Tennessee Turfgrass - August / September 2020

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

RIDE ON APPLICATORS: A TOOL FOR SUCCESS? X-Ray Vision? A New Approach to Studying Turfgrass Root Growth The ResistPoa Project Enters A New Phase

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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14 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

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Cover Story — Ride-On Applicators: A Tool for Success?

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Feature Story — The ResistPoa Project Enters A New Phase Feature Story — X-Ray Vision? A New Approach to Studying Turfgrass Root Growth Member Spotlight — TTA Board Member Mark Stovall

DEPARTMENTS From the TTA President

6

From the ETGCSA President

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From the MTGCSA President

8

News from TTA

10

The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

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Index of Advertisers

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Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM Cover photo credit: PermaGreen

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

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Get More Green from Your 2021 Budget.

FROM THE TTA PR ESIDENT

Doug Ward The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

Standing

STRONG F

irst of all, I sincerely hope this message finds everyone safe and healthy. Thus far, I would have to say, our industry has stood strong during these uncertain times with most all facets of turf related businesses operating in a challenged but productive manner. Since our last issue, many things have changed with nationally and locally issued guidelines on how to best manage our way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

With such dynamic shifts in policy and unpredictable restrictions, seemingly on a daily basis, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of our association and members to hold this year’s conference and show in a virtual format.

While the luxury of directly networking with peers not being possible this year, our committees are working hard to put together a top-flight educational program that will closely follow the format of our last several conferences. CEU’s and pesticide applicator certification points will likewise be available for attending online educational sessions.

All of the above will be possible to take advantage of in the safety of your home or office.

As we continue into these uncertain times, it is important that we all take a special interest in our association. We work with a relatively limited budget that relies on conference income to fund most of its activities and to remain solvent. With fewer dollars generated without an onsite conference and trade show we will, more than ever, be relying on member participation in this year’s event. With travel costs not being part of the equation, I encourage members to ask others that would normally not attend to consider taking advantage of this year’s online educational offerings.

Please stay tuned for final program information to be published in upcoming issues and at

TTAONLINE.COM – in the meantime, wishing all members safe and healthy times ahead.

Douglas Ward TTA President

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 928-7001 info@ttaonline.org www.ttaonline.org Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editor Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS President Doug Ward Belle Meade Country Club (615) 292-6752 Vice President Chris Sykes Tellico Village (865) 458-5408 Secretary/Treasurer Ryan Storey Vanderbilt University (615) 343-6694 Past President Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc (731) 642-3092 Executive Director Melissa Martin Tennessee Turfgrass Assn.

(615) 928-7001 TTA 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ryan Blair, CGCS Bart Cash Ashley Gaskin Cal Hill Jeff Huber Brad Jean Jeff Kuhns Jason Sanderson Darren Seybold Mark Stovall Paul Webb Jeff Wyatt TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Joe Hill Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph, CGCS Dr. Tom Samples Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten

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FROM THE MTGCSA PRESIDENT

Thurston Farrar

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER I

hope everyone’s dog days of summer is going well. It seems like it went from spring to summer very quickly and has stayed hot. The coronavirus has affected our meeting schedule this year, but I wanted to reach out to everyone with an update. We plan on having the Scholarship and Research Tournament this fall and will be announcing the location soon, so assemble your teams and get ready for a fun time. We still plan to have a meeting November 3rd at Bluegrass Yacht and Country

Club with Tyler Ingram hosting us. We will keep everyone informed if anything changes. Hang in there, summer is almost over and hopefully Covid-19 as well.

Thurston Farrar Golf Course Superintendent Troubadour Golf & Field Club

FROM THE EGCSA PRESIDENT

DJ Lerchen

AN INTERESTING YEAR W

hat an interesting year so far, to say the least! I’m confident in saying that all our members across the state have adapted to the coronavirus pandemic like we always do with any situation we are given. I want to give everyone a pat on the back for continuing to serve your clients and prepare your turf during a time of many unknowns. Our jobs are tough enough dealing with weather, new pests, labor issues, and now infectious diseases? We do as we have always done – we adapt and get things done. Good Job! We should always keep things in perspective especially during the tough times that we deal with every season. My thoughts always come back to trying to inspire the team that carries out our visions and the care we want to put into our turfgrasses.

Those are the people we need to encourage and take care of for all the hard work and effort they put into each one of our properties. Personally, I want each one of my team members to love this business like I do. We are fortunate to be involved in such a great association.

