Mississippi Turfgrass - Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

A New Standard for Sports Field Management Genomics-enabled Breeding for Turfgrass PLUS

Turfgrasses for the 21st Century

Our goal is to produce the highest quality, innovative turfgrass on the market today while providing the best customer service. Our affiliation with several research and development professionals gives us access to some of the best varieties of turf available for difficult applications. We are also a grower of Tennessee Crop Improvement Association Certified Turfgrass.

www.WinsteadTurfFarms.com

901.867.8116 • 1.800.624.TURF (8873) 22860 Highway 196 • Arlington, TN 38002

SPRING

2022

CONTENTS • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

COVER STORY

8 A New Standard for

Sports Field Management

FEATURES

12 18 28

8

Member Spotlight on Jay Grisham Pesticides of the Future Genomics-enabled Breeding of Turfgrass

DEPARTMENTS

6 From the MTA President 6 Calendar of Events 7 News from MTA 27 Index of Advertisers

12

Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More:

THETURFZONE.COM

Mississippi Turfgrass is the Mississippi Turfgrass Association magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTA members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Mississippi Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTA members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Mississippi Turfgrass. Copyright © 2022 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association. Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTA allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTA. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

4 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

28

EXTRAORDINARY DESIGN DESERVES

It Deserves the World’s One & Only

www.THETURFGRASSGROUP.com

FROM THE MTA PRESIDENT

STRIVE TO DO LESS, BETTER!!

Mississippi Turfgrass Association Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Fax: (662) 325-2705 www.msturfassociation.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Office: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS EDITOR James D. McCurdy, Ph.D.

E

MTA OFFICERS

verywhere we look there are signs of or constraints to the supply chain. Whether it is empty store shelves, longer lead time on orders, or lack of available labor, we are typically getting less done each week than in the past. I’ve pushed in front of our group the theme, “Let’s do less, better.” Our goal, much like yours is to provide a high-quality product to our customers each day. I’m sure that as you maintain your properties there are times where you get stretched thin. Work to eliminate stress for yourself and your team by trying to do less, better.

This may sound farfetched, but what it does for the team and the customer is a definite morale booster. Your team will put more effort into small manageable tasks.

When your team works on lots of different things and are not be able to finish them in a timely and high-quality manner, they become frustrated, much as you do. Also, your clients may see it as being disorganized and become concerned with the product.

I’m not suggesting how to push your team, but we must realize they have some of the same stresses that we do. “Less, Better” can motivate them at work and in their personal lives leading to a better employee.

I hope this spring season brings you new opportunities for growth within your properties and your team.

Work to keep them motivated and productive to reduce stress all around.

Please plan to attend the Yard Dawg Classic on July 12th at the Refuge Golf Course in Flowood. This event is a great way to collaborate and have fun with our friends.

Keep in mind as springtime arrives, work to keep stress levels down and morale boosted by doing less, better.

Here’s to a great kickoff to your spring and summer seasons.

PRESIDENT Allan Sullivan Grand Bear Golf Course (228) 860-8740 VICE-PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT Will Arnett EMCC – Lion Hills (662) 418-1939 SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Barry Stewart Mississippi State University (662) 325-2725 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Keair Edwards City of Gulfport (228) 861-5641 ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Linda Wells Mississippi State University Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu DIRECTORS Chris Hussey / Sod Hussey Sod Farm (662) 231-3203

Alan Sullivan 2022 MTA President

Jimmy McPherson / Golf MSU Golf Course (662) 610-3260 Todd McCullough / Grounds / Lawn Maintenance City of Louisville (601) 416-3292

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Save these dates !

JULY 12, 2022 Yard Dawg Classic Golf Tournament The Refuge Golf Course Flowood, MS

6 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 Mississippi State Turfgrass Research Field Day Starkville, MS

Corey Garrison / Central Country Club of Jackson (901) 490-4547 Elvin Ulmer / South City of Laurel (601) 319-6170 Seth King / Industry Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor (601) 672-4796 FACULTY ADVISOR Dr. Jay McCurdy Mississippi State University (662) 325-2331

NEWS FROM MTA

MTA 18th ANNUAL YARD DAWG CLASSIC JULY 12, 2022 The Mississippi Turfgrass Association is pleased to announce that we are holding our 18th Annual Yard Dawg Classic at The Refuge Golf Course in Flowood, Mississippi.

This 18-hole golf course was originally designed by Roy Case and quickly gained acclaim as one of the top public golf courses in the state.

The Refuge's inherent beauty lies in its setting. Literally carved from 200 acres of wetlands, more than 500,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved to create lakes, creeks, and one of the best public courses in the region. Generous tees, rolling hills, and welcoming fairways culminate at gently rolling greens featuring some of the smoothest and truest putting surfaces around.

