Date Available

11-5-2012

Year of Publication

2012

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

Agriculture

Department/School/Program

Crop Science

Advisor

Dr. David W. Williams

Abstract

Nineteen bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) cultivars were evaluated for field emergence, establishment rate, traffic tolerance, post-harvest seed coating, germination velocity, and total germination under varying temperature regimes. Two cultivars were evaluated for thermal modeling, day/night temperature fluctuations, day lengths, and effects of fluridone on speed and percentage of total germination.

The effect of cultivar was highly significant for visible field germination, time to 100% cover, and traffic tolerance in both 2010 and 2011. Riviera was the slowest or equivalent to the slowest for visible germination. Casino Royale was the fastest or equivalent to the fastest for visible germination. Yukon was the slowest to reach 100% cover in both years, while Sovereign was the quickest for 2010. Riviera and Sovereign were equivalent for the quickest to cover in 2011. Riviera and Yukon ranked highest and lowest, respectfully, in tolerance to simulated athletic traffic.

There were no significant effects (p>0.05) of post-harvest seed coatings. There were highly significant differences among cultivars in germination velocity and total germination when grown under 20-year average day/night temperatures representing data from Lexington, KY on 15 May to 1 August in 15 day intervals.

Evaluations for day/night temperature regimes, day length regimes, and effects of fluridone on the germination speed and percentage were also completed on Riviera and Casino Royale. Day/night regimes of 35/20, 35/25, and 40/25 degrees Celsius were evaluated. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed, 35/20oC producing the fastest and highest percentage of germination across both cultivars. Day length was evaluated for 8, 12, 14, and 16 hours with no significant differences (p<0.05) observed. Fluridone significantly (p<0.05) decreased the germination time and increased the percentage of total germination of Riviera while only significant differences (p<0.05) in germination time observed with Casino Royale.

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