Patent Publication Number: US-PP25360-P3

Title: Zoysiagrass named ‘LR2’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The present invention relates to the genus and species  Zoysia japonica  (L.) Merr. 
     Variety denomination: ‘LR2’. 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     “Not Applicable” 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     “Not Applicable” 
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     “Not Applicable” 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct asexually reproduced variety of perennial zoysiagrass ( Zoysia japonica  (L.)) Merr. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Background of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a new and distinct perennial zoysiagrass cultivar identified as ‘LR2’ zoysiagrass (herein referred to as ‘LR2’). The inventors, David L. Doguet and Virginia G. Lehman, discovered ‘LR2’ under cultivated conditions near Poteet, Tex. in a collection of seedling plants originating from field grown open pollinated crosses between ‘VJay’ (unpatented), ‘6136’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,808), and ‘JaMur’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,178)  Zoysia  plants. ‘LR2’ was identified in 2005 as a distinctly different vegetative patch or clonal plant differing from the surrounding plants in a medium leaf texture, sparse flowering, low natural crown height, short internode lengths and a rapid lateral growth rate. The inventors asexually reproduced ‘LR2’ by taking vegetative cuttings of stolons and rhizomes, cutting the rhizomes and stolons into segments, each with a vegetative bud, and rooting them in potting media. 
     For purposes of registration under the “International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants” (generally known by its French acronym as the UPOV Convention) and noting Section 1612 of the Manual of Plant Examining Procedure, it is proposed that the title of the invention is zoysiagrass plant named ‘LR2’. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS 
         FIG. 1 . Tiller of ‘LR2’ zoysiagrass. 
         FIG. 2 . Inflorescence of ‘LR2’ zoysiagrass. 
     
    
    
     COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY 
     ‘LR2’ was characterized in greenhouse and field conditions. ‘LR2’ is a unique variety of zoysiagrass ( Zoysia japonica  (L.)) Merr. that was discovered under cultivated conditions. The inventors, David L. Doguet and Virginia G. Lehman, discovered ‘LR2’ under cultivated conditions near Poteet, Tex. in a collection of seedling plants originating from field grown open pollinated crosses between ‘VJay’ (unpatented), ‘6136’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,808), and ‘JaMur’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,178)  Zoysia  plants. ‘LR2’ was identified in 2005 as a distinctly different vegetative patch or clonal plant differing from the surrounding plants in a medium leaf texture, sparse flowering, low natural crown height, short internode lengths and a rapid lateral growth rate. The plants were located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8. The inventors asexually reproduced ‘LR2’ by taking vegetative cuttings of stolons and rhizomes, cutting the rhizomes and stolons into segments, each with a vegetative bud, and rooting them in potting media. Planting of the rooted material provided planting stock for studying performance and for comparison of morphological characters after propagation. ‘LR2’ has been propagated by rhizomes, stolons, tillers, and sod. Asexually reproduced plants of ‘LR2’ have remained stable and true to type through successive generations of propagation. No seedling establishment from ‘LR2’ has been noticed in either greenhouse or field studies. 
     ‘LR2’ is a perennial zoysiagrass that spreads by both stolons and rhizomes. Characteristics of ‘LR2’ measured in 2013 were taken from plants that were approximately 12 months in age. The greenhouse was located near Lebanon, Oreg., with a nighttime low temperature of 50 degrees F., and daytime high of 80 degrees F., and a minimum soil temperature of 77 degrees F. The plants were grown with a minimum 14-hour day length, supplemented with photosynthetically active radiation equivalent to approximately 50% sunlight. The plants were fertilized with the equivalent of 1 pound of actual N per month, using a soluble fertilizer of 20-20-20 in two equal soluble applications per month. 
     ‘LR2’ has a medium leaf texture with a leaf length shorter than ‘Cavalier’ and ‘Zorro’ (Table 1). ‘LR2’ has an absence of leaf hairs versus ‘Palisades’, ‘Zorro’, ‘Crowne’, and ‘Cavalier’ which each have many leaf surface hairs (Table 2). ‘LR2’ has a thicker youngest stolon node and shorter stolon internode lengths than ‘Diamond’ (Table 3). ‘LR2’ has a shorter unmown canopy height than ‘Cavalier’ or ‘Zorro’ (Table 4), and has a distinctive leaf height as a percentage of total canopy height that includes inflorescence height. The leaf height of ‘LR2’ is only 66% of the total canopy height, whereas the leaf length of ‘Cavalier’ extends beyond the inflorescence height. 
     ‘LR2’ has not shown susceptibility to the zoysiagrass mite when tested at Poteet, Tex., where susceptible varieties have shown the coachwhip leaf symptoms of the mite. ‘LR2’ has shown good turfgrass performance and temperature adaptation when tested as far north as Athens, Ga., USDA hardiness zone 8a, which would extend the area of adaptation for ‘LR2’ in a line from northern Georgia across central Texas in an East/West line and on a North/South line from Atlanta, south through Mexico. ‘LR2’ will be limited only by winter survival in colder regions. ‘LR2’ is similar to most medium textured zoysiagrasses in water use demands as shown in test situations near Poteet, Tex., ‘LR2’ is adapted from sandy to heavier loam soil textures and from slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil pH. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Leaf blade widths and lengths and texture class of 
               
