Species Origin and Diversity • Native to the Pacific Rim – – – – Taiwan The Case for Zoysiagrass – , Cultivation, and Pests – Philippines – J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. – University of Florida ‐ IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center

Species Origin and Diversity Species Origin and Diversity • Native to the Pacific Rim • japonica • Z. macrantha – Japan • Z. macrostachya – Korea • Z. matrella • – China Z. minima • Z. pacifica – Taiwan • Z. pauciflora – India • Z. planifolia • Z. seslerioides – Philippines • Z. sinica – Australia • Z. tenuifolia – New Zealand

Japanese Lawngrass Japanese Lawngrass Steud. Zoysia japonica Steud.

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1 Zoysiagrass Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass

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Strengths and Uses Strengths and Uses • Adapted to a variety of soil types • Some cultivars have shade tolerance • Drought response • Heat tolerant • Low water use requirement • Low fertility requirement • Wear tolerant • Salt tolerant

Strengths and Uses Strengths and Uses • …and others do not • Great amount of genetic variation for: – Color – Leaf texture – Fall dormancy – Winter hardiness – Spring green‐up – Leaf orientation – Establishment rate

2 Strengths and Uses Weaknesses • Home • Variable drought response • Tees • Variable cold hardiness • Fairways – Fine textured species • Roughs • Slow Spring green‐up • Approaches • Slow establishment • Collars • Slow recovery from injury • Bunker Faces

Weaknesses Weaknesses • Shredded leaf tips • Helminthosporium • Develop ridges with mowing patterns – Bipolaris • Can become thatchy • Large patch – Scalping – Rhizoctonia – Mower will “walk” • – Sclerotinia • Dog spot

‘Meyer’ USDA –USGA (1951) • “Z‐52” or “Amazoy” • Most cold‐hardy zoysiagrass • Deep green color • Medium leaf texture • Slow to establish from plugs • Very dense once established • Less shade tolerance • Potentially susceptible to infestation from hunting billbugs, mole crickets, and nematodes

3 ‘El Toro’ ‘JaMur’ University of California (1986) Bladerunner Farms (1996) • “Toro” • “Jack Murray” • Good winter color • Adapted to a wide range of soil conditions • Early spring green‐up • Coarse leaf texture • Quick establishment • Fast recuperative potential for zoysiagrass • Fast recuperative potential for zoysiagrass • Less dense and less thatch • Medium to coarse leaf texture • Fair shade tolerance • Does well in high pH soils • Dense Canopy • Lower water use requirement • Good shade, wear, and drought tolerance

‘Palisades’ ‘Crowne’ Texas A&M University (1997) Texas A&M University (1997) • Very good shade tolerance • Utility turfgrass • Medium broad textured leaf • Coarse leaf texture • High density • Drought tolerant • Vigorous recuperative ability • Low water use requirement • Good winter hardiness • Cold hardiness • Lower water use requirement • Rapid recuperative ability

‘Empire’ ‘UltimateFlora’ Solutions (1999) University of Florida (2005) • Blue‐green leaf color • “Ultimate” • Excellent spring green‐up • Fast establishment • Coarse leaf texture • Medium leaf texture • Slow vertical growth • Upright leaf orientation • Open growth habit • Very dense • Tolerance of rotary mowers • Good drought tolerance • Reduced maintenance turfgrass

4 JaMur Palisades ‘Emerald’ Georgia AES –USGA (1955) • Deep green color • Widely adapted • Fine leaf texture – Good winter hardiness • Good shade tolerance • Good density • Without time and effort for maintenance: – Develop thatch – Susceptible to dollar spot and large patch

Empire UltimateFlora

‘Zeon’ Bladerunner Farms (1996) • Deep green color • Few insect and disease problems • Medium to fine leaf texture • Upright leaf orientation • Less thatch • Medium shade tolerance • Good drought tolerance Emerald Zoysiagrass

