extensive root system and drought tolerance, and by seed growers for its very good seed production.

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