The Refuge Golf Course has undergone a complete renovation over the last couple of years under the direction of golf course architect Nathan Crace, ASGCA of Watermark Golf. The course recently took second place in the "2021 Renovation of the Year" by Golf Inc. magazine.

The Yard Dawg Committee has been hard at work and you will see a new look with exciting new ideas!

THE REFUGE GOLF COURSE 2100 Refuge Blvd.

Flowood, MS 39232

SAVE THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR!!

WATCH YOUR MAIL for your invitation.

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THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 7

COVER STORY

A

NEW STANDARD FOR

SPORTS FIELD

MANAGEMENT Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida

By Barry Stewart, Ph.D. – Associate Professor – Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University

A

thletic field managers combine science, art, and long hours of hard work to provide playing surfaces that are safe, playable, and aesthetically pleasing. As Arkansas Turfgrass Association members know, there are numerous “standards” that give guidance to sports turf managers as to what minimums should be for athletics fields. Textbooks like the excellent “Sport Fields: Design, Construction and Maintenance”

by Puhalla, Krans and Goatley, and Standard Test Methods, Specifications and Guides, like those published by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) provide guidance for what practices should be used to create safe and playable athletic fields. Awareness of these standards becomes important

8 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

if the management of a field ever comes into question such as could happen in a dispute over liability.

The SFMA (Sports Field Managers Association) has recently released “Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager: A Professional Guide for Environmental Sports Field Management” which represents a new standard. A great thing about this publication is that it is available for free. It was developed by many volunteers serving SFMA from industry and academia, as well as the SFMA staff. If you are a sports field manager, you should read this manual before you head into your 2022 field management season. You may find an idea or two you can implement, and it would be a good refresher for even the most

Overseeding at Smithville, MS High School

Gulfport Sportsplex, Gulf Coast Softball Challenge

seasoned professional. For years I have used Puhalla, Krans and Goatley as a textbook for my PSS 4443 Athletic Field Management Course at Mississippi State University. I will still recommend it as a supporting book for this class, but this semester I am going to use SFMA’s “Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager” as my “textbook”.

The manual was designed to provide guidance, but be adaptable as a general use guide, as well as for use at individual facilities. You may choose to adapt SFMA’s BMP Manual for your own facility and possibly include parts for your employee manual. SFMA’s BMP Manual will also help sports field managers educate a variety of stakeholders. These include decisionmakers such as athletic directors, facility managers, municipal managers, regulatory agencies, recreation committees, parent organizations, and the interested public. This will educate them on what

athletic field managers do; why they do it; and how their management affects playability, sustainability, and the environment.

The manual consists of 137 pages plus appendices and is divided into 10 sections: 1. Introduction, 2. Planning, Design and Construction; 3. Turfgrass Establishment; 4. Cultural Practices; 5. Pesticide Management; 6. Sustainable Landscaping; 7.

Synthetic Turf; 8. Maintenance Operations; 9. Emergency Preparedness; and 10. Regulatory Information. Section 4. Cultural Practices covers 51 pages and is broken down into: mowing; nutrient management; irrigation; cultivation and surface management; and integrated pest management (IPM). Each section ends with a discussion of best management practices for each topic. This is a very comprehensive publication and covers every aspect of athletic field management except for the management of people.

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 9

COVER STORY • Continued

With SFMA being a national organization, the manual has information on both warm and cool season grasses. When tailoring this for regional, or facility use, it could be adapted for your specific grasses and practices. Much of this guidance is relevant nationwide. This starts with growing the thickest, strongest, healthiest turfgrass you can grow and the practices that allow a field manager to do this. That is what section four is all about. Successfully incorporating these BMPs requires an experienced, educated sports field manager, and the dedication to see them through.

Turfgrass fields are dependent on an adequate supply of water to perform well. Water is the medium that carries nutrients from the soil to the plant, provides some of the raw materials for photosynthesis and cools the plant through transpiration. There is an emphasis placed on water conservation and protecting water quality. Being good stewards of water will be an area of emphasis for all turf managers moving forward. Climate change will add uncertainty to the availability of water to be used for turfgrass.

With some public opinion saying turfgrass uses too much water, it behooves us to manage it wisely. Proper irrigation scheduling, selection of water efficient turfgrass species, and cultural practices that allow better water infiltration and increased water holding capacity are highlighted in the manual. A tiered approach to water quality protection is presented, in which water quality is protected to keep problems from occurring. Water is controlled to mitigate potential problems, and water quality is monitored to ensure that fields are having a minimal effect on the environment.