I’m pleased to say the East Tennessee chapter has had a few meetings this year and are planning to host in October our annual East Tennessee Scholarship and Research Tournament at Oak Ridge Country Club with host superintendent Guy 8

Hudson. This event is important for our chapter to help fundraise money to award scholarships to our future turf managers. It also helps us to raise money for the University of Tennessee Turfgrass Program. I think I can speak for everyone and applaud the University of Tennessee Turfgrass Program’s faculty and staff for raising the bar for all turfgrass professionals in the state of Tennessee.

In conclusion, the board would love to hear our members’ feedback. As turf managers we are always preparing for the next season or next year’s budget. Our ETGCSA board is currently preparing for the next season’s host sites, speakers and events that we want to be a part of as a chapter. I want to thank everyone who has attended a meeting this season and look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming East Tennessee Scholarship and Research Tournament. This will be a great event at a chapter veteran’s course and teams will fill up fast! I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

DJ Lerchen ETGCSA President The Sevierville Golf Club

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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NEWS FROM TTA

TENNESSEE TURF TWITTER If you’re not following all the up-to-the-minute news on Twitter, you may be missing out on some great information and opportunities. From event updates to research to networking, Twitter is a great way to stay connected.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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The Tennessee Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright © 2020 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Turfgrass allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. 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, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

TTA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW NEWS Due to health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, TTA has chosen to hold a virtual event for the 2021 Conference. While we would all love to come together and share our experiences, lessons learned and enjoy some light-hearted fellowship, current restrictions prevent us from hosting the caliber of event that we’ve all come to enjoy.

Please stay tuned for more information as we finalize our plans for education, CEUs, and certification points in a virtual format. It is imperative now more than ever that we have your support and cooperation.

Thank you for your continued dedication to growing your career and the industry through our education offerings.

For more information, visit us at

TTAONLINE.ORG

COVER STORY

Ride on Applicators:

A TOOL FOR SUCCESS?

By J. Bryan Unruh, Professor and Associate Director

Introduction The use of ride-on applicators in the landscape is common in the northern and transition zones of the United States. However, it has only been in recent years that these machines have made their way south. Ride-on applicator use on warm-season landscapes has been steadily rising over the past few years.

In visiting with lawn care operators, the consensus is that the increasing difficulty in finding labor is prompting the shift towards the ride-on applicators. In a leading industry survey, 56% of survey respondents listed labor as a major concerni.

The challenge is due to the aging workforce and the difficulty in attracting younger workers. A cursory review of Lawn & Landscape Magazine reveals several articles aimed at attracting and retaining young employees. The use of ride-on applicators is seen as a key move to keep younger workers satisfiedii. Ride-on TABLE 1: Advantages and disadvantages of ride-on type applicators used in the landscape maintenance industry.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

•C over larger areas more quickly

• Initial cost ($4,600 +)

• Convenience (two-in-one) •E asy to make spot applications • Consistency of applications throughout the day •L ess labor intensive — retain skilled workers • Higher profit potential

•H auling requirements (safety) •O perating on slopes and in small areas • Maintenance adjustments/costs •S prayer uniformity concerns •L ow volume applications only • Small spray tanks •C alibration is more complicated • Training / Learning curve

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applicators also allow for increased productivity since one can spray and spread at the same time. Additionally, ride-on applicators require less manual labor, putting an end to dragging hoses or pushing spreaders. The advantages and disadvantages of the ride-on applicators are listed in Table 1.

Types of Ride-on Applicators There are basically two types of ride-on applicators: spreader only and spreader/sprayer. The spreader only applicators are useful for applying granular products such as fertilizer or fertilizer sparged with a pesticide. Examples include the Ferris Rover™ Ride-On Spreader, the Spyker Ride-On Spreader, and the LESCO HPS Chariot Ride-On Spreader. Retail pricing for spreader only models range from $4,600 – $6,775.

The spreader/sprayer applicators allow for singular or simultaneous application of both dry and liquid products. There are two types of sprayer designs: Boomless and boom-type. The boomless sprayers employ a cluster of FloodJet® type nozzles that distribute the spray solution through a single nozzle operating at a given time. The boom sprayer, as the name implies, has three or four nozzles uniformly spaced along a rigid boom.

Examples include the PermaGreen, Ferris Venture™, Z-Spray, and the Turfco T3100 Spreader & Sprayer. Retail pricing for the spreader/sprayer systems range from $10,000 – $13,000.

