Tall Fescue Tird year data from our latest tall fescue trial,


established in fall 2018, is now available. Tis new trial contains 132 entries, of which almost all are experimental. Year one data typically reflects establishment rate, with year two data and beyond being a better reflection of future performance. Turfgrass quality ratings from 2021 can be


NTEP trials of specific grass species, like this Kentucky bluegrass trial in Michigan, gather data on descriptive and performance characteristics. Photo by Geoff Rinehart


were Barserati and J-1138. Other entries performing well and finishing in the top statistical group at most of these locations include Starr, Cloud, and Midnight. As with past trials, the 2017 Kentucky bluegrass


trial consists of several ancillary locations testing for tolerance to various stresses. Shade tolerance was evaluated at Ames, IA, in 2018-2020 and again in 2021, no statistical differences were noted among entries. Billbug tolerance was another ancillary trial evaluated in 2021. Although differences were noted in billbug damage, no statistical differences were detected among the entries. Traffic tolerance was evaluated at North


Brunswick, NJ, and Amherst, MA, in 2021. At Amherst, DLFPS-340/3556, BAR PP 7309V, and Finish Line were the top entries for wear tolerance and overall quality. Te North Brunswick, NJ, site evaluated traffic tolerance in spring, summer, and fall 2021. Consistent top performance in each season at North Brunswick was delivered by Barvette HGT®


, PST-K15-172, DLFPS-340/3550,


DLFPS-340/3552, PPG-KB 1131, and BAR PP 7309V. Data on various diseases such as summer patch


(Magnaporthe poae), dollar spot (Clarireedia spp.), and stem rust (Puccinia graminis) were reported in 2021. Summer patch, one of the most devastating diseases on Kentucky bluegrass, was seen, and data collected, at Raleigh, NC, with Barserati, Barvette HGT, DLFPS-340/3550, PPG-KB 1304, and A06-8 finishing with high tolerance on at least one rating date. Dollar spot ratings collected at West Lafayette, IN, identified DLFPS-340/3550, DLFPS-340/3438, Dublin, and After Midnight with no dollar spot damage. Stem rust ratings, also from West Lafayette, showed Barserati, A13-1, and RAD-1776 with the least disease damage.


Grass Species trials, such as this Tall fescue trial in Griffin, GA, shown in July of 2021, examine cultivar characteristics.


40 TPI Turf News July/August 2022


considered from four broad U.S. geographical regions – northeastern, southeastern, midwestern and western. In eight northeast U.S. locations (including Canada), entries such as AH2, TD2, PPG-TF-262, Raptor LS, and AH1 performed well and produced statistically significant turf quality ratings. In the southeast, performance varied over the four sites (Griffin, GA, Knoxville, TN, Mississippi State, MS, and Raleigh, NC), but the Raleigh and Mississippi State locations showed the most statistical significance. DLFPS-321/3705, Firenza II, and RH1 scored the highest for turf quality at Raleigh, while PST- 5GLBS and Titan GLX were the best at Mississippi State in 2021.


Small statistical differences among entries were


noted in the seven Midwest U.S. locations that submitted data, i.e., 40-60 percent of entries finished in the top turf quality group at any one location. Greater statistical significance was seen at two western U.S. locations – Corvallis, OR and Logan, UT. Entries such as RHL2, AH1, AH2, and Raptor LS performed well at both Corvallis and Logan. Tolerance to stresses such as traffic, shade, drought,


and brown patch are being evaluated throughout the trial period. Shade data collected at Ames, IA, yielded no statistical separation again in 2021. Similarly, data collected in 2021 from a low mowing height trial (1.5 in/3.81 cm) at Blacksburg, VA, and drought data collected at Logan, UT, resulted in small or no statistical significance.


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