The use of assessment tools is highlighted to allow field managers to know where they stand, monitor the effects of their management, and assess how things may be improved. From simple tools like soil tests to more advanced methods such as the Playing Conditions Index (PCI) developed by SFMA, data collection, documentation and analysis is emphasized to give the field manager a picture of current conditions and outcomes. To use these tools: records must be kept; observations must be recorded; field use should be documented; and pictures should be taken. As Dr. Wayne Wells told me many times “The best tool many turf

managers have is their eyes.” The data generated will provide a basis for assessment of needs and justification for resources to counteract the degradation that field use causes. Many fields today are experiencing more use than ever before, so documenting the effects of this increased use is a key to justifying increased maintenance. Having numbers and pictures that stakeholders can understand may be influential in getting those groups on board to help you make your case with those who control your budget.

MTA members will appreciate that an integrated pest management (IPM) approach is also emphasized. Again, growing the thickest, strongest, healthiest turfgrass is the best defense against pests. The first line of defense in an IPM approach is to limit the amount of stress on our turfgrass. To do this, impediments like soil compaction, poor drainage, and nutrient deficiencies must be addressed. With this line of thinking we are proactive and not reactive. For example, using an aerifier to relieve soil compaction will help our turfgrass out compete goosegrass. Or perhaps by improving the drainage of an area, it will be less prone to pythium in the spring. Of course, there will be times when chemical application must be made to combat a disease flare up or a pest like armyworms that can cause severe damage if not acted upon quickly. Chemicals are one of the many tools we have to provide safe, playable and beautiful athletic fields.

To summarize, “Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager: A Professional Guide for Environmental Sports Field Management” is a very useful and timely document that every MTA sports field manager should have. The manual can be used like a textbook and guide to provide BMPs for many aspects of athletic field management. It can be used as a template to write a BMP manual, or it can be adapted to be a guide for a specific facility or be the basis of an employee manual. It can be downloaded for free at https://www.sportsfieldmanagement.org/knowledge_ center/bmps/. While you are there you should consider joining SFMA, many MTA members belong to both organizations. • This article was originally published in Alabama Turf Times, Spring 2022.

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10 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

JAY GRISHAM OWNER OF WEED WARRIORS

If

you get a chance to sit down and talk shop with Jay Grisham, MTA member and owner of Weed Warriors, it won’t take long for his gratitude, humble nature and enthusiasm to take center stage.

What’s unique about Jay and Weed Warriors is the focus on training and preparing his staff for not only the challenges of the job, but also for the struggles of life. Jay’s faith is at the forefront of his personal and professional life, and he brings that perspective to all aspects of his work and relationships.

We talked to Jay about how his company was founded, how it’s grown and his principles for leading and encouraging his staff and those around him.

How did you choose the turfgrass industry as a career path?

I started off in college in sports turf management because I loved sports, that’s what I did growing up in Decatur, Alabama. Originally it was a steppingstone to get me to the next step, which was going overseas to do missions. I went to Mississippi State, worked on a golf course one semester, athletic fields another semester. Then I realized I wanted to be more well-equipped to do things overseas, so I changed my emphasis from turf to integrated crop management, so it was still an agronomy degree, but the concentration changed. I got to do classes in vegetable and row crop production, a wide variety. It feels more like a general agriculture degree.

In college I realized I wasn’t ready for the mission field like I thought I was, so I decided to go into the workforce first. A guy from church hired me to work for him – he had a lawn spraying business and he knew I had an agriculture degree.

“When you’re trying to take care of people’s plants, to do that you have to take care of the people who take care of peoples plants.”

How did your company, Weed Warriors get started?

After a year of working for the guy at church, he was like, “Are you going to start your own business?” I said “WHAT?” He told me he was trying to help me start my own business because he knew I wanted to have a big family and I needed a job where I could provide for them. On one hand I want to encourage people that anyone can do this. On the other hand, I share that it’s really what the lord wants. There are people way more qualified than me who haven’t been able to succeed in it, and then I’m your perfect example of I’m the last person on earth that should have started a company!

12 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

In 2009, we started with one customer. We’re based in Pearl, with employees in every city around Jackson Metro. The only job I could get coming out of college has turned into something that I truly enjoy. Now I do it because I enjoy doing it and I enjoy the employees I’ve been able to hire.

How has Weed Warriors grown and changed over the years?

I started with one customer because my first boss gave it to me.

I kind of knew what I was doing, and I just slowly grew and kept adding. I was able to learn and grow as I was going. But I did get to the point where business became difficult, and I made mistakes and tried to get out of the business. I tried to find other professions to do. It’s almost like this is what the Lord wanted me to do because I tried to get out of it, and I couldn’t.

Now, it’s something I love and Weed Warriors is becoming a staple name around here. We’ve got amazing guys and I’ve done it enough years now where I can really teach guys like me who don’t come from agriculture backgrounds, but they have character and intelligence. I’m able to take those same kinds of people and have a company of guys that are smart and that care about what they’re doing, and I can teach them about the agriculture side of things.

We have over 1200 customers now, and I have 13 employees, which includes full-time, part-time and seasonal. We do plant health and plant pests including fertilizer treatments and weed control, insect, and disease treatment for grass, shrubs, and trees. Most of our business is weed control and fertilizer in grass. I’ve got substantial resources devoted to the shrub/tree side. There are not as many customers there, but it is growing.

