Present and Future Prospect in Zoysia Grass Breeding

한국잔디류(Zoysia Grass)의 육종현황

Although zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) has a lot of excellent chracteristics as warm-season grass, it have been limited in use due to slow establishment, low seed production, poor shade tolerance and other factors. Breeding trials have been continued from 1900's, much attentions have been paid especially in U.S.A., Korea and Japan recently. In U.S.A., more than 24 varieties had been evaluated at National Turfgrass Evaluation Program(NTEP) from 1991 to 1995 and some were regsistered as commercial. After the 6th International Turfgrass Research Conference at Japan in 1989, Japan Turfgrass In-corporation (JTI) sponsored by private companies and government carried out breeding programs for pest, salt, and shade tolerant and herbicide resistant varieties. JTI also has been trying to im-prove vigor and breed evergreen zoysia Korean breeders collected germplasms since 1960's. After USDA breeders came to Korean penesula in 1982, Korean breeders joined with USDA zoysia breeding project for several years. Many interspecific hybrids and natural selected varieties were breeded that period both in U.S.A and Korea. Breeding objectives were to extend green color period, improve leaf quality and density, and better leaf color at dormant stage. Since 1990's, zoysia grass breeding trials are getting more diverse in many points such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay for ecotype identification. The objectives of this study are to evaluate germplasms in Korea, and also review the present status and future prospect in zoysia grass breeding in the world.