International Turfgrass Society Research Journal最新文献

The current format of data repositories like Plant Disease Management Reports (PDMRs) makes recovery of critical information such as treatment efficacy and pathogen control difficult. Artificial intelligence was employed to retrieve and evaluate data from the subset of reports related to turfgrass disease management. Artificial intelligence has the potential for application across a broad spectrum of report types and could enhance the efficiency of translating research data into management recommendations. A customized large language model with access to 1074 PDF files containing turfgrass PDMRs was asked a series of queries. The answers were recorded, and the accuracy of the given responses was verified. From these responses, we can conclude that while the queries were often answered in a thorough manner as specified in the chatbot's configuration, the accuracy and consistency of responses given was highly variable and dependent on which PDMRs the chatbot deemed relevant to the query. Further modifications and validation of chatbots would be required before effective utilization as an extension and research tool.

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia genus) is a valuable warm-season turfgrass species that exhibits significant diversity in growth and morphological traits across different ecotypes. Traditional methods of classifying zoysiagrass ecotypes rely heavily on morphological observations. However, these methods can be labor-intensive and may not fully capture the phenotypic diversity present within the species. In this study, we evaluated the utility of non-invasive digital phenotyping to characterize zoysiagrass ecotypes. Using a digital phenotyping system (DPS) allows for precise measurements of plant height, area, 3D volume (representing biomass), and color index. Clustering algorithms were applied to assess diversity and classify zoysiagrass ecotypes. The subsequent results were compared to manual species classification and genetic marker analysis. The cluster results of DPS effectively differentiate between the three Zoysia species and demonstrate a high correspondence between digital phenotyping and traditional morphological methods. The study highlights the advantages of grouping zoysiagrass based on phenotypic traits and growth characteristics rather than solely on morphological observation or genetic markers, particularly in the context of breeding and research, where a broader range of traits provides more opportunities for selection. Future research could integrate this method with genotypic and transcriptomic analyses for a deeper understanding of zoysiagrass diversity.

Sod installation rooting vigor is an important characteristic for establishment of turfgrass sod. This study evaluated rooting traits of two zoysiagrass cultivars, ‘SS-500’ (Empire®, Sod Solutions, Inc., Zoysia japonica Steud) and ‘Zeon’ (Zoysia matrella L. Merr), under controlled settings to simulate sod installation. The experiment, conducted twice, followed a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement, where cultivars were the main plots and weeks of harvest were the split plots. Significant differences were observed between genotypes and harvest weeks for all root traits. Empire generally had higher values for the evaluated characteristics, and values increased over time for subsequent harvest dates. Results indicate that the methodology has merit for evaluation of sod installation rooting vigor of zoysiagrass.

A 7-year study was conducted to investigate the seasonal change of Zoysia matrella growth in the fairway at a golf course in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The turfgrass samples were collected with hole cup cutters every month from September 2016 to December 2023. The dry weight and starch content of the turfgrass shoot showed seasonal change every year, and there were differences among the years. These seasonal changes and the differences among the years are supposed to be affected by weather factors like temperature and solar irradiation. Compared to a previous report, it is suggested that the spring green-up became much earlier because of the change of temperature in these 30 years. The shoot weight and starch content during rainy season (June–July) showed correlation to the solar irradiation in the same period. The temperature showed positive correlation to starch content in November to December. Better understanding of the relationship of the turfgrass growth and the weather factors may lead to better management of Zoysia matrella in golf course fairways.

In this study, soil samples from the lawns and bare soil of eight elementary schools that are engaged in schoolyard lawn development were collected, and the carbon sequestration amount was measured, in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Samples were taken by digging down to a depth that could be dug by hand, both for the grassland and for the bare soil for comparison. The actual sampling depth over which the carbon stock was calculated ranged from 5.0 to 15.3 cm. The samples were divided and tested for their carbon content in three layers (Thatch and Root Horizon + Humus Layer [the section of the soil core that does not contain roots] + Parent Layer) for the lawn areas. For bare soil, the sample was not divided, and the entire sample was tested for its carbon content. Additionally, the depth and weight of the sampled soil were measured. In addition to total carbon analysis using a total organic carbon meter, we also examined the elapsed years the lawn has been maintained as such and the organic status of the soil and attempted to conduct a questionnaire survey to determine any year-to-year variations. As a result of the analysis, the amount of carbon on the surface of the lawn (0–20 cm deep) was 152.9 ± 98.7 t-CO₂ ha⁻¹. The total carbon stock of the bare land was 149.5 ± 86.4 t-CO₂ ha⁻¹, and the increase in carbon stock due to the conversion of elementary school playgrounds was 3.3 ± 1.3 t-CO₂ ha⁻¹. The results of this study indicate that the conversion of elementary school playground to grasslands in Japan could contribute to carbon storage.

Fungal pathogen Phialochephala bamuru that causes fairway patch on warm-season turfgrasses in Australia is recently observed to cause severe root rot disease in New Jersey on cool-season turfgrass hard fescue (Festuca brevipila). Symptoms begin as small tan colored patches but can develop into irregular ring-like blighted turf upward of 3 m in diameter. Little is known on the control of this disease, with a few reports on the ineffectiveness of single and multiple active ingredient products in the field. To better identify the effective fungicides in controlling P. bamuru, 39 fungicides were evaluated in vitro for suppressing the growth of P. bamuru. Fungicides were added to a 10% potato dextrose agar media, and a P. bamuru mycelium plug was placed in the center of each plate for hyphal radial growth to be measured. Variable growth of P. bamuru was observed, indicating different fungicide sensitivities. Twelve fungicides belonging to five chemical families completely inhibited P. bamuru growth. Ten of these fungicides were then evaluated for the disease control efficacy in the field. This study showed effective P. bamuru inhibition by selective synthetic fungicides in vitro, but field efficacy remained unclear and requires further research.

