FLoraTeX® Bermudagrass University of Florida, Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences
|
AuthorsDr. A.E. Dudeck is Professor of Environmental
Horticulture, |
FLoraTeX® bermudagrass is a joint release of the
Florida and Texas Agricultural Experiment Stations. FLoraTeX® is a low
maintenance bermudagrass for cemeteries, golf course fairways and roughs, lawns, parks,
and sports turfs in warm-humid and warm-semiarid climatic regions of the United States.
Its merits and limitations are summarized as follows:
Bermudagrasses, Cynodon sp., are perennial warm-season grasses native to eastern Africa (3). They are best adapted to well drained, fertile soils of relatively fine texture. They have a prostrate growth habit, fine leaf texture, high shoot density, and deep root system. Bermudagrasses are tolerant of close mowing, drought, heat, and wear stresses. For these reasons, bermudagrasses are commonly used for golf course, recreational, and sports turfs throughout warm climatic regions of southern United States as well as for ornamental lawns, parks, and roadsides (3).
FLoraTeX® bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., is a deep rooted, warm-season turfgrass with excellent dehydration avoidance, low nitrogen requirement, excellent fall low temperature color retention, and early spring greenup. It is resistant to bermudagrass stunt mite, Eriophyes cynodoniensis Sayed. It is tolerant to short-winged mole cricket, Scapteriscus abbreviatus Scudder, and to lance, Hoplolaimus galeatus Cobb, and to spiral, Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus Steiner, nematodes. It is least affected by dollar spot, Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett, under low nitrogen stress. It is widely adapted and produces an acceptable turf throughout southern United States. It can be identified by means of starch gel electrophoresis for its aconitase 'fingerprint'. FLoraTeX® bermudagrass is an environmentally acceptable grass for low maintenance turfs on golf course fairways and roughs, as well as on athletic fields, other recreational sports turfs, roadsides, and home lawns.
FLoraTeX® bermudagrass is thought to have been
introduced into United States under the name 'Franklin' on 18 Feb. 1954 by African
Explosives and Chemical Industries, Ltd., Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa (12). It
was assigned a plant introduction (PI) number, 213385, by USDA New Crops Research Branch,
Crops Research Division. Franklin was originally collected from a putting green that was
severely damaged by mealybugs, Antonina indica Green, at Mount Edgecomb Golf
Course, Natal, South Africa.
From 1955 to 1962, it was tested under its PI number, 213385, in Alabama, Arizona,
California, and Georgia (12). In 1961, Baltensperger (2) first reported and later Butler
(8) confirmed that PI 213385 was resistant to bermudagrass stunt mite, although
Baltensperger also noted his original plant material received from the Southern Regional
Plant Introduction Station in Experiment, GA was vegetatively contaminated. He continued
to test three vegetative off-types from PI 213385 under different coded numbers.
During the 1970's and 1980's, many studies on Florida Bermudagrass accession
119 (FB-119) were conducted at University of Florida, Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences, Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville, FL and at Texas A & M
University, College Station, TX. During 1986 to 1990, FB-119 was evaluated in a southern
regional cooperative test administered by National Turfgrass Evaluation
Program (NTEP), USDA ARS, at Beltsville, MD. The NTEP study involved 28
bermudagrass entries and was conducted at 22 locations in 14 states throughout the south
(14).
Our original source of FB-119 bermudagrass in Florida is unknown, although it was
identified as PI 213385 (Franklin) in our records. Unfortunately, original stock of PI
213385 has since been lost at the Southern Regional Plant Introduction Center so that
comparisons to original germplasm are not possible (G.R. Lovell, personal communication).
FLoraTeX® was chosen as a registered trademark name for the Florida
experimental bermudagrass selection that was tested throughout the south as FB-119.
Turf-type bermudagrass cultivars now in use today generally fit
into one of two groups. One group involves C. dactylon cultivars which tolerate low
cultural input in terms of turfgrass maintenance and yet produce an acceptable level of
turf quality in terms of density and leaf texture. A second group consists of hybrid
bermudagrass cultivars, C. dactylon x C. transvaalensis, which typically require
higher cultural inputs to achieve high turfgrass quality. They also produce an inherently
higher turf quality due to their higher shoot density and narrower leaf texture than the
first group. With these two general groupings in mind, FLoraTeX® bermudagrass
as described herein fits within a low maintenance, C. dactylon, group.
