Turf-Seed/Pure Seed Testing Field Day a Success

HUBBARD, Ore. – Turfgrass industry professionals from around the world were able to see the newest seed varieties from Turf-Seed, Inc. and learn about the latest turfgrass research from Pure Seed Testing, Turf-Seed’s research and development arm, at the annual Turf-Seed/Pure Seed Testing Field Day, held June 17 in Hubbard, Ore.

The field day gives superintendents, turf managers, distributors, seed growers, and industry media, a chance to see both commercially available and experimental turfgrass seed varieties being tested under real-world conditions.

“Customers can actually see our turf varieties growing under different conditions,” says Crystal Rose-Fricker, President of Pure Seed Testing. “We have putting green trials, fairway trials, shade trials, test plots mowed at different heights, and varieties planted in seed production trials so seed growers can see how they are going to perform for them, and what they look like in turf.”

Here are some of the highlights from the event, and areas in which researchers are focusing their efforts.

SALT & DROUGHT TOLERANCE. Dr. Ronny Duncan of Turf Eco Systems, spoke on the need for improved genetic tolerance in future grass varieties and blends.

“Grass tolerance is going to become extremely important the further we get into this century,” Duncan says. “We’re going to need a lot more multiple stresses built into grasses or we’re not going to have a lot of turf surviving out there. Salinity is going to be challenging it; we’re also going to need a lot better drought tolerance in these grasses.”

To provide solutions to this need, Pure Seed Testing has developed a variety of new salt tolerant and heat and drought resistant grasses, many of which are currently available from Turf-Seed.

GENETIC ENGINEERING. Pure Seed Testing also shared conclusive results at the field day showing that genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant bentgrasses currently being grown in Oregon had contaminated non-engineered bentgrasses through pollination.

“The pollen traveled two-and-a-half-miles,” says David Carillo of Pure Seed Testing. “It pollinated another plant, which produced seed containing the glyphosate-resistant gene.”

Pure Seed Testing planted the contaminated seed in a greenhouse and, after it grew, sprayed the plant three times with glyphosate; the plant survived. The plant was also checked using a simple test kit and came up positive for the presence of the glyphosate gene. “It’s similar to a pregnancy test and very conclusive,” Carillo says. “It tests for a specific gene that is there, so it’s either yes or no.”

POA ANNUA. A new chemical called Velocity™ was shown extremely effective at controlling Poa annua in test plots at field day. Developed by Valent Corp., Velocity is currently being used for selective control of Poa annua and Poa Trivialis in perennial ryegrasses and bentgrasses on fairways and roughs, and is being considered for use on greens and tees.

“We think Velocity is going to make the superintendent’s job a lot easier,” says Rick Elyea, director of golf marketing for Turf-Seed and Tee-2-Green. “We are finding that if you go with light, frequent applications you get better results. It suppresses the growth of Poa annua and kills it slowly versus a hard and quick kill. But that slow transition allows the bentgrass to fill in so the golfer does not notice.”

NEW TALL FESCUE VARIETY. Tar Heel II, a new tall fescue developed at Pure Seed Testing – East, has shown excellent resistance to brown patch in both National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials and in trials conducted by Pure Seed Testing. Tar Heel II is also performing very well in shade trials, and has shown the highest level of salt tolerance of any tall fescues yet screened by Pure Seed Testing.

The Turf-Seed/Pure Seed Testing field day alternates yearly between Pure Seed Testing – West in Oregon, and Pure Seed Testing – East near Rolesville, N.C. Next year’s field day will be held in Rolesville on Friday, June 17, 2005. Visit www.turf-seed.com for more information.