               
                 selected zoysiagrass cultivars, measured under 
               
               
                 greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2012-2013. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Length, 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 2nd 
                 Width, 2nd 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 youngest 
                 youngest crown 
                 Leaf 
               
               
                   
                 Leaf 
                 crown leaf 
                 leaf 
                 Texture 
               
               
                 Variety 
                 Stiffness 
                 --cm-- 
                 --mm-- 
                 Class 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ‘LR2’ 
                 Medium 
                 2.96 
                 2.61 
                 Medium 
               
               
                   
                 Stiff 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 ‘LR1’ 
                 Medium 
                 3.67 
                 3.27 
                 Medium 
               
               
                   
                 Stiff 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 ‘LIF’ 
                 Very Soft 
                 3.02 
                 1.60 
                 Medium 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Fine 
               
               
                 ‘Diamond’ 
                 Soft 
                 2.50 
                 1.40 
                 Very Fine 
               
               
                 ‘Cavalier’ 
                 Medium 
                 3.78 
                 1.94 
                 Medium 
               
               
                   
                 Stiff 
                   
                   
                 Fine 
               
               
                 Zorro 
                 Medium 
                 4.30 
                 1.74 
                 Medium- 
               
               
                   
                 Stiff 
                   
                   
                 Coarse 
               
               
                 Lsd, 
                   
                 1.03 
                 0.24 
                   
               
               
                 p = 0.05 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Adaxial leaf hair presence or absence of selected zoysiagrass cultivars,  
               
               
                 measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2012-2013. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Leaf hair, adaxial 
               
               
                   
                 Variety 
                 Presence/Number 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 ‘LR2’ 
                 Absent 
               
               
                   
                 ‘Palisades’ 
                 Many 
               
               
                   
                 ‘Zorro’ 
                 Many 
               
               
                   
                 ‘Diamond’ 
                 Absent 
               
               
                   
                 ‘Royal’ 
                 Absent 
               
               
                   
                 ‘Crowne’ 
                 Many 
               
               
                   
                 ‘Cavalier’ 
                 Many 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Stolon characters of selected zoysiagrass cultivars, measured under 
               
               
                 greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2012-2013. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Thickness 
                 Thickness 
                 Stolon 
                 Stolon 
                   
               
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2nd 
                 Internode 
                 Internode 
                 Stolon 
               
               
                   
                 youngest 
                 youngest  
                 length, 1 st   
                 length, 
                 Internode 
               
               
                   
                 stolon 
                 stolon 
                 to 2 nd   
                 2nd to  3rd    
                 length, 3rd 
               
               
                   
                 node 
                 node 
                 node 
                 node 
                 to 4th node 
               
               
                 Variety 
                 -mm- 
                 -mm- 
                 -cm- 
                 -cm- 
                 -cm- 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ‘LR2’ 
                 1.93 
                 1.89 
                 0.89 
                 0.91 
                 0.90 
               
               
                 ‘Cavalier’ 
                 1.65 
                 1.57 
                 1.22 
                 1.38 
                 1.38 
               
               
                 ‘Diamond’ 
                 1.44 
                 1.49 
                 1.0  
                 0.94 
                 1.86 
               
               
                 ‘Zorro’ 
                 1.57 
                 1.67 
                 1.51 
                 1.47 
                 1.45 
               
               
                 Lsd, 
                 0.16 
                 0.38 
                 0.34 
                 0.28 
                 0.31 
               
               
                 p = 0.05 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Leaf and canopy characters of selected zoysiagrass cultivars, measured 
               
               
                 under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2012-2013. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Canopy 
                 Width, 4th youngest 
                 Leaf Height as % 
               
               
                   
                 height 
                 crown leaf 
                 Total Height 
               
               
                 Variety 
                 --cm-- 
                 --mm-- 
                 --%-- 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ‘LR2’ 
                 7.32 
                 2.18 
                 66 
               
               
                 ‘LR1’ 
                 6.62 
                 2.69 
                 75 
               
               
                 ‘LIF’ 
                 7.01 
                 1.49 
                 115  
               
               
                 ‘Diamond’ 
                 7.24 
                 1.15 
                   
               
               
                 ‘Cavalier’ 
                 10.8 
                 1.55 
                 115  
               
               
                 ‘Zorro’ 
                 11.09  
                 1.41 
                 95 
               
               
                 Lsd, p = 0.05 
                 1.76 
                 0.71 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     COMPLETE BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY 
     
