Patent Publication Number: US-6126-P

Title: St. Augustinegrass (PS-247)

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY 
     This invention relates to a new and distinct St. Augustinegrass. It was derived from a cross between a Texas Common selection (male parent) and a plant selected from open pollinated experimental 6-69-272 (female parent). This genotype first labeled 184 and later PS-247 was propagated vegetatively by stolons to provide planting stock for studying performance and making comparisons to commercially available cultivars. 
     Genotype PS-247 has a deep purple stigma color and a light purple anther color. It has a moderate leaf blade length and width, and internode length and width when compared to other cultivars. In field tests PS-247 had the longest stolon length, a rapid rate of cover, lowest gray leafspot (Piricularia grisea) incidence readings, and high turf quality ratings. In an aquaculture study PS-247 had a significantly greater number of roots and total root length than other St. Augustinegrass varieties in the test. This information can be used to distinguish PS-247 from other St. Augustine cultivars. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS 
     FIG. 1 is a photograph of the leaves and stem of a PS-247 St. Augustinegrass plant, 
     FIG. 2 shows a spike of a PS-247 St. Augustinegrass plant, 
     FIG. 3 shows mowed turf of PS-247, and 
     FIG. 4 shows the root development of PS-247 and other St. Augustinegrasses. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY 
     Genotype PS-247 possesses a Munsell color designation 5.0 GY 5/6 1/  and is characterized by compressed and branched culms. The leaf blades are moderate in length, averaging 34.6 mm and 49.0 mm for the first expanded leaf and the third leaf, respectively. The leaf blades are moderate in width, averaging 7.8 mm and 8.1 mm for the same leaves. The internode lengths and widths are also moderate in size, averaging 86.2 mm and 2.8 mm, respectively for the first expanded internode; and 97.4 mm and 2.7 mm, respectively for the third internode. This information and comparisons to commercially available cultivars, given in Tables 1 and 2, allow PS-247 to be distinguished from the semi-dwarf Seville and Floratam. 
    
     
                       TABLE 1                                                     
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First                                                                     
Leaf Blade         Third                                                  
Selection-                                                                
        Length    Width    Leaf Blade                                     
Variety (mm).sup.2                                                        
                  (mm).sup.3                                              
                           Length(mm)                                     
                                    Width(mm)                             
______________________________________                                    
PS-247  34.6 ± 7.3                                                     
                  7.8 ± 0.5                                            
                           49.0 ± 14.2                                 
                                    8.1 ± 2.2                          
Tex. Com.                                                                 
        31.2 ± 6.2                                                     
                  7.8 ± 0.6                                            
                           33.8 ± 5.8                                  
                                    7.6 ± 1.0                          
Seville 22.0 ± 3.3                                                     
                  6.7 ± 0.5                                            
                           30.0 ± 7.0                                  
                                    7.9 ± 0.7                          
Raleigh 38.0 ± 8.0                                                     
                  9.4 ± 1.1                                            
                           49.9 ± 22.9                                 
                                    9.8 ± 1.4                          
Floratam                                                                  
        56.7 ± 13.6                                                    
                  9.6 ± 1.1                                            
                           73.0 ± 25.0                                 
                                    10.1 ± 1.0                         
Floratine                                                                 
        34.7 ± 8.8                                                     
                  8.1 ± 0.8                                            
                           23.7 ± 3.9                                  
                                    6.8 ± 1.0                          
L.S.D.(.05)                                                               
        11.9      1.1      21.5     1.1                                   
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 .sup.2 All plant material grown unclipped in greenhouse.                 
 .sup.3 Measurements recorded 15 millimeters above leaf collar.           
 
