An Overview of the Rutgers Turfgrass Breeding Program - 50 Years and Counting.

Turfgrass development at Rutgers University started prior to the second world war by Dr. H.B. Sprague.  He developed ‘Raritan’ velvet bentgrass which was released in 1940.  After the second world war the Rutgers Turfgrass Program was led by Dr. Ralph Engel.  He and Dr. Richard Skogley (at Rutgers before leaving for University of Rhode Island) believed there was a huge opportunity for breeding cool-season turfgrasses that were originally adapted to the maritime higher latitude climates of the British Isles and Western Europe.  An official turfgrass breeding position at Rutgers University was offered to Dr. C. Reed Funk in 1961.  The start-up funding and first year budget was $400 and part-time use of a university vehicle for germplasm collection.  ‘Manhattan’, released in 1967, was a landmark variety that significantly enhanced the use of perennial ryegrass for turf.  At that time, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station had to make a decision on the most appropriate method to make high quality seed available to the public.  After a public meeting of interested parties the decision was to make restricted releases.  With additional support from the United States Golf Association and a slowly growing royalty stream, the turfgrass breeding program gradually expanded.  Dr. William Meyer took over direction of the turfgrass breeding program in 1996.  Since that time, more than 300 cultivars have been licensed to 25 seed organizations.  Royalties from the sale of these cultivars is continually used to support the efforts of the turfgrass breeding program and germplasm exploration.  Additionally, the royalties are used to support supplemental research through an internal competitive grants program administered through the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science.   The Rutgers breeding program continues to expand research efforts, including new species and uses.