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APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF X CULTIVARS ASSOCIATE CULTIVARS

(Please check appropriate type of application)

1. Crop: Interspecific Hybrid Bermudagrass (Cynodon transvaalensis x C. dactylon)

2. Experimental no. or name: Tested as 93-92, 94-18, 97-4, 00-07, Tift #4 and ST-5.

3. Pedigree and history: In 1992 we crossed six C. transvaalensis (T572, T573, T573, T574, T575, T576 and T577) parents with 4 C. dactylon (T90, T110, Quickstand, and VaMont) parents at Tifton, GA. Crosses were made in the field by surrounding each C. transvaalensis parent with a C. dactylon parent in 6-feet square plots. All crosses were in close proximity of each other so we cannot rule out intercrossing between and among plots. On May 7, 1993 we planted on 18 inch centers over 27,700 progenies from the 24 cross combinations. Once established, we mowed the plots 3X per week at ¼ inch. In the fall of 1993 we selected 260 plants (194 were triploid hybrids) that maintained density, color, and tawny mole cricket resistance for further testing. One selection, 93-92, was later tested as 94-18, 97-4, 00-07, and Tift #4 and became ST-5 (ST for shade tolerant). In the fall of 1993, we made a note that ST-5 was a ‘nice dwarf’. It has been tested since 1997 in three field and three shade tests at Tifton, GA, in 23 tests in 19 states in the NTEP trials, in one test each in TX and AZ, and in three test for insect resistance at Griffin, GA.

4. Description: In 1993, we classified the selections we made in the fall of 1993 into very dwarf , dwarf and Tifway types. ST-5 was in the dwarf class and therefore our original controls in the 1997 planted test were Tifdwarf and Tifgreen. St-5 is a naturally darker green and dense grass. It produces a small seed head on a thin peduncle in late May and June (typical of bermudagrass, but ST-5 produces slightly more seed heads than desired—the only negative trait of this cultivar). Seed heads can be reduced by 50% by using Primo (data not included).

5. Station(s) where developed: University of Georgia, Tifton Campus

6. Participating scientist(s): Wayne Hanna (USDA-ARS and UGA) and Kris Braman (UGA)

7. In what respect is the new cultivar superior to the cultivar now in use? or reasons for proposing release as an associate cultivar:

ST-5 has significantly more shade tolerance than Tifway and TifSport, especially after the first year of establishment (Table 1). Turf quality is as good or better than Tifway and TifSport (Tables 2A, 2B and 6). In most years, ST-5 tends to produce significantly more

seed heads than Tifway and TifSport (Table 3), but the number of seed heads can be reduced by treating with Primo (data not shown).

Plant color for ST-5 is as good or better than for Tifway or TifSport (Table 4).

In field plots where other grass cultivar/genotypes are present ST-5 has significantly better tawny mole cricket resistance than Tifway or TifSport (Table 5). However, in greenhouse studies under non-preference ST-5 had higher mole cricket reproduction values than did Tifway or TifSport (Table 7B). ST-5 has similar

resistance to the two-lined spittle bug (Table 7A) and army worm (Table 8) as Tifway, Tifdwarf and TifSport,, but less resistance to the bermudagrass mite (Table 7A). The bermudagrass mite is mainly a problem on stressed grass.

Note—Data in tables shown for years are usually means of multi-ratings. At Tifton, GA rating are

taken monly from April to Oct. At Tifton, GA we do not apply any insecticides, fungicides or

herbicides (except for 1 lbs/ac of Atrazine in March). The ‘turf quality’ rating is a general rating where density, color, texture, pest resistance , etc are considered for evaluating the desirability of the turf.

Additionally, ST-5 has been growing in the following non-replicated shade situations (Table 1B). It has performed well where the shade is not more than 70%. After 70% shade, ST-5 will maintain a turf , but it will thin out as the shade increases. At 95% shade, ST-5 will rate a 3-4 on a scale of 1-9 where 9 is best. Ron Wright at The County Club of Mobile told me he was happy with a rating of 3 or 4 in heavy shade because there was enough sod to keep the soil from eroding, whereas before there was not sod.