FLoraTeX® bermudagrass produced acceptable seasonal turf quality when compared
with 28 other experimental and commercial cultivars at 21 locations in 14 states
throughout the south over a 5-year study (Table 1). This
indicates widespread geographical adaptation. It was consistently superior in turf quality
compared to 'Arizona Common', 'Guymon', 'NuMex Sahara', and 'Sonesta' cultivars and was
equal in performance compared to 'Midiron' and 'Vamont' cultivars. Its turf quality was
not as high, however, as 'Midfield,' 'Midlawn,' 'MS-Choice,' MS-Express,' 'MS-Pride,'
'Texturf 10,' 'Tifway,' and 'Tufcote' cultivars. In Florida, FLoraTeX® was
superior in turf quality to Arizona Common, Guymon, and NuMex Sahara and was equal to the
remaining 24 cultivars (Table 1). In Texas, it was superior in
turf quality to Arizona Common, Guymon, and NuMex Sahara and was equal to Midfield,
Midiron, Midlawn, Sonesta, Texturf 10, Tufcote, and Vamont. Its turf quality was not as
high, however, as MS-Choice, MS- Express, MS-Pride, and Tifway (Table
1). Tifway bermudagrass is a hybrid from the cross, C. dactylon x C. transvaalensis,
and is considered to be an industry standard today for use on golf course fairways and
athletic fields. Nitrogen level in these studies averaged 3.8 pounds but ranged from 1 to
6 pounds per 1000 square feet per growing season. Mowing height averaged 1.2 inches but
ranged from 0.25 to 3.0 inches. Irrigation was applied to prevent moisture stress. Soil at
various locations ranged from silty clay loam to loam to sand root zones. Soil pH averaged
6.5 but ranged from 4.6 to 7.5.
A unique and superior characteristic of FLoraTeX® is
its ability to form an acceptable turf under low levels of nitrogen fertilization. When
combined with its superior dehydration avoidance and drought resistance, FLoraTeX®
is a truly low maintenance turfgrass which can sustain a significant shoot density and
growth rate needed for acceptable turf quality.
The ability of FLoraTeX® to produce acceptable turf under very low nitrogen
fertilization was first noted during 1970 to 1974 at Fort Lauderdale, FL (Table 2). FLoraTeX® averaged 70% ground cover at 3.5
years after receiving only 1.0 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year. This is an
average fertilization rate of 0.1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per growing
month. This contrasts with Tifway bermudagrass which averaged only 17% ground cover, while
Arizona Common, 'Bayshore', and 'Everglades' were unable to sustain growth at this
extremely low level of nitrogen. Even at a medium rate of 0.6 pound of nitrogen per 1000
square feet per growing month, Tifway produced an inferior turf of only 47% ground cover,
while FLoraTeX® averaged 91% under a same nitrogen level.
In a later study, these findings were reconfirmed at Gainesville, FL (9). Response of nine
of the best Fort Lauderdale bermudagrass selections were studied in a field for three
years at four nitrogen rates ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square
feet per growing month. Acceptable turf quality of FLoraTeX® was maintained at
0.3 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per growing month. In contrast, Tifway required
a minimum of 0.5 pound of nitrogen while Arizona Common required more than 1.0 pound of
nitrogen per 1000 square feet per growing month to maintain acceptable turfgrass quality.
In Texas, FLoraTeX®, as well as Texturf 10, were the best bermudagrass
cultivars under low nitrogen fertilization (21). These cultivars were able to sustain
acceptable turf quality over a 2-year period at 0.125 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square
feet per growing month. Based on detailed root/shoot studies, Sifers and Beard postulated
that these two cultivars have a unique hormonal mechanism that sustains growth at very low
levels of nitrogen via balanced partitioning of available nitrogen and carbohydrates which
sustains both root and shoot growth.
