Characterizing the growth and winter survival of commercially available and experimental genotypes of St. Augustinegrass

Abstract

AbstractSt. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze] is a commonly used warm‐season turfgrass for lawns in warm‐humid to tropical climates. Efforts to breed improved cultivars with enhanced abiotic and biotic stress tolerance are ongoing, but additional data on their growth and adaptation are needed. Twenty‐one commercially available St. Augustinegrass cultivars and eight experimental genotypes were planted in the field in Fayetteville, AR, in both 2009 and 2010 to study their stolon, leaf, and establishment characteristics, as well as winter survival. ‘Floratam’, ‘Floralawn’, ‘FX‐10’, ‘FA‐40’ (Mercedes™), ‘B12’ (Sapphire®), and WS had the highest stolon growth rate (>8.9 mm d−1), whereas ‘TR 6‐10’ (Amerishade®), ‘6‐72‐99’ (Delmar™), ‘6‐72‐182’ (Jade™), ‘6‐72‐130’ (Sunclipse™), 106G3, 106T3, and SV27 had the lowest stolon growth rate (<5.1 mm d−1). Cultivars ‘Floraverde’, Floralawn, Floratam, B12 (Sapphire), and ‘Texas Common’ were the quickest to establish. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified that cultivars with similar ploidy levels had similar growth characteristics as increasing ploidy resulted in wider and longer leaves, as well as larger stolon diameter and internode length. Cultivars considered dwarf types with short stolons or narrow‐short leaves grouped separately from cultivars with long stolons or wide‐long leaves. Genotypes VNS (Classic™), GF, VNS (Majestic™), ‘SS‐100’ (Palmetto®), ‘Raleigh’, TAES 5714, and Texas Common showed the highest winter survival and associated coverage after winter in both years. Results from this study are intended to help turfgrass breeders, turf producers, practitioners, and homeowners make informed cultivar selection decisions. Planting well‐adapted cultivars will reduce reestablishment costs from winter‐kill and ultimately increase sustainability.