Calibrating Ride-on Pesticide Sprayers and Fertilizer Spreaders As with any fertilizer or pesticide application equipment, calibration is critical for achieving effective pest control and providing uniform greening without yellow streaking from fertilizer misapplications. When combining two distribution methods (granular and liquid), the calibration can be quite challenging. Fortunately, Purdue University Extension has a fantastic publication on Calibrating Ride-on Pesticide Sprayers and Fertilizer Spreaders available as a free download (https://ppp.purdue.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2016/08/PPP-104.pdf) or scan the QR Code using a smart phone to access the publication.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

PermaGreen Triumph Border Pass

Photo credit: PermaGreen

PermaGreen Triumph, Edging Closeup Photo credit: PermaGreen

PermaGreen Triumph Spray Pattern

Photo credit: PermaGreen

PermaGreen Triumph, Head On Photo credit: PermaGreen

A boom-type applicator

Photo credit: J. Bryan Unruh

A boomless-type applicator

Photo credit: J. Bryan Unruh

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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COVER STORY Do Ride-on Applicators Work as Well as Conventional Equipment?

As noted, proper calibration is the first step in achieving success with any application equipment. The application of fertilizer using a ride-on applicator does not differ too much from a standard push spreader. Assuming the machine is operated in the intended manner, one can achieve uniform results. Conversely, the spray delivery systems on ride-on applicators can offer some unique challenges that differ from conventional landscape sprayers — namely the low volume applications and operating the equipment in small, tight areas.

Historically, most lawncare spray volumes ranged from 1.0 — 3.0 gallons per 1,000 ft2 [43 — 130 gallons per acre (gpa)] delivered through industry standard spray guns such as the Lesco ChemLawn Spray Gun or the JD9® High Pressure Spray Gun. However, most ride-on applicators are configured to deliver a quart per 1,000 ft2 (11 gpa) which significantly reduces the coverage and may impact the efficacy of the plant protectant or liquid nutritionals.

For a pesticide to work properly, the active ingredient must come into contact with the target organism and remain at a lethal concentration for a specific amount of time. There are many factors that influence effective pest control — regardless of whether weeds, diseases, or insects are the targets.

Questions that should be answered prior to using a particular pesticide in a low volume applicator include: 1. Is the targeted insect or disease soil-borne or does it inhabit the foliage?

2. Does the targeted weed have attributes (e.g., waxy or pubescent leaves) that make control difficult?

3. Is the most effective pesticide for the targeted pest a contact or a systemic?

4. Does the label recommend (require) the use of adjuvants (i.e., spreaders, stickers, drift reduction agents)?

5. What is the relative sensitivity of the turfgrass to the pesticide being applied? Is there a margin of safety should treated areas get overlapping coverage?

A tremendous amount of research goes into the development of pesticide products and the label statements are the proven means to achieve maximum pest control while minimizing adverse impact on human and non-target exposure and environmental impact. At the present time, most pesticide manufacturers do not include instructions for low volume (ride-on) applicators.

In fact, many pesticides labels include minimum carrier volumes and sprayer pressure requirements. Figure 1 is one of the few examples of a turf pesticide with low volume spray equipment instructions.

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Figure 1: Example of a pesticide label with low volume applicator instructions.

What Does the Research Say? At the present time, few research papers report on testing the efficacy of ride-on applicators in landscape management. More is known about the use of low volume applicators, but most studies are not specifically focused on turfgrass management.

The findings from this limited number of studies suggest the following:

Disease Control Appears to be Very Product/Pest Specific Researchers at North Carolina State University compared various application methods (ride-on spreader/sprayer, spray wand, and research backpack) on Brown Patch management in tall fescue and found no differences in control (Butler et al., 2019)iii. The authors stated that as long as a highly efficacious fungicide is used, the application method was not a factor.

Conversely, Benelli and Horvath (2015) determined that the use of low spray volumes, with or without adjuvant additives, resulted in reduced penetration of the spray solution and decreased fungicidal control of Large Patch in zoysiagrassiv.

In the deep south, confusion exists with the naming of diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani. For many years, the term “Brown Patch” was commonly used for diseases on both cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. However, the term “Large Patch” is now the accepted name for Rhizoctonia solani diseases affecting St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and centipedegrass.

Brown Patch is primarily a leaf disease whereas Large Patch rarely produces leaf spots and generally produces rotted sheaths near the soil surfacev. Delivery of efficacious fungicides at lower carrier volumes (i.e., via ride-on applicators), can be effective on foliar diseases (i.e., Brown Patch). However, fungicides that must be applied on the sheath or stem near the soil surface (i.e., Large Patch) require greater carrier volumes to deliver the fungicide into the turf canopy.