It’s also noteworthy that I am very thankful for MSU extension as part of my continuing education. I have learned a lot of important things at extension educational events and wish I could meet more people like myself (lawn, shrub, and tree) at these events, but unfortunately, they seem to be more dominated by golf guys (no offense!) Let’s go LCO’s!

Have you faced labor challenges with the company’s growth?

Jay and Jessica Grisham

Jay and Jessica’s children: Walker, Justice, Daily, Mary Beckett, Freely

It’s not easy, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult as I’m having to hire more people. Anybody can spray yards, but I’m realizing part of being a business that has multiple employees is that you have to be able to manage people. When you’re trying to take care of people’s plants, to do that you have to take care of the people who take care of people’s plants. The way we have been successful is first, with the Lord’s blessing and second, the Lord has humbled me in ways that allow me to be able to deal with people. I’ve learned that you’re either leading people in a good way or a bad way, and if you’re not leading, somebody else will. So to have good employees, you have to be a leader. Maybe that can be an encouragement to someone out there to do some self-reflection. I think we all, myself included, need to be encouraged.

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 13

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT • Continued

Why have the principles of your faith been so important to the growth of your business?

I like to compare it to an agriculture concept – we like to go after fruits, whether it’s actual fruit, leaves, or flowers to get the desired result. Just like with everything else in creation, if you go after it by not thinking about the things you can’t see, which are underground (roots), you’re not going to get the results that you’re going for, so you have to look inward. When you’re in an organization that’s not a Christian or spiritual organization you’re going after things physically and scientifically, which I love. But I also know that people are not just physical, there is a spiritual dimension. If all you’re thinking is what you can see in the physical, outward, above ground space, then it is always going to be difficult because you misdiagnose the true problem of what you’re really going for and how you need to be encouraging your people. We take time every day to pray and to teach – I teach Biblical concepts because the root problem is sin and the way we relate with God, ourselves, and people is marred because of sin. So sin affects everything so if you take that out and you only try to be scientific, then yes, it is always going to be a big, confusing thing.

Whatever you do, all to the glory of God. That’s really our motto. I want to encourage my guys to do that.

Company bowling competition in September 2021.

Jay loves to teach his guys each morning.

What do you do outside of work?

I have five kids (ages 4-13), and a sixth on the way. The Lord is most important thing in my life, my family is second. I’ve created a business environment that when its 5:00, we’re done, you have time to be with family. It doesn’t mean that I don’t stay up late at night!

As a family, we like to go to MSU sporting events, church events, visit with family and friends, gardening. We love being outdoors.

What advice would you give to younger people starting out in the industry?

There’s a Proverb that says humility and fear of the Lord bring riches, honor, and life. If we’re seeking riches and honor and life, but not through humility and fear of the Lord, then it’s going to be like chasing after the wind. It doesn’t matter how well equipped you are, people much less equipped can do better, more equipped can fail. For me that’s what it is and that’s what I want to encourage people with. Don’t go after it for the money. Whatever you do, do it with humility and fear of Lord, then it’s going to be a wonderful thing. You can find contentment and joy. •

To learn more about Jay and Weed Warriors, visit his website at: https://weedwarriorsjackson.com/about-us/

14 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

Jay and his manager Jacob Pierce. Jacob started as the lowest paid employee and is now the highest…hard work pays off!

“Jay does a great job educating customers and his staff. He’s active in MTA. He proactively seeks to prevent problems — he’s one of my frequent contacts, always with a good question or comment. He’s an MSU graduate and has a decade plus of experience.”

— Dr. Jay McCurdy

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FEATURE

Importance of Pesticides in Pest Management

PESTICIDES O F T HE FUTURE

By Eric Reasor, Ph.D. Southeast Research Scientist, PBI-Gordon Corporation

P

esticides have undergone significant changes in the past 50 years with an increased focus on envi-

ronmental and applicator safety. Mississippi Turfgrass Association members and the entire turfgrass industry will see pesticide technologies in the future look very different than the past. However, despite many future changes, pesticides will continue being a highly effective tool for turfgrass pest management.

18 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

Pesticides are any substance or mixture of substances used to kill pests or manage the damage they cause and are an important tool for managing turfgrass pests1. Turfgrasses have been used for functional, recreational, and aesthetic purposes to enhance human lives for hundreds of years,2 and many pests can significantly reduce these desired qualities. For example, disease and insect pests can infect or feed on turfgrass plants, leaving infected areas susceptible to wear damage, or environmental stresses such as drought. Furthermore, weed pests such as large crabgrass and white clover can compromise the safety of natural grass athletic fields by increasing the surface hardness ~ 50% compared to hybrid bermudagrass3.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach that combines multiple chemical and non-chemical methods for pest management. Most of these techniques involve maximizing turfgrass growth and plant health by species and variety selection, mowing, cultivation, fertilization, and irrigation. Although these cultural practices are critical for pest management, turfgrass quality expectations and lack of control thresholds drive the need for pest-free turfgrass. As a result, pesticides are still the backbone of turfgrass pest management1. The widespread use and necessity of turfgrass pesticides will require the industry to evolve as the pesticides change in the future.