1. Lawn in Roswell, GA, 5 years in a lawn (Carter and Amy Burleigh)

2. Rough on Golf Course of Mobile, 3 years in rough (Ron Wright)

3. Lawn in Martinez, GA, 3 years (Aaron and Julie Hanna)

4. Tee on Pinehurst Resort #3, 2 years (Steve Wilson)

5. Rough on Atlanta Athletic Club, 2 years (Ken Mangum and Jason Harris)

6. Rough on East Lake Golf Club, 2 years (Ralph Kepple)

8. Method of propagation: Vegetative (sprigs, plugs, stolons, rhizomes and/or sod

9. Amount of breeder seed stocks available (if applicable): 12 x 12 feet plot

10. Amount of foundation seed stocks available (if applicable): One acre

11. Amount of cutting or bud material available for vegetatively propagated material for nursery distribution (if applicable):

12. Is there likely to be unusual difficulty encountered in the production of any class of seed stocks? Explain. No

13. Three suggested names for the cultivar: To be determined

14. Name approved by Plant Cultivar and Germplasrn Release Committee

15. Form of intellectual property protection: Plant Patent

16. Is a royalty assessment recommended: X Yes No

Table 1. Response of bermudagrass cultivars to continuous shade.

Test #1. Planted 1999(64 entries)—under 60% continuous shade.

Turf Quality

Cultivar 1999

Tifway 4.1

TifSport 3.9

Tifgreen 3.6

Tifdwarf 3.3

ST-5 5.0

5%LSD 1.0

Test #2-Planted April 2000 (20 entries)-under 60% continuous shade.

Turf Quality

Cultivar 2000 2001

Tifway 5.5 5.3

TifSport 6.0 6.0

ST-5 6.3 7.8

5%LSD 1.6 1.1

Test #3-Planted May 2002 (7 entries)-under 75% continuous shade.

Turf Quality

Cultivar 2002 2003 2004

Tifway 4.0 4.4 4.5

TifSport 3.8 4.2 4.6

ST-5 6.3 7.8 7.3

5%LSD 1.0 1.1 1.1

Table 1B.	Turf density ratings on ST-5 in non-replicated tests.
	Rating		Density (No.Observations)-9=best
Location	Dates	%Shade	ST-5	Tifway	El Toro, Zoysia
Roswell, GA	Nov. 2007	10%	9(3)
Plt. May.2002		50%	8.3(3)
Yard		60%	8.3(3)
		95%	3(1)
	_____________________________________________________
Martinez, GA	July.2007	55%	8(1)
Plt. Mar.2005		85%	4(1)	1(1)
Yard		60%	7(1)
		0%	9(1)	8(1)
	_____________________________________________________
Mobile, AL	June.2007	90%	8(1)	4(1)
Plt. Mar.2005		95%	4(1)	1(1)
Mobile CC
Rough.	_____________________________________________________
Pinehurst, NC	Sept.2007	90%	8(1)		6(1)
Plt.July.2006		(pine trees)
Pinehurst #3
4th Tee	____________________________________________________
Atlanta,GA	Sept. 2007	50%	8(1)
Plt. Sept.2006
Atlanta Athletic
Club
Rough
	_____________________________________________________
Atlanta, GA	Sept.2007	70%	7(1)	4(1)
Plt. Sept. 2006		Little Traffic
East Lake CC		70%	3 to 6(1)
Rough		High Traffic
__________________________________________________________________
Note: %shade reflects the reduction in photosynthesis light in the
	450 to 650 wave length range.			When appropriate
	ratings were also made on adjacent standard cultivars.

