ARS | Publication request: VARIATION IN ANNUAL BLUEGRASS ON PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLF GREENS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) has long been a weed on golf course greens and efforts to remove it have usually failed. It apparently has become naturalized and many types display a perennial habit. In this study, golf greens in the Pacific Northwest were sampled for Poa annua and evaluated at Pullman WA for a number of turf and agronomic factors. The results showed wide variation in the morphology of material collected at different sites and that much of the variability was associated with the climatic region of the collection. Some of the collections had turf characteristics that suggested a potential use for golf green turf.

Technical Abstract: Poa annua L. (annual bluegrass) has long been regarded as a weed on the golf course greens. Recent efforts have resulted in the development of perennial turf-type annual bluegrass that may be on golf greens. The objectives were to: 1) collect Poa annua from golf course greens in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, 2) evaluate the collection for turf-type agronomic characteristics, and 3) relate agronomic characterization to geographic origins. Two-hundred greens-type Poa annua were collected form 78 golf courses. These accessions were then planted in a randomized complete block with three replications, and evaluated for agronomic parameters in 1999 and 2000 field studies at Pullman, WA. Variation was observed for all parameters and correlation among several of the parameters was observed. Many accessions were separated according to climatic zones suggesting that populations had become naturalized to local environments. Poa annua types with potential for turf utilization were identified.