TifEagle

Gardner Turfgrass, Inc. a fine-textured dwarf bermudagrass, tolerant of 3mm mowing height and uniquely adapted to intensively managed golf greens in the Southern Hemisphere. Dr. Wayne Hanna, USDA turfgrass breeder located at Tifton, GA, developed TifEagle. It originated from Cobalt 60 gamma irradiated Tifway 2 stolons. Sixty-four mutants were identified and propagated as single sprig propagules from the radiation treatments. They were planted July 1988 in 1.8 x 2.6-m plots and maintained at 6mm mowing height. TifEagle was found in the putative mutant #2 plot as a dense, fine textured plant highly tolerant to close mowing. It was subsequently isolated, vegetatively increased, evaluated and named TifEagle.

The turf quality is superior to Tifdwarf when mowed at 3 or 4-mm. Turf quality is similar to Tifdwarf when mowed at 6mm. It has a subtle lighter green color than Tifdwarf that is reflected in a reduced red appearance when nights are cool. Greenup in the spring is similar to Tifdwarf. Observations in Athens, GA, Kaufman, TX and other locations suggest that growth continues later in the fall under cool conditions. Diseases have not been noted except a small amount of dollar spot under low nitrogen conditions and helminthsporum if potassium is deficient. After one year of establishment, the grass showed non-preference to tawny mole crickets when given a choice of Tifgreen, Tifdwarf, Tifway and several breeding lines.

There are significantly fewer seed heads on TifEagle than Tifdwarf and Tifgreen. It tends to produce more stolons and has shorter and narrower leaves than Tifdwarf. Internode length is similar. Observations from golf course superintendents and production farm managers suggest that its root density is greater than Tifdwarf while growing time is shorter.

Poa Trivialis has successfully been overseeded into established TifEagle on several golf courses in 1995,1996 and1997. It produces more thatch than Tifdwarf, which can be managed with a combination of frequent top dressing and verticutting or grooming.

It has been patented by USDA and licensed to University of Georgia Research Foundation (UGARF) for commercialization by UGARF and Georgia Seed Development Commission (GSDC). GSDC will maintain Foundation plant stocks for distribution to licensed producers.

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