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Abstract
Improving shade tolerance is of great importance in the development of new bermudagrass cultivars. Current methods for studying shade tolerance in the field can be very time consuming. The objectives of this study aim to compare shade tolerance of new genotypes to commercially available cultivars using a traditional field study method, and to use this knowledge to verify a potentially new and more efficient method of quantifying shade tolerance in turfgrass. The first method compared the turf performance of experimental genotypes and cultivars for bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass grown under 73% shade from 2014 through 2017. The second method examined light compensation points, among other traits, of the shade tolerant experimental genotype 11-T-56 and non-tolerant Tifway bermudagrass. Results indicated genetic improvement for maintaining turfgrass cover in the shade has been made with the experimental bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrasses, and that light compensation points predicted shade tolerance during spring dates.