Te following is a list of important bermudagrass cultivars the University of Georgia turfgrass breeding program developed and released commercially over the years.
1952 ‘Tiflawn’. Tose early field grown plants with superior traits were crossed with a disease resistant common bermudagrass, and the offspring (or progeny) were planted and subjected to putting green maintenance practices. Te best hybrid was selected for improved density and less weed and disease problems, and therefore Dr. Burton’s first bermudagrass cultivar was named ‘Tiflawn’.
1953 ‘Tiffine’. ‘Tiflawn’ (tall, coarse textured, disease tolerant traits) was crossed with Cynodon transvaalensis (finer leaves but disease prone traits) from South Africa that resulted in ‘Tiffine’ used for sports fields and playgrounds.
1956 ‘Tifgreen’. Some bermudagrasses on the fourth green at Charlotte Country Club (Charlotte, North Carolina) exhibited excellent qualities for a putting surface. Tose plants were crossed with C. dactylon and C. transvaalensis to eventually produce ‘Tifgreen’ (fine-textured, softer, fewer seedheads produced, forest green color) and became what Dr. Burton was searching for, his putting green bermudagrass.
1960 ‘Tifway’. Tis accidental hybrid of C. dactylon (male parent) and C. transvaalensis (female parent) was darker green, more frost tolerant, more wear tolerant, and more resistant to diseases and insect pests when compared to common bermudagrass. It was better suited for fairways and tees (and sports fields). ‘Tifway’ has enjoyed widespread use and adaptation in the U.S. and globally.
1965 ‘Tifdwarf ’’. Again a serendipitous discovery on putting greens in Florence, SC, and in Sea Island, SC, resulted in ‘Tifdwarf ’, which was considered a natural mutant of ‘Tifgreen’. ‘Tifdwarf ’ has shorter leaves, stems, internodes, and stolons, and exhibits better tolerance of putting green maintenance practices.
1981 ‘Tifway II’ and 1983 ‘Tifgreen II’. Tese cultivars were developed from sprigs of ‘Tifgreen’, ‘Tifway’, and ‘Tifdwarf ’ exposed to cobalt-60 gamma rays to produce mutations (i.e., increase genetic diversity). ‘Tifway II’ is more resistant to some nematode species, more frost tolerant, and greens-up earlier in the spring. ‘Tifgreen II’ is coarse, lighter green, and has better cold tolerance.
1988 ‘Tifton 10’. Tis was developed from bermudagrass plants collected from a lawn in Shanghai, China. It has traits of a dark bluish color, winter hardiness, is salt tolerant, and ring (Mesocriconema ornatum) nematode resistant.
1995 ‘TifSport’ and 1997 ‘TifEagle’. Te cobalt-60 method again was used to develop these cultivars. Both persist under close mowing and lower populations of tawny mole cricket (Scapteriscus victims).
TPI Turf News March/April 2023 33
Dr. Glenn Burton speaking at a turfgrass field day about turf-type bermudagrasses.
2009 ‘TifGrand’. C. transvaalensis that persisted under low maintenance was crossed with C. dactylon that was tolerant to low mowing and cold conditions. Te progeny were maintained under low light conditions, and the result was the darker green, dwarf-type ‘TifGrand’ that exhibited good quality under shade.
2014 ‘TifTuf ’. After 19 drought-stress field trials, ‘TifTuf ’ was the winner because of better drought stress, traffic tolerance, faster growth, and better fall color retention.
Although Dr. Burton retired in 1997, the bermudagrass breeding program in Tifton has continued and its current focus is to develop cultivars with abiotic stress tolerance.
Did you know that Dr. Burton is the only turfgrass scientist to receive the President’s National Medal of Science? On May 24, 1983, at a White House ceremony, President Reagan honored Dr. Burton “For outstanding contributions to the biological sciences that have helped to feed the hungry, protect and beautify the environment, and provide recreation for millions.”
Source: Baxter, L.L. and Schwartz, B.M. 2018. History of bermudagrass turfgrass breeding research in Tifton, GA. HortScience 53:1560-1561.
Mike Fidanza, PhD, is a professor of Plant and Soil Science at Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus. Cale Bigelow, PhD, is a professor of Turfgrass Science and Ecology in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University in Indiana. They are teaming to provide a Rooted in Research article for each issue of Turf News.
Photo Source:
https://news.uga.edu/glenn-burton-a-leader-of-the- green-revolution/.
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