No published research exists reporting on the use of rideon applicators for dollar spot (foliar disease) or take-all root rot (soil borne disease) — two common turf diseases in the deep south.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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COVER STORY Pre- and Postemergence Weed Control Researchers at Purdue University tested the performance of eleven postemergence broadleaf herbicides applied through boom (10 or 20 GPA) and boomless (10.9 GPA) ride-on applicators and compared it to a

traditional Lesco ChemLawn Spray Gun (87 GPA), and a hand-held research grade boom sprayer (87 GPA) on dandelion and white clovervi. They reported no differences in dandelion or white clover control with various postemergence herbicides as influenced by application equipment.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Additionally, despite a low carrier volume and coarse droplet size, weeds were equally controlled by herbicides with lowvolume equipment.

Similarly, a graduate student thesis research project at the University of Nebraska compared ultra-low volume sprayer applications (2 GPA) to a conventional application (60 GPA) of Trimec Classic®, Tenacity®, and Pendulum Aqua Cap® targeting dandelion, ground ivy, and crabgrassvii. Across four studies, sprayer type did not produce a statistical difference.

A demonstration was conducted in conjunction with a University of Tennessee Turfgrass Field Day showing that prodiamine applied at either 11 or 80 GPA was equally effective at preventing crabgrass germination (J. Bartley, personal communication, October 3, 2019).

Landscapes in the deep south often have a tremendous number of different weed species; many of which are very difficult to control. Additionally, centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass are particularly susceptible to herbicide injury.

Oftentimes, successful control comes via a combination of an effective herbicide applied at a specified rate, carrier volume, and sequential treatments along with prescribed adjuvants. Each of these possible scenarios may or may not produce the desired results when delivered through a low volume applicator.

Application of Liquid Nutritionals The only reported research on application of liquid nutritionals through a low volume applicator is the previously mentioned thesis from the University of Nebraska.

The student applied two industry leading liquid fertilizers at 5 and 60 GPA to creeping bentgrass golf course fairways. None of the treatments differed from the untreated control on relative chlorophyll content, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and tissue dry weight.

Researchers at the University of Florida conducted a large-scale demonstration trial on anemic centipedegrass looking at four liquid fertilizer products (macro- and micro-nutrients), each applied at a low

and high label rate, and with or without an adjuvant. One week after application, only one product showed subtle differences when observed using drone imagery. At ground level, no observable differences could be detected.

Insect Control through Low Volume Applicators At the time of writing this article, no published data exists that reports on control of the Southern Chinch Bug, White grubs, webworms, or armyworms — the most troublesome insects found in landscapes in the deep south.

Final Thoughts The use of ride-on applicators will continue to rise given the stated reasons.

At the 2019 Deep South Turf Expo, lawn care operators reported having good success with ride-on applicators and some expressed concerns that are in line with the pro’s and con’s stated herein. Additionally, chemical companies are starting to look at their products applied through low volume applicators which will greatly benefit our understanding on how to most effectively use this technology in the landscape industry in the Deep South. i http://giecdn.blob.core.windows.net/ fileuploads/document/2018/10/05/soi%20 research%20pdf.pdf ii https://www.lawnandlandscape.com/ article/ride-on/ iii Butler, E.L., G. H. Galle, and J. P. Kerns.

2019. Influence of nitrogen rate and timing, fungicide application method, and simulated rainfall after fungicide application on brown patch severity in tall fescue. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management. 5:190018. iv Benelli, J. J. and B. J. Horvath. 2015. Influence of spray rate volume and adjuvant additives on fungicidal control of large path. https://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/ressum/ 2016/191.pdf v https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/brownpatch-large-patch-diseases-of-lawns/ vi Patton, A. J., D. V. Weisenberger, G. P. Schortgen, J. C. Fausey, and J. M. Breuninger. 2018. Performance of postemergence broadleaf herbicides

applied with novel lawn care application equipment. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management. 4:180039. vii Ferguson, J. C. 2013. Application carrier volume: A comprehensive evaluation of

an ultra-low volume sprayer compared to conventional sprayer for row-crop and turfgrass production systems. Master’s thesis.

University of Nebraska. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ agronhortdiss/63/

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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FEATURE STORY

ResistPoa Project THE

ENTERS A NEW PHASE

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

By Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mississippi State University

The

ResistPoa project seeks new and innovative strategies that help practitioners make informed decisions regarding annual bluegrass (Poa annua) control. The project is funded by a $5.6 million United States Department of Agriculture – Specialty Crop Research Initiative (USDA-SCRI) grant and involves 16 universities as well as their research laboratories and lab members. This is one of only a few federally funded turfgrass projects in the nation, and we’re grateful to reviewers and stakeholders who were involved in its selection.

Our objectives are to characterize nationwide distribution of herbicide resistant annual bluegrass, seek out new and novel means of control, and identify socio-economic constraints that affect practitioner behavior.

