A New Turf Cultivar: ‘NorthBridge' Bermudagrass.

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp. Rich.) is the most economically important and extensively used warm-season turfgrass in the United States and many other subtropical and tropical nations in the world. Breeding and release of new cultivars improved in economically important traits is a major focus of many turfgrass development programs. NorthBridge bermudagrass [C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy x C. dactylon (L.) Pers.] is a new turf-type cultivar released in 2010 by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. NorthBridge was tested as OKC 1134 in the 2007 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) National Bermudagrass Test and prior experiments carried out at Oklahoma State University. NorthBridge is a clonally propagated F1 hybrid from a cross of C. transvaalensis OSU selection ‘2747’ (2n=2x=18) by C. dactylon var. dactylon OSU selection ‘3200E 4-1’. Both the C. transvaalensis and C. dactylon plants were selected from broad genetic base populations for use as parents in interspecific crosses. The major strengths of NorthBridge bermudagrass are its high turf quality, fine texture, improved winter hardiness, early greenup, high sod density, and very high sod tensile strength. The combined performance data from the NTEP test and OSU experiments indicate NorthBridge has less risk of winter injury than ‘Tifway’ while providing equal turf quality. Compared to ‘Midlawn’, its turf quality is much improved. NorthBridge bermudagrass is much better than Midlawn in sod tensile strength, a major consideration for sod growers. NorthBridge is genetically different from Latitude 36 turf bermudagrass although both new cultivars have exceptional turf quality, improved cold hardiness and sod tensile strength. NorthBridge has been licensed to Sod Solutions, Inc. for commercial distribution.