Registration of ‘Mislevy’ bermudagrass

Abstract

Abstract‘Mislevy’ (Reg. no. CV‐46, PI 693070) bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] was selected at the University of Florida, and a series of research projects was conducted to evaluate the merit of Mislevy to be released as a new bermudagrass cultivar in Florida. A grazing experiment was conducted in South Florida and clipping trials conducted in South Florida, north‐central Florida, and North Florida. In the grazing trial, Mislevy was compared with Jiggs, World Feeder, and ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass, and four stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) cultivars/entries at four grazing frequencies. Mislevy, Jiggs, and Florona had the greatest overall herbage accumulation (HA), but Mislevy had greater HA at late maturity (7 wk). In the clipping trials, Mislevy was compared with Jiggs, Tifton 85, ‘Tifton 44’, ‘Coastal’, Alicia (North Florida only), and ‘Russell’ (North Florida only) bermudagrass. Mislevy and Jiggs had greater spring HA and total HA than the other cultivars/entries in South Florida and North Florida. In South Florida, all cultivars/entries had the presence of Bipolaris spp. in the aboveground forage at the 9‐wk regrowth interval; however, Mislevy and Tifton 44 had greater proportion of green tissue. In north‐central Florida, there was no difference in spring HA among cultivars, and Tifton 85 had greater total annual HA than Mislevy. Mislevy may be a viable option to increase bermudagrass genetic diversity and provide superior spring and annual HA in South Florida.