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Dep. of Plant Biology and Pathology, New Jersey Agric. Exp. Stn., Cook College, Rutgers Univ., 59 Dudley Rd., Foran Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
* Corresponding author (bonos{at}aesop.rutgers.edu)
‘Jefferson’ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (Reg. no. CV-66, PI 602961) originated from a single, highly apomictic plant, A84-811-4, selected from the open-pollinated progeny of Warren's A20-6A Kentucky bluegrass. It was evaluated and released by Cascade International Seed Co., Aumsville, OR, in 1995. The highly apomictic plant selected for release as Jefferson was obtained from the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES). A85-162 was the experimental designation of Jefferson. The first Certified seed was produced in 1995.
Plants of Warren's A20-6A and selections from old turfs collected and evaluated by the NJAES breeding program were transferred from spaced-plant nurseries to a greenhouse located on the Cook College Campus of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, during the late winter of 1984. Conditions within this greenhouse were maintained to increase the percentage of sexual reproduction of facultatively apomictic plants of Kentucky bluegrass (Hintzen and vanWijk, 1985; Pepin and Funk, 1971). Pollen from approximately 10 Kentucky bluegrass selections from Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, California, and New Jersey was dusted on the stigmas of Warren's A20-6A as soon as they were exposed, normally from 0200 to 0400 h over about an 8-d period. A total of 8920 seedlings from the open-pollinated maternal progeny of Warren's A20-6A were transferred to a spaced-plant field nursery at the Plant Biology and Pathology Research and Extension Farm at Adelphia, NJ, during the late summer of 1984. Seed from 253 attractive sexual variants that differed from the maternal parent were selected from this nursery and harvested during June 1985. These selections were planted in single-plant progeny turf trials in September 1985. A85-162 was selected on the basis of turf plot evaluations, including summer performance. Remnant seed of plant A84-811-4 used to establish this plot was sent to Cascade International Seed Co. in 1988 to establish turf and spaced-plant evaluation trials in Oregon. Seed from these spaced-plants was used to establish a 0.4-ha Breeder seed nursery at Aumsville, OR, in 1990. A Foundation seed field was established on the Rathdrum Prairie in northern Idaho in the spring of 1992.
Jefferson has a medium growth habit, medium-fine leaf width, bright medium-green color, medium-high shoot density, and good turf quality under medium-high maintenance in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Kentucky bluegrass tests established in 1995 (Morris, 2000). Jefferson exhibited good seedling vigor, spring green-up, and above average winter color. Jefferson exhibited good resistance to stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers. subsp. graminicola Urban) and stripe smut [caused by Ustilago striiformis (Westend.) Niessl], good resistance to dollar spot (caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennet), and moderate resistance to leaf spot [caused by Drechslera poae (Baudys) Shoemaker]. Jefferson also exhibited good tolerance to drought stress and billbug (Sphenophorus spp.) feeding. Jefferson showed good sod strength and competed well against Poa annua L.
Jefferson was developed for turf uses including lawns, athletic fields, and recreation areas. It should perform well in regions where Kentucky bluegrass is adapted, as a monostand or in blends with other Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Jefferson maintained good turf quality at a 1.3 to 2.5 cm mowing height and exhibited satisfactory wear tolerance in Iowa, indicating its potential for use on athletic fields (Morris, 2000). Jefferson Kentucky bluegrass may also be used in mixtures with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and fine-leafed fescues (Festuca spp.).
Cascade International Seeds, Inc. maintains Breeder seed of Jefferson in Oregon. Seed production is limited to two cycles of increase from Breeder seed, one each of Foundation and Certified classes. U.S. Plant Variety Protection for Jefferson Kentucky bluegrass has been applied for (PVP Application no. 9800135).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Appreciation is expressed to Raymond Schaaf, George Zieminski, Michael Reynolds, James Schumacher, Ronald Bara, Dirk Smith, Melissa Mohr, and all participants involved in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program for their assistance.
NOTES
Publication no. D–12180-15-02. Some of this work was conducted as part of the NJAES Project no. 12180, supported by NJAES funds, other grants and gifts. Additional support was received from the U.S. Golf Association–Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Research Fund, and New Jersey Turfgrass Association. Registration by CSSA.
Accepted for publication September 30, 2002.
REFERENCES
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