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REGISTRATION OF CULTIVARS

Registration of ‘Diamond’ Zoysiagrass

^a Dallas Research and Extension Center, Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75252-6599
^b Dep. Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843-2474
^c Dep. of Plant Science, Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
^d Dep. of Plant Science, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036

* Corresponding author (m-engelke{at}tamu.edu)

‘Diamond’ (Reg. no. CV-214, PI 607831) zoysiagrass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.] was developed and released by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in April 1996. Diamond was evaluated under the experimental designation DALZ8502.

Diamond is a vegetatively propagated and genetically stable zoysiagrass cultivar identified as an aberrant selection in cultivated turf plots previously planted to a series of zoysiagrass plant introductions and commercial cultivars. During field testing, Diamond was distinguished from other zoysiagrasses by finer leaf texture, high rhizome and tiller density, superior salt and shade tolerance, and excellent recuperative growth compared to other accessions in the collection. Diamond tolerates close, frequent mowing and has potential for intensively managed turfgrass areas ranging from full sun to heavy shade. Diamond is strongly rhizomatous, which accounts for a relatively slow rate of establishment but excellent recovery potential following injury.

DNA fingerprint analysis places Diamond as an intermediate between definitive (type specimen) forms of Z. matrella, Z. pacifica Goudsw., and Z. japonica Steud., and suggests that Diamond is an interspecific hybrid. The majority of morphological characters of Diamond fall within the range of variation for Z. matrella; thus, the cultivar has been classified as Z. matrella (Anderson, 2000).

Field-testing of Diamond was initiated at the Texas A&M University Research and Extension Center at Dallas in 1983 in studies to evaluate 35 zoysiagrass selections for turfgrass quality and general turf persistence. Diamond has a high sod harvest potential because of its strong rhizome system. In 1985, the field trial was stripped with a sod harvester to observe recovery and recuperative growth of the zoysiagrass selections. Diamond and FC13521 had the greatest sod strength among 12 zoysiagrasses evaluated in the study. Diamond was among the best selections for regrowth following sod removal. Diamond had a tiller count of 1008 tillers m^-2 at 42 d post-harvest. In comparison, Diamond produced 8.5 times more tillers than ‘Meyer’ and 3.1 times more tillers than ‘Emerald’. Under high nitrogen fertility, Diamond is prone to produce high levels of thatch. Close mowing (<13 mm) with a reel mower and frequent use of a verticutter are necessary to maintain the highest quality turf of Diamond. Diamond will tolerate persistent mowing heights as low as 3.2 mm.

Diamond demonstrated excellent shade tolerance in field trials under both natural and artificial shade. Although some loss of density was noted after 69 d at 83% shade, the persistence of acceptable turfgrass quality indicated that Diamond could tolerate heavy shade under conditions simulating heavy traffic.

Diamond has shown excellent tolerance to salt. In greenhouse investigations using a salinity ramping technique where 1.575 mg L^-1 NaCl was added daily to a Hoagland's hydroponic solution for 12 wk, Diamond had the lowest salt injury of 22 zoysiagrasses tested.

Color retention is a major problem with the zoysiagrasses in general. The fine textured varieties including Z. matrella and Z. pacifica are noted for better winter color retention. Diamond was similar in winter color response to Emerald, with both cultivars ranking in the top statistical grouping six out of six times during the 1994–1995 evaluation trials for 25 entries in the NTEP Zoysiagrass trial planted at TAMU-Dallas (Engelke et al., 1996).

Diamond was moderately resistant to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) and relatively susceptible to the tropical sod webworm (Herpetogramma phaeopteralis Guenee). Diamond was relatively susceptible to the zoysiagrass mite (Eriophyes zoysiae Baker, Kono and O'Neill) and moderately resistant to tawny mole cricket (Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder). Multiple insect resistances in Diamond could play an important role in the widespread use of this cultivar.

In inoculation studies with 24 experimental lines and commercial zoysiagrass cultivars, Diamond was among the most tolerant to Rhizoctonia foliar blight (caused by Rhizoctonia cerealis Van der Hoeven). Diamond and DALZ8501 had the best recuperative ability following inoculations with Rhizoctonia solani Kühn. Diamond is moderately susceptible to Pythium foliar blight [caused by Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzpatrick] as are the cultivars Meyer, Emerald, Belair, and El Toro. Field observations also demonstrated that Diamond has field tolerance to the Sclerotinia dollar spot disease (caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett).

Diamond tolerates close, frequent mowing. Commercial use will include golf course putting greens and tee boxes in full sun or under moderate to heavy shade, and high quality sports fields. Natural outdoor environmental uses of Diamond will be particularly suited to the Gulf Coast areas of the U.S. West to California.

The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Dallas, TX, will maintain Breeder stock. U.S. Plant Patent 10636 was issued for Diamond on 6 Oct. 1998. Vegetative propagules of Diamond are available from the author for research purposes, including development and commercialization of new cultivars or germplasms.

Published in Crop Sci. 42:304–305 (2002).

NOTES

The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station developed Cavalier with partial funding from the U.S. Golf Association. Registration by CSSA.

Accepted for publication July 31, 2001.

REFERENCES

• Anderson, S.J. 2000. Taxonomy of Zoysia (Poaceae): Morphological and molecular variation. Ph.D. diss. Texas A&M University (Diss. Abstr. AAT9980106), College Station, TX.
• Engelke, M.C., K.B. Marcum, P.F. Colbaugh, J.A. Reinert, S.J. Morton, R.H. White, and B.A. Ruemmele. 1996. ‘Diamond’ zoysiagrass – Plant Variety Release Document. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

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