Open AccessWinter Injury of Fine‐Textured Interspecific Zoysia Hybrids in the Upper Transition Zone of the USA
Author(s) -
Fry Jack,
Chandra Ambika,
Genovesi Dennis,
Morris Kevin,
Xiang Mingying
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international turfgrass society research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2573-1513
DOI - 10.2134/itsrj2016.09.0757
Subject(s) - zoysia japonica , japonica , interspecific competition , interspecific hybrids , horticulture , hybrid , biology , botany , geography
Fine‐textured, high‐quality zoysiagrasses ( Zoysia spp.) lack freezing tolerance for use in much of the transition zone of the United States. Two fine‐textured interspecific zoysiagrass hybrids, KSUZ 0802 [ Z. matrella (L.) Merr. × Z. japonica Steud.] and KSUZ 1201 [ Z. japonica × Z. pacifica (Goudswaard) M. Hotta & Kuroki × Z. japonica ] were evaluated in the field for winter survival in Manhattan, KS, along with standards ‘Meyer’ ( Z. japonica ), ‘Empire’ ( Z. japonica ), and ‘Zeon’ ( Z. matrella ). Grasses were established in the field from vegetative plugs in June 2013 and evaluated for winter injury and quality from 2014 to 2016. The low temperatures during the winters each year were −24 (14 Jan. 2014), −19 (7 Jan. 2015), and −18°C (10 Jan. 2016), respectively. The greatest winter injury occurred in 2014 and 2015. When plots were rated in the spring, Meyer, KSUZ 0802, and KSUZ 1201 had <10% winter injury in each year, whereas Empire and Zeon exhibited >20% injury in 2014 and >90% injury in 2015. Both KSUZ 0802 and KSUZ 1201 had quality that was better than Meyer on 6 of 13 rating dates. KSUZ 0802 and KSUZ 1201 are high‐quality, fine‐textured, cold‐hardy genotypes that are well suited for use in the transition zone.