Objective:
Objective 1. To develop elite clones of creeping bentgrass, with multiple disease resistances. Objective 2. To deliver these clones to private bentgrass breeders for use in developing new cultivars. Objective 3. To conduct DNA marker selection experiments, testing the hypotheses that selection for DNA markers can be used to identify disease-resistant plants of creeping bentgrass. Objective 4. To identify the genomic source of each linkage group (chromosome).

Approach:
Maintenance of high-quality bentgrass fairways and putting greens is a stressful and expensive task, one that could be simplified by genetic resistance to diseases. Four bentgrass breeding programs will join together into a consortium with the direct objective to support the golf industry with improved clones of creeping bentgrass and creeping-colonial hybrids. Clones will be selected for resistance to dollar spot and snow mold fungi, using molecular markers identified by research partially sponsored by USGA. Elite clones with combined resistance to dollar spot and snow mold will be identified and made available to private bentgrass breeders. Clones will be released on contractual arrangements for future royalty payments to the participating institutions and USGA.