Research Turfgrass Breeding

Turf and Lawn Questions

For general turfgrass inquiries and assistance with troubleshooting turfgrass-related issues in your landscape, please visit Aggie Turf or contact your Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service County Agent.

Turfgrass Breeding at Dallas

The Dallas Center's turfgrass breeding program works alongside a range of partners across the U.S. to produce new, drought tolerant, resource-efficient turfgrass varieties for sustainable urban living across Texas and the U.S. Our urban focus is guided by Census Bureau data showing about 81% of the total U.S. population to reside in urban and sub-urban areas, where turfgrass covers an estimated 40% to 50% of the total land surface. Scroll to learn about our initiatives, and contact Texas A&M AgriLife Associate Professor Dr. Ambika Chandra for further information. 

ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-4996-4383

Program Strengths

Established in 1980, our mature, reputable turfgrass breeding program maintains a proven track record of developing environmentally friendly and sustainable turfgrasses. Our efforts are trained strongly on our status as a leading provider of stress tolerant, resource-efficient turfgrasses, serving a full scope of industry sectors, namely lawns, sports and golf.

Our breeding program, as such, works toward preserving strong offerings of commercialized intellectual property in new turfgrass varieties. To date, we hold eight plant patents with an additional two patents pending alongside eight currently held PVPs (Plant Variety Protections.)

We are able to continue our breeding efforts by maintaining a comprehensive, proprietary collection of large and genetically diverse germplasm: zoysiagrass, creeping bentgrass, Texas bluegrass. Our ability to manipulate germplasm and breeding populations include:

  • Wide hybridization
  • Quantitative improvement
  • Embryo rescue
  • Tissue culture
  • Genetic transformation

Our turfgrass research and development efforts are supported by long-standing relationships with industry partners. Close academic collaborations with public and private sectors create opportunities for joint ownership of new varieties. These attributes, in conjunction with the unparalleled expertise of the Dallas turfgrass breeding team, allow us to bring true innovation to sustainable urban living.

Turfgrass Resources

Aggie Turf - This is the overarching turfgrass research and extension program of the Texas A&M University System, which houses the Dallas Center's turfgrass breeding program.

Turfgrass Producers of Texas (TPT) - Use this comprehensive database to find any turfgrass variety bred in conjunction with the Dallas Center's breeding program. This TPT list is categorized by growers and the turfgrass varieties they produce.

Turfgrass Information File (TGIF) database - This bibliographic computer database provides access to all published materials reporting on aspects of turfgrass and turfgrass maintenance.

AgriLife Soil Testing - This AgriLife Extension site provides all the information for having your soil tested and receiving a detailed soil profile - a critical component in determining how to amend your soil for optimal plant and turfgrass success.

Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab - This Texas A&M AgriLife Extension site is dedicated to diagnosing plant disease. It includes disease information and resources for submitting samples for testing.

Research Areas

Determining Water Requirements of Diploid and Polyploid St. Augustinegrass

Click the image for information.

Breeding for Improved Freezing Tolerance in Zoysiagrass

Click the image for information.

Breeding for Drought Tolerance in Zoysiagrass and St. Augustinegrass

Click the image for information.

Varieties Bred Here

The turfgrass breeding program at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center of Dallas develops new varieties through an array of public and private partnership collaborations. New turfgrasses undergo comprehensive research in several climatic zones across the United States. Only the very best are registered for industry licensing. Click each image in the gallery for information by variety.

Licensing: Janie Hurley at jhurley@tamu.edu or by phone at 979.845.6337 for licensing information.
Technical information: Dr. Ambika Chandra at Ambika.Chandra@ag.tamu.edu for technical information.
Available varieties: Click here for varieties available for licensing.

Dallas Turf Breeding Team

Dr. Ambika Chandra

Dr. Ambika Chandra portrait

Professor, Soil & Crop Sciences
Principal Investigator, Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
ambika.chandra@ag.tamu.edu
972.952.9218

Dr. Dennis Genovesi

Dennis Genovesi portrait

Research Scientist
Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
dennis.genovesi@ag.tamu.edu
972.952.9640

Dr. Meghyn Meeks

Dr. Meghyn Meeks portrait

Assistant Research Scientist 
Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
meghyn.meeks@ag.tamu.edu
972.952.9228
Google Scholar

Justin Eads

Justin Eads portrait

Research Associate
Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Justin.Eads@ag.tamu.edu
972.952.9232

S.T. Kong

S.T. Kong

Research Assistant
Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Siewteck.Kong@ag.tamu.edu
972.952.9232

Sandy Wisdorf

Sandy Wisdorf portrait

Non-Affiliated Student Assistant
Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
wiztex.plano1@verizon.net
972.952.9218

Martin Guerrero Rojas

Martin Guerrero-Rojas portrait

Agriculture Research Worker I
Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
martin