Recent Event

Highlights from the 2023
Auburn Turfgrass Research Day

Research Field Days play an important role in our industry, benefiting both the turfgrass industry and the academic researchers. We are fortunate to have a strong program at Auburn. This year’s Research Day was held on July 20th. The heat was tolerable—hey, it is summer in Alabama! Many thanks to Drs. Scott McElroy and David Han as well as the graduate students and all the researchers for their hard work on this project. Also, many thanks to Alan Hill, Director of the Sports Surface Resource Lab. See below for a list of topics that were covered:

Summer Weed Control in
Alabama Turfgrass
Scott McElroy, PhD, Bridgette Johnson,
Claudia Ann Rutland

Presentations were made on doveweed, sedge, crabgrass, goosegrass, torpedograss, and various broadleaf weed control. Demonstrations of all major herbicide options were presented with discussion on when to apply, how to apply, limitations for control, reducing application amounts, and longevity of control options.

Turf-adjacent Pollinator Plantings
to Conserve Alabama Bees
Zachary Beneduci

Bees are the most important pollinators worldwide, pollinating nearly 80% of the world’s flowering plants. They exhibit an immense diversity of over 500+ species in Alabama; however, this diversity is threatened by urbanization and agricultural expansion. Areas adjacent to turf are uniquely positioned to circumvent bee population declines by supporting pollinator-friendly wildflowers. Successful planting establishment and persistence is contingent on proper wildflower species selection, site preparation, sowing methods, and longterm management practice.

Selective Control of
Fall Armyworm in Turfgrass
Janiyah Cotton

Selective control may be possible using PGPR as beneficial endophytes in bermudagrass. This USGA funded study investigates engineering PGPR endophytes to express Cry proteins, or through screening various AU libraries of PGPR for strains that have insecticidal activity against FAW larvae. The result of lab and greenhouse experiments was discussed.

Turfgrass Nematicide Classes and
Rotations for Resistance Management
Billy Crow, Ph.D.

The discovery of resistance to SDHI nematicides in plantparasitic nematodes in golf course turf has highlighted the need to rotate nematicide classes. The chemical classes of currently and soon-to-be available nematicides and their efficacy against the most common plantparasitic nematodes impacting turf in the southeast was presented. Proposed rotations of nematicide classes targeting each kind of nematode will allow turfgrass managers to effectively manage nematode problems while reducing the likelihood of resistance.

Plant Growth-Promoting
Rhizobacteria as a Potential Biocontrol
Agent of Rhizoctonia solani in Turfgrass
Kayla Sullins

Large patch is one of the most common diseases of warm season turfgrass in the US. The research presented focused on utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biofertilizer, and potential biocontrol against the causal agent, Rhizoctonia solani, in zoysia and bermudagrass. Data presented included in vitro and greenhouse screenings of PGPR strains and plans for fall field evaluations.

The Continued Success
and Future Use of AU Victory
Adam Russell

MVP Genetics AU Victory is a creeping bentgrass cultivar developed by Dr. Edzard van Santen for use in putting greens. It has superior heat and drought tolerance compared to other cultivars. The use of AU Victory is expanding due to these reasons and is being adopted at an impressive rate. The benefits of AU Victory and the continued need for turfgrass breeding was discussed.

Water Retention and Drought Tolerance
Study and Bentgrass NTEP's
David Han, Ph.D.

This study displayed findings on water retention and tolerance in the leaching bins. As well as a small evaluation of an organic soil amendment on part of the TifEagle green, Dr. Han also discussed the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). NTEP is designed to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and promising selections in the United States and Canada. Dr. Han presented how NTEP's new Test Results format can be used to determine the broad picture of the adaptation of the many warm season cultivars members encounter. In addition, he spoke on which cultivars are well adapted to their local area or level of turf maintenance.

Refuge Lawn Project
Casey O'Neal

This talk included how integrating different low flowering forbs into lawns can help to promote beneficial insects and reduce lawn inputs. Plots were be shown with different forbs that have been planted and are currently assessing insect visitors.