Project Number: 1230-21000-055-01
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Aug 20, 2007
End Date: Mar 29, 2010

Objective:
The objective of this research is to use genetic and biotechnology approaches to identify and develop turfgrass germplasm with improved biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Efforts will be made to identify molecular markers associated with desirable traits and to combine useful traits into germplam able to grow with reduced inputs.

Approach:
Collect germplasm from natural grasslands worldwide of species having potential as turfgrasses; collaborate with forage, rangeland, and turfgrass scientists to identify, locate and collect germplasm. Study establishment, persistence, survival under different management strategies, and resistance to pests and diseases. Determine presence of endophytes, and if endophytes affect resistance to pests, diseases, or environmental stresses. Examine physiology under different stresses and inputs to determine genetic mechanisms of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Develop molecular markers from segregating populations, to allow introgression of desirable genes into germplasm with other valuable traits. Identify and isolate genes for resistance to pests and pathogens for potential genetic engineering of adapted selections. Create intra-specific, inter-specific, and inter-generic hybrids with superior turfgrass characteristics.