| Author Affiliation: | Menn: Lecturer, Turfgrass Science, Texas A&M University, Dallas, TX; White: Turfgrass Physiologist, Texas A&M University, Dallas TX; Hall: Research Associate, Turfgrass Physiology, Support Staff for Turfgrass Programs, The TExas Agricultural Experiment Station, Dallas, TX; Gaudreau: Graduate Student & Research Technician II, Turfgrass Mgt., Support Staff for Turfgrass Programs, The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Dallas, TX |
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| Abstract/Contents: | "Twenty seven St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum [Walter] Kuntze) cultivars were planted in College Station, Texas on August 15, 1996. Irrigation and fertilizer were applied as needed to promote lateral growth of stolons, and plots were hand-weeded as needed. Genotypes that suffered winterkill greater than 50 percent included SC6-174, MM 203, SC6-196, and TX 8208. FX-10, Texas Common, Palmetto, CSR, Winchester, Levi and Delmar sustained less than 15 percent winterkill. Spring greenup was rated on two dates, with only Delmar and Levi in the top statistical group on both dates. Entries that were slowest to green up on both dates included S 6-89-196, S 6-89-174, MM 203, S 6-89-194, Seville, and Bitterblue. No plots were completely covered by the start of the 1997 growing season, and the study was rated visually for percent coverage four times throughout the spring and summer. Entries that were in the top statistical group for coverage on all four rating dates were 6-89-156, Levi, S 89-14, CSR, Palmetto, and Texas common. Turfgrass quality was rated visually throughout the growing season. S 89-14 and S 6-89-156 were the only entries that received quality ratings in the top statistical category for all rating dates. In addition to those, Levi, FX-10, and CSR received ratings in the top group on 5 of the 6 rating dates. Overall, S 89-14 and S 6-89-156 received quality ratings higher than all entries except Levi and FX-10. S 6-89-156, Bitterblue, S 6-89-70, Floratam, TX 8262, FX-10, Texas common, S 87-6, Palmetto, S 89-14, and S 6-89-194 exhibited the least severe symptoms of gray leaf spot, a common fungal disease of St. Augustinegrass, while Delmar, Floralawn, Seville, MM 1, MM 203, S 6-89-174, and MM 302 exhibited the most severe symptoms in 1997. The texture of each genotype was assessed, with average leaf widths ranging from about 7 mm up to almost 11 mm. Delmar, Bitterblue, Raleigh, Floratam, FX-10, and S 87-6 had the widest leaves, while S 6-89-196 and CSR had the narrowest." |
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