‘Diamond’ ‘Zorro’ Texas A&M University (1997) Texas A&M University (2002) • Fine to dwarf leaf texture • Fine leaf texture – Slow recuperative potential – Rapid recuperative ability • Very dense • Excellent shade and salt tolerance • Excellent shade and salt tolerance • • Excellent color retention Adapted to the transition zone • Excellent sod strength – Good winter hardiness • Good resistance to the tawny mole cricket, fall • Good resistance to the rust, yellow patch, brown armyworm, and brown patch patch, billbugs, and fall armyworm • Use in areas with poor water quality • Low fertility requirement

5 Zeon Diamond ‘PristineFlora’ University of Florida (2005) • “Pristine” • Deep green color • Fine to dwarf leaf texture – Fast establishment • Very dense – Need thatch management program

Cavalier PristineFlora

Nutrient Management • Frequent light applications are best – Prevents thatch accumulation – Enhances spring greenup – Prevents disease – Improves wear tolerance – Improves playability • Do Not promote excessive green color – Encourages thatch – Slows spring greenup – Promotes disease development • Early Spring fertilization – Late frost can damage and delay greenup Zoysiagrass Nutrient and Cultural – Promote large patch development Management Practices

Nutrient Management • Late Fall fertilization – Delay spring greenup – Promote large patch development Pensacola Tallahassee Jacksonville Gainesville JAN 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 • Enhancing Spring Greenup FEB 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 – MAR 0.04 0.04 0.06 0.05 Apply fertilizer after the turf has become fully green and actively APR 0.11 0.10 0.13 0.12 growing. MAY 0.27 0.26 0.28 0.26 – Apply iron JUN 0.41 0.41 0.40 0.38 JUL 0.45 0.45 0.44 0.42 AUG 0.44 0.44 0.43 0.41 • Potassium SEP 0.37 0.38 0.37 0.35 – Apply at rates equal to nitrogen OCT 0.15 0.14 0.18 0.16 – Improves stress tolerance NOV 0.04 0.04 0.06 0.06 DEC 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3

6 Nitrogen Rate Study‐ Nitrate‐N Leaching from Empire

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40 1 lb N 30 4 lb N 20 7 lb N 10 lb N 10

0 NO3-ha-1) (kg N Leached 1 C1 C3 C1 C3 F F F F 3 r 1 FC r Y Yr2 Yr2 Yr3 Y

Nitrogen applied as 100% soluble urea

Trenholm et al. 2009 37

Mowing Zoysiagrass • Proper mowing – Enhances growth and development – Never remove more than 1/3 of top growth – Stimulates lateral growth (tillers and stolons) • Cut too close  result in scalping or removal of growing point • Cut too infrequent  result in scalping as the growing point may be too high.

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Mowing Zoysiagrass • Reel and Rotary mowers

• Broad range: 0.25 to 2.5 inches – Includes all cultivars • and Species Specific – (fine textured) • 0.5 to 1.5 inches • Exceptions: Diamond, Pristine, Cashmere – 0.25 inch – Zoysia japonica (coarse textured) Scalping – removing the • 1 to 2.5 inches growing point

7 Thatch and Zoysiagrass Thatch and Zoysiagrass • Zoysiagrass spreads through the production of • Management lateral stems ( and stolons). – Zoysiagrass in full sun = thatch • Lateral stems are resistant to decay • Don’t fertilize for excess color • Frequent light applications of nitrogen • Easily result in excess thatch – decomposition rates = growth rates – Associated with too much lateral stem production. – Home lawns • Influenced by: • De‐thatch (power rake) or scalp each spring – Nitrogen management – Timing  Grass is actively growing – Mowing off of more than 1/3 » Turf will recover with minimum weed encroachment of shoot growth

Shade and Zoysiagrass Thatch and Zoysiagrass Cultivar and Species Specific • Management • Zoysia matrella • Zoysia japonica – Golf Courses – Good to excellent shade – Poor to Very good • Aggressive vertical mowing 1 to 2 times per year tolerance • Palisades  Very Good • Diamond  excellent • Jamur  Very Good • Replacement of one normal mowing per week with light vertical • Cavalier  Very good • El Toro  Fair mowing • Emerald  Good • Crowne  Fair • Use of groomers in combination with reel mowers • Royal  Good • Empire  Poor • Zorro  Good • Meyer  Poor • Zeon ? • Ultimate  ? • Pristine ? • Cashmere ?

