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REGISTRATION OF CULTIVARS

Registration of ‘Absolute’ Kentucky Bluegrass

Simplot / Jacklin Seed, West 5300 Riverbend Ave., Post Falls, ID 83854-9499

* Corresponding author (dbrede{at}simplot.com)

‘Absolute’ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (Reg. no. CV-61, PI 603098) is a turf-type cultivar released in August 1997 by Simplot / Jacklin Seed, Post Falls, ID. The experimental designations for Absolute were MED-1497 and 93-1497.

Absolute originated as a highly apomictic, single-plant selection from hybrid cross number 89-1037, made in the field at Post Falls in July 1989. Pollen from ‘Midnight’ (Meyer et al., 1984) was used to pollinate plants of ‘Limousine’ (Alderson and Sharp, 1994). Seed harvested from the Limousine mother plants were individually sown into cells of greenhouse flats during the spring of 1992 and transplanted into a spaced-plant field nursery of 40701 plants. Progeny with characteristics dissimilar to Limousine, the female parent, were flagged during maturation in the spring of 1993. Plant number 93-1497 was identified as being different from Limousine based on its seedhead characteristics. It produced 22 g of seed from a single spaced plant compared with 15 g of seed, which is typical for a bluegrass spaced plant in North Idaho.

Absolute was selected because it displayed high shoot density similar to Limousine and dark color similar to Midnight. It can be differentiated from Limousine based on 15 traits recorded in the U.S. Plant Variety Protection application for Absolute. These traits include a longer culm length, longer panicle length, and fewer branches at the lowest panicle whorl. Absolute also displayed a shorter flag leaf length (P 0.001) than Midnight in 2 yr of field evaluations.

Progeny trials were conducted in spaced-plant nurseries established August 1994 to determine the level of apomixis. A survey of 440 plants of Absolute showed that 5.2% of plants were variants in the vegetative (pre-flowering) stage, 3.6% were heading maturity variants, 0% seedhead variants, 0% miniature plants, and 0% were headless plants. Most variants are a shorter growing plant with more purplish seedheads and a shorter culm length. Only about 2% of plants are a taller growing, lighter green variant. These variant plants do not have a "common type" appearance, but appear similar to an improved cultivar. Culms on these taller variants extend 2 or 3 cm above the majority plant form. The mean spaced-plant apomixis rate of Absolute is 90%, but varies from 85 to 95% and above, depending on growing conditions.

In seed production, Absolute is medium-to-short in stature with a medium-late reproductive maturity, similar to ‘Glade’ (Jacklin et al., 1977). Leaf width of Absolute is relatively wide and leaf color is a medium-to-dark green—not as intensely dark as it is in mowed turf.

In National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials established in 1995, Absolute ranked forth at three locations in the "cool-arid zone" out of 103 entries in overall turf quality (Morris, 1999). It ranked ninth at seven locations mowing above 53 mm, ninth in genetic color, thirteenth in resistance to billbug (Sphenophorus spp.), and was tied for first in September fall color and leaf rust (caused by Puccinia coronata Corda var. coronata) resistance.

Absolute is recommended for lawns, golf courses, parks, and sports turf in areas where Kentucky bluegrass is well adapted for turf. It can be grown by itself or in blends and mixtures with other cool-season turfgrasses, in full sun or some shade.

Breeder seed, first harvested in 1996, is maintained by Simplot/Jacklin Seed. Seed propagation is limited to one generation of increase for Foundation, Registered, and Certified seed. U.S. PVP application no. 9800168 has been filed for Absolute.

NOTES

Registration by CSSA.

Accepted for publication September 30, 2001.

REFERENCES

• Alderson, J., and W.C. Sharp. 1994. Grass varieties in the United States. USDA SCS Agric. Handbook 170. U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.
• Jacklin, A.W., J.H. Thorne, R.E. Engel, W.K. Dickson, and C.R. Funk. 1977. Registration of ‘Glade’ Kentucky bluegrass (reg. no. 12). Crop Sci. 17:187.[Free Full Text]
• Meyer, W.A., B.L. Rose, J.M. Johnson-Cicalese, and C.R. Funk. 1984. Registration of ‘Midnight’ Kentucky bluegrass. Crop Sci. 24:822-823.[Free Full Text]
• Morris, K.N. 1999. National Kentucky bluegrass test 1995—medium-high maintenance. NTEP no. 99-8. National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, USDA ARS, Beltsville, MD.

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