• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2013

The study was conducted to investigate early establishment characteristics and germination pattern of fine-textured fescues (FF) under natural room temperature and to analyze differences between alternative and natural conditions for a practical application. Six cultivars from Chewings fescue (CF), creeping red fescue (CRF), hard fescue (HF) and sheep fescue (SF) were evaluated in the study. Daily and cumulative germination pattern were measured and analyzed. Significant differences were greatly observed in germination pattern, days to the first germination, days to 60% germination, and germination percentage with environments, species and cultivars. Final germination rate was 29.7 to 80.0% under natural conditions. The first germination was initiated between 8 and 10 DAS (days after seeding) under natural conditions, being 3 to 4 days later as compared with ISTA conditions. Days to the 60% germination were 12.1 to 19.0 DAS, being 3.0 to 4.2 days slower than that under ISTA conditions. CF 'Jamestown II' was the fastest cultivar, while the slowest CRF 'Audubon'. Turf establishment speed was faster with CRF < SF < HF and < CF in order. Information on differences in germination characteristics and pattern between alternative and natural conditions would be practically useful for a golf course construction etc., when established with FF.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate early germination characteristics and germination pattern of new cultivars of creeping bentgrass (CB, Agrostis pall/stris Huds.) under natural room temperature conditions and to analyze differences between alternative and natural conditions. Seven cultivars of CB were tested in the study. Daily and cumulative germination patterns were measured and analyzed on a daily basis. Significant differences were observed in germination pattern, days to the first germination, days to 50% germination, days to 85% germination, and germination rate among cultivars under different environments. The first germination in all entries was initiated between 4 and 5 days after seeding (DAS) under alternative conditions, while between 6 and 8 DAS under natural conditions, being 2 to 3 days later as compared with that of alternative conditions. As for the first germination percentage, it was generally 5 to 25% under alternative conditions. However, 'Penn A-1', 'Penncross', and 'Penn A-4' cultivars showed a vigorous germination, producing 50 to 70%. Under natural room temperature conditions, it was 5 to 10% for the most entries, except 'Penncross', 'L-93', and 'Penn A-4' cultivars which vigorously produced 20 to 50%. Days to the 50% germination in CB resulted in 4 to 10 DAS under alternative conditions, while 6 to 15 DAS under natural conditions, being 2 to 5 days later than under alternative conditions. Days to the 85% germination were 5.90 to 11.75 DAS under alternative conditions and 7.95 to 12.50 DAS under natural conditions. 'Penn A-1' and 'L-93' were the fastest cultivars under alternative and natural conditions, respectively. Regardless of the temperature conditions, the longest cultivar in germination was 'T-1', being over 11 DAS. In-depth comparative data on germination characteristics and germination patterns among CB cultivars would be usefully applied for a practical CB turf establishment in golf course construction etc.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2014

Research was initiated to investigate early establishment characteristics and germination pattern of Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis L.). Fifteen cultivars were evaluated under alternative conditions (8 hours light at $25^{\circ}C$ and 16 hours dark at $15^{\circ}C$). Significant differences were observed in germination characteristics and germination pattern among KB cultivars. A final germination percentage differed in cultivars, being 75.25 to 89.50%. The first germination was initiated between 6 and 9 DAS (days after seeding). As for the first germination percentage, 'Brilliant' and 'Midnight II' produced 14.50% and 23.00%, respectively, while the others were most below 5%. Days to 75% germination were between 15.08 and 28.80 DAS. 'Excursion', 'Midnight II', 'Odyssey', 'Midnight' and 'Courtyard' were fastest. The slowest cultivar was 'Voyager II', being over 28 DAS, which were 13 to 14 days slower than the fastest ones. Considering the first germination percentage, days to the first germination, days to 75% germination, and germination pattern, 'Midnight II', 'Excursion' and 'Midnight' were regarded as excellent cultivars under alternative conditions. From this study, information on differences in germination characteristics and patterns would be practically useful for a golf course construction when established with KB.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2009

Research was initiated to investigate early establishment characteristics and germination pattern of tall fescue(TF, Festuca arundinacea Shreb.). Four varieties of TF were evaluated in the study. Experiment was conducted under a room temperature condition of $5^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$(natural conditions). Daily and cumulative germination patterns were measured and analyzed on a daily basis. Significant differences were observed in germination patterns, days to the first germination, days to 50% germination, days to 75% germination, and germination percentage with different environments and varieties. Germination percentage was variable with varieties at the end of study. It was 85.25 to 97.00% under natural conditions. There were considerable variations in early germination characteristics and patterns among the entries according to different conditions. The first germination was initiated between 7 and 9 DAS(days after seeding) under natural conditions, being 2 to 3 days later as compared with ISTA conditions. It was 11 to 12 DAS in days to the 50% germination, which was 3 to 4 days after the first germination. Days to the 75% germination were 12.38 to 14.29 DAS, being 1.55 to 4.77 days slower as compared with ISTA conditions. Olympic Gold was regarded as the fastest variety and Tar Heel II was slowest. Data from this study demonstrated that information on differences in germination characteristics and patterns among varieties would be usefully applied for TF establishment such as golf course construction.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.567-573
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• 2010

