Off the Record: A closer look at Oklahoma State University’s turf program
As an alumnus of Oklahoma State University (OSU), I receive many publications and emails about the university, particularly from the Ferguson College of Agriculture. Like most universities, there are accomplishments to brag about. In December, I read an article about the bermudagrass breeding program. There are a few USGA-related highlights I want to add to the story.
In his 34 years as an OSU Extension turfgrass specialist, Dennis Martin, Ph.D., has been the bridge between turfgrass scientists and the industry. Martin stepped into his role as the state Extension specialist in 1990 after I departed for the USGA Green Section. He provided some historical information about the turfgrass program. He was interviewed about the last four decades of bermudagrass research.
Although OSU has researched bermudagrass since the early 1900s, the program took significant strides in 1986, becoming a prominent turfgrass research and breeding center. Early milestones included the release of Guymon, a cold-hardy seeded bermudagrass introduced in 1982. Though primarily a forage grass, it highlighted OSU’s potential in turfgrass development.
Also, in 1986, the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program provided a vital grant to OSU to develop new bermudagrass cultivars. This grant enabled Charles Taliaferro, Ph.D., and Jeffrey Anderson, Ph.D., to increase efforts on developing cold hardy bermudagrasses for golf and sports turf. The USGA included the bermudagrass breeding program in the long-range plans to provide turfgrasses that require less water.
In the 1990s, OSU released Midlawn and Midfield hybrid bermudagrasses, co-developed with Kansas State University. These varieties were more cold-hardy than existing options but did not fully meet industry needs. It wasn’t until 2006 that Patriot was released, which brought modest improvements. However, it was surpassed by Latitude 36 and Northbridge, which revolutionized the industry with superior quality and performance.
When Charles Taliaferro retired in 2006, Yanqi Wu, Ph.D., assumed leadership of OSU’s breeding program. Wu, Martin and Taliaferro collaborated to develop Latitude 36 and Northbridge, which remain industry mainstays. Earlier successes like Yukon and Riviera seeded bermudagrasses also boosted OSU’s global reputation. Riviera was notably used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, while Yukon offered enhanced winter hardiness for the U.S. transition zone.
In 2017, OSU released Tahoma 31, a vegetatively propagated bermudagrass that gained national attention for its exceptional cold hardiness, drought resistance and reduced water needs. Its popularity has extended to professional sports fields and golf courses.In 2017, OSU released Tahoma 31, a vegetatively propagated bermudagrass that gained national attention for its exceptional cold hardiness, drought resistance and reduced water needs. Its popularity has extended to professional sports fields and golf courses.
Collaboration has been central to OSU’s turfgrass successes. The team works with universities across the U.S. to test and improve turfgrass traits under diverse environmental conditions, including drought tolerance and disease resistance. With USDA funding through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, OSU has expanded its focus to southern climates, developing varieties like Texoma, which will soon be available in Texas.
OSU’s turfgrass research extends beyond traditional goals. With USGA grant support, Charles Fontanier, Ph.D., studies traits like shade tolerance and sod tensile strength, aiming to integrate multiple desirable features into turfgrass. Efforts by Ph.D. Mingying Xiang and Shuhao Yu use genetic tools to enhance breeding efficiency, particularly for drought-resistant bermudagrasses. Their work identifies genetic markers associated with desirable traits, accelerating the development of resilient turfgrass.
The program has also shifted focus to biodiversity and sustainability. In 2024, OSU hosted an international gathering to explore the potential of pollinator-friendly species and non-turf plants, something Martin emphasized the importance of with biodiverse lawns. OSU’s turfgrass program continues to advance turfgrass science, and the USGA’s partnership with OSU has benefited golf course and sports turf management.
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