The need for salinity tolerant turfgrasses is increasing because of the growing use of effluent or other low-quality waters for turfgrass irrigation. Salinity can affect soils and plants in all climates but is particularly common in arid environments and has numerous causes. Salinity impacts the growth of most plants, albeit with variations among species. The objective of this experiment was to quantify the effects of salinity on root growth of an experimental line of saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L. Greene) (SG) and NuGlade Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG), two grasses with contrasting salinity tolerance. In this experiment, SG and KBG were grown in containers within separate growth chambers, each maintained at their optimal growing temperatures. Salinity was imposed on the plants by irrigating with saline waters of ∼0, 8, and 16 dS/m for SG and ∼0, 4, and 8 dS/m for KBG. Root growth was monitored using minirhizotron and in-growth root cores. The data from in-growth root cores revealed contrasting effects of salinity on root and rhizome growth trends between SG and KBG. Root growth of SG increased by 22% under 8 and 16 dS/m salinity treatments. Conversely, salinity treatment of 8 dS/m decreased KBG root growth by 33% compared to the control. Saltgrass rhizome growth increased by 130% with the rise in salinity from the control to 16 dS/m treatment, whereas KBG rhizome growth decreased by 57% as salinity increased from the control to 8 dS/m. Minirhizotron observation indicated that SG showed increased flushes of fine roots in the moderate levels of salinity (8 dS/m) compared to the control about 3 weeks after salt treatments began. Increased fine root production greatly increased the root surface area for absorption, an adaptive response of SG to salinity. Turf quality did not deteriorate by even the highest level of salinity tested in saltgrass, suggesting it is a good candidate for turf growing under saline conditions.

Fundamental to writing a scientific paper is the need to define accurately the plant and other materials used in an experiment. The basics of long-standing international rules which define plant species and cultivar names (the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants) are briefly explained. Based on the standard of nomenclature used in manuscripts submitted to recent International Turfgrass Research Conferences, these rules appear to be poorly understood and applied nowadays by many plant scientists. Additionally and over the past 25–30 years, the commercial use of branding (via trademark names) to market turfgrasses, especially warm-season varieties, has increased rapidly, but universities have been slow to pick up on this trend, research how branding operates and its effect—beneficial or otherwise—for both marketers and consumers, and add it as a curriculum topic to improve the understanding of its nomenclatural implications by scientists. The properties of trademarks and protected cultivar names are described, together with how these two very different, yet complementary, forms of intellectual property interact commercially through branding to market plant varieties. Current and future options and opportunities with branding are briefly discussed.

Increasing droughts coupled with decreasing available water resources in the southwestern United States highlight the need for new turfgrass cultivars that require less water. A field study evaluated a set of experimental and commercial bermudagrasses (Cynodon Rich. species) for responses to prolonged and repeated drought conditions in Riverside, CA (USDA Hardiness Zone 10a). Irrigation was withheld for two successive 60-day cycles of drought, each followed by 14-day recovery periods in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Plots were evaluated weekly for turf quality and leaf firing, as well as living green coverage, normalized difference vegetation index, and dark green color index using digital imagery. Using living green coverage as a metric for drought performance, seven experimental genotypes (UCRC180012, UCRC180037, UCRC180040, UCRC180146, UCRC180217, UCRC180229, and UCRC180557) were consistently among the top 10 performers, on average retaining over 50% green coverage by the end of each dry-down cycle. In comparison, all check bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] (Riley's Super Sport [Celebration®]) and hybrid bermudagrass (C. dactylon × C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy) (Bandera®, Santa Ana, DT-1 [TifTuf®], Tifway II) cultivars had low to moderate responses, ranging from 36% to 0% green coverage. Riley's Super Sport and DT-1 ranked the highest among check cultivars across years and cycles. Some genotypes appeared to show stress memory, where the first drought period in a year appeared to prime them for a more successful second period each year. Results demonstrate extensive variation among bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) in response to drought and that evaluation over repeated drought cycles appears to be a useful selection tool for Mediterranean climates.

Shade is a widespread environmental condition that results in the decline of quality in turfgrasses. There is a great need to understand how plants physiologically respond to shaded conditions, and more specifically the ability of plants to harvest light energy in these limited light conditions. A collection of cool-season (hybrid bluegrass [Poa arachnifera × Poa pratensis] and tall fescue [Festuca arundinaceae]) and warm-season turfgrasses (bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvalensis], seashore paspalum [Paspalum vaginatum], and Zoysia spp.) were grown under full-sun or tree shade environments. In addition to estimates of overall performance, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were used to estimate photochemical processes associated with light harvesting. Differences in shade performance were detected along with changes to photosynthetic processes. Rankings of shade tolerance were similar to previous research, with cool-season species being relatively more tolerant, followed by zoysiagrasses, and bermudagrass being relatively shade sensitive. Based on chlorophyll fluorescence and the JIP-test, a plant's ability to capture electrons may be more critical for shade tolerance than their ability to perform intersystem electron transport. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters are a potentially useful tool to further explore plant adaptation to shaded conditions.