90% Shade Shade and Zoysiagrass • Management Cavalier, Zorro, Emerald – Zeon, PristineFlora, Geo Nitrogen Fertility • Increases elongation of leaves – Excess growth depletes carbohydrates and weakens system. • Limit nitrogen to maintain acceptable color – Divert Traffic Empire, UltimateFlora, JaMur El Toro, Palisades – Increase mowing heights • Accounts for elongated leaves • ↑ leaf area available for photosynthesis

8 /Drought Response and Zoysiagrass • Zoysiagrass will persist through long‐term drought. – Wilts Quickly – Enters Dormancy (avoid)

– Texas A&M research • 60 day drought – 7 zoysiagrass cultivars < 1.5% green – Floratam St. Augustinegrass – 20% green – Tifway bermudagrass – 50% green – Celebration bermudagrass – 71% green

Zoysiagrass June 23, 2009 Empire Empire Ultimate 9.0 Ultimate 8.0 JaMur 7.0 El Toro

9=Best) 6.0

9; Cavalier ‐ 5.0 (1

4.0 Palisades 3.0 Zorro Quality

2.0 Emerald Turf 1.0 Zeon 0.0 Pristine 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

JaMur El Toro Cavalier Palisades Zorro

9 Zoysiagrass Zoysiagrass

June 23, 2009 Empire 9.0 Ultimate Emerald Zeon Pristine 8.0 JaMur 7.0 El Toro

9=Best) 6.0

9; Cavalier ‐ 5.0 (1

4.0 Palisades 3.0 Zorro 2 Days

Quality 4 Days 6 Days

2.0 Emerald Turf 1.0 Zeon 0.0 Pristine 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

9 Days 12 Days 15 Days

Irrigation Uniformity – ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

Herbicides for Zoysiagrass • Preemergence • Preemergence – Oxadiazon – Ronstar – Oryzalin + benefin –XL2G – Benefin – Balan – Pendimethalin – Pendulum – Benefin + trifluralin –Team 2G – S‐metachlor – Pennant – Bensulide – Betasan – Prodiamine – Barricade – DCPA – Dacthal – Isoxaben – Gallery – Dithiopyr –Dimension – Atrazine – Oryzalin –Surflan – Prodiamine + sulfentrazone – Echelon – Dimethenamid ‐ Tower

10 Herbicides for Zoysiagrass Disease Management • Postemergence • Postemergence – Chlorsulfuron – Corsair – Quinclorac ++ (OneTime) Involves an Integrated Approach – 2,4‐D – Trifloxysulfuron – Monument – Prodiamine + sulfentrazone – Echelon – Clopyralid –Lontrel – Atrazine/Simazine – Fluroxypyr – Spotlight – Dicamba –Banvel – Sulfentrazone –Dismiss – Bromoxynil – Buctril – Sulfentrazone ++ (Solitare, Surge) – Fenoxaprop – Acclaim – Metsulfuron –Manor – Fluazifop – Fusilade – Pyroflufen‐ethyl –Octane – Carfentrazone +++ (PowerZone, – Sulfosulfuron –Certainty Speed Zone, Quicksilver) – Thiencarbazone ++ ‐ Celsius • Follow Proper Cultural Practices – Foramsulfuron – Revolver – Quinclorac –Drive • Proper Disease Identification • Use Proper Fungicides

Diseases on Zoysiagrass Large Patch on Zoysiagrass • Large Patch (some refer to it as Brown Patch) • Dollar Spot • Bipolaris Leaf Spot Melting Out

Large Patch Activity Assesment Five Year Soil Temp Average for Alachua Co. FL 30 brown patch + Temp C -10 cm 28 leaf and sheath spot

26 5/3 10/11 24 75 °F 75 °F C 22

20 4/5 11/3

18 64 °F 64 °F Temperature Temperature 3/11 11/21 16

14

12

10 1/1 1/26 2/20 3/16 4/10 5/5 5/30 6/24 7/19 8/13 9/7 10/2 10/27 11/21 12/16 Date

