Our research covers the entire pipeline of creating, testing, and producing superior turfgrass varieties. We integrate genomics and advanced phenotyping to accelerate the development of new cultivars, focusing on traits like stress tolerance, low-input needs, and disease resistance. Projects range from traditional breeding and cultivar selection to maximizing efficiency in seed production and testing seed mixtures in real-world environments, ensuring our innovations transition rapidly from the lab to the landscape.
Perennial ryegrass
Minnesota Turf Seed Council and Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Ongoing: 2024-present)
Background
Perennial ryegrass is an important turfgrass due to its rapid germination and quick establishment. This grass is commonly used for sports fields, lawns, and parks. Seed producers in northern Minnesota grow this species on more than 40,000 acres in Roseau and Lake of the Wood counties; this seed gets shipped around the globe. Unfortunately, In northern climates, perennial ryegrass can suffer from winter damage. Therefore, our goal is to develop cultivars that are both winter hardy and able to produce high seed yields when grown in northern Minnesota.
Outcomes
New cultivars:
Name | Species | Year |
|---|---|---|
Astound | Perennial ryegrass | 2025 |
Green Emperor | Perennial ryegrass | 2013 |
Royal Green | Perennial ryegrass | 2013 |
Arctic Green | Perennial ryegrass | 2008 |
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Heineck, G. C., Ehlke, N. J., & Watkins, E. (2024). Investigating tradeoffs in perennial ryegrass turfgrass performance and seed yield capacity in the US Midwest. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 7, e20520. doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20520
Barreto Ortiz, J., Hirsch, C. N., Ehlke, N. J., & Watkins, E. (2023). SpykProps: An imaging pipeline to quantify architecture in unilateral grass inflorescences. Plant Methods, 19(1), 125. doi.org/10.1186/s13007-023-01104-z
Heineck, G. C., Ehlke, N. J., & Watkins, E. (2021). Predictive ability of perennial ryegrass spaced-plant nurseries for turfgrass and seed production swards in Minnesota. Crop Science, 61(5), 2997-3010. doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20278
Heineck, G. C., Ehlke, N. J., Altendorf, K. R., Denison, R. F., Jungers, J. M., Lamb, E. G., & Watkins, E. (2020). Relationships and influence of yield components on spaced-plant and sward seed yield in perennial ryegrass. Grass and Forage Science, 75(4), 424-437. doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12499
Heineck, G. C., Qiu, Y., Ehlke, N. J., & Watkins, E. (2020). The fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae var. lolii plays a limited role in mediating crown rust severity in perennial ryegrass. Crop Science, 60, 1090-1104. doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20095
Heineck, G. C., McNish, I. C., Jungers, J. M., Gilbert, E., & Watkins, E. (2019). Using R-based image analysis to quantify rusts on perennial ryegrass. The Plant Phenome Journal, 2. doi.org/10.2135/tppj2018.12.0010
Heineck, G. C., Watkins, E., & Ehlke, N. J. (2018). The fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae var. lolii does not improve the freezing tolerance of perennial ryegrass. Crop Science, 58, 1788-1800. doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2017.12.0731
Hulke, B. S., Bushman, B. S., Watkins, E., & Ehlke, N. J. (2012). Association of freezing tolerance to LpCBFIIIb and LpCBFIIIc gene polymorphism in perennial ryegrass accessions. Crop Science, 52, 2023-2029.
Hulke, B. S., Watkins, E., Wyse, D. L., & Ehlke, N. J. (2008). Freezing tolerance of selected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) accessions and its association with field winterhardiness and turf traits. Euphytica, 163, 131-141.
Hulke, B. S., Watkins, E., Ehlke, N., & Wyse, D. (2007). Winterhardiness and turf quality of accessions of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) from public collections. Crop Science, 47, 1596-1602.
Fine fescue
Minnesota Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture (Ongoing: 2028-present)
A close-up view of fine fescue grass blades
No mow Fine fescue
Fine fescue rhizomes
Cultivar evaluation
National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (Ongoing)
Background
The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program coordinates the testing of major turfgrass species at dozens of research sites across the country. We typically host trials for Kentkucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, and creeping bentgrass, with occasional tall fescue trials.
Research questions
The goal of this effort is to identify turfgrasses that are well adapted for various uses in Minnesota.
Practical implications
Data from turfgrass cultivar evaluations can be used by professionals and general consumers to make turfgrass seed purchasing decisions.
Outcomes
Data from the trials in Minnesota and other sites is maintained in a database that was a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota (along with USpatial and UMN Computer Science and Engineering) and the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Qu, Y., Kne, L., Graham, S., Watkins, E., & Morris, K. (2023). A latent scale model to minimize subjectivity in the analysis of visual rating data for the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1135918. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1135918
- Xie, Y., Farhadloo, M., Guo, N., Shekhar, S., Watkins, E., Kne, L., Bao, H., Patton, A. J., & Morris, K. (2022). NTEP‐DB 1.0: A relational database for the national turfgrass evaluation program. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 14(1), 316–332. doi.org/10.1002/its2.76
Other Outputs
Seed production
Background
Coming soon!
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Heineck, G. C., Watkins, E., & Ehlke, N. J. (2017). Exploring alternative management options for multi-year perennial ryegrass seed production in northern Minnesota. Crop Science, 58, 426-434. doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2017.03.0136
Koeritz, E. J., Watkins, E., & Ehlke, N. J. (2015). Seeding rate, row spacing, and nitrogen rate effects on perennial ryegrass seed production. Crop Science, 55, 2319-2333.
Koeritz, E., Watkins, E., & Ehlke, N. J. (2013). A split application approach to nitrogen and growth regulator management for perennial ryegrass seed production. Crop Science, 53, 1762-1777.