    
     
                       TABLE 2                                                     
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First                                                                     
Internode           Third                                                 
Selection-         Width    Internode                                     
Variety Length(mm) (mm).sup.4                                             
                            Length(mm)                                    
                                     Width(mm)                            
______________________________________                                    
PS-247  86.2 ± 22.6                                                    
                   2.8 ± 0.3                                           
                            97.4 ± 21.6                                
                                     2.7 ± 0.2                         
Tex. Com.                                                                 
        84.3 ± 16.3                                                    
                   3.1 ± 0.2                                           
                            87.8 ± 19.0                                
                                     2.9 ± 0.3                         
Seville 82.9 ± 17.9                                                    
                   2.6 ± 0.2                                           
                            89.1 ± 10.0                                
                                     2.6 ± 0.2                         
Raleigh 90.9 ± 15.2                                                    
                   2.9 ± 0.3                                           
                            79.9 ± 21.1                                
                                     2.9 ± 0.3                         
Floratam                                                                  
        104.5 ± 20.7                                                   
                   3.4 ± 0.5                                           
                            134.5 ± 4.0                                
                                     3.4 ± 2.1                         
Floratine                                                                 
        42.9 ± 34.3                                                    
                   2.9 ± 0.3                                           
                            47.0 ± 25.8                                
                                     4.3 ± 2.1                         
L.S.D.(.05)                                                               
        27.7       0.4      25.0     0.8                                  
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 .sup.4 Internode width is recorded equidistant between the two nodes.    
 
    
     PS-247 has a more extensive root system than other St. Augustinegrasses when grown under aquaculture conditions. PS-247 had twice the number of roots and nearly twice the total root length of the other varieties. This information, given in table 3, can be used to distinguish PS-247 from other tested grasses. 
     
                       TABLE 3                                                     
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        Total.sup.5       Average                                         
        Root     Total    Root                                            
Selection-                                                                
        Lgth.    Root     Lgth.  Longest                                  
                                        Water                             
Variety (cm)     Number   (cm)   Root   Use(cm)                           
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PS-247(A)                                                                 
        551.3 ±                                                        
                 49.3 ±                                                
                          11.2 ±                                       
                                 30.5 ±                                
                                        5.8 ± 0.8                      
        28.0     1.7      0.2    2.9                                      
PS-247(B)                                                                 
        649.0 ±                                                        
                 57.3 ±                                                
                          11.4 ±                                       
                                 30.8 ±                                
                                        6.7 ± 0.3                      
        85.3     8.2      0.8    3.2                                      
Seville 201.7 ±                                                        
                 20.0 ±                                                
                          10.0 ±                                       
                                 24.9 ±                                
                                        5.3 ± 0.4                      
        70.6     6.7      0.2    6.7                                      
Raleigh 210.7 ±                                                        
                 23.7 ±                                                
                           9.0 ±                                       
                                 22.5 ±                                
                                        6.5 ± 1.4                      
        14.6     2.0      1.1    1.1                                      
Floratam                                                                  
        385.0 ±                                                        
                 27.7 ±                                                
                          14.1 ±                                       
                                 41.1 ±                                
                                        6.9 ± 0.4                      
        55.7     5.4      1.2    6.4                                      
Floratine                                                                 
        320.3 ±                                                        
                 25.0 ±                                                
                          11.4 ±                                       
                                 30.8 ±                                
                                        6.7 ± 0.3                      
        91.2     8.2      0.8    3.2                                      
L.S.D.(.05)                                                               
        108.3    8.6      2.7    9.4    1.5                               
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 .sup.5 All root measurements and water use measurements made under       
 aquaculture growth study in greenhouse.                                  
 
    
     The purple stigma color and the light purple anther color of PS-247 along with the unreduced chromosome number of 18 allow this genotype to be easily distinguished from other commercially available St. Augustinegrasses. PS-247 is the only St. Augustine which has this particular combination. This information and comparisons with other cultivars is given in Table 4. 
     
                       TABLE 4                                                     
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Selection-                                                                
         Stigma      Anther      Chromosome                               
Variety  Color       Color       Numbers.sup.6                            
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PS-247   Deep Purple Light Purple                                         
                                 18                                       
Tex. Com.                                                                 
         White       Light Yellow                                         
                                 18                                       
Seville  Light Purple                                                     
                     Light Yellow                                         
                                 18                                       
Raleigh  White       Med. Yellow 18                                       
Floratam Deep Purple Deep Yellow 27                                       
Floratine                                                                 
         Light Purple                                                     
                     Deep Yellow 27                                       
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 .sup.6 Chromosome number determinations made on pollen mother cells.     
 
