Novel Turf-Type Bahiagrass.

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) is extensively used in pastures in the southeastern US due to its adaptive characteristics to subtropical conditions. An increasing demand for attractive landscapes maintained with minimum inputs warrants improving the aesthetic value of bahiagrass. Breeding strategies differ for diploid and tetraploid bahiagrass due to their intrinsic reproductive modes. Although apomictic reproduction in tetraploids is desired for clonal propagation through seeds, it creates a barrier for sexual recombination and conventional breeding methodologies. A population of 70 bahiagrass genotypes composed of 67 experimental lines (wild-types, mutant-types and hybrids), and the cultivars ‘Argentine’, ‘Pensacola’ and “Wilmington’ were evaluated for their mode of reproduction, seed production and turf performance. The experimental units were planted in the Spring 2012 using plugs in a RCBD with three blocks at Citra and Jay, FL. Mode of reproduction was characterized by cytological observations of embryo sacs collected at anthesis in July 2012 at Citra and in September 2013 at Jay. Diploid genotypes reproduced sexually, while tetraploids through apomixis. Some tetraploid genotypes showed potential for sexual and apomictic reproduction in the same ovule and were classified as facultative apomictic. Seed production was assessed by measuring seed set (SS), germination (GERM) and reproductive efficiency (RE = SS*GERM/100). Turf performance was evaluated for plot coverage, flowering time, turf color and quality, leaf texture and foliage and plant height. Breeding values and predicted means, calculated using ASReml-R, will be presented for each genotype; in addition to the broad sense heritability and genotype by environment correlation for each trait.