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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #239884
Title: Registration of 'Aloha' Seashore Paspalum

Author
item Scully, Brian
item NAGATA, R - University Of Florida
item SISTRUNK, D - University Of Florida
item CHERRY, R - University Of Florida
item NUESSLY, G - University Of Florida
item KENWORTHY, K - University Of Florida
item DEFRANK, J - University Of Hawaii

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/2010
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Citation: Scully, B.T., Nagata, R.T., Sistrunk, D.M., Cherry, R.H., Nuessly, G.S., Kenworthy, K.E., Defrank, J. 2011. Registration of 'Aloha' Seashore Paspalum. Journal of Plant Registrations. 5(1):22-26.

Interpretive Summary: Seashore paspalum has emerged as a desirable turf species for a number of turf applications in the southeastern U.S. In Alabama, Florida and Georgia there are presently five varieties produced under the seed certification protocols of each state, which total just over 850 acres. The purpose of this breeding program was to identify and develop additional turfgrass varieties for an expanding seashore paspalum market and to enlarge the diversity of warm season clonally propagated grasses grown for the specialty turf markets in the southeastern U.S. The new variety ‘Aloha’ was selected as an open pollinated progeny derived from naturalized local land races growing on the island of Hawaii, and was tested in southern Florida under the coded breeding line number H99-47. Aloha was selected for improved agronomic, horticultural traits, resistance to insects traits, and a faster rate of crop establishment and ground coverage, Horticulturally, ‘Aloha’ displayed a darker and deeper green leaf color, and superior resistance to the greenbug aphid. Agronomically, ‘Aloha’ attained 50% ground coverage in less than four months while the standards varieties took, on average, more than five months, which imparts distinct advantages in the cropping system .

Technical Abstract: ‘Aloha’ (Reg. No. ________; PI 652948) seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum O. Swartz) was developed at the Everglades Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, and jointly released by the Florida and Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was initially approved for release in early 2005 and a plant patent was submitted in late 2005. This variety of seashore paspalum was selected as an open pollinated progeny derived from naturalized local land races growing on the island of Hawaii, and was tested in southern Florida under the coded breeding line number H99-47. Aloha was selected for improved agronomic, horticultural, and host plant resistance traits including a faster rate of crop establishment and ground coverage, darker and deeper green leaf color, and superior resistance to the greenbug aphid (Schizaphis graminum Rondani) (Homoptera:Aphididae). Agronomically, Aloha attained 50% plot coverage in less than four months while the standards took, on average, more than five months. The leaf color of Aloha was a darker green and had a deeper hue than the standard varieties, while the greenbug aphids took longer to reach reproductive maturity, had a shorter lifespan and produced fewer offspring when cultured on Aloha. Aloha also exhibited a morphology distinct from the standards for a set of measured inflorescence and vegetative traits.