Project Number: 5428-21000-014-04
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 01, 2009
End Date: Mar 31, 2013

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to develop novel warm-season grass germplasm and associated management technologies for use in irrigated and non-irrigated growing environments.

Approach:
Collaborative experiments will be designed and implemented either in the laboratory or the field depending upon the objective. Laboratory experiments will be conducted jointly in Logan, Utah, and the Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province, China (IBJ) where research concerning the evaluation of germplasm for abiotic stress environments is being conducted. Where experiments involve the development of molecular technologies for the identification of unique grass genotypes, work will be performed in Logan, Utah, and by the IBJ. Germplasm evaluation of Chinese and U.S. grass accessions (cultivars and lines) will be conducted in the Great Basin Region of Utah and in Jiangsu Province, China, under irrigated and non-irrigated growing conditions as deemed appropriate. This research will attempt to: 1) develop plant materials with improved turf grass characteristics; 2) develop plant materials adapted to wet and dry temperate regions under reduced management inputs (e.g., irrigation and fertilizer); 3) develop improved breeding procedures; 4) develop new genomic resources for use in evaluation and breeding, and 5) elucidate the role of endophytes in abiotic stress (e.g., drought, salinity, and heat) environments.