Thesis
Development of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) for non-burn seed production
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006460
Abstract
Open-field burning of post-harvest residue in the Pacific Northwest has been severely limited or banned for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) seed production. Mechanical removal of stubble and straw has replaced burning, but results in shorter lifespan of the field and smaller yields each year. To address this, Kentucky bluegrass germplasm has been evaluated to identify germplasm that has good turfgrass characteristics and sustained high seed yields under non-burn seed production. Selection methodology was examined to determine how best to improve seed yield, increase turfgrass quality, or perhaps both in Kentucky bluegrass. Seed production trials were established during the spring (dry-land) and summer (irrigated) of 2007, while a turfgrass trial was planted in fall 2006 at Pullman, WA. The turfgrass trial was evaluated monthly according to National Turfgrass Evaluation Program protocol to determine overall quality, color, texture, chlorophyll, spring green-up, and establishment. Seed was harvested from 23 June until 11 July 2008. Seed production plots were evaluated for yield, 1000 seed weight, yield plant-1, seeds panicle-1, and panicles area-1. The selection for yield components had a variable response, and appeared to be dependent on genotype. Some entries’ turfgrass quality was resistant to selection, but responded to selection for agronomic seed production characteristics. The best characteristics of Kentucky bluegrass germplasm for seed production under non-burn conditions are early spring green-up, medium panicle height, many panicles area-1, lighter seed weights, and a high number of seeds panicle-1. Of the 50 entries examined, two accessions, PI 371775 and PI 368241, displayed medium to high responses to these characteristics, which resulted in turfgrass quality ranges of 7.2 to 7.4 and 5.7 to 6.6 (1 = brown, 9 = ideal turf), respectively, and overall yield ranges of 66.5 g to 185.6 g and 47.0 g to 187.0 g, respectively. The extreme low values in the yield ranges are attributed to the selection for seed weight, which often decreased overall yield. Both entries show promise of being able to produce good seed yields under non-burn conditions.
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Details
- Title
- Development of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) for non-burn seed production
- Creators
- Kathleen Laura Dodson
- Contributors
- William J. Johnston (Chair)Richard C Johnson (Committee Member)Gwen K. Stahnke (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 68
- Identifiers
- 99901102224601842
- Resource Type
- Thesis