History of Pesticides Understanding the history of pesticides and their use is important to the future of pesticides. There are currently five main time periods of pesticide use that describe the type of pesticides used during those times. Current time periods can be described as 1) early pest management prior to year 1000, 2) 1000 to 1850, 3) 1850 to 1940, 4) 1940 to 1970, and 5) 1970 to present.

Additional time periods are likely to occur as pesticides enter a new era in the future.

The first recorded use of pesticides is about 4500 years ago by Sumerians, who applied sulfur compounds to battle insects and mites. This type of pesticide use continued until approximately year 1000 when the use of plant, animal, or mineral derivatives increased. From 1850 to 1940, pesticides were mainly inorganic compounds and industrial by-products. Moreover, pesticide use during these times typically involved high active ingredient application rates and unsafe application methods. Following the 1940s and scientific advancement after WWII, synthetic organic compounds were being developed for pesticides as a result of organic chemistry being applied to pesticide science. These synthetic organic pesticides still had high application rates in the kilograms per hectare for active ingredients, such as thiuram and DDT. However, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was established in 1947 to set guidelines for pesticides registered in the United States. FIFRA determines product uses, application rates, and potential hazards. They also developed the pesticide labeling process to instruct end-users on proper and safe applications.

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FEATURE • Continued

Pesticide science vastly changed in the 1970s. Pesticide research expanded outside of the US and Europe and became a world-wide field. The active ingredients themselves begin to change with lower-risk synthetic organic molecules effective at extremely low dosages. Furthermore, these newer active ingredients are more readily degradable, less persistent in the environment, and are more selective against the target pest4. Why the change? In 1972, FIFRA was revised and was moved to the responsibility of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This revision shifted the emphasis of the regulatory process toward environmental protection and public health5.

Another major change with FIFRA was the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. This legislation tasked the EPA with conducting the most comprehensive and historic review of pesticide and food safety laws. The FQPA amended FIFRA by fundamentally changing the EPA’s pesticide evaluation and regulation processes. Through this change, thousands of pesticides and their uses were either modified or eliminated. Then in 2007, an amendment to FIFRA required the EPA to review registered pesticides at least once every 15 years. This review process has yielded changes with many active ingredients and their uses5.

Pesticides of the Future Pesticides and their applications will continue to evolve in the future just as much as it has changed in the past. Low-risk synthetic organic compounds are still being developed; however, a new focus has shifted to other types of pesticides and pest management strategies. Examples of these include biological and RNAi pesticides (which will be described in more detail below).

In addition to chemistry changes, pesticide applications and

20 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

delivery systems will change with formulation technology and site-specific applications6, 4.

Biological pest control and biopesticides are tools with a recent substantial increase in research and development. Biological control is founded on using beneficial organisms to reduce populations of pest organisms, or at least keep them below destructive thresholds. Turfgrass managers already implement some biocontrol by promoting a healthy environment for optimal turfgrass growth. This type of biocontrol can be described as general pest suppression, whereas specific pest suppression uses specific, selected organisms, to manage pests.

Biopesticides are pesticides, but they are derived from natural materials such as animals, bacteria, fungi, plants, and certain minerals. Biopesticides are classified based on their origin and it must provide some level of pest control to be considered a biopesticide7. Microbial biopesticides have a living organism or a product of a living organism as the active ingredient, and biochemical biopesticides have naturally occurring compounds, such as plant extracts, as the active ingredient. There are commercially available products of both biopesticide categories.

However, pest control may be limited when high pest populations or environmental conditions highly conducive to damage are present. Furthermore, biopesticides may be limited in long-term storage stability and formulation difficulties. In specific turfgrass situations, biopesticides can be one alternative to synthetic pesticides. Examples of beneficial organisms used in turfgrass to manage specific pests are Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Research and development into biopesticides will continue to increase in future decades. It has been predicted that the biopesticide market will equal and potentially outpace synthetic pesticides by the 2060s8.

FEATURE • Continued

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference (RNAi) pesticides are another growing area of pesticide research and development.

RNAi is a naturally occurring process that uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to interfere with normal RNA processes. Normal RNA processes start with DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) transcribing into RNA and then RNA translating into amino acids, which are then used to make proteins. RNAi pesticides disrupt a targeted step in these processes. This allows specific genes within plants and pests to be targeted and manipulated to achieve a desired result. Applications of RNAi compounds are being developed to provide an alternative to synthetic organic compounds.

