Phenotypic traits and establishment speed of 44 turf bermudagrass accessions

Breeding of turf bermudagrass (Cynodon (L.) Rich.) has made available a broad range of turf varieties with unique morphological and growth traits. Rapid establishment is necessary in order to provide the performance of a mature turf cover in the shortest time possible. The aims of the research were: (1) to determine variation of growth, morphological and biomass traits in bermudagrass accessions belonging to different phenotypic groups during establishment and (2) to relate such variations to establishment speed in order to assess whether contrasting phenotypic traits could induce different establishment patterns in bermudagrass or if a general establishment predictor can be identified for cultivars and ecotypes belonging to the same taxon. Plant material included 44 accessions of bermudagrasses that were grouped in ‘Wild’, ‘Improved’ ‘Hybrid’ and ‘Dwarf types’. Single spaced plants were transplanted in field plots in two locations in Italy (Pisa and Palermo) and allowed to establish without mowing. The following traits were determined: stolon growth rate, internode length, internode diameter and internode volume, phytomer dry weight, leaf width, colour, seed head production, above ground dry biomass, shoot density, horizontal stem density and node density. Establishment speed of accessions was also determined. Stolon growth rate was found to be the only parameter strongly correlated to establishment speed across all entries and for each of the phenotypic groups. Based on these results, stolon growth rate could be assumed as a good predictor of establishment speed for cultivars and ecotypes belonging to the Cynodon genus.