NJAES Faculty Expertise Database

Impacts: 1. Interspecific hybrids between colonial bentgrass and creeping bentgrass can be formed at low frequencies and can be fertile. Some of the hybrids have excellent dollar spot resistance suggesting that interspecific hybridization may be a new method of improving creeping bentgrass. 2. The Neotyphodium fungal endophytes are secreting large amounts of several hydrolytic enzymes into the apoplastic spaces of their host grasses. Very little is known of how the two species are interacting, but the abundance of some of the secreted enzymes suggests they play a role in the mutualistic symbioses. We are investigating the potential of improving disease resistance of creeping bentgrass through interspecfic hybridization between creeping bentgrass and colonial bentgrass. Colonial bentgrass is naturally resistant to dollar spot but is not the preferred species for use on golf courses. We have generated hybrids between these two species and field-tested them against the fungal pathogen that causes dollar spot disease. Some of the hybrids had excellent resistance. We are investigating the potential of backcrossing the resistance derived from colonial bentgrass into creeping bentgrass. We are also investigating the interaction of fungal endophytes with their grass hosts. We have identified several fungal secreted hydrolytic enzymes that are accumulated in the apoplast of the infected host.