Molecular markers are powerful tools to that can be used to study the genomics of important plant species but they have practical applications too.  Molecular markers can be used for marker-assisted selection, cultivar identification, genetic diversity, derivation of cultivars, and hybrid identification among other uses.  Molecular markers linked to important agronomic traits such as disease resistance or abiotic stress tolerance, also known as Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), can be used for marker-assisted selection. This technique could improve the selection efficiency of screening new germplasm sources or progeny populations.  Molecular markers can also be used for cultivar identification. Markers used for this technique can help protect intellectual property and determine the identification of unknown turfgrass samples.  This technique can also be used to determine whether the transition from one cultivar to another was successful. Molecular markers can also be used to understand the genetic diversity between different cultivars or germplasm sources.  This is important for turfgrass improvement because it can optimize parent selection to promote heterozygosity in breeding populations.  Additionally, molecular markers can potentially be used to determine whether a new cultivar is essentially derived from another cultivar.  This is an important issue in the turfgrass seed industry.  Molecular markers can also be used to identify hybrids from controlled crosses either between different species or within species which could be extremely useful for efficient selection of germplasm to be used in breeding programs.  Specific examples of practical applications of molecular markers in turfgrasses will be discussed.