11 ‘Empire’ Zoysiagrass

Not treated Heritage WG 0.2 oz pic taken 1/5

Bipolaris Leaf Spot Bipolaris Leaf Spot Melting Out • Systemic Problematic: – strobilurins On bermudagrass and zoysiagrass in summer – DMI’s causes small purple patches, can be severe – dicarboxamides In fall and winter “melting out” occurs involves crown rot

• Contact • Cultural – fludioxonil – Potassium fertilizers – mancozeb – limit leaf wetness – chlorothalonil – thatch reduction

Nigrospora Nigrospora

12 Insects in Zoysiagrass Arthropod Pest Complex in Zoysiagrass • Leaf/Surface Feeders • Root Feeders – Caterpillars – Mole crickets – Red imported fire ants – White grubs

• Stem/Crown Feeders – Twolined spittlebugs – Billbugs – Mites  Follow Proper Cultural Practices  Proper Insect Identification  When Needed, Use Control Methods

Pest Moths

Tropical sod webworm Fall armyworm Striped grass looper Wingspan: ½ to 1” Wingspan: ~ 1½” Wingspan: 1½”

Sod Webworm Damage

13 Caterpillar IPM Billbugs (Sphenophorus spp.) • Cultural Control: • Gray to black weevils – Avoid excessive turf fertilization, especially in late summer • Larvae are legless – Mow at low height and destroy clippings to remove any eggs • Biological Control: • Hunting billbug has a Y‐shaped area – Various natural enemies (stink bugs, spiders, ants, birds, other on pronotum with a parenthesis‐like animals) may help suppress caterpillars marking on each side • Chemical Control: • Possibly 2+ generations each year in – Many broadspectrum insecticides are available and effective. Florida Try more selective products like B.t. or Conserve (spinosad) first, if possible

Billbug IPM Zoysiagrass Mite (Eriophyes zoysiae) • Cultural Control: • Eriophyid mite – Keep turf fertilized and moist to survive damage • Hosts: Zoysia spp. – Dethatch to reduce habitat • Infests unexpanded leaves, leaf • Biological Control: sheaths, collars, seed heads. – Entomopathogenic nematodes kill larvae and adults L. J. Buss • Cultivar ‘Emerald’ is resistant, but • Chemical Control: ‘Belair’, Meyer’, and ‘El Toro’ are – Preventive insecticides used against grubs should work, but susceptible. have been less effective in Florida, possibly because of poor timing – Curative insecticides have had variable efficacy L. J. Buss

Mite IPM • Cultural Control: – Keep grass properly fertilized and irrigated – Scalp turf & destroy clippings • Biological Control: – Natural enemies have not been studied • Chemical Control: – Miticides (Dicofol or Kelthane) – Use enough spray volume to penetrate thatch

14 Chemical Control • Preventive: Tawny mole cricket – Treat young nymphs in May/June, soon after egg hatch • Many contact insecticides available

• Curative: Southern mole cricket – Treat after damage occurs, usually summer, fall, or spring • Baits • Spot treatments

Shortwinged mole cricket

Scarab Beetles (Coleoptera: ) • Dung beetles and plant‐feeders (1400 N. American species) • Scarabs vary in size, color, and habits, but adults can be recognized by their 3‐segmented, clubbed antennae • Larvae molt 3 times (have 3 instars)

EGG LARVA PUPA ADULT

Masked Chafers May/June Beetles Green June Beetle Cyclocephala spp. (Phyllophaga spp.) (Cotinis nitida) IPM Program for White Grubs • Identify your pest species or • Determine how many grubs/sq. ft. are damaging • Cultural controls – Soil moisture, soil organic matter, lights, overseed with endophytic ryegrass • Biological control – Wasps, nematodes, pathogens, animals • Chemical control – Know when adult beetles fly; apply preventives during egg lay/hatch

15 Acknowledgements: • Dr. Kevin Kenworthy – UF Turfgrass Breeder • Dr. Brian Schwartz – UGA Turfgrass Breeder • Dr. Phil Harmon – UF Turf Pathologist • Dr. Eileen Buss – UF Turf Entomologist Questions???

www.gatorturf.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

www.facebook.com/gatorturf

@jbunruh

J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. West Florida Research and Education Center University of Florida/IFAS [email protected]

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