Under fertilization rates of 0.5 to 0.6 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per
growing month at Fort Lauderdale, FL, FLoraTeX® had better turf color,
quality, and ground cover at two months after planting compared to Tifway (7). At 11
months after planting, it had equal ground cover, mole cricket damage, and unmowed height
compared to Tifway. In another 2-year study, FLoraTeX® had superior soil
coverage, color, and quality ratings compared to Tifway for the first two years after
planting (7). Busey's fertilization program averaged 0.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1000
square feet per growing month. He concluded that poor performance of Tifway under low
fertility was probably due to mole cricket damage.
Drought Resistance
Drought resistance refers to a turfgrass' ability to survive a severe water stress, which
may encompass entering a brown dormant condition and then recovering subsequently when
water is available. Drought resistance, based on ability of a grass to greenup over a
30-day period following rewetting, was assessed after 158 days of drought stress during
the summer of 1988 and after 48 days of drought stress during the summer of 1989 at
College Station, TX. FLoraTeX® ranked high in drought resistance both years (Table 3). Tifway was inconsistent with a low drought resistance
ranking in 1988 but had a high ranking in 1989.
Dehydration Avoidance
Dehydration avoidance refers to a turfgrass' ability to retain a green shoot cover for an
extended period of time during onset of drought stress. Comparative dehydration avoidance,
as assessed by percent leaf firing of bermudagrass cultivars, was observed in a field
study after 158 days of drought stress during the summer of 1988 and after 48 days of
drought stress during the summer of 1989 at College Station, TX. FLoraTeX®
ranked very high in 1988 and high in 1989 for dehydration avoidance under field
conditions, while Tifway ranked low in 1988 but high in 1989 (Table
4). Dehydration avoidance in FLoraTeX® is attributed primarily to its deep
root system which penetrated over six feet in root columns (4).
Cold Hardiness
Low temperature hardiness is defined as susceptibility of meristematic tissue to kill at
temperatures below 32°F. Beard et al. (6) conducted cold stress simulation assessments on
mature sods of 19 bermudagrass cultivars. FLoraTex® was ranked with 'Ormond'
in the poorest group of cultivars, yet low temperature hardiness of both cultivars was
equal to that of Arizona Common, 'Santa Ana', Texturf 10, and Tifway. The latter four
cultivars were also ranked in the best group as having high cold temperature hardiness. In
the NTEP test (14), severe winterkill of all bermudagrasses was reported in states of
Illinois (98%), Missouri (94%), and to a lesser extent in Maryland (40%). FLoraTeX®
averaged 73% winterkill in Beltsville, MD, which was equal to that in Arizona Common,
NuMex Sahara, and Sonesta. No winterkill was reported in any year when tested at two
locations in Kansas and at three locations in Virginia.
Fall Low Temperature Color Retention
FLoraTeX® ranked as one of the best bermudagrass cultivars in terms of fall
low temperature color retention or chill stress resistance at temperatures of 55 to 60°F.
This is a valuable trait for late fall field sports. Among 24 bermudagrass cultivars
evaluated over a 3- year period in Texas, FLoraTeX® ranked with Texturf 10,
Santa Ana, and Tifway as the best group of cultivars in terms of fall low temperature
color retention (23). It also exhibited excellent fall and winter low temperature color
retention in Alabama (12), Arizona (12), Florida (9,15), Louisiana (14), Oklahoma (14),
and Virginia Beach, VA (14).
Spring Greenup Rate
Early spring shoot greenup of FLoraTeX® bermudagrass ranked very good among
bermudagrass cultivars. This character would be important for field sports such as
baseball and soccer in order to facilitate recuperation from turf injury. In studies over
a 3-year period in Texas, FLoraTeX® ranked with the highest group including
Midiron, Tufcote, 'U-3', and Vamont to greenup early in the spring in spite of cool soil
temperatures (23). It also exhibited very early spring greenup in Alabama (12), Arizona
(13, 15), Florida (9, 15), and Louisiana (14).