The project is now in its second year. We are proud to have teamed up with Leading Edge Communications to bring our stakeholders an update through a series of podcasts and written communications.

Our Challenge

Photo 1: The ResistPoa team includes researchers from Texas A&M, University of Tennessee, Mississippi State, University of Georgia, North Carolina State, Clemson, University of Florida, Rutgers, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Penn State, University of Arizona, Portland State, Oregon State and Auburn.

As a turfgrass weed, annual bluegrass’s color and texture are an aesthetic problem. It disrupts athletic performance as well as ball roll. It can survive and reproduce at almost any mowing height. It results in thinned and vulnerable turfgrass stands.

Practitioners and researchers alike find that controlling and managing it seems to be more art than it is science.

As an industry, we too quickly start our conversations regarding annual bluegrass by discussing chemical control options, but any astute turfgrass manager knows that we can’t keep doing the same things if they’re not working. We must also acknowledge societal and economic variables that influence our decision making. David Ervin at Portland State University and George Frisvold at University of Arizona are doing just that. Socio-economic investigations are collecting data through the use of focus groups and surveys. This approach challenges us to look beyond chemical control as a single dimension solution. Jim Brosnan from the University of Tennessee says: “This is the first time that I’ve been involved in an effort that is really trying to get at the sociological piece, the human element or decision-making piece of what we do. And my hope is that by trying to understand those dynamics, it’s going to make the solutions that come from the research easier to adapt.”

Beyond chemical control strategies, a critical objective of the ResistPoa project is to develop sound best management practices (BMPs) based upon a better understanding of the ecology and biology of annual bluegrass. “[W]hat it’s going to do is expand our knowledge a little bit better on those aspects of Poa annua control that are now solely dependent on which synthetic herbicide to spray today or tomorrow or next week,” says Shawn Askew from Virginia Tech. “We’re looking more at the biology of the weed and trying to exploit its weaknesses.”

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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FEATURE STORY A Long-Rooted History: Poa Annua Through the Years Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is a troublesome weed in managed landscapes and crops, alike. It is one of the most widespread in the world. In fact, it has been reported on every continent, including Antarctica (Olech, 1996). Annual bluegrass is thought to have resulted from a cross between weak bluegrass (Poa infirma) and creeping meadow-grass (Poa supina) perhaps 2.5 million years ago during the interglacial ice age periods on the European continent. More recently, these two parent species have been shown to cross quite readily (Tutin, 1957).

Annual bluegrass is an annual comprised of numerous biotypes or “populations” – many of which are capable of perennating, meaning that they may exist in a vegetative state throughout the year, all along reproducing through aggressive tillering and seed production. Though perennial biotypes are much less common than annual biotypes, they tend to occur in frequently mown or grazed scenarios in temperate climates with adequate year-round soil moisture.

Poa in ancient Greek means ‘fodder’; therefore, it should come as no surprise that temperate, cool-season pastures of the old-world have historically been comprised of at least some Poa species, including annual bluegrass and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). In the temperate environments of England, Poa annua is in fact referred to as annual meadow-grass, while Kentucky bluegrass is called smooth meadow-grass.

Annual bluegrass has been a research interest since the early 1900’s. An often-cited early publication concerning annual bluegrass control was published by the USGA Green Section in 1922 – “How we controlled Poa annua at Old Elm.” This introspective piece is part self-congratulatory, part admission of defeat. It’s easy to find and well worth the read.

In our interviews with co-authors, one thing is clear: annual bluegrass isn’t going anywhere. We’re just trying to keep up. The ResistPoa project has a unique role to play. John Kaminski, a Penn State investigator, summed this up well: “This has been a long battle that people have dealt with, and I don’t think we’re going to solve all those battles, but by consolidating all the people from various geographic regions that really have different management styles and practices based on where they’re located, I think we’re going to be able to come up with concentrated information for people managing turf in specific regions. I think that hasn’t been done before.”

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Controlling annual bluegrass requires a diversified approach, incorporating proper cultural practices that favor the desired turfgrass species, appropriate herbicide application timings and combinations that account for known resistance issues.

Another objective is to understand seed production and seedling germination. Given adequate soil temperature and moisture, annual bluegrass seed germinate and establish relatively quickly. The project seeks to understand this through a series of experiments.

