Location: Livestock, Forage and Pasture Management Research Unit
Project Number: 3070-21500-001-014-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2024
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
The objective of this project is to evaluate the inheritance of turf-type plant architecture of nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) and evaluate suitability of breeding new lines for use in an Oklahoma turfgrass system. Nimblewill has a similar morphology to bermudagrass and is much more shade tolerant. It has the potential to be grown in shady areas devoid of bermudagrass and blend with the bermudagrass growing in sunny portions of the turf. Morphology varies in nimblewill from prostrate to upright plant architecture. Evaluation of inheritance for the prostrate turf-type morphology needs to be evaluated for nimblewill to be bred as a turfgrass in Oklahoma.
Approach:
The chemical gametocide, TFMSA, will be used to induce male sterility and crosses will be made following a factorial mating design. Individuals from each morphology group will be represented in both the seed-parent and pollen-parent sets. F1 progeny will be evaluated for morphology and agronomic performance in multiple environments using a randomized complete block design. Pooled genetic correlation and narrow-sense heritability will be calculated on an entry-mean basis for the agronomic and morphological traits evaluated. Inbred line development within each population will be initiated using a single seed descent method.