Wear Tolerance As with most bermudagrass cultivars, FLoraTeX® exhibited
good wear tolerance. Among 17 bermudagrass cultivars evaluated in Texas, FLoraTeX®
ranked mid-range with Arizona Common, Bayshore, and Everglades after 800 revolutions of a
wear simulator (Table 5). Ormond, Texturf 10, and Tifway had
superior wear tolerance.
Shade Adaptation Like other bermudagrass cultivars, shade adaptation of FLoraTeX®
is poor. Thus, it should not be used in densely shaded areas. In studies by Beard and
Sifers at College Station, TX, none of 24 bermudagrass cultivars, including FLoraTeX®,
produced an acceptable level of turf quality over a 2-year period under post oak tree
shade.
Soil pH Adaptation
FLoraTeX® adaptated to a relatively broad range of soil pH during five years
in a NTEP bermudagrass cultivar study at 21 locations in 14 states across southern United
States (14). At College Station, TX, soil pH was periodically elevated as high as 9.2
during mid-summer drought periods when irrigated with water high in sodium. Subsequently,
FLoraTeX® was able to sustain an acceptable level of turf quality at these
very high levels of alkalinity. There was no evidence of leaf chlorosis as exhibited by
some other cultivars.
Salinity Tolerance
Salinity tolerance was never measured directly, but in Gainesville, FL, FLoraTeX®
maintained leaf water potentials equal to that of 'Tifgreen' and 'Tifdwarf' bermudagrasses
(15). The latter cultivars are very salt tolerant (10). Osmoregulation alone, however,
cannot be used as an indicator of salinity tolerance, since growth under saline conditions
may be severely inhibited.
Morphological components contributing to the turf character of
FLoraTeX® include a medium-low shoot density, medium leaf texture, and
relatively rapid leaf extension rate. Unmowed canopy height reaches 3 to 5 inches,
depending on environmental and soil conditions. It has a superior rooting depth and mass,
ranking as one of the best bermudagrasses.
Shoot Density
Shoot density of FLoraTeX® is in a medium to medium-low range. In Texas, a
cultivar group having a medium to medium-high shoot density average of 18.4 shoots per
square inch included Bayshore, Everglades, Midlawn, Ormond, and Tifway (Table 5).
Everglades and Ormond, however, were also included with Arizona Common, FLoraTeX®,
Midiron, Texturf 10, Tufcote, and Vamont in the group having a low shoot density average
of 14.6 shoots per square inch. In general, a dense turf is most competitive against weed
invasion and may also have improved wear tolerance (5). No relation between shoot density
and wear tolerance, however, was found (r=0.317, p=0.54) in this study (Table 5).
FLoraTeX® had superior summer density ratings in a NTEP test (14) compared to
Arizona Common, Guymon, and NuMex Sahara. It had summer density ratings equal to Midfield,
Midiron, Midlawn, Sonesta, Tufcote, and Vamont. Cultivars, MS-Choice, MS-Express,
MS-Pride, Texturf 10, and Tifway had high summer density ratings when averaged over a
5-year test.
Leaf Width
Leaf width of FLoraTeX® ranks in a medium range (1 to 2 mm or 0.04 to 0.08
inches) compared to most turfgrasses. It ranked equal to Arizona Common, Bayshore,
Everglades, Midiron, Midlawn, Ormond, Texturf 10, Tifway, Tufcote, and Vamont (Table 5).
Leaf Extension Rate
If a turfgrass has a rapid leaf extension rate, higher labor and energy costs are incurred
due to greater mowing frequency. Also, turfgrasses with rapid vertical leaf extension
rates tend to have high evapotranspiration rates (13). Comparative leaf extension rates of
11 bermudagrass cultivars grown in Texas under high nitrogen (2 pounds of nitrogen per
1000 square feet per growing month) are shown in Table 5.
Cultivars having high leaf extension rate average of 7.3 mm (0.29 inches) per day were
Arizona Common, Bayshore, Everglades, FLoraTeX®, Midiron, Midlawn, Ormond,
Tufcote, and Vamont. Tifway had a low leaf extension rate of 5.0 mm (0.20 inches) per day,
but Bayshore, Everglades, Ormond, Texturf 10, and Tufcote were also equal to Tifway.
