Development of Paspalum accession plugs for turfgrass establishment

The selection of a genotype for lawn use must consider the plant survival rate and its soil covering ability, which is directly influenced by the growth of stolons and rhizomes. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and development of Paspalum accession plugs for turfgrass establishment. Plugs of six prostrate growth accessions of Paspalum lepton (PL 01), P. notatum (from PN 01 to PN 06) and Zoysia japonica (ZJ 01), which was used as the control treatment, were planted adding up to 7 treatments. At 63 days after planting, the survival rate, the number of shoots, the expansion capacity, plant height and soil coverage rate were evaluated. Moreover, at 72 days after planting, fresh and dry leaf, root, rhizome and/or stolon biomass, as well as root length were evaluated. Plugs of PL 01 presented the highest values regarding the number of shoots, the expansion capacity, soil coverage and the development of the root system with the largest biomass production. PL 01 and PN 05 along with ZJ 01 presented a high soil coverage rate and all the P. notatum (PN) accessions together with ZJ 01 maintained a lower plant height, but with a length root system higher than the control treatment ZJ 01. The P. lepton (PL 01) and P. notatum (PN 05) accessions can be recommended for turfgrass establishment using plug propagation methods.