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Dep. of Agronomy and Horticulture, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583
* Corresponding author (triordan{at}unl.edu)
‘Cody’ buffalograss [Buchloë dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] (Reg. no. CV-242, PI 593467) was developed through cooperative efforts of the Native Turfgrass Group and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It was released in March 1995 by the Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska. Cody was evaluated under the experimental designation NTG-6.
Cody, a turf-type buffalograss, was derived by intermating NTG-1 (‘Tatanka’) (Klingenberg et al., 1997), NTG-2, NTG-3, NTG-4, and NTG-5 (‘Bowie’) (Severmutlu et al., 2005). Each line was derived from a four-clone synthetic consisting of two female and two male clones. The nine female and seven male parental clones that made up these five NTG experimental lines were selected from a large heterogeneous buffalograss collection established at the John Seaton Anderson Turfgrass Research Facility located near Mead, NE.
These original buffalograss clones used in Cody are geographically diverse. Eight are adapted to the northern Great Plains and eight to the southern Great Plains. Because of this diversity, the adaptation of Cody may extend from Plant Hardiness Zone 3 in the north to Zone 10 in the southern, arid regions of the USA, and from the West Coast of the USA to east of the Great Plains. Cody is also expected to grow well in the southwestern USA (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas).
Trials in Nebraska indicated Cody was more responsive to early fall dormancy than ‘Top Gun’, ‘Texoka’ (Voight et al.), and ‘Sharps Improved’ during establishment and at maturity. This early fall dormancy contributes to the excellent winter hardiness of Cody. Early dormancy is a response to northern adaptation. Northern-adapted plants survive the winter cold period by going dormant early in the fall and resuming growth in the spring (Riordan et al., 1983). Cody greens up in the spring earlier than Texoka, ‘Bison’ (Taliaferro, 1994), and ‘609’ (Riordan et al., 1992), and is similar to Tatanka (Morris, 1996).
Turf quality and density of Cody is superior to Texoka and Bison, and comparable to Tatanka. Overall quality rankings place Cody first among seeded cultivars in the 1996 NTEP National buffalograss test (Morris, 1996). In Nebraska, Cody exhibits better establishment than Tatanka and Bison, and is similar to Texoka (Morris, 1996). It has excellent mealybug [Tridiscus sporoli (Cockerell) or Trionymus spp.) and buffalograss mite [Eriophyes (Aceria) slykhuisi (Hall)] resistance, and high to moderate chinch bug (Blissus occiduus Barber) resistance (Heng-Moss et al., 2002). Cody has shown excellent resistance to leaf spot (caused by Helminthosporium spp.), purple leaf spot [caused by Stagonospora maculate (Grove) Sprague], and good resistance to dollar spot (caused by Sclerotinia homeocarpa F. T. Bennett.) (Morris, 1996) and powdery mildew (caused by Erysiphe graminis DC. Ex Merat). Cody is susceptible to false smut (caused by Cercospora seminalis Ellis & Everh.), and has moderate resistance to ergot [caused by Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.].
Cody exhibits a blue-gray-green color comparable with Bison. Leaf width and length measurements are smaller for Cody than for Texoka, which indicates a turf of finer texture. Cody has five times the leaf pubescence of Tatanka. The value of leaf pubescence is not entirely known, but it does contribute to mealybug resistance (Johnson-Cicalese et al., 1998), and may contribute to reduced evaporation from leaf surfaces (Kramer, 1983). Cody exhibited the highest drought tolerance among the seeded buffalograss cultivars (Morris, 1996).
Cody will produce inflorescences in a ratio of approximately one female to one male, with staminate flowers visible above the grass canopy when unmowed. Male flowering in unmowed turf is most prominent in late spring and early fall, when nights are cool and days are warm. Cody has smaller burs than Texoka, which facilitates seed processing. Cody has a significantly lower bur height in the grass canopy than Texoka, Bison, and Sharps Improved. Cody bur yields were 81% of yields measured for Texoka.
Cody is recommended for low- to medium-maintenance turfgrass sites in the northern, southern, and the central Great Plains (Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 10) and the southern arid regions of the USA. As with other buffalograsses, Cody has a low water-use rate (Beard and Kim, 1989) and, once established, tolerates dry conditions and warm temperatures better than most cool-season turfgrasses (Wallner et al., 1982).
Four hundred seedlings each of experimental lines (NTG-1, NTG-2, NTG-3, NTG-4, and NTG-5) were planted at Broken Bow and Murdock, NE, and Enid, OK, for genetic recombination and Breeder seed increase. These seedlings were intermingled at time of planting. Seed was harvested, blended, and planted into foundation and certified fields at the three locations. All seed production fields of Cody are seed propagated.
Cody should be increased no more than three generations beyond Breeder seed: Foundation, Registered, and Certified. Breeder, Foundation and Certified seed are currently available for the commercial market. Breeder seed of Cody will be produced and maintained by Native Turfgrass Group with the cooperation of Arrow Seed Co., Broken Bow, NE; Johnston's Seed Co., Enid, OK; Stock Seed Farms, Murdock, NE; and the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. Application (no. 9600125) has been received for U.S. Plant Variety Protection.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Research was partially funded by United States Golf Association.
NOTES
Nebraska Agric. Exp. Stn., Univ. of Nebraska, Journal Ser. No. 14838. Registration by CSSA.
Accepted for publication March 31, 2005.
REFERENCES
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