Unmowed Canopy
Unmowed height of FLoraTeX® at Gainesville, FL in July 1991 was measured by
Dudeck to be 4.5 inches after 36 days of regrowth following defoliation. Busey (7)
reported its unmowed height as 3 inches at Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Rooting
FLoraTeX® had one of the deepest root systems among commonly used
bermudagrasses. FLoraTeX® bermudagrass produced the greatest dry weight of
root mass among 24 bermudagrass cultivars grown in root columns for 210 days under non-
limiting moisture conditions in a glasshouse in Texas (4). Root distribution at depths of
one, two, and three feet for FLoraTeX® was 42, 18, and 14%, respectively, with
some roots extending to a 7-foot depth. In contrast, root distribution at same depths for
Tifway was 67, 19, and 9%, respectively, with no roots extending beyond a 4-foot depth.
Lateral Stem Development
FLoraTeX® and Tifway produced an equal number of stolons with an average of 56
per 4-inch plug at 30 days after planting at Gainesville, FL (Table
6). However, FLoraTeX® produced longer stolons which averaged 1.8 inches
while Tifway's stolons averaged only 1.2 inches in length. Rate of ground cover produced
by FLoraTeX® and Tifway after 90 days was not different and averaged 40% (Table 6). A 50-day growth period after planting was required to
produce 50% ground cover.
Certain biochemical analyses used in cultivar identification are not influenced by growing conditions and cultural practices as are morphological measurements. Vermeulen et al. (26) found that it was possible to accurately identify FLoraTeX® among 15 commercially available bermudagrass cultivars with use of starch gel electrophoresis. FLoraTeX® produces a distinct 'fingerprint' when stained for aconitase (Figure 1).
FLoraTeX® bermudagrass is a fertile, cross
pollinated, tetraploid perennial grass having a chromosome compliment of 36 (J.C. Read,
TAES, Dallas, TX, personal communication).
Seedhead production disrupts normal vegetative growth and reduces turf quality. FLoraTeX®
produces seedheads, especially during May and June. In an established turf in Gainesville,
FL, it produced 251 and 111 seedheads per square foot during May and June 1991,
respectively. In May, 64, 33, and 3% of the seedheads had 2, 3, or 4 branches per
inflorescence, respectively. In early June, 34, 51, and 1% of the seedheads had 2, 3, or 4
branches per inflorescence, respectively. When counted in late June, 14% of the seedheads
were immature indicating a decline in seedhead production during that time. In a 1992
space-planted, polycross study at Gainesville, FL, FLoraTeX® had a seedhead
production average of 85 seedheads per square foot and was equal to NuMex Sahara and
Arizona Common which had an average of 109 and 73 seedheads per square foot, respectively (Table 7). FLoraTeX® averaged 3.5 branches per seedhead
which was lower than branching in Arizona Common and NuMex Sahara which averaged 3.8 per
seedhead. After 13 years of observations in Texas, Sifers et al. characterized FLoraTeX®
along with Arizona Common, Everglades, Tufcote, and Vamont cultivars as "heavy"
seedhead producers (24). Midiron, Midlawn, Ormond, Texturf 10, and Tifway were
characterized as "light" seedhead producers. Sturkie in Alabama (12), Burton in
Georgia (12), and Baltensperger in Arizona (2) all rated PI 213385 as being a heavy
seedhead producer. In a NTEP test, FLoraTeX® produced seedheads equal to that
of Arizona Common, NuMex Sahara, Sonesta, and Vamont (14). This group had more seedheads
compared to a group comprising Guymon, Midfield, Midiron, Midlawn, MS-Choice, MS- Express,
MS-Pride, Texturf 10, Tifway, and Tufcote.