The RNAi currently used for pest management involves dsRNA that can silence essential genes in insects, pathogens, and weeds.

These applications are highly specific for the target pest, where non-target effects are minimalized, or even avoided. RNAi has already been used to target plant diseases such as cereal rusts and Botrytis grey fruit mold. It has also been used to develop

virus-resistant crops such as papaya, plum, squash, and tomato9.

The use of RNAi pesticides in turfgrass pest management will likely be pest specific and will still rely on proper turfgrass cultural practices.

Pesticide Applications of the Future Pesticide applications and formulations are evolving similar to pesticide active ingredients with a focus on increased environmental safety and reduced inputs. Precise, site-specific pesticide applications is one method that can reduce overall pesticide inputs, and pesticide formulation technology can increase the environmental safety of the final pesticide product. Applying safer pesticides in more precise locations aligns with the future direction of pesticide regulation. New application strategies will be a significant change from traditional broadcast or blanket applications, but the technology involved will be end-user driven (Photo 1).

PHOTO 1: Drone technology will become more widespread in the near future. The photo on the left is what the drone sees during a typical fairway flyover. The photo on the right is a NDVI map (normalized difference vegetation index). This shows turfgrass health / stress across the fairway – GREEN is healthy and higher “quality” and RED is stressed or lower “quality”. Drones and ground equipment are both capable of collecting NDVI data. Aerial and ground NDVI measurements have shown strong correlation. Similar technology is being perfected to reduce overall pesticide inputs by only targeting areas when a pest population reaches a specific threshold. Photo courtesy Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M University.

22 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

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FEATURE • Continued

The theory of precision turfgrass management (PTM) is to measure detailed, site-specific information to precisely apply resources (e.g., water, fertilizer, pesticides). Precision turfgrass management has the potential to reduce overall pesticide inputs by only targeting areas with a present pest population, areas with repeated history of pest issues, or areas with highly conducive environments. This would rely on sensor technology, GPS, and GIS systems to accurately measure, analyze, and apply the data10. Sensor equipment could be mounted to a variety of ground or aerial equipment such as mowers, tractors, golf carts, or even drones to make the necessary measurements for management decisions (Photo 2).

Researchers are in the early stages of developing the PTM technology for turfgrass pest management. Initial technology will likely focus on controlling specific pest species or issues and may not be applicable to every situation. Turfgrass managers already practice some sort of PTM by managing various areas differently based on many factors, including soil characteristics, turfgrass species, slope, height-of-cut, traffic patterns, etc. These management differences are based on anecdotal or quantified data, but the evolution of PTM will be based on acquiring realtime, detailed site information to make decision making more precise and efficient.10 Many hurdles remain for the wide adoption of PTM, nevertheless it is one of the key components of the future of pesticides and their applications.

Pesticide formulation research is important because the pesticide active ingredients comprise only a percentage of the final product.

The co-formulants are just as important as the active ingredient for pest control efficacy, product storage/stability, product compatibility, and overall product performance. Different pesticide formulations have advantages and disadvantages, but there has

been a shift in trends due to growing concerns on using solvents as co-formulants. Solvent-based emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations are being phased out with the focus shifted on solventfree formulations (granules [G], soluble liquids [SL], suspension concentrates [SC], and water dispersible granules [WDG]). A new, water-based formulation, emulsion-in-water (EW), uses almost no solvents and has emulsifying agents to improve handling, storage, and transport characteristics. Synthetic pesticide formulation research will continue to evolve for increased applicator and environment safety because synthetic pesticides are still the most economical and effective pesticide option.

Nanotechnology is one of the more recent developments in pesticide formulation research11. Nanotechnology research involves manipulation of particles ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm)12. For reference, one nm is one-billionth (10-9) of a meter and there are 25,400,000 nm in one inch (Figure 1).

ONE INCH {

=

25,400,000 nm

}

FIGURE 1: For reference, it would take 25,400,000 nano-particles stacked side-by-side to equal one inch. Many nano-pesticides will be encapsulated within the range of 1 to 100 nanometers. Not seen with the naked eye, it takes electron microscope technology to view these particles.

PHOTO 2: Precision Turfgrass Management (PTM): Researchers measuring turfgrass surface and soil characteristics for developing site-specific, PTM programs. The aerial drone is measuring normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), while the Toro Precision Sense 6000 tow-behind ground unit measures soil moisture, soil compaction, soil salinity and NDVI. Photo courtesy Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M University.

24 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

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twitter.com/theturfzone THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 25

FEATURE • Continued

LITERATURE CITED

These nanoparticles are being developed to encapsulate nano-sized pesticide active ingredients to potentially provide a “controlled release” of the pesticide to the target pest.

Furthermore, encapsulation materials can be biocompatible and biodegradable11.

