Development of Improved Zoysiagrasses with Potential for Use On Greens, Tees, and Fairways.

Zoysiagrass is becoming recognized as a versatile, low maintenance turfgrass species with good tolerance to shade, extreme temperatures, salinity, and drought.  Historically, zoysiagrass varieties have been developed primarily for lawn use, but the genetic variation present among and within various species of Zoysia has created enormous potential for development of improved varieties that perform well under the conditions of golf course management.  The world’s largest and diverse collection of zoysiagrass germplasm is located at the Texas AgriLife Research Urban Solutions Center in Dallas, TX.  In July 2010, 91 experimental lines of zoysiagrass (intra- and inter- specific hybrids of Z. matrella, Z. japonica and Z. minima) which have exhibited good potential for use on golf course greens, tees, and fairways, were established from plugs into a sand-based research plots.  Also included in the trial are commercial cultivars ‘Zeon’, ‘Diamond’, and ‘Zorro’.  Plots are being managed under fairway mowing heights, but will eventually be divided to include greens heights. Monthly evaluations are being made for parameters including establishment density, seasonal color, texture, and overall quality.  Genetic rooting potential, thatching tendency, and recuperative potential from divots will also being evaluated in the study.  During the initial season, a number of advanced experimental lines including DALZ0701 and DALZ0501 have shown significant improvement over commercial cultivars.