Turfgrass Research Turfgrass research at Rutgers encompasses turfgrass breeding, including molecular breeding; physiology; weed science; pathology; turfgrass management; entomology and nematology. Dr. Meyer says, “Te breadth of the people involved in all this is what makes it the biggest program of its kind in the world. Tere are no weak links in expertise or in dedication. I came here to be a breeder in large part because of the opportunity of working with all of these people in the various disciplines.”
In the past eight years Rutgers has placed new emphasis on developing turfgrasses that require less water, fertilization, and mowing. Tese low input sustainable turfgrasses are in strong demand.
Meyer adds, “Dr. Bruce Clarke is a tremendous administrator. Tat’s another one of the reasons I came here. His attention to detail is amazing. Tose who know him through his role as International Turfgrass Society (ITS) President are well aware of that and all those who take part in the ITRC will see it throughout the conference.”
The Road to Rutgers After completing his doctorate work, Meyer accepted a position as Research Director for Warren’s Turf Nursery in Palos Park, IL, in 1972. He’d spent his final year in India, so when a medical condition kept Warren from making a trip to England and Scotland to give lectures on A-34 bluegrass, Warren asked Meyer to substitute for him. “I’d just started the job, but he said, ‘You have a passport. You know the science; go do it.’ I traveled all over both countries holding meetings. Most of them were in pubs, some so smoky they could hardly see the slides, but it was a wonderful experience. It reinforced the importance of working internationally.”
During his three years with Warren’s, Meyer connected with Dr. C. Reed Funk of Rutgers University, tapping into Funk’s extensive expertise on innovative Kentucky bluegrass breeding and working with him to start cooperative development projects, a process that has proven beneficial to him—and the turfgrass industry— throughout his career.
Dr. Funk introduced him to Bill L. Rose, which led to Meyer’s career move to Hubbard, OR, as Vice-President of Research for Turf-Seed, Inc., with Rose his boss. In 1975, he also entered into a partnership with Rose, serving as President and Turfgrass Breeder for Pure Seed Testing, Inc.
After five years of urging by Dr. Funk, Meyer made the move to Rutgers in April of 1996. “I wanted my son to graduate from the same high school he’d started in, so I waited until his graduation to make the career change,” he says. He met the dean; negotiated his initial salary; and joined Dr. Funk in turfgrass research.
TPI Turf News May/June 2017
Dr. C. Reed Funk and Dr. William Meyer in 1978 in a turfgrass nursery in Oregon examining Manhattan II.
Advancements Seeking to add to the gene pool, Dr. Funk had spent 10,000 hours collecting grasses from New Jersey south to the Atlantic region. Dr. Meyer expanded that search with extensive collecting from old turf areas in Europe. He set up an overseas grower to produce the plant materials that supply the seeds. Meyer says, “Over the years, we’ve imported more than 20,000 new germplasm sources. We don’t use all the US or imported ‘finds.’ Probably about one or two percent proves superior enough to integrate into our adapted populations by using a modified backcrossing technique.”
Manhattan perennial ryegrass was developed through this process from clones Dr. Funk’s searches produced in the early 1960s. Meyer says, “Manhattan was the first truly turf-type perennial ryegrass. Tat cultivar prompted breeders across the world to develop enhanced perennial ryegrass varieties. Manhattan and other germplasm sources developed at Rutgers have been used in many of these breeding programs in North America and Europe.”
While at Rutgers, Meyer made the discovery of gray leaf spot resistance in perennial ryegrass and began work on developing resistant varieties. “In 2001, a gray leaf spot epidemic hit our trials. Ninety-five percent of our turf plots were affected; only 34 survived.”
Meyer and his Rutgers team started integrating the germplasm of those 34 sources to develop varieties with strong gray leaf spot resistance. Within five years they released a group of varieties with that attribute.
Meyer says, “We’ve learned that ryegrass seeded from July 1 to 15 is the most susceptible. Once the seed is up, if conditions are right, within 30 days you’re almost guaranteed to get gray leaf spot. If you plant in mid- September, you don’t get that pressure.”
So, for the NTEP test for 2010, the Rutgers perennial ryegrass trials were planted in the fall. Meyer says, “At NTEP’s request, we planted another test right next to the first planting. We started that seeding on July 15,
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