Location: Floral and Nursery Plants Research
Project Number: 8020-21500-002-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Feb 8, 2024
End Date: Feb 7, 2029
Objective:
Objective 1: Characterize turf germplasm diversity to enhance breeding for biotic and abiotic stress resistance. (NP215 C1, PS1D)
Sub-objective 1A: Develop a SNP-based genetic linkage map of a creeping bentgrass x colonial bentgrass interspecific hybrid mapping population.
Sub-objective 1B: Identify unique SNP markers in bentgrass suitable for use in cultivar identification strategies.
Sub-objective 1C: Identify effective methods to utilize unique SNP markers to monitor/quantify bentgrass population transitioning under field conditions.
Objective 2: Determine genetic mechanisms influencing turfgrass properties that would allow reduced management inputs. (NP215 C1, PS1D)
Sub-objective 2A: Identify new sources of germplasm and associated alleles that result in enhanced drought tolerance and post-drought recovery.
Sub-objective 2B: Identify new sources of germplasm and associated alleles that enhance dollar spot resistance.
Sub-objective 2C: Identify new sources of germplasm and associated alleles controlling yield potential.
Objective 3: Evaluate the impact of diverse plant germplasm (improved turfgrasses and alternative species) on urban ecosystem services. (NP215 C1, PS1D)
Sub-objective 3 A: Determine turfgrass species suitable for the mid-Atlantic transition zone under different mowing frequencies.
Approach:
Our project plan explores Genetic (G) x Environment (E) x Management (M) interactions by leveraging high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping technologies, including the development of an AI-enabled graphical user interface to identify genes/SNPs associated with traits of interest (abiotic and biotic stress, yield potential) for developing low input turf germplasm (Objective 1 and 2); and determining the impact of existing and improved turf germplasm on urban ecosystem services (Objective 3).
