Breeding CWG‐R Crested Wheatgrass for Reduced‐Maintenance Turf

Using reduced‐maintenance turfgrass as an alternative to current high‐maintenance turfgrass species would conserve resources, reduce labor, and potentially reduce pollutants in the environment. CWG‐R is an experimental population of crested wheatgrass [ Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.] from Iran that has shown potential as a low‐maintenance turf. The objective of this research was to estimate the genetic variation for turf traits within the CWG‐R population when evaluated under a reduced‐maintenance regimen. Ninety CWG‐R clonal lines were established in 1998 near Logan, UT, as spaced‐plant plots in a RCB design with four replicates. Maintenance of 50% ET 0 replacement, 97.74 kg of nitrogen ha −1 yr −1 , and mowing at 7.62 cm was approximately 40% lower than typical for high‐input Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) turf. Critical turf traits, including spring regrowth, season‐long (March–October) and mid‐summer (June–July) turf quality, color, and rhizomatous spread were evaluated in 1999 and 2000. Significant genetic variation among clonal lines was evident with broad‐sense heritabilities of 0.65, 0.76, 0.45, and 0.76 for spring regrowth, season‐long turf quality, color, and rhizomatous spread, respectively. Several clonal lines remained green throughout the summer months and maintained acceptable turf quality and color ratings during the critical mid‐summer period. The high broad‐sense heritability estimates within this population indicate potential for successful improvement of critical turf traits by phenotypic selection. These results indicate that that CWG‐R could be an important low‐maintenance turf‐type crested wheatgrass germplasm.