A new herbicide-resistant seeded paspalum is set to hit the market.
Pure Dynasty with ACCe, is a new herbicide-resistant paspalum that was developed by Pure-Seed Testing, which markets the product along with Atlas Turf International. It will be introduced June 20 at Pure Seed's field day at the company's Rolesville, North Carolina research facility.
Pure Dynasty with ACCe was bred with ACCe technology developed by University of Georgia plant breeder Paul Raymer, Ph.D. It was tested on multiple sites over several years to incorporate UGA's ACCe technology.
The new paspalum was bred to produce quicker establishment, as well as quick germination; improved density; enhanced salt, disease and wear resistance; early spring green-up; and flexibility for varied mowing heights for wall-to-wall use.
Pure Dynasty with ACCe was developed for improved tolerance to ACCe-inhibiting herbicides, including sethoxydim, fenoxaprop, fluazifop-butyl and pinoxaden to control annual and perennial grasses, such as Bermudagrass, crabgrass, goosegrass and tropical signal grass.
As soon as the new paspalum is established, the old turf can be sprayed out with approved herbicides.
Bred from Platinum TE as one of its genetic parents, Pure Dynasty shares the benefits of vegetative paspalum including salt tolerance when mature, quick recovery, dark green color, and an upright growth habit for excellent playability. However, as a seeded variety, it is easier to acquire for countries with import restrictions on vegetative paspalum.
Pure Dynasty with ACCe was developed for improved tolerance to ACCe-inhibiting herbicides for better control of annual and perennial grasses, such as Bermudagrass, crabgrass, goosegrass and tropical signal grass.
"For 15 or 20 years, I have had a goal to identify a strain of paspalum with herbicide resistance, as I felt this would be a great help in eliminating Bermuda and other grasses in paspalum stands," Raymer said in a news release. "This is difficult – it is very hard to kill bermuda – and I have long believed this to be one of the greatest obstacles to the adoption of seashore paspalum.
"I knew that mutations producing resistance to ACCase herbicides had been reported in several grass species, though not, until now, paspalum. We analyzed billions of cells and eventually identified a mutation that achieved what we needed."
Its durability and flexibility of mowing heights makes Pure Dynasty with ACCe suitable for use on golf course greens, tees, fairways and rough areas; athletic fields; lawns and landscaping; and for erosion control.
"Paul sent the mutated plants to us, and the Pure-Seed Testing team spent years evaluating and selecting the best parents to cross for the varieties in Pure Dynasty ACCe using natural breeding practices" said Crystal Rose-Fricker, president of Pure Seed and Pure-Seed Testing. "We now have a substantial quantity of seed harvested and ready for sale, enough for courses to trial."