Table 2A. Turf quality data on ST-5 triploid turf bermudagrass and standard control cultivars
		planted in Tifton, Georgia. (9=best quality).
Cultivar										Turf Quality
		Mow Ht.		→		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch
		Year Plant		→		1997		1997		1997		1997		1997		1997		1997
		Data Year		→		1997		1998		1998		1999		1999		2000		2000
Tifgreen						7		5.6		6.7		4.5		4.9		3.4		3.5
Tifdwarf						7.5		6.2		6.6		4.9		4.6		3.3		3.3
Tifway						7.5				6.9				6.3				6.3
TifSport						7.5				6.7				6.7				7.5
ST-5						8.5		7.4		8		6.6		7.2		6.9		6.5
LSD-5%						0.8		0.5		0.5		0.6		0.6		0.8		0.8
Note: In the 1997 planted test, Tifway and TifSport data came from an adjacent test managed identical
		to the ST-5 test except that it was not mowed at 1/4 inch.
Cultivar										Turf Quality
		Mow Ht.		→		1/2 inch		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch
		Year Plant		→		2000		2000		2000		2000		2000		2000
		Data Year		→		2001		2002		2003		2003		2004		2004
Tifdwarf						6.6		5.3		2.8		3.7		2.9		2.1
Tifway						7.2		7		6.4		7.8		6.1		6.7
TifSport						7.3		6.9		6.2		7		5.6		6.2
ST-5						7.1		6.8		7.9		6.9		6.7		7.7
LSD-5%						0.3		0.2		0.2		0.2		2		1.4
Table 2B. Turf quality data on ST-5 triploid turf bermudagrass and standard cultivars in Arizona and
		Texas.
Cultivar								Turf Quality
		Mow Ht.		→		1/4 inch				1/8 inch		3/16 inch
		Year Plant		→		1997A				1997T		1997T
		Data Year		→		1997A				1998T		1998T
Tifdwarf						4.8				4.2		5.1
Tifway						5.1				4.5		5.2
ST-5						6.8				4.9		5.4
LSD-5%						0.7				0.4		0.6
Note: Arizona data (A) collected by Charlie Rodgers and Texas data (T) collected by Richard White.
Table 3. Ratings on seed head formation (end of May and June) on ST-5 and standard
	controls. (9= many seed heads).
Cultivar									Seed Heads
	Mow Ht.		→		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch
	Year Plant		→		1997		1997		1997		1997		1997		1997		1997
	Data Year		→		1997		1998		1998		1999		1999		2000		2000
Tifgreen					2.5		1		3		1.7		1		1.2		2
Tifdwarf					1.5		2		3		2		1.3		1.2		1
Tifway					2								2.5
TifSport					1.5								3.8
ST-5					3.5		3		2.5		3		3.5		2.2		3.3
LSD-5%					1.6		1.8		1.7		0.7		0.7		1.4		1.4
Note: In the 1997 planting, Tifway and TifSport data came from an adjacent test managed the same
as the ST-5 test except there was not 1/4 inch mowing height.
Cultivar							Seed Heads
	Mow Ht.		→		1/2 inch		1/2 inch		1/2 inch		1/4 inch		1/2 inch
	Year Plant		→		2000		2000		2000		2000		2000
	Data Year		→		2001		2002		2003		2004		2004
Tifdwarf					1.7		3.3		1.3		1.3		1.7
Tifway					2		1.5		1.7		1		3
TifSport					2		1.7		2.3		1.3		3
ST-5					3.8		4.8		3.7		3.7		3.7
LSD-5%					0.2		0.3		0.2		0.8		0.9

Table 4. Ratings for turf color on ST-5 and standard controls at Tifton, GA and AZ.
(9= dark green).
Cultivar			color					Greenup
	Mow Ht.	→	1/4 inch	1/2 inch	1/4 inch	1/2 inch	1/4 inch	1/4 inch	1/2 inch
	Year Plant	→	1997	1997	1997	1997	1997A	1997	1997
	Data Year	→	1998	1998	1999	1999	1997A	1998	1998
Tifgreen			5.8	7.4	3.8	3.7	4.4	5.8	7.3
Tifdwarf			7.3	8.2	5	5	5.3	7.2	8.1
Tifway				6
TifSport				6
ST-5			7.8	8.3	7	6.5	7.2	7.8	8.3
LSD-5%			0.3	0.3	0.9	0.9	0.4	0.3	0.3
Note: Rating on Tifway and TifSport in the 1997 planted test came from an adjacent
test managed identical to the ST-5 test except there was no 1/4 inch mowing height.
1997A data came from AZ collect by Charlie Rodgers.
Cultivar			Color
	Mow Ht.	→	1/2 inch	1/4 inch	1/2 inch
	Year Plant	→	2000	2000	2000
	Data Year	→	2001	2003	2003
Tifdwarf			6.8	2.8	6
Tifway			7.5	6.4	7
TifSport			7.8	6.2	7
ST-5			7.8	7.9	8.3
LSD-5%			0.3	0.2	0.2

