Production of an interspecific hybrid between Texas and Argentine bluegrass

Abstract

Texas and Argentine bluegrass are both dioecious Poa species with distinct morphological characteristics. Argentine bluegrass has a bunch-type growth habit, fine upright leaves and does not produce rhizomes. Texas bluegrass spreads by rhizomes and has wider, longer leaves. In an effort to produce novel germplasm with forage or turf potential, experiments were conducted to determine whether hybrid seed could be produced. Crosses were made using pollen from an Argentine male to fertilize two Texas female plants. Parents were induced to flower in the greenhouse by extending the photoperiod to 18 h with 400 W high-pressure sodium lamps from late December to April. The two crosses produced >200 seeds each. Hybrid seedlings segregated for traits from both parents. A sorghum-derived SSR marker confirmed the hybrid nature of a group of seedlings. Seeds harvested from F1 plants using Texas or Texas × Argentine pollen lost the undesirable cottony characteristic of Texas bluegrass. Evaluations for forage and turf potential of hybrid and later generation seed are planned.