Registration of ‘MSB‐264’ and ‘MSB‐285’ bermudagrasses

Abstract

Abstract‘MSB‐264’ (Reg. no. CV‐47, PI 699313) and ‘MSB‐285’ (Reg. no. CV‐48, PI 699314) are fine‐textured, high‐quality interspecific bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis) developed at Mississippi State University. These two grasses were released on 25 Aug. 2021 from the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Compared with Tifgreen‐derived bermudagrass cultivars, MSB‐264 and MSB‐285 were bred from a much different genetic background. Through the 2013 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program warm‐season putting green test, data were collected for 4 yr across 11 locations in the United States. Compared with the commercial cultivars (‘Sunday’, ‘TifEagle’, ‘Tifdwarf’, and ‘Mini‐Verde’) and other experimental lines, both MSB‐264 and MSB‐285 exhibited superior turf quality, leaf texture, density, genetic color, fall and winter color retention, spring green‐up speed, and percent ground living cover. MSB‐264 and MSB‐285 also have a more upright leaf orientation than traditional bermudagrass putting green cultivars. Although MSB‐264 and MSB‐285 had higher seedhead production compared with the commercial cultivars and other experimental lines, regular mowing could effectively remove seedheads. MSB‐264 and MSB‐285 have demonstrated positive performance data and are the first hybrid bermudagrass cultivars used for golf greens that are not related to Tifgreen.