Current Projects

Integrated Turfgrass Management Projects
Environmental Impact Projects
Product Testing
Regional Grants

Physiology, Genetics, and Breeding

The Nobel Prize-winning chemist Robert F. Curl of Rice University spoke for many of his colleagues in science when he proclaimed that the 20th century was "the century of physics and chemistry. But it is clear that the next century will be the century of biology." Seventeen projects are ushering biotechnology into turfgrass species, along with conventional plant breeding improvements bentgrass and bermudagrass. The goal is to reduce water and pesticide use in the long term. The USGA continues to collect and evaluate other promising grass species, such as seashore paspalum and inland saltgrass, which will allow poor quality water to be used in coastal and desert climates.

Project Title	University
Buffalograss Breeding and Genetics	University of Nebraska
Development of a Shade-Tolerant Bermudagrass Cultivars Suitable for Fine Turf Use	Oklahoma State University
Improving Our Understanding of Salinity Tolerance in Perennial Ryegrass Through Transcriptome Analysis	Rutgers University
Development of Fine-Textured, Large Patch-Resistant Zoysiagrass Cultivars with Enhanced Cold Hardiness for the Transition Zone	Texas A&M University
Early Physiological Changes Associated in Cold Deacclimation of Annual bluegrass and Creeping bentgrass	University of Massachusetts
Development of seeded zoysiagrass cultivars with improved turf quality and high seed yields	Texas A&M University
Molecular Characterization of Chinch Bug Resistant Buffalograss	University of Nebraska
Characterization and Validation of Molecular Markers Linked to Heat and Drought Tolerance for Marker Assisted Selection of Stress-tolerant Creeping Bentgrass	Rutgers University
Evaluation of Curly Mesquite and Sprucetop Grama for Turfgrass Development	University of Arizona
Breeding and Evaluation of Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass and Bentgrass for Turf	Rutgers University
Development of Seeded Turf-Type Saltgrass Variety	Colorado State University
Production and Maintenance of Triploid Interspecific Bermudagrass Hybrids for QTL Analysis	University of Georgia
Adaptation and Management of Fine Fescues for Golf Course Fairways	University of Minnesota
Genetic Improvement of Prairie Junegrass	University of Minnesota
Breeding and Evaluation of Turf Bermudagrass Varieties	Oklahoma State University
Improved Understanding and Testing for Salinity Tolerance in Cool-Season Turfgrasses	Utah State University
Germplasm Improvement of Low-Input Fine Fescues	University of Minnesota

Integrated Turfgrass Management

The golf course superintendent and staff work diligently to provide the best playing conditions possible; however, proper course management today also requires conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Thirty-two projects are underway to evaluate reduced pesticide use, increase our understanding of plant disease and insect pests, provide better plant resistance to both pest and climatic stresses, and improve overall management techniques for new and improved turf cultivars.

Project Title	University
Efficient Irrigation of Golf Turf in the Cool-Humid New England Region: Evapotranspiration and Crop Coefficients	University of Massachusetts
Reducing Watershed Scale Phosphorus Export Through Integrated Management Practices	USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Long Term Nitrogen Fate Research	Michigan State University
Development of Phosphorous Filtering Systems for Environmental Protection	Oklahoma State University
Irrigation Requirements for Salinity Management on Perennial Ryegrass Turf	University of California-Riverside
Foliar Urea-Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Warm-Season Putting Green Turfgrasses Under Salinity Stresses	Clemson University
Development of Best Management Practices for Anthracnose Disease on Annual Bluegrass Putting Green Turf	Rutgers University
Promotion of Turf Health Through Early Pathogen Detection-Development of a Turf PathoCHIP	Rutgers University
The Development, Application, and Evaluation of a New System for Enhancing the Efficiency of Control Agents for the Management of Sting Nematodes on Golf Course Turf	Clemson University
Use of Silver Nanoparticles for Nematode Control on the Bermudagrass Putting Green	Texas A&M University
Investigations into the Cause and Management of Etiolation on Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens	North Carolina State University
Management of Bacterial Wilt of Creeping Bentgrass caused by Acidovorax avenae on golf courses in the Eastern United States	University of Rhode Island Clemson University
Determining the Reproductive Phenology of Emerging Overwintering Annual Bluegrass Weevil Populations for the Optimization of Management Programs	State University of New York
Biological Control of White Grubs in Turf with Microsclerotial Granules of Metarhizium anisophiae	USDA/ARS/NCAUR
Integrated Pest Management of Plant-Parasitic Sting Nematodes on Bermudagrass	University of Florida
Infection and Colonization of Bermudagrass by Ophiosphaerella species: the causal agents of spring dead spot of bermudagrass	Oklahoma State University
Occurrence and Identification of an Emerging Bacterial Pathogen of Creeping Bentgrass	Michigan State University
Validation of a Logistic Regression Model for Prediction of Dollar Spot of Amenity Turfgrasses	Oklahoma State University
Optimizing Turfgrass Establishment on Sand-Capped Tees and Fairways	University of Arkansas
Development of Large Patch Resistant and Cold Hardy Zoysiagrass Cultivars for the Transition Zone	Kansas State University
Development of Large Patch Resistant and Cold Hardy Zoysiagrass Cultivars for the Transition Zone	Purdue University
Large Patch on Zoysiagrass and Spring Dead Spot on Bermudagrass as Affected by Establishment Method and Cultural Practices	University of Arkansas
Novel Enzyme Technology to Alleviate Soil Water Repellency in Turfgrass Situations	University of Georgia
Effect of Glycinebetaine Seed Priming on the Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in Turfgrass	North Dakota State University
Annual Bluegrass Response to Potassium and Calcium Fertilization and Soil pH	Rutgers University
Do Foliar Fertility Products Enhance N Uptake and Turfgrass Performance?	University of Illinois
Developing Management Practices and Prediction Models for Controlling Seedheads on Warm Season Turfgrasses	University of Georgia
Evaluation of Fertilizer Application Strategies for Preventing or Recovering from Large Patch Disease of Zoysiagrass	University of Missouri and Kansas State University
Development of Molecular Diagnostic Assays for Fungicide Resistance in the Dollar Spot Pathogen Sclerotinia homoeocarpa	University of Massachusetts
Do Management Regimes of Organically and Conventionally Managed Golf Course Soils Influence Microbial Communities and Relative Abundance of Important Turf Pathogens?	University of Massachusetts
Advancing Integrated Management of Annual Bluegrass Weevil	Rutgers University
Benefits of Golf Course Naturalized Areas for Biological Control and Pollinator Conservation	University of Kentucky