    
     An electroporesis study carried out by Dr. James O. Anderson of Vari-Ident Laboratories suggest that PS-247 could be distinguished from Texas Comman, Raleigh, and Seville using various standard enzyme stains on a protein extract. 
     The rapid rate of cover and the outstanding stolon length of PS-247 can be used to identify this variety when compared to the other St. Augustinegrasses. These characteristics are considered very important in a vegetatively propagated species marketed through sod. This information which shows the lateral aggressiveness of PS-247, Raleigh and Floratam is summarized in Table 5. 
     
                       TABLE 5                                                     
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Selection-                                                                
         Rate of Cover    Stolon Length(cm)                               
Variety  10/16.sup.7                                                      
                  12/2    3/28  10/16                                     
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PS-247   4.0      7.0     8.7   57.4                                      
Tex. Com.                                                                 
         3.7      6.3     8.7   42.3                                      
Seville  3.0      5.3     7.7   34.7                                      
Raleigh  4.3      7.3     9.0   50.6                                      
Floratam 3.7      7.3     8.7   43.8                                      
Floratine                                                                 
         2.3      4.6     8.7   31.1                                      
L.S.D.(.05)                                                               
         1.6      2.5     1.0   18.0                                      
______________________________________                                    
 .sup.7 Rate of Cover is rated with 1 = least cover and 9 = 100 percent   
 cover.                                                                   
 
    
     Turfgrass quality and color, although not definitive in these early tests, indicate that PS-247 can be identified based on improved performance under test conditions. PS-247 was selected over 400 genotypes because of outstanding performance. Turfgrass quality and color ratings for 1984 and 1985 are given in Table 6. 
     
                       TABLE 6                                                     
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Selection-                                                                
         Turfgrass Quality.sup.8                                          
                         Turfgrass Color.sup.9                            
Variety  10/16   12/12   3/29  10/16 12/12 3/28                           
______________________________________                                    
PS-247   6.3     6.0     6.3   7.0   7.3   7.0                            
Tex. Com.                                                                 
         6.7     6.0     6.3   6.7   7.0   6.0                            
Seville  6.3     4.7     6.0   7.0   6.7   7.0                            
Raleigh  6.3     5.7     6.7   6.7   7.3   7.7                            
Floratam 5.7     6.0     5.3   7.0   7.3   6.7                            
Floratine                                                                 
         5.7     4.7     4.3   6.7   6.7   6.3                            
L.S.D.(.05)                                                               
         1.1     2.1     1.7   0.6   0.8   1.6                            
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 .sup.8 Turfgrass Quality is rated with 1 = very poor quality and 9 =     
 outstanding turfgrass quality.                                           
 .sup.9 Turfgrass Color is rated as 1 = straw brown color and 9 = very dar
 green color.                                                             
 
    
     PS-247 has shown strong levels of disease resistance in initial tests and observations. It has had low gray leafspot (Pircularia grisea) readings in bare soil establishment tests where innoculum sources are at their highest. This variety has not shown any downy mildew (Sclerophthora macrospora) in the greenhouse when surrounded by infected plants, and has been shown to be St. Augustine decline virus resistant in laboratory tests at Texas A &amp; M. This information and comparisons to other plants are given in Table 7. 
     
                       TABLE 7                                                     
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                           Downy                                          
Selection-                                                                
         Gray Leafspot     Mildew   S.A.D                                 
Variety  10/16.sup.10                                                     
                  12/12    3/28  12/10  Virus.sup.11                      
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PS-247   1.3      1.0      1.0   1.0    R                                 
Tex. Comm.                                                                
         1.3      1.0      1.0   1.0    S                                 
Seville  3.0      1.7      2.7   4.0    R                                 
Raleigh  1.7      1.0      1.0   1.0    R                                 
Floratam 1.7      2.7      1.7   1.0    R                                 
Floratine                                                                 
         2.3      1.3      1.7   1.0    S                                 
L.S.D.(.05)                                                               
         1.0      1.0      1.0   --     --                                
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 .sup.10 Disease ratings are made with 1 = no infection to 9 = 100 percent
 infection.                                                               
 .sup.11 St. Augustine Decline Virus Resistance(R) and Susceptibility(S)  
 were determined by Dr. Robert W. Toler, Texas A &amp; M University.