Table 5. Ratings for tawny mole cricket damage on ST-5 and standard controls.
(9=major damage).
Cultivar			Mole Crickets
	Mow Ht.	→	1/4 inch	1/2 inch	1/4 inch	1/2 inch	1/4 inch	1/2 inch
	Year Plant	→	1997	1997	1997	1997	1997	1997
	Data Year	→	1998	1998	1999	1999	2000	2000
Tifgreen			4	4	5.8	5.3	5.9	6.5
Tifdwarf			5	5.5	5.5	5.4	6.8	6.8
Tifway				1.3		2.5		4.8
TifSport				1		2.3		2.9
ST-5			1.3	1.8	1.3	1	1.2	2
LSD-5%			0.9	0.9	1.3	1.3	0.6	0.6
Note: Tifway and TifSport data from the 1997 planting came from an adjacent
test managed identical to the ST-5 test except there was no 1/4 inch mowing height.
Cultivar			Mole Crickets
	Mow Ht.	→	1/2 inch	1/2 inch	1/4 inch	1/2 inch	1/4 inch	1/2 inch
	Year Plant	→	2000	2000	2000	2000	2000	2000
	Data Year	→	2001	2002	2003	2003	2004	2004
Tifdwarf			3.3	5.3	9	8.3	8.2	7.8
Tifway			2	2	6	3	2.2	2.7
TifSport			2.3	2.7	5.3	3	2.7	3.4
ST-5			1.7	2	1	1.7	1.8	2.2
LSD-5%			0.4	0.5	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.8

Table 6. Rating for turf quality on ST-5 and standard
controls in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Trials
from 2003-2006 in the Southeastern, Southwestern
and Transition zones (9=best quality)
		Turf Quality in Three US Regions (Zones):
Cultivar	Number of:	Southeast	Southwest	Transition
	States →	7	4	8
	Locations →	9	5	9
TifSport		6.7	6.5	6
Tifway		6.6	6.4	5.9
Celebration		6.1	6	5.7
Patriot		6.1	5.9	6.5
Midlawn		6	6.3	6.2
ST-5		6.6	6.2	5.8
LSD-5%		0.3	0.3	0.3

Table 7A.	Response of ST-5 and commercial controls to two-lined spittle bugs
	and bermudagrass mites in greenhouse studies under no-choice
	conditions (studies conducted by Kris Braman).
	Two-Lined Spittlebug			Bermudagrass Mite
	Mean	Mean	% Damage	Rating	Rating
	Damage	Number of	due to	Expt. A	Exp. B
	Rating	Nymphs	Adult
	Day 30	Surviving to	Feeding
Cultivar		Day 30
Tifway	0.7	0.3	31	5.6	4.8
TifSport	0	0.3	52	4.6	4.9
Tifdwarf	0.7	0	64
ST-5	1.3	0.3	47	3.7	3
LSD-5%	ns	ns	ns	0.7	0.6
Notes: Higher ratings for bermudagrass mites mean more resistance.
Table 7B.	Response of ST-5 and commercial cultivars to tawny mole crickets
	in greenhouse studies under no-choice conditions (studies
	conducted by Kris Braman).
	Tawny Mole Crickets
	Root Dry	No. Eggs	No. Crickets
	Weight	After 30	After 30
	% of Control	Days	Days
Cultivar
Tifway	52	5.2	2.8
TifSport	67	0	1.8
Tifdwarf	44	7.9	3
ST-5	35	22