In ongoing studies, investigators at Georgia, Mississippi, Penn State, Purdue, and Tennessee have been studying the effects of growing degree day (GDD) accumulation on annual bluegrass seed formation and subsequent germination. In 2019 and 2020, we tracked GDD accumulation from January 1 through flowering and eventual seed ripening. Across sites, it appears that seed germination rates rise rapidly after 1,250 GDD (base 32°F) accumulation and that the highest germination rates occur for seed retained longest on the plant. Ongoing experiments at Texas A&M, Auburn, Clemson, Tennessee, Oregon State, Purdue, and Rutgers also seek to determine the effects of seed burial and persistence as well as seedling emergence patterns. Those efforts are complemented by studies investigating seedling emergence (led by researchers at Penn State) and other studies evaluating fraze-mowing as a mechanical means of depleting the soil seed bank (at Tennessee and Florida).

Herbicide resistance One of the most comprehensive objectives of the ResistPoa project is a national survey of herbicide resistant annual bluegrass. This has proven to be a challenging objective. With more than 30 researchers involved, we have standardized procedures for population collection and developed workflows that keep whole greenhouses of plants alive at more than a dozen locations. We have developed techniques for rapid screening of an unprecedented number of annual bluegrass populations. Our findings will be made relevant through the development of a user-friendly decision-support tool that helps facilitate herbicide mode of action rotation, as well as the incorporation of effective cultural practices.

To date, we have screened more than 1,500 annual bluegrass samples for postemergence resistance to the following herbicide modes/sites of action (and respective herbicides): • 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate-dioxygenase or HPPD (mesotrione) • 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase or ESPS (glyphosate) • acetolactate-synthase or ALS (trifloxysulfuron, foramsulfuron, and others) • glutamine synthetase (glufosinate) • microtubule assembly (pronamide) • photosystem I (diquat) • photosystem II (simazine)

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

And preemergence resistance to the following herbicide modes/sites of action: • inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis (indaziflam) • microtubule assembly (prodiamine and pronamide) In year 1 of our study, we identified suspected resistance to many sites of action studied. Most of the resistant populations were from southern states. Of 776 samples collected in winter of 2018/2019 from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, 13% were suspected resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides, 8% to glyphosate, 5% to simazine applied postemergence, 3% to pronamide applied postemergence, and 5% to microtubule synthesis inhibitors applied preemergence.

Our work analyzing for herbicide resistance has only just begun. Suspected resistant populations that escaped preliminary screens of labelled rates are now moving though secondary rateresponse screens to confirm and quantify resistance. Confirmed

resistant populations will then move through target-site resistance screens at Auburn, where researchers will analyze for mutations within the genetic sequence for targeted enzymes. Unique cases (for instance, populations with multiple-herbicide-resistance) will then be screened for non-target site resistance by researchers at North Carolina and Georgia.

Find out more The best way to keep track of our results is by monitoring our @ResistPoa Twitter handle. We’re posting updates and retweeting relevant information there. The website ResistPoa.org is a handy tool for stakeholders. We have included a search function that allows folks to look for published information by State, Turf Type, and Control Method. There are educational videos and a repository of webinar recordings. We’ll be adding a decision support tool over time. This tool should account for herbicide application history, site/mode of action, and much more.

Photo 2: Poa annua survives where few others can.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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FEATURE STORY We look forward to sharing knowledge and best management strategies with you in the future.

For more information, please visit ResistPoa.org, follow us on Twitter (@ResistPoa), and listen to podcasts at the TheTurfZone.com.

References

3a

Alexander, W. A. 1922. How we controlled Poa annua at Old Elm. Bulletin of the Green Section of the USGA 2(7): 213-214.

Olech, M. 1996. Human impact on terrestrial ecosystems in west Antarctica. In Proceedings of the NIPR Symposium on Polar Biology (pp. 299–306). National Institute of Polar Research.

Photo 3: ResistPoa.org offers resources for turf managers.

3a: The tools tab provides links to support best management practices for controlling annual bluegrass. 3b: The search feature allows visitors to find targeted information using filters for turf type, control method and state.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

3b

THE TURFGRA SS TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE José Javier Vargas Almodóvar Research Associate II Turf & Ornamental Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-7379 jvargas@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTweedwhisperer

Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-8603 jbrosnan@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTturfweeds

Frank Hale, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 fahale@utk.edu ag.tennessee.edu/spp

Tom Samples, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Extension The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2595 tsamples@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @tnturfman

John Stier, Ph.D. Associate Dean The University of Tennessee 2621 Morgan Circle 126 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7493 jstier1@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @Drjohnstier

Greg Breeden Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7208 gbreeden@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @gbreeden1

Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. Associate Director, Center for Athletic Field Safety Turfgrass Management & Physiology (865) 974-6730 kdickso1@utk.edu Twitter: @DicksonTurf

Brandon Horvath, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

2431 Joe Johnson Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-2975 bhorvath@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @UTturfpath

John Sorochan, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7324 sorochan@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @sorochan

Alan Windham, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 https://ag.tennessee.edu/spp/ Twitter: @UTPlantDoc

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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FEATURE STORY

X-Ray Vision?

