When new greens are seeded with creeping bentgrass, the stand always begins very pure and uniform. Within a few years, Poa annua begins to show up. About 5 years later the greens start to take on a "patchy look." This is not the Poa, but the segregation of the Penn A4 the greens were seeded with. See, the new bents are crosses between older varieties of bents. In fact, they are segregations and natural mutations that occurred on the Par 3 course at Augusta National. Penn State professor, Dr. Joe Duich would take the selections back to PSU where they were propagated in a green house. From there they were off to Oregon and seeded in field where seed could be harvested. The reason for the A and G series stands for Augusta, Georgia. He then numbered each variety. A4 was a popular variety. Penn obviously signifies Penn State. Back to the original story...unfortunately the new varieties can segregate back to their parent material or grass giving you the "patchy look."
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Penn A4 Segregations
When new greens are seeded with creeping bentgrass, the stand always begins very pure and uniform. Within a few years, Poa annua begins to show up. About 5 years later the greens start to take on a "patchy look." This is not the Poa, but the segregation of the Penn A4 the greens were seeded with. See, the new bents are crosses between older varieties of bents. In fact, they are segregations and natural mutations that occurred on the Par 3 course at Augusta National. Penn State professor, Dr. Joe Duich would take the selections back to PSU where they were propagated in a green house. From there they were off to Oregon and seeded in field where seed could be harvested. The reason for the A and G series stands for Augusta, Georgia. He then numbered each variety. A4 was a popular variety. Penn obviously signifies Penn State. Back to the original story...unfortunately the new varieties can segregate back to their parent material or grass giving you the "patchy look."