Heritability Estimates of Turf-type Characteristics in Buffalograss

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 204 - 205
• Main Authors: Browning, S.J, Riordan, T.P, Johnson, R.K, Johnson-Cicalese, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Society for Horticultural Science 01.03.1994
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Yield, quality, earliness, varia; Buchloe dactyloides; Monocotyledones; Production quality; Root; Stolon; Color; Node; Ornamental crop; Genetic parameter; Genetic character; Statistical estimation; Turf; Cespitose plant; Gramineae; Characteristics; Angiospermae; Vegetative apparatus; Herbaceous plant; Spermatophyta; Heritability
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/hortsci.29.3.204

Buffalograss [Buchloë dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm] is a drought-resistant, dioecious species, native to the Central Great Plains, which shows excellent potential as a low-maintenance turfgrass. Although buffalograss can be propagated vegetatively, there is a need for seeded turf-type cultivars. To assist in developing seeded cultivars, heritabilities of turf characteristics were estimated. Heritabilities from maternal half-sib analyses ranged from h 2 = 0.04 ± 0.03 for the 1988 uniformity rating to h 2 = 0.62 ± 0.26 for the 1989 spring color rating. Heritability estimates calculated from offspring-parent regression were also variable and generally lower than maternal half-sib analysis. The results suggest that some turf characteristics are highly heritable and that growing conditions markedly affect heritability estimates.