ADAPTABILITY OF NEWLY IMPROVED CREEPING BENTGRASS (Agrostis stolonifera L.) GENOTYPES IN A MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.), with a mild shade tolerance, is a stoloniferous cool season turf grass adaptable to temperate climatic conditions. Recently new genotypes were improved by breeders in the USA, having respectively higher heat and drought tolerance. In an attempt to evaluate the adaptability of this type of bentgrass genotypes, an experiment were established on the experimental farm located at Bornova, Ege Univ. Agric. Faculty, Izmir, Turkey during the years of 2007 and 2009. Six genotypes of bentgrass and traditional cultivar “Kromi” as control were tested for two years and turf grass color, cover, weed infestation and turf quality were assessed by a visual scoring (1-9 points). Results indicated significant variations among the genotypes in terms of the evaluated characteristics and the average adaptability of some genotypes of which some traits such as cover and turf quality were in an acceptable range. It was also suggested that distinguished genotypes such as genotype M65-6-OVN-28, M71-6-26-294 and M39-6-20 should be tested furthermore and for other agronomical characteristics.