Research was initiated to investigate early establishment characteristics and germination pattern of fine-textured fescues (FF). Six varieties from Chewings fescue ($Festuca$ $rubra$ L. ssp. $commutata$ Gaud., CF), creeping red fescue ($F.$ $rubra$ L. ssp. $rubra$ Gaud., CRF), hard fescue ($F.$ $ovina$ ssp. $longifolia$ Thuill., HF) and sheep fescue ($F.$ $ovina$ L., SF) were evaluated in the study. An alternative environmental condition requiring a FF germination test by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) was applied in the experiment, consisting of 8-hr light at $25^{\circ}C$ and 16-hr dark at $15^{\circ}C$ (ISTA conditions). Daily and cumulative germination patterns were measured and analyzed on a daily basis. Significant differences were observed in germination pattern, days to the first germination, days to 50% germination, days to 60% germination, and germination rate. The final germination percentage was variable with species and varieties, being 40.25 to 82.00% at the end of study. There were considerable variations in early germination characteristics and germination pattern among FF species. The first germination in all entries except HF was initiated between 5 and 6 DAS (days after seeding) under ISTA conditions, while HF between 6 and 7 DAS, being 1 day later. It was 8 to 10 DAS in days to the 50% germination, which was 2 to 4 days after the first germination date. Days to the 60% germination were 9.10 to 14.80 DAS under ISTA conditions, being 5.70 days in differences among the entries. CF 'Jamestown II' and 'Shadow II' and HF 'Aurora Gold' were the fast varieties. The slowest one was HF 'Rescue 911'. Among FF species, turf establishment speed was becoming faster in CRF, SF, HF and CF in this order. Information on differences in germination characteristics and pattern from this study would be usefully applied for golf course design and construction, when established with FF.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2010

Research was initiated to investigate the early establishment characteristics and germination patterns of perennial ryegrass (PR, Lolium perenne L.). Eight cultivars of PR were evaluated in the study. Experiment was conducted under a room temperature condition of $6^{\circ}C$ to $23^{\circ}C$ (natural conditions). Daily and cumulative germination patterns were measured and analyzed on a daily basis. Significant differences were observed in germination pattern, days to the first germination, days to 50% germination, days to 75% germination, and germination percentage with different environments and cultivars. Germination percentage was variable with cultivars at the end of study. It was 66.25 to 93.50% under natural conditions. There were considerable variations in the early germination characteristics and germination pattern among the entries according to different conditions. The first germination was initiated between 3 and 5 DAS (days after seeding) under ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) conditions. But it started between 6 and 8 DAS under natural conditions, being 2 to 4 days later as compared with that under ISTA conditions. It was 8 to 12 DAS that reached to days to the 50% germination, which was 2 to 5 days after the first germination. Days to the 75% germination were 10.08 to 13.70 DAS under natural conditions, being 2.07 to 5.70 days slower as compared with ISTA conditions. 'Pennant II' was the fastest cultivar. But the slowest was 'Catalina II' that was 3.62 days later than 'Pennant II' under natural conditions. Considering days to the first germination, days to 75% germination, and germination pattern etc, 'Pennant II' and 'Brightstar II' were regarded as excellent cultivars under both conditions. From this study, information on differences in germination characteristics and patterns would be usefully applied for golf course design and construction, when established with PR.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2014

Research was initiated in greenhouse to investigate effects of polymer, calcium, perlite and chitosan on the growth of Kentucky bluegrass (KB). A total of 24 treatment combinations were used in the study. Treatments were made of water-swelling polymer (WSP), calcium, perlite, and chitosan in soil organic amendment (SOA). Significant differences were observed in germination rate, turfgrass coverage, turfgrass density and top growth among treatments. Germination rate, density and plant height varied with time after seeding. A proper mix of WSP is considered to be lower than 3% for turfgrass coverage and density. Regarding survival capability and top growth, however, it was good under 6%. Overall KB growth was more influenced by calcium and perlite than chitosan. Calcium and perlite were the most effective elements for early survival capacity and turfgrass density, respectively. But no effect was found by chitosan. Top growth increased with three elements, being perlite > calcium > chitosan. The chitosan was effective in early germination, but there was no effect on top growth until 3 weeks, when compared with others. A further study is needed for investigating the effect of these materials on the growth characteristics in mixtures of sand and SOA before a field application.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2012

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of polymer, calcium, perlite and chitosan on the growth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L., PR) and to provide a basic information needed for their practical application when establishing garden, parks, athletic field and golf courses with these materials. A total of 24 treatment combinations were applied in the study. Treatments were made of water-swelling polymer (WSP), calcium, perlite and chitosan mixed in soil organic amendment (SOA). Germination rate, turfgrass coverage, turfgrass density and top growth were evaluated in PR under greenhouse conditions. Significant differences were observed for these growth characteristics among the treatments. Turfgrass density and plant height, evaluated on a weekly basis, varied with time after seeding. A proper mixing rate of WSP was considered to be lower 3% for the growth of PR with an exception of being below 6% for turfgrass density. Germination rate and early survival capacity were greatly influenced by calcium and chitosan among the elements of calcium, perlite, and chitosan. But there was little effect by perlite. Calcium and chitosan were most effective one for turfgrass density and coverage, respectively. Top leaf-growth was influenced by all three elements, but the greatest effect was highly linked with calcium. Chitosan was very effective in early germination and vertical leaf growth, as compared with the others. Future studies are required for measuring the effect of WSP, calcium, perlite and chitosan on the turf growth characteristics in root zone mixtures of sand+SOA before a practical field use.