Development of native grasses for turf

Cultivars of traditional turfgrass species that have been developed provide important benefits that help reduce inputs. Such benefits include allelopathy, reduced vertical growth rate, tolerance to drought and heat, and natural defenses against insects and diseases from endophyte infection or genetic manipulation. Currently, there are breeding efforts by both public and private turfgrass breeders focused on several grass species native to the United States. This chapter discusses a range of species, beginning with those that are currently available, or close to being available, for use as low-input turf to those species that are still in the early stages of development. For each species, the chapter lists primary cultivars that are available as well as germplasm accessions available through the National Genetic Resources Program Germplasm Resources Information Network as of 2012.