St. Augustinegrass (PS-247)

#This invention relates to a new and distinct St. Augustinegrass. It was derived from a cross between a Texas Common selection (male parent) and a plant selected from open pollinated experimental 6-69-272 (female parent). This genotype first labeled 184 and later PS-247 was propagated vegetatively by stolons to provide planting stock for studying performance and making comparisons to commercially available cultivars.

#Genotype PS-247 has a deep purple stigma color and a light purple anther color. It has a moderate leaf blade length and width, and internode length and width when compared to other cultivars. In field tests PS-247 had the longest stolon length, a rapid rate of cover, lowest gray leafspot (Piricularia grisea) incidence readings, and high turf quality ratings. In an aquaculture study PS-247 had a significantly greater number of roots and total root length than other St. Augustinegrass varieties in the test. This information can be used to distinguish PS-247 from other St. Augustine cultivars.

#FIG. 1 is a photograph of the leaves and stem of a PS-247 St. Augustinegrass plant,

#FIG. 2 shows a spike of a PS-247 St. Augustinegrass plant,

#FIG. 3 shows mowed turf of PS-247, and

#Genotype PS-247 possesses a Munsell color designation 5.0 GY 5/6.sup.1/ and is characterized by compressed and branched culms. The leaf blades are moderate in length, averaging 34.6 mm and 49.0 mm for the first expanded leaf and the third leaf, respectively. The leaf blades are moderate in width, averaging 7.8 mm and 8.1 mm for the same leaves. The internode lengths and widths are also moderate in size, averaging 86.2 mm and 2.8 mm, respectively for the first expanded internode; and 97.4 mm and 2.7 mm, respectively for the third internode. This information and comparisons to commercially available cultivars, given in Tables 1 and 2, allow PS-247 to be distinguished from the semi-dwarf Seville and Floratam.

#TABLE 1 ______________________________________ First Leaf Blade Third Selection- Length Width Leaf Blade Variety (mm).sup.2 (mm).sup.3 Length(mm) Width(mm) ______________________________________ PS-247 34.6 .+-. 7.3 7.8 .+-. 0.5 49.0 .+-. 14.2 8.1 .+-. 2.2 Tex. Com. 31.2 .+-. 6.2 7.8 .+-. 0.6 33.8 .+-. 5.8 7.6 .+-. 1.0 Seville 22.0 .+-. 3.3 6.7 .+-. 0.5 30.0 .+-. 7.0 7.9 .+-. 0.7 Raleigh 38.0 .+-. 8.0 9.4 .+-. 1.1 49.9 .+-. 22.9 9.8 .+-. 1.4 Floratam 56.7 .+-. 13.6 9.6 .+-. 1.1 73.0 .+-. 25.0 10.1 .+-. 1.0 Floratine 34.7 .+-. 8.8 8.1 .+-. 0.8 23.7 .+-. 3.9 6.8 .+-. 1.0 L.S.D.(.05) 11.9 1.1 21.5 1.1 ______________________________________ .sup.2 All plant material grown unclipped in greenhouse. .sup.3 Measurements recorded 15 millimeters above leaf collar.

#TABLE 2 ______________________________________ First Internode Third Selection- Width Internode Variety Length(mm) (mm).sup.4 Length(mm) Width(mm) ______________________________________ PS-247 86.2 .+-. 22.6 2.8 .+-. 0.3 97.4 .+-. 21.6 2.7 .+-. 0.2 Tex. Com. 84.3 .+-. 16.3 3.1 .+-. 0.2 87.8 .+-. 19.0 2.9 .+-. 0.3 Seville 82.9 .+-. 17.9 2.6 .+-. 0.2 89.1 .+-. 10.0 2.6 .+-. 0.2 Raleigh 90.9 .+-. 15.2 2.9 .+-. 0.3 79.9 .+-. 21.1 2.9 .+-. 0.3 Floratam 104.5 .+-. 20.7 3.4 .+-. 0.5 134.5 .+-. 4.0 3.4 .+-. 2.1 Floratine 42.9 .+-. 34.3 2.9 .+-. 0.3 47.0 .+-. 25.8 4.3 .+-. 2.1 L.S.D.(.05) 27.7 0.4 25.0 0.8 ______________________________________ .sup.4 Internode width is recorded equidistant between the two nodes.