A New Approach to Studying Turfgrass Root Growth

By Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. & Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Dan McDonald, Phenotype Screening Corporation

R

oot growth is of interest to many in the turfgrass industry. Golf course superintendents, sports field managers, and lawn care professionals all aim for healthy, high quality turfgrass with a robust root system and for good reason: roots not only allow turfgrasses to access moisture and nutrients from the soil, they also prevent erosion and confer surface stability. On a sports field surface stability leads to better footing for athletes and on a golf course it can lead to better traction and fewer divots. However, studying ways to improve turfgrass root growth has proven difficult.

Often root growth is studied using core samples extracted using a golf course cup cutter or similar device. Root length is commonly measured using core samples and, in some cases, showcased on social media (Figure 1). In some instances core samples are used to quantify root mass.

FIGURE 1: Image of a core sample shared on social media to highlight turfgrass root growth.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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FEATURE STORY The process of quantifying root mass involves: 1) washing the core to remove as much debris as possible; 2) drying the core and recording the weight; 3) placing the dry core in a furnace to remove all organic material; 4) weighing the resultant mineral material. The difference between the initial and final weight (i.e., what was essentially burned away in the furnace) is then reported as root mass. More in-depth experiments have washed cores free of soil, scanned clean roots into an image, and analyzed the image with different software platforms.

All of these techniques are limited by one thing—it’s difficult (if not impossible) to take enough core samples from sites to detect a meaningful difference. For example, on an area basis, one golf course cup cutter samples 0.003% of a 3,000 ft2 putting green. In order to look at only 1% of that 3,000 ft2 putting green, one would need to extract over 300 cores. This destructive nature of extracting cores from a putting green renders this process impossible in most cases. Conclusions about root growth using an insufficient number of cores are essentially meaningless.

X-ray technology may offer a new means of studying turfgrass root growth without the need for extensive, destructive sampling. Researchers at Phenotype Screening Corporation (Knoxville, TN; http://www.phenotype screening.com/) have patented a method of studying root growth in a manufactured rootzone with x-ray imaging.

The process is fairly straightforward; plants are established in x-ray transparent containers packed with polystyrene beads similar in size to coarse sand (0.5–1.0 mm diameter) and supplied moisture and nutrients via fertigation. X-ray images are captured to make a clean, non-destructive, assessment of root growth. Polystyrene does not attenuate X-radiation and is therefore invisible in the image (Figure 2).

In 2020, researchers from the University of Tennessee and Phenotype Screening conducted a collaborative study to better understand the effect of a vermicompost organic liquid extract (WPT; Worm Power Turf. Aqua-Aid Solutions. Rocky Mount, NC) on annual bluegrass (Poa annua) root growth. Pre-germinated annual bluegrass seedlings were transplanted into polystyrene rootzone profiles inside a controlled environmental growth chamber configured to provide daytime and nighttime temperatures of 79–84°F and 61–72°F, respectively, under 14 hours of light. Rootzone profiles were supplied with a complete nutrient solution (i.e., Hoagland Solution) via a drip irrigation system.

FIGURE 2: X ray image of annual bluegrass (Poa annua) root growth

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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FEATURE STORY After acclimation to this growing environment, plants were divided into two groups such that they received nutrient solution plus WPT (8.5%) or only nutrient solution. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with six replications, each containing four sub-samples. All rootzone profiles were subjected to X-ray image analysis at 66 or 88 days after treatment (DAT). All images were analyzed using ImageJ software (Rueden et al. 2017) with assessments of projected root area, total root length, and root cross-sectional area (by depth in the profile) compared using standard error of the mean. After image analysis, root tissues were dried in a forced air oven and weighed to quantify root mass. X-ray image technology revealed that WPT increased all measured root parameters compared to controls that only received nutrient solution. Interestingly, WPT treatment increased root crosssectional area throughout the top six inches of the rootzone

profile (Figure 3), which is of particular interest to those managing turfgrass on putting greens.

This research is just one example of the potential for X-ray technology to aid in furthering understanding of turfgrass root growth. Future research could be conducted to better understand root growth of other turfgrass species and cultivars in response to various crop protectants, as well as responses to various abiotic stressors (e.g., heat, drought, etc).

