Registration of ‘MS-Express’ Bermudagrass

'MS-Express' (Reg. no. CV-24, P1 584767), an improved turf-type bermudagrass (Cynodon x magenissii Hurc.), was released by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station on 21 Oct. 1991. Seventy-two ecotypes were collected from nonirrigated fairways of four golf courses in west-central Mississippi during a period of prolonged drought. These fairways had been established with bermudagrass seed between 1913 and 1933. This ecotype collection was observed in a spaced-plant nursery for 5 yr. High density and fine texture were among the selection criteria applied to this collection. MS-Express was selected from this collection and is derived from a single clone collected from Shady Oaks Country Club, Jackson, MS, on 21 Aug. 1980. MS-Express is a triploid (2«=3:c=27). MS-Express was evaluated in the National Bermudagrass Test-1986 under the experimental designation MSB-20. MS-Express displayed medium-green color, good spring green-up, fine leaf texture, high density, and rapid establishment. In 21 evaluations that included sites in 13 states, MS-Express ranked fourth in overall turfgrass quality among 28 cultivars tested. MS-Express exhibited poor frost tolerance compared with other bermudagrasses, but was not significantly different from' Tifgreen'. At Mississippi State University, MS-Express had medium sod strength and, under medium levels of disease incidence, exhibited good resistance to leafspot [caused by Bipolaris cynodontis (Marignoni) Shoemaker] and dollarspot (caused by Lanzia spp. Sacc. and Moellerodiscus spp. Henn.). MS-Express had good shade tolerance compared with other bermudagrasses tested. MS-Express must be vegetatively propagated. It is recommended for putting, tennis, and bowling greens in regions where bermudagrass is adapted for turf. Breeder and foundation stock of MS-Express will be maintained by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Certified sod and sprigs will be marketed by the Mississippi Sod Producers Association, 117 U.S. Highway 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39402. Application has been made for a U.S. plant patent.