Environmental Impact

There is increasing concern about long-term climate change due to an increase in greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. What role do the turfgrasses commonly grown on golf courses have on greenhouse gases? These six USGA projects are among the first research studies to evaluate the amount of carbon dioxide stored in the soil each year by golf course turf, as well as the gases emitted by these plants while actively growing and maintained. At this time, the focus is on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (NO₂) that is released to the atmosphere or stored in the soil by actively growing turfgrass.

Project Title	University
Water-Use Efficiency and Carbon Sequestration Influenced by Turfgrass Species and Management Practices	University of California, Riverside
Carbon Footprint and Agronomy Practices to Reduce Carbon Footprint of Golf Courses	Colorado State University
Examining Turfgrass Species and Management Regimes for Enhanced Carbon Sequestration	Purdue University
Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Turfgrass: Effects of Irrigation	Kansas State University
Various fertilizer sources and cultivation practices for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and potentially mineralizable nitrogen on Creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass.	University of Minnesota
Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Stands of Cool Season Turfgrass Managed with Organic and Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilize	University of Wisconsin

Product Testing

Every year, golf course superintendents are introduced to new products in the marketplace. Without results from objective research, superintendents are asked to make buying decisions based on testimonials from colleagues based on previous experience. Several surveys indicate that golf course superintendents desire side-by-side product evaluations to assist them in making product purchases. The need for this type of information resulted in product testing research. Currently, USGA is funding ten projects that fall into this category.

Project Title	University
Evaluation of an Inorganic Soil Amendment to Reduce and Manage Fairy Ring Symptoms in Turfgrass.	Pennsylvania State University
Reducing watershed scale phosphorus export through integrated management practices	USDA-ARS
Plant Growth Regulator and Soil Surfactants’ Effects on Drought and Salinity Stressed Bermudagrass and Seashore Paspalum	New Mexico State University
Product Testing Turf Colorants for Aesthetics and/or as an Alternative to Overseeding	North Carolina State University
Summer Interseeding and Aggressive Post-Seeding Herbicides to Reduce Annual Bluegrass in Fairways	University of Nebraska
Testing a Promising Herbicide to Control Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) in Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens	University of Missouri
Developing Weed Management Programs for Creeping Bentgrass Fairways Using Low Environmental Impact Herbicides	University of Tennessee
The Effects of Micro-Blaze Turf Care on Creeping Bentgrass and Bermudagrass Putting Green Quality, Root Growth, and Soil Moisture	Oklahoma State University
Evaluation of New Bermudagrass Cultivars for Golf Course Putting Greens	National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP)
Evaluation of Organic Amendments and Delivery Technologies for Control of Large Patch Disease (Rhizoctonia solani) on Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) Fairways	University of Missouri, University of Arkansas, and Oklahoma State University
Evaluations of New Turfgrass Fertilizers - Field and Laboratory Studies	Auburn University

Regional Grants

The USGA Green Section relies on science for answers that will help ensure the long-term success of the golf course management industry. Regional grants were created to quickly answer applied problems to help superintendents meet the challenges of managing golf courses. The regional grants allows directors of all eight USGA Green Section regions to identify applied problems and the appropriate researchers in their regions to solve those problems. Research projects funded under this program most often include cultural aspects of golf course management. Examples include what fungicides work best on a particular disease, or the management of new turfgrass cultivars, renovation techniques, safe and effective use of herbicides, insecticides, or fertilizers. These projects are usually of short duration (1 to 2 years), but can offer golf course superintendents answers to practical, management-oriented challenges that they can put into use quickly.

Project Title		University
	Impact of Sand Size and Topdressing Rate on Surface Firmness and Turf Quality of Velvet Bentgrass	Rutgers
	Eagle Video Camera Project at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay	Friends of Harrison Bay
	Proper Application Rates of Biostimulants on Turfgrass Growth	University of Arizona
	Are Turfgrasses Capable of Inhibiting Nitrification?	Iowa State University
	Evaluation of Water Use Rates Among Bermudagrass Cultivars	Oklahoma State University
	Deficit irrigation programs for water conservation in the management of bermudagrass fairways in Texas	Lone Star GCSA
	Feasibility of Using Critical Soil Water Content to Determine Cart Traffic During Wet Periods	University of Georgia
	Reseeding interval following methiozolin (PoaCure) applications	Washington State University
	Evaluation of Warm- and Cool-Season Turfgrass Species in Indiana	Purdue University