There is a risk of turf contamination with off-types over time due to production of viable
seed. Seedlings were obtained by Youngner in California from crosses involving Pl 213385
both as a male or female parent indicating that FLoraTeX® may have the
potential to produce viable seed (12). In New Mexico, Baltensperger (personal
communication) also produced several open-pollinated progeny from crosses with PI 213385
and its off-types. In Gainesville, FL, FLoraTeX® had fewer seed per seedhead
compared to Arizona Common and NuMex Sahara (Table 7). Even
though FLoraTeX® averaged only 2 seed per seedhead while Arizona Common and
NuMex Sahara averaged 32 and 11, respectively, total seed production in FLoraTeX®
could average 148 seed per square foot but vary from 50 to 324. Dudeck obtained seedlings
from his polycross study involving Arizona Common, FLoraTeX®, and NuMex
Sahara. Total germination of polycross seed was not different among these three cultivars
and averaged 65%. In College Station, TX, however, no off-type bermudagrasses were found
by Beard and Sifers in FLoraTeX® over 13 years of observation in three
replications of plots 90 square feet in size. Other bermudagrass cultivars in adjacent
plantings did produce off-types.
Timely nitrogen fertilization can reduce seedhead production in FLoraTeX®
bermudagrass (Figure 2). In Gainesville, FL, increased rates of
nitrogen from 0.25 to 1.0 pounds per 1000 square feet decreased seedhead production in a
linear manner. Greatest reduction in seedheads was effected at 1.0 pound of nitrogen where
seedhead production was reduced 34% compared to non fertilized treatments. Thus, timely
application of fertilizer at any rate in early May will effectively reduce seedhead
production in this turfgrass.
Bermudagrass Stunt Mite
Bermudagrass stunt mite, Eriophyes cynodoniensis Sayed, is a serious pest of most
bermudagrass cultivars, especially on residential and golf turf. Bermudagrasses damaged by
this mite have shortened internodes with tufted, compact growth at the nodes (20). When
left uncontrolled, large areas of turf are killed.
Baltensperger (2) and Butler (8) reported in 1961 that cultivars commonly used in Florida
at that time were susceptible to bermudagrass stunt mite. Susceptible cultivars were
Arizona Common, Everglades, 'Nomow,' Ormond, 'St. Lucie,' Tifdwarf, 'Tiffine,' Tifgreen,
'Tiflawn,' and Tifway. Of the three morphological off-types that Baltensperger propagated
from his original PI 2133385 material, two were found to be resistant, but one was found
to be susceptible to bermudagrass stunt mite (2). In 1978, bermudagrass stunt mite failed
to establish on FLoraTeX® during an 8- month solution culture study in a glass
house at Fort Lauderdale, FL (20). Mite populations did establish on several experimental
bermudagrass genotypes and on Tifway. Reinert sampled field plots of FLoraTeX®
adjacent to natural bermudagrass stunt mite infestations in Fort Lauderdale, FL for up to
six years (20) and no infestation of FLoraTeX® was found. Susceptible
selections, however, had continual infestations. FLoraTeX®, Midiron, and
Tifdwarf are the only cultivars with resistance to this mite (16).
Tropical Sod Webworm
In a 1983 report, Reinert and Busey (17) indicated that FLoraTeX® was possibly
tolerant to tropical sod webworm, Herpetogramma phaeopteralis Guenne. However,
Reinert et al. reported in later work at Fort Lauderdale, FL with approximately double the
population pressure that FLoraTeX® suffered moderate damage from tropical sod
webworm larvae, and it had high adult emergence values in caged studies (Table 8). Additional experimentation is required to fully
understand response of FLoraTeX® to tropical sod webworm.
Mole Cricket
Studies in confined cages at Fort Lauderdale, FL showed that adult tawny mole crickets, Scapteriscus
vicinus Scudder, caused 13 to 25% damage to FLoraTeX® and 16 to 32% damage
to Tifway bermudagrass (Table 9). Resistance scores of 71 to 72
for FLoraTeX® and 62 to 81 for Tifway were reported. Additionally, Arizona
Common, FLoraTeX®, and Ormond were least damaged by the short-winged mole
cricket, S. abbreviatus Scudder, another very damaging species (18). Tifway and
Tifgreen cultivars were severely injured by short-winged mole crickets in a same study.
