Open AccessBreeding Cool‐Season Turfgrass Cultivars for Stress Tolerance and Sustainability in a Changing Environment
Author(s) -
Meyer William A.,
Hoffman Lindsey,
Bonos Stacy A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international turfgrass society research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2573-1513
DOI - 10.2134/itsrj2016.09.0806
Subject(s) - abiotic component , cultivar , germplasm , biology , sustainability , abiotic stress , agronomy , climate change , breed , growing season , agroforestry , ecology , biochemistry , gene
Growth and sustainability of cool‐season turfgrass species has the potential to be negatively impacted by future climate change; therefore, it will be necessary to breed turfgrass cultivars that have improved abiotic and biotic stress tolerance compared with cultivars that are currently available. This will require the use of techniques that can efficiently and effectively identify novel germplasm for incorporation into a breeding program. Over the past decade, advances have been made in the methodologies used to develop new cultivars of apomictic and open‐pollinated, cool‐season turfgrass species. This keynote address will discuss the impact climate change will have on plant breeding objectives, breeding techniques used by Rutgers University, and advances that have been made in breeding cool‐season grasses for improved abiotic and biotic stress tolerance.