• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2016

Zoysiagrass possessing the leaf yellowing with excessive tillers was first found in a golf course in Gyunggi province at last three to four years ago and since then have rapidly spread many golf courses in Korea. The symptom is very similar to that of yellow tuft or downy mildew, which is caused by Sclerophthora macrospora, on cool-season turfgrasses including Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass. Microscopic study was firstly carried out to look over the presence of the pathogen in the infected leaf and stem tissues. Oospores and sporangia, reported as typical indicators of downy mildew, were obviously observed from the infected leaves. Using a set of primers based on the 18S ribosomal DNA from S. macrospora, the specific DNA fragment corresponding the gene was amplified. This study reveals that S. macrospora might be involved in spread of leaf yellowing of zoysiagrass with excessive tillers.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.259-268
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• 2013

This study was carried out to evaluate the visual turfgrass's color quality, winter color, and spring green-up under three different soil systems and to make a practical use for sports turf design and construction. Several turfgrasses were evaluated in multi-layer, USGA and mono-layer systems. Turfgrass entries in the study comprised of 3 cultivars from Korean lawngrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) of typical warm-season grass (WSG) and 3 blends and 3 mixtures from Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) of cool-season grass (CSG). Significant differences were observed in the turfgrass's color quality, winter color, and spring green-up in the study. Seasonal variation of visual turf color greatly occurred according to soil systems and turfgrasses. Multi-layer and USGA systems were highly associated with better visual color ratings, as compared with mono-layer system. Regardless of soil system, visual turf color in all entries was better from spring to fall than in winter. Great color differences were observed during a period of early December to early spring. CSG produced a better color quality over WSG in any soil system. Overall color ratings for CSG were KB > PR > Mixtures > TF. As for a winter color, its ranking was USGA > multi-layer > mono-layer system. No difference was found in winter among cultivars of Korean lawngrass, being completely brown, but great differences among CSG. Rated best for winter color was PR, followed by CSG mixtures, KB and finally TF in order. It was generally conceded that fast green-up in spring was greatly related with multi-layer over mono-layer system and also CSG over WSG. Among CSG, TF had a fastest green-up. PR was also fast in green-up, but poor in color uniformity. KB, however, was the slowest due to shallow rooting system, when compared with other CSGs. These results demonstrate color differences were greatly variable according to soil systems and also among turfgrass species. A precise decision should be made in selecting turfgrass species and soil system. Multi-layer and USGA systems were considered as the suitable one for turfgrass color quality, winter color and spring green-up. It is a great necessity to combine proper soil system, right turfgrass species, and appropriate mixing rates by a concept-oriented approach, when establishing garden, parks, soccer field, and golf courses and so on.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.179-191
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• 2004

This study was conducted to find out the effect of sodding and seeding time and rate of seed mixtures on the establishment of cool-season turfgrasses by evaluating the turf coverage rates for two years. In fall planting, the required establishment period of full coverage($100\%$) was 1.5 months with a rolled turf sodding(Kentucky bluegrass $100\%$, Kentucky bluegrass $80\%$+perennial ryegrass $20\%$). The $100\%$ turf establishment was achieved in 7 months with Perennial ryegrass $100\%$, and 7.5 months by seeding with Kentucky bluegrass $100\%$(KB 100), Kentucky bluegrass $80\%$+perennial ryegrass $20\%$(KB80+PR20), Kentucky bluegrass $70\%$+perennial ryegrass $30\%$(KB70+PR30). In spring planting, the establishment periods far sod with KB 100 or KB80+PR20 were taken one month. However, in the case of seeding, the establishment periods were 3 months, 3.5 months, 3.5 months and 4 months with PR100, KB80+PR20, KB70+PR30, and KB 100, respectively Comparing the turf establishment vigor between fall and spring planting, the vigor was higher In spring planting than in fall planting in both sodding and . seeding. In the case of spring planting, the most proper time for turf establishment was tested on April, May, and June trials. The effect was significant in establishment vigor. The result showed highest on April planting. On May and June trials, establishment vigors were decreased gradually As the mixture rate of PR increased, ryegrass, establishment vigor was decreased with the rates. These results indicated that perennial ryegrass has relatively less tolerant to summer heat than Kentucky bluegrass. Number of shoots in 95 days after seeding was higher in KB100 by 16,600 per $m^2$ than in PR100 by 12,400 per $m^2$, while the lowest number showed in KB50+PR50 by 3,300 per $m^2$. Those in KB80:PR20, KB70:PR30 were 6,700 and 4,900 per $m^2$, respectively. The ratios of tillers according to mixture rates between Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass were KB80:PR20=87:13, KB70:PR30=78:22, and KB50:PR50=48:52. According to results in this study, Ideal seeding time might be spring (April) than in fall (September), and proper mixture rate was $80\%$ of Kentucky bluegrass with $20\%$ of perennial ryegrass.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.129-146
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• 2003