Dollar Spot
In a field study at Gainesville, FL, Arizona Common, FLoraTeX®, and Tiflawn
cultivars were least affected by dollar spot, Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett, while
Tifway was seriously infected when grown under a very low nitrogen fertilization program
(9). Researchers ar two locations in the NTEP study reported FLoraTeX® as
having best average score for no dollar spot, but MS-Express, Tifway, and Tufcote were
also included in a same grouping (14).
Red Thread
On numerous occasions, Red Thread, Laetisaria fuciformus (McAlp.) Burdsall, was observed
in Gainesville, FL growing on dormant FLoraTeX® during a winter period (9). No
turf thinning or damage, however, was noted during a following spring greenup.
Nematode
Bermudagrass culture throughout tropical and subtropical climates is seriously limited by
parasitic nematodes (11). In controlled studies at Fort Lauderdale, FL during 1991,
Giblin-Davis et al. (R.M. Giblin-Davis, 1991, personal communication) concluded that
Arizona Common and FLoraTeX® bermudagrasses were susceptible to a sting
nematode, Belonolaimus longicaudatus, while Tifway bermudagrass was tolerant.
In earlier studies at Fort Lauderdale, FL in 1985, FLoraTeX® and Tifway
bermudagrasses were equally tolerant to lance, Hoplolaimus galeatus Cobb, and to
spiral, Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus Steiner, nematodes (25).
Foundation stock of FLoraTeX® bermudagrass will be released to licensed growers only. FLoraTeX® will be grown under strict certification standards to maintain its genetic purity. Information regarding availability of foundation stock may be obtained from Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., P.O. Box 309, Greenwood, FL 32443 or Texas Foundation Seed Service, College Station, TX 77843.
Best time to plant FLoraTeX® bermudagrass is during
spring and summer months from April through August. It may be established vegetatively by
means of sprigs, plugs, or sod.
Seedbed Preparation
Regardless of method of planting, seedbed preparation before planting is very important
for success of any new turf. All old vegetation should be removed. Soil surface should be
uniformly graded and cleared of debris. Amendments such as colloidal phosphate or
weed-free organic matter should be added. If soil is very sandy, addition of colloidal
phosphate at a rate of 5 percent by volume (a uniform layer 5/16 inch thick over the area)
or peat at a rate of 10 percent by volume (a uniform layer 5/8 inch thick over the area)
is a good investment. Organic matter would be beneficial for only a few years, while
colloidal phosphate would last indefinitely. Either of these amendments increases water
and fertilizer holding capacity of soil. Amendments should be thoroughly mixed into the
upper 6 inches of soil.
A soil analysis is necessary to determine nutritional status of soil. A pH, calcium, and
magnesium analysis will determine need for chemical amendments. For most turf areas,
magnesium is soon depleted. For this reason, dolomite should be used when lime is
recommended. Follow recommendations of your local county extension office. Any limestone
or sulphur should be uniformly incorporated into the root zone at the same time other
amendments are incorporated.
Sprig
Sprigging is the cheapest vegetative planting method. A sprig is an individual stem of
grass without adhering roots and soil. Sprigs, containing at least two nodes per
propagule, are usually planted end to end in shallow furrows spaced 6 to 12 inches apart.
Cover most of the sprig with soil and firm by rolling or stepping on the furrow.
Stolonizing is another method of sprigging where sprigs are uniformly distributed over the
entire soil surface at a rate of 5 to 10 bushels per 1000 square feet and then pressed
into the soil surface with a notched coulter. The area is then rolled and watered. This
method provides very fast coverage since an entire area is uniformly planted. Sprigs have
no root system and, therefore, are quite perishable. Light, frequent, daily waterings are
necessary for the first few weeks until a root system becomes established.
Plug
Plugging is the planting of 2- to 4-inch circular or square pieces of sod. A plug is a
miniature piece of sod which contains a mature plant with an intact root system and
adhering soil. Plugging is very labor intensive and costly requiring from 3 to 10 times
more planting material compared to sprigging. Plugs may be planted on 1- to 2-foot
centers. Obviously, a closer spacing will provide faster coverage. Although plugs are not
as perishable as sprigs, water should be applied one to two times per day during the first
few weeks of establishment.