Pesticides formulated as nanoparticles have the potential to increase the efficacy against target pests, reduce the physical degradation, and further reduce the environmental risk13, 14 . For example, nanoparticles have been reported to protect neem oil (Azadirachta indica) from degradation to extend its efficacy against insect pests7. However, nanotechnology in pesticide science has been sparsely researched in field conditions and thus not widely commercialized due to several challenges. There are concerns regarding environmental fate, bioavailability and release rates, transport and storage, and cost effectiveness7, 15. Nanotechnology and nanopesticide research will continue, but their application in turfgrass and availability to turf managers is still unknown.

Pesticides and their use have vastly changed within the past 50 years, with an increased focus on environmental and applicator safety. Alabama Turfgrass Association members and turfgrass managers could witness even greater significant pesticides changes in the future. Pesticides will continue to evolve with newer technologies such as biological and RNAi pesticides. It is uncertain when some of these new pesticide technologies will be commercially available for pest control in turfgrass. Moreover, it is possible some will not provide acceptable pest control, be too injurious to desirable species, or too costly for wide adoption. As a result, synthetic pesticides will remain the most effective pesticide tool until these technologies are developed specially for turfgrass. • This article was originally published in Alabama Turf Times, Spring 2022.

1. Koppenhofer, A.M., R. Latin, B.A. McGraw, J.T. Brosnan, and W.C. Crow. 2013. Integrated pest management. In Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. eds. J.C. Stier, B.P. Horgan, and S.A. Bonos. Madison, WI. pp. 933-1006.

2. Beard, J.B. and R.L. Green. 1994. The role of turfgrasses in environmental protection and their benefits to humans. J. of Environ. Qual. 23:452-460.

3. Brosnan, J.T., K.H., Dickson, J.C. Sorochan, A.W. Thoms, and J.C. Stier. 2014. Large crabgrass, white clover, and hybrid bermudagrass athletic field playing quality in response to simulated traffic. Crop Sci. 54:1838-1843. doi:10.2135/cropsci2013.11.0754 4. Umetsu, N. and Y. Shirai. 2020. Development of novel pesticides in the 21st century. J. Pestic. Sci. 45(2):54-74. doi:10.1584/jpestics.D20-201 5. Reicher, Z.J., P.H. Dernoeden, and D.S. Richmond.

2013. Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and growth regulators used in turfgrass systems. In Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. eds. J.C. Stier, B.P. Horgan, and S.A. Bonos. Madison, WI. pp. 891-932.

6. Umetsu, N. and A. Ando. 2004. Development of environmentally friendly agrochemicals. In Frontiers of Environmental Pesticide Science. eds. M. Ueji et al.

Soft Science. pp. 224-248 7. Damalas, C.A. and S.D. Koutroubas. 2018. Current status and recent developments in biopesticide use.

Agriculture. 8(13). doi:10.3390/agriculture8010013 8. Olsen, S. 2015. An analysis of the biopesticides market now and where is going. Outlooks Pest Mgt. 26:203-206.

9. Mezzetti, B. J. Sweet, and L. Burgos. 2021. Introduction to RNAi in plan production and protection. CAB International. doi:10.1079/ 9781789248890.0001 10. Carrow, R.N., J.M. Krum, I. Flitcroft, and V. Cline.

2010. Precision turfgrass management: Challenges and field applieds for mapping turfgrass soil and stress. Precision Agric. 11:115-134. doi:10.1007/ s11119-009-9136-y 11. Prasad, R., A. Bhattacharyya, and Q. D. Nguyen.

2017. Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Perspectives. J. Frontier Microbiology. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01014

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12. Hobson, D.W., 2011. Industrial biotechnology and commodity product. In Comprehensive Biotechnology (Second Edition). eds. M. Butler and M. Moo-Young.

Volume 3: pp. 683-697 13. De Oliveira, J.L., E.V.R. Campos, and L.F. Fraceto.

2018. Recent developments and challenges for nanoscale formulation of botanical pesticides for use in sustainable agriculture. J. Agric. Food Chem. 66(34): 8898-8913. doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b03183 14. Khot, L.R., S. Sankaran, J.M. Maja, R. Ehsani, and E.W. Schuster. 2012. Applications o nanomaterials in agricultural production and crop protection: A review. Crop Protection. 35:64-70. doi.org/10.1016/ j.cropro.2012.01.007 15. Mishra, S., C. Keswani, P.C. Abhilash, L.F. Fraceto, and H.B. Singh. 2017. Integrated approach of agrinanotechnology: Challenges and future trends. Front.

Plant Sci. 8:471. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00471

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FEATURE

GENOMICSENABLED BREEDING FOR TURFGRASS

By Hongxu Dong Turfgrass breeders seek to improve grasses for a variety of end uses. The ultimate goal is a variety capable of withstanding challenging environments without unnecessary inputs and pampering, all while providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Through plant genomics, we can sequence the genes and then study the relationships of those genes on typical characteristics. Plant genomics aims to characterize the genetic compositions, variations, structures, functions, and networks in plant genomes. Through it, we will gain better understanding of genetic mechanisms of traits of interest in order to produce better turfgrass varieties.

