Location: Crop Genetics and Breeding Research
Project Number: 6048-21500-001-005-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2025
End Date: Jun 30, 2030
Objective:
1. Identify genetic regions associated with centipedegrass turfgrass traits using genome wide association studies.
2. Create a pollenless cultivar of centipedegrass for allergy sufferers.
3. Create a seeded cultivar of centipedegrass that flowers continuously (June-Oct) for bee populations.
Approach:
1. Using a current centipedegrass GWAS population that has been genotyped (~70,000 single nucleotide polymorphism markers) and phenotyped, genetic regions and candidate genes will be identified that are associated with turfgrass traits including flowering time, leaf length, leaf width, seed head density, etc.
2. Sterile centipedegrass will be created by crossing a tetraploid centipedegrass with a diploid centipedegrass (female). Triploids will be identified using flow cytometry and triploids of interest will be phenotyped in the field for pollen production, quality cover, etc.
3. A seeded cultivar of centipedegrass with a long flowering duration will be created by three different methods as we suspect, but do not know, that having a long flowering duration may have a negative impact on seed yield. The first is the creation of maturity groups (10-15 accessions of early, mid, late flowering), rate for flowering and yield, select and allow open pollination. Test seeded populations in multiple locations. The second and third method would be similar to the first except for the second 20-25 accessions with the longest flowering duration would be the starting material and the third method will consist of starting material that have been previously selected for high seed yield.