Sod
Sodding is a most expensive method of vegetative propagation but this is usually
compensated by having an 'instant' lawn. Sod pieces should be fitted together as tightly
as possible in a brick-like fashion on a well-prepared, moistened seedbed. Although
sodding is a least perishable vegetative propagation method compared to sprigs and plugs,
be sure to moisten underlying soil with daily, supplemental water during the first few
weeks of establishment.
Fertilization
When new grass shoots appear after planting, a complete fertilizer with minor elements
such as a 16-4-8 or a 6-6-6 should be applied. During the establishment phase, nitrogen
should be applied at a rate of one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet every 3 to 4
weeks until a solid stand of grass is achieved.
Mowing
Begin mowing at a 1-inch height of cut when grass reaches 1.0 to 1.5 inches in height. Use
a mower with a sharp blade. Do not mow when the grass is wet. Do not remove clippings as
they may reduce fertilizer need by 20 to 30%.
Watering
Bermudagrasses as a group have quite low evapotranspiration (ET) rates. FLoraTeX®
bermudagrass ranks in the upper two-thirds among commercially available bermudagrass
cultivars in terms of a low ET rate. Under a high evaporative stress environment and
nonlimiting moisture conditions, ET rate could reach as high as 4.5 mm (0.18 inches) per
day for a few days during the year. More typically, however, ET rate would be one-half
that amount or less, during most of a growing season. When this is combined with superior
dehydration avoidance and drought resistance, irrigation requirements for FLoraTeX®
turfs would be quite low. Most probably, irrigation would be needed no more than once a
week. When turfgrass shows signs of wilt, irrigate deeply and infrequently to wet the
entire root system.
Fertilization
FLoraTeX® bermudagrass has a low nitrogen requirement being exceeded only by
Texturf 10 among bermudagrass cultivars. Thus, nitrogen requirement for an acceptable
quality turf would be in a range of 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per
growing season. One pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet annually would produce an
acceptable quality turf on most soils. A surprising cover can be maintained even under no
nitrogen fertilization on fertile, fine textured soils that are not prone to leaching. If
only a single annual application is to be made, a complete fertilizer with minor elements
such as a 16-4-8 should be applied in early May to minimize seedhead production. Monitor
need for phosphorus and potassium by soil testing annually.
Since bermudagrasses are used primarily for sports activities, fertilization programs are
often formulated to provide high turf quality during the season. Heavier rates of
fertilizers can be used to keep turf healthy and vigorous. High fertilizer rates, however,
will produce a faster thatch buildup than low fertilizer rates and may also predispose a
turf to more insect and disease problems. Additionally, the amount of mowing and watering
increases with the amount of fertilizer used. Although FLoraTeX® bermudagrass
will respond to high rates of nitrogen fertilizer, use of high nitrogen rates on this
grass would be environmentally irresponsible.
Mowing
FLoraTeX® bermudagrass has consistently produced an acceptable quality turf in
both Florida and Texas at a cutting height of 1 inch, but it may be mowed from 0.75 to 1.5
inches. Higher heights of cut are preferred to take advantage of its superior rooting
depth and mass. Do not remove more that one-third of leaf area at any mowing. Clippings
should not be removed. It may be mowed with either a well adjusted reel mower or a sharp,
well balanced rotary mower. Reel-type mowers are best because they cut grass blades
cleanly as leaf blades pass between the reel and bed-knife. Since FLoraTeX®
bermudagrass produces seedheads from May through July, weekly mowing during this time is
required for removal of seedheads.
Thatch Control
There should be no need for thatch control methods such as core cultivation, vertical
cutting, or top dressing on FLoraTeX® turfs, especially if cultured under low
maintenance conditions.
Pest Problems
Several pest problems such as insects and diseases may affect FLoraTeX® turfs,
especially if grown under a high maintenance program. Diagnosis and recommended treatment
of pest problems are available from your local county Cooperative Extension Service
office.