         
         Origin: ‘LR2’ is a cultivar of a single clone discovered under cultivated conditions in a Poteet, Tex. planting of zoysiagrass clones derived from a collection of seedling plants originating from field grown open pollinated crosses between ‘VJay’ (unpatented), ‘6136’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,808), and ‘JaMur’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,178)  Zoysia  plants. 
         Classification:  Zoysia japonica  (L.) Merr. 
         Growth habit: ‘LR2’ is a perennial plant that spreads by stolons and rhizomes and produces a dense, medium textured turfgrass. The inflorescence of ‘LR2’ is a terminal spike-like raceme, with spikelets on short pedicels. 
         Leaf blade: Rolled in the bud, flat surface. 
         Leaf blade pubescence: No hairs on abaxial or adaxial leaf. 
         Leaf sheath pubescence: Absent except for long hairs at mouth of sheath.
           ‘ LR 2 ’ mean length sheath mouth hairs.— 1.1 mm; Diamond 1.0 mm.       
     
         Leaf blade margin: ‘LR2’=slight roughness; BM230=rough; Cavalier=mostly smooth. 
         Leaf blade veins: Obscure. 
         Leaf blade flexibility (softness): Medium stiff. 
         Vegetative leaf, 2nd youngest vegetative leaf:
             Blade length range.— ‘LR2’: 1.9 cm to 4.3 cm, mean length: 3.1 cm.     Blade width mean.— ‘LR2’: 2.1 mm to 3.4 mm, mean width: 2.8 mm.     ‘Zorro’ mean width.— 1.74 mm.     ‘Diamond’ mean width.— 1.4 mm.       
     
         Sheath length, 4 th  youngest vegetative leaf:
             Mean length ‘LR 2’.—3.6 cm.     ‘Diamond’ mean length.— 2.93 cm.       
     
         Stolon leaf angle, third youngest leaf: ‘LR2’: 65; ‘Cavalier’:76; ‘Diamond’: 52. 
         Inflorescence characters:
             Culm total length, including floral area to node below flag leaf.— 73.0 mm. Length of stem of inflorescence: 60.0 mm. Floral area length: 13.0 mm.     Culm width, stem thickness, base of floral area.— 1.0 mm.     Anther length.— 1.8 mm.     Floret  ( seed )  length.— 2.75 mm.     Floret  ( seed )  width.— 1.0 mm.     Node thickness, node below flag leaf.— 0.75 mm.     Pedicel length.— 1.25 mm.     Flag leaf length.— ‘LR2’: 6 mm.     Flag leaf width.— ‘LR2’: 1.0 mm.       
     
         Mature plant height, including inflorescence: 8 to 11 cm. 
         Color notations, vegetative characters, based on The R.H.S. Colour Chart (light quality, photoperiod, and general growth of the plants affect color notations):
             Leaf blade color adaxial leaf surface.— 137A green.     Leaf blade color abaxial leaf surface.— 137A green.     Stolon color.— 158A to 158C yellow-white, 164 D greyed orange.       
     
         Color notations, floral characters, based on The R.H.S. Colour Chart (light quality, photoperiod, and general growth of the plants affect color notations):
             Culm stalk.— 144A yellow green.     Stigma.— 155A, 160C greyed yellow.     Anther color, fresh.— 187A greyed purple.     Anthers, mature, dried.— 164C, 164D greyed orange.       
     
         Turf quality (rated 1-9, 9 best): ‘LR2’: 7; ‘Meyer’: 5. 
       
    
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 References Cited 
               
               
                 U.S. Patent Documents 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 November 2002  
                 Doguet, D. 
                 U.S. Pat. 
                 ‘JaMur’ zoysiagrass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No. 13,178.  
                   
               
               
                 June 2007 
                 Doguet, D. 
                 U.S. Pat. 
                 ‘6136’ zoysiagrass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No. 17,808.  
                   
               
               
                 July 1997 
                 Engelke, M.C. 
                 U.S. Pat. 
                 ‘Cavalier’ zoysiagrass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No. 10,778.  
                   
               
               
                 October 1998 
                 Engelke, M.C. 
                 U.S. Pat. 
                 ‘Diamond’ zoysiagrass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No. 10,636.  
                   
               
               
                 October 2000 
                 Engelke, M.C. 
                 U.S. Pat.  
                 ‘Crowne’ zoysiagrass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No. 11,570.  
                   
               
               
                 September 2000  
                 Engelke, M.C. 
                 U.S. Pat. 
                 ‘Palisades’ zoysiagrass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No. 11,515 
                   
               
               
                 July 2002 
                 Engelke, M.C. 
                 U.S. Pat. 
                 ‘Zorro’ zoysiagrass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No. 14,130.