Citations Rueden, C. T.; Schindelin, J. & Hiner, M. C. et al. (2017), “ImageJ2: ImageJ for the next generation of scientific image data,� BMC Bioinformatics 18:529, PMID 29187165, doi:10.1186/s12859-017-1934-z

FIGURE 3: Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) root cross-sectional area (mm2) throughout the rootzone profile 88 days after treatment with a vermicompost organic liquid extract in 2020.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

TTA Board Member

MARK STOVALL

TERRITORY MANAGER AT HARRELL’S How long have you served on the TTA Board, and why did you decide take on this role?

This is my second year on the board. I really wanted to be able to give back to the organization that supported us through my career as a superintendent. I really enjoy seeing the growth and direction of the TTA organization.

When you’re having to be very flexible and it changes daily with each conversation we have, it seems to be monthly now, something else has changed. I think Doug Ward and Melissa and the Directors have done an excellent job.

I got to spend 6 months at Augusta National when I was a student at Mississippi State, as an intern. I did a little bit of everything throughout those six months. I was there, luckily, for the tournament. It was a great six months, I learned a lot, had some great people I got to work with, and got to meet a lot of people. Other tournaments, one that I really enjoyed because I love architecture — I got to go work the Open Championship at St. Andrews in 2005, a Tiger win there. It’s The Home of Golf, so that was a great. I think I was there ten days. That was a totally different experience working that one.

What was the career path that led you to your current position?

My only assistant job was Chattanooga Golf and Country Club working with Jeff Hollister. I worked there for three and a half years. Then, Fox Den was my first superintendent job, and I spent three years there in Knoxville. After that, I went to Lookout Mountain Golf Club and spent 15 years there. I love golf course architecture — Lookout is a Seth Raynor design.

Then I moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina and Forest Creek Golf Club. We had 36 holes and 1,263 acres on the property, so that was a large property. I held the Director of Golf Course Maintenance position. There were multiple superintendents, club and grounds staff and people that took care of the property, so that was a larger position than I’d had previously in the superintendent’s job.

Then I wanted to get back home. My daughters were born here in Tennessee, and we wanted to get back west. The job with BuySod, which is based in Pinehurst, I got to know them, and they had a position in Tennessee, so it brought us back to Chattanooga. We loved Pinehurst, but this is home now. I’ve spent over half my life here in TN.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY WITH Bart Cash, Territory Manager, Buy Sod Inc. bcash@buysod.com • 615-946-1023

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT What is the scope of your current job as Territory Manager?

I have northwest Georgia, the very southeastern part of Tennessee, all of middle and west Tennessee, except Memphis, so it’s a big territory. I do a lot of driving. The vast majority of my customers are golf courses, but I still have some sod, lawncare and sports fields. Tennessee is a beautiful state, I love driving it, but we definitely have different landscapes throughout those zones.

married for 23 years, she’s an elementary school teacher. I try to spend plenty of time with my family — I live on Signal Mountain, so there are a lot of good hiking trails, and we try to do some of that in my off time.

Do you have any mentors in the industry?

I’ve been fortunate to work with some really good people throughout my career. I guess the first one I’d have to mention is Marsh Benson, because of my time as an intern at Augusta National, I still look to him. He was a great mentor, and I call him a friend now, we still keep in touch. So he guided me, and then the next one would have to be working for Jeff Hollister at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club. He was a task master, but I learned a lot in those three and a half years working with Jeff. I wouldn’t take anything for that period of being assistant for him.

What would you say is the biggest challenge the turfgrass industry is facing right now?

I’ll put the superintendent hat back on — the biggest challenge is employees, trying to find help. I really don’t know what that solution is, though. I feel for the superintendents trying to find help in this day.

There may have been a period of ten years that I might not have recommended people getting into the business, it may have been getting really crowded, but now I’m really seeing the struggle to find assistants even at high-end clubs. So once that goes, there’s going to be a group of superintendents that start retiring in a couple of years, so there’s going to be some really good positions out there. I think there’s a lot of good opportunities and a really big need for assistants now. There’s a lot of jobs, there’s a lot they’re going to have to deal with, like the labor issue, but I would recommend it.

Tell us about what you do outside of work?

I still have my parents alive, so I love to deer hunt with my dad. We’ve done it for many years, we go back to Mississippi in the winter, so hopefully we get to do it again this year. Dad is turning 82 at the end of the month, and he probably had one of his better seasons last year. I cherish the days getting to hunt with him.

My two daughters are getting older now. Olivia is a junior at UTC, and Haley is a high school senior, she just turned 18.

It’s a very interesting senior year of high school with what’s going on with COVID19. My wife, Velvet, and I have been

34

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Thank you, Mark for serving TTA as a board member!

Haley, Velvet and Olivia

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