Registration of ‘Pristine’ Zoysiagrass

Abstract

‘Pristine’ (Reg. No. CV‐251, PI 652481) zoysiagrass [Zoysia japonica Stued. by Zoysia tenuifolia (L.) Merr.] was developed by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station at the Everglades Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Belle Glade, FL, and initially approved for release in 2005. This zoysiagrass variety originated as an open‐pollinated progeny from ‘Emerald’ and tested in Florida under experimental designation BA‐305. Pristine was selected for improved agronomic and horticultural traits, including reduced production of seed heads, finer leaf texture, darker leaf color, and a faster rate of ground coverage and crop establishment in southern Florida. In comparison to the standard variety Emerald, Pristine exhibited a 46% average annual reduction in seed‐head production and generally produced seed heads with an attenuated morphology. It also produced darker green leaves that were 21% shorter and 19% narrower than Emerald, which visually conferred upon Pristine a more refined canopy structure and texture. In addition, ground coverage and crop establishment was significantly faster for Pristine at two of the three test sites. Pristine is primarily intended for use in the Florida specialty market for zoysiagrass.