PERFORMANCES OF SOME COOL SEASON TURFGRASS CULTIVARS IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT: II. Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Festuca ovina L., Festuca rubra spp. rubra L., Festuca rubra spp. trichophylla Gaud and Festuca rubra spp. commutata Gaud

Abstract

The commitment to turf research is more recent and is challenged by the diversity of climatic conditions occurring in Anatolian peninsula of Turkey. These differences in climatic factors and environmental variation may determine the specific adaptation of species to certain areas and complicate the species and cultivar recommendations. In this present study, aiming to evaluate the adaptability and quality of newly introduced cultivars of different cool season turfgrass species in a Mediterranean environment in western Turkey, Bornova-øzmir, four cultivars of Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb), Sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L), Festuca rubra L. spp. trichophlylla Gaud (Slender creeping red fescue) and Festuca rubra spp. rubra commutata Gaud (Chewings red fescue) and six cultivars of Festuca rubra spp. rubra L. (Creeping red fescue) were tested for 3 years (2003-2005) in a replicated experimental block group design. Turf cover, colour and quality traits of these cool season turfgrass cultivars were evaluated by using a visual score (1-9) and the target of the generated information was the support turfgrass specialist in turfgrass cultivars selection and recommendations and research institutions for their breeding programs. Results indicated that tall fescue cultivars were the only genotypes maintaining high scores of cover, colour and quality in different seasons and years. Sheep fescue cultivars were also consistent throughout the experimental years, although their colour, cover and quality scores were not high. We also suggested that all red fescue sub-species were not fully adaptable to Mediterranean conditions and their usage had to be limited in turf mixtures.