Research was initiated to compare establishment vigor, uniformity, rooting potential and turf quality in sods of cool-season grasses (CSG). Several turfgrasses grown under pure sand soil were tested. Establishment vigor, uniformity, rooting potential and turf quality were evaluated in the study. Turfgrass entries were comprised of three blends from Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), respectively and three mixtures among them. Differences by treatments were significantly observed in establishment vigor, uniformity, rooting potential and turf quality. Early establishment vigor was mainly influenced by germination speed, being fastest with PR, intermediate with TF and slowest with KB. In a late stage of growth, however, it was affected more by growth habit, resulting in highest with KB and slowest with TF. There were considerable variations in sod uniformity among turfgrasses. Best uniformity among monostand sods was associated with KB, while poorest one with TF. PR sod produced intermediate uniformity between KB and TF. The uniformity of polystand sods of CSG mixtures was inferior to that of monostands of KB, PR and TF, due to characteristics of mixtures comprised of a variety of color, density, texture and growth habit. The greatest potential of sod rooting was found with PR and the poorest with KB. Intermediate potential between PR and KB was associated with TF. In CSG mixtures, it was variable, depending on turfgrass mixing rates. Generally, the higher the PR in mixtures, the greater the sod rooting potential. At the time of sod harvest, however, turfgrass quality of KB was superior to that of PR. because of its characteristics of uniform surface, high density and good mowing quality. These results suggest that a careful expertise based on turf quality as well as sod characteristics like establishment vigor, uniformity and rooting potential be strongly required for the success of golf course or athletic field in establishment.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.166-176
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• 2015

Research was initiated to investigate root growth characteristics of major cool-season grasses (CSG) and to collect basic information useful for sports turf design, construction and maintenance. Several turfgrasses were evaluated in the USGA (United States Golf Association) soil system. Turfgrass entries were comprised 3 blends and 3 mixtures of Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Significant differences were found in root growth, rooting potential and rooting development. These characteristics increased with time after seeding, but varied with establishment stages. In early stage, root length was highest with PR, intermediate with TF and lowest with KB. Evaluation in a middle stage indicated that root growth was similar to early-stage evaluation, but decreased by 13 to 31% compared with early-stage values. Root growth of late stage increased by 34 to 85% over middle-stage root growth. Overall, thhere was not much difference in root length among treatments, with all except Mixture I reaching 22cm in root length. Rooting potential ranking was variable with establishment stage, being PR > KB > TF in early stage, PR > TF > KB in middle stage and TF > PR > KB in late stage. At the end of the study, TF was rated best for rooting development, followed by PR and finally KB. Our results showed that TF was the best species in regard to overall rooting characteristics. TF exhibited excellent rooting development with time after establishment. Bunch-type PR showed fast root growth in the early stage, but rooting quality characteristics decreased with time, especially for rooting development. By contrast, rhizomatous-type KB was poor in early-stage root growth, but rooting characteristics improved with time after establishment. These variations in rooting characteristics among CSGs were considered to arise from differences in establishment vigor, growth habit and genetic characteristics. Information on root growth, rooting potential and rooting development by establishment stages will be useful for sports turf design, construction and maintenance.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2011

Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, the causal agent of dollar spot, is one of the most common pathogens of cool season turfgrasses in South Korea. The vegetative compatibility group (VCG) assay was carried out using nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutants recovered from 13 South Korean isolates with various geographical origins. The mutants were divided into four phenotypic classes based on mutation loci associated with nitrogen assimilation: nit1, nit2, nit3, and NitM. The recovered number of nit mutants greatly varied among the isolates, ranging from 0 to 15 mutants. Of the mutants isolated, nit1 and nit2 mutants were most common (80%) while NitM and nit3 were relatively rare. One dominant and four minor VCGs were determined from 18 mutant isolates tested. To study population structures of Korean S. homoeocarpa isolates and increase our understanding of its ecological and epidemiological aspects for dollar spot management on turfgrass, more generated mutants should be tested with more diverse isolate collections.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2003

Research was Initiated to investigate germination characteristics of cool-season grasses (CSG). Several turfgrasses were tested in different experiments. Experiments I and III were conducted under a room temperature condition of 16$^{\circ}C$ to 23 $^{\circ}C$ and under a constant light condition at 25 $^{\circ}C$, respectively. An alternative environment condition that is a requirement for a CSG germination test by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) was applied in the Experiment II, consisting of 8-hr light at 25 $^{\circ}C$ and 16-hr dark at 15 $^{\circ}C$. In each experiment, data such as early germinating vigor, germination speed and germination rate were evaluated. Six turfgrass entries were comprised of two varieties each from Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.), perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.), and tall fescue (TF, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), respectively. Significant differences were observed in early germinating vigor, germination speed and germination rate. Early germinating vigor as measured by days to 70% seed germination was variable according to environment conditions, turfgrasses and varieties. It was less than 6 days in PR and 6 to 9 days in TF. However, KB resulted in 11 to 13 days under an alternative condition and 11 to 28 days under a room temperature condition. The germination speed was fastest in PR of 7 to 10 days and slowest in KB of 14 to 21 days. However, intermediate speed of 10 to 14 days was associated with TF. There were considerable variations in germination rate among turfgrasses according to different conditions. Generally, PR and TF germinated well, regardless of environment conditions. However, a great difference was observed among KB varieties, when compared with others. Under a room temperature condition, total germination rate was 71.0% in Midnight and 77.7% in Award. And it increased under an alternative condition, which was 81.7% and 91.7% in Award and Midnight, respectively. However, the poorest rate was found under a constant temperature condition, resulting in 18.0% in Award and 15.3% in Midnight. These results suggest that an intensive germination test required by ISTA be needed prior to the decision of seeding rate, including early germinating vigor and germination speed as well as total germination rate. KB is very sensitive to environment conditions and thus its variety selection should be based on a careful expertise.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2015

Dollar spot, caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, is the major disease in cool-season turfgrasses. Understanding the distribution of this pathogen in soil and thatch is important to developing disease control strategies. In this study, toothpicks were used to detect S. homoeocarpa in the turfgrass canopy, thatch, and soil at different distances from dollar spot infection centers. The effect of penetrant and contact fungicide applications with different water volumes on distribution of S. homoeocarpa was also investigated. S. homoeocarpa was detected in 100% of samples taken from the leaf canopy, 83.3% in thatch area, and 0% in the soil from within the infection center. S. homoeocarpa was isolated in 100% of samples taken from the edge of the infection center, but was only detected in 13% of the samples taken at 1.5 cm away from the infection center edge. S. homoeocarpa was isolated at a higher frequency in the propiconazole treated plots than those treated with chlorothalonil and was not detected in leaf canopy samples when either fungicides was applied with 6.78 L of water. In conclusion, the toothpick-aided detection technique has improved our understanding of S. homoeocarpa epidemiology and could be used as a diagnostic tool to detect for fungicide resistance on golf courses.