Seed for the cool-season plots was generously provided by PGG Wrightson Seeds. The irrigation system on the plot area has also been upgraded thanks to a generous donation from Rain Bird. The bentgrass area has been largely sprayed out, with Sustainable Turf kindly providing a field topmaker to strip and remove the thatch. Large areas of Mackenzie, Penncross and SR1020 bents have been resown to provide a range of textures and susceptibilities to stresses and diseases. An old area of bent that includes strips of velvet and tenuis bents has been retained as these have been very interesting in the past and continued monitoring is desirable. The SR7200 velvet bent has defied expectations that it would not like the very hot summers at Cobbitty and it has thrived under minimal maintenance for the last seven years. The Manor tenuis bent has also maintained very good turf quality under some trying conditions over that time and provides an interesting contrast to the creeping bents. Besides the work with industry partners, the University of Sydney also continues to produce valuable research through top turf scientists. Dr Peter Martin, now an Honorary Research Associate of the university, has been teaching a Masters course on turf management for over a decade as well as conducting significant turf research through supervising PhD and Masters students. He is currently focused on kikuyu research. Senior Research Fellow Dr Percy Wong continues to conduct ground-breaking research into new turf diseases, especially on couch and has described several new fungal pathogens such as Gaeumannomyces wongoonoo (the cause of Wongoonoo patch of buffalo), Magnaporthe garrettii (the cause of a patch disease of couch) and Magnaporthe griffinii (the cause of summer decline in hybrid couch). He has also carried out research on identifying sources of resistance to kikuyu yellows through a Horticulture Australia Limited grant. With the regrettable closure of Redlands, the University of Sydney research plots are the only independent research facility in the eastern states. The management of the Plant Breeding Institute is committed to maintaining a facility that can conduct testing in secluded areas (away from prying eyes) and testing that might result in the destruction of the turf (usually not popular with host superintendents who see big patches on their practice putters). “The turf industry is an important one for the Sydney basin and the University of Sydney is
continuing its commitment to the industry with increased research support from the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment with our research centres based out at Camden,” says James Bell, operations manager for the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment. “The plant breeding and disease research that is being conducted out of the Plant Breeding Institute and the newly opened Centre for Carbon, Water and Food is increasing our knowledge of the plant physiology of turfgrass and how it interacts with the environment. The support of the turf industries and those who use it is required to keep this type of research maintained and increased for the public good of the community and changing environment we live in.” For more information about the University of Sydney’s turf research facilities contact Dr Jim Hull james.hull@sydney.edu.au or visit http:// sydney.edu.au/agriculture/plant_breeding_institute/ cobbitty/index.shtml
The turf plots have undergone a renovation programme this past spring to refresh the cool-season plots and to purify the warm-season varieties. Pictured are the warmseason phytotoxicity plots
Turf equipment field day at Cobbity
Looking for greenkeeping staff? Advertise on the AGCSA website - the Australian turf industry’s LEADING online job resource Post your job online now at www.agcsa.com.au/jobs or email info@agcsa.com.au January-February 2014
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