A

superior grass growing on the plains of Africa may have value only to the cattle (Bos taurus) or wild herbivores that graze it. Although it has intrinsic value, its economic value is limited. If this plant is collected, evaluated, used in a breeding program, production tested, and released as cultivar that is planted on a large acreage, its value is greatly improved.

This is the basic procedure of bermudagrass cultivar development. Bermudagrass is now the dominant warm-season turfgrass species in the southern US and has contributed billions of dollars to the economy.

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is a warm-season, fine-textured turfgrass adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions.

It is a drought-tolerant, durable, and versatile turfgrass that can be used in many settings, including golf courses, athletic fields, home lawns, and as utility turfgrass. Common bermudagrass (C. dactylon) and African bermudagrass (C. transvaalensis) are the two primary species used in breeding improved bermudagrass.

Bermudagrass species are largely self-incompatible, meaning that they rely upon cross-pollination rather than self-pollination.

African bermudagrass is a diploid, meaning it has two copies of chromosomes. It readily crosses with tetraploid (having four copies) and hexaploid (having six copies) common bermudagrass. Hybrid bermudagrass (C. dactylon × C. transvaalensis) has been successfully employed in the development of turf cultivars, in fact most commercial turf-type bermudagrasses are crosses of African bermudagrass and common bermudagrass parent plants. Interspecific hybrids such as ‘Tifgreen 328’ and ‘Tifway 419’ are well known standards for golf courses in warm subtropical and tropical climates.

28 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SPRING 2022

PHOTO 1: Greenhouse grown pots of more than 130 populations that are now transplanted in field conditions.

PHOTO 2: Dr. Hongxu Dong, Mississippi State University Turfgrass Breeder.

PHOTO 3: Field 13A at the Mississippi Ag Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center. MSA-2-3-98 St. Augustinegrass (top left), bermudagrass germplasm collection (top right), Mississippi bred ‘Celebration X’ bermudagrasses (bottom row). This image is a composite of more than 700 individual multi-spectral images taken from a Micasense Red Edge camera – just one of the evaluation tools being used for this project.

FIGURE 1: Circular phylogenetic tree of 206 Cynodon accessions assessed in this project. Each branch end represents a grass accession. Genetically similar grasses are grouped into clusters. Two grasses are more closely related if they converge with shorter path. These 206 Cynodon accessions were colored based on source of origin: red (Africa), blue (North America), green (China), orange (Australia), yellow (Europe), and uncolored (unknown source).

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 29

FEATURE • Continued

A plant germplasm is a collection of living materials such as seeds or plants that are maintained for breeding, preservation, and other research uses. As in the example above, uncharacterized germplasm has limited value, but its value increases after it has been collected and its attributes are known.

Turfgrass breeders attempt to improve multiple traits and attributes, including turfgrass quality, genetic color, grow-in and recovery speed, density, texture, disease resistance, drought and cold tolerance, and others. Plant breeders start with a raw product, plant germplasm, and spend multiple years (in most cases, 10+ years) of selections and genetic improvement, to release products such as cultivars that are of increased value. Revenue from new cultivars must exceed the cost of development. Although great efforts and resources are devoted to this process, breeding programs risk little return from investment. Among the many factors that influence success of turfgrass breeding programs, one of the most limiting is the unknown nature of genetics within a breeder’s germplasm.

Genomics-enabled breeding is understanding and employing that genetic capability. This process leverages information from modern genomic tools that greatly accelerate breeding cycles to increase genetic gains. Plant genomics aims to characterize the

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genetic compositions, variations, structures, functions, and networks in plant genomes. By gaining insights into the rich genetic variations in a germplasm “panel,” breeders may explore the genetic mechanisms of many agronomic traits.

At Mississippi State University, one of our turfgrass breeding projects focuses on exploring genomic diversity in the bermudagrass germplasm using next-generation sequencing technologies. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a sequencing technology that offers the ability to generate large amounts of data very quickly. In addition to its application in plant breeding and genetic studies, other notable uses of NGS include clinical diagnostics such as the identification of new coronavirus strains and other pathogens. In our turfgrass breeding program, we assembled 206 bermudagrass accessions of worldwide origins and sequenced them using this technology. Over 34,000 molecular variant sites have been detected. This enormous dataset will provide unprecedented insights into the genetic variation, phylogeny, and population structure in this important turfgrass species (Figure 1).

Through it, we will gain better understanding of genetic mechanisms of traits of interest through additional linkage and association analyses. The ultimate end goal is to improve breeding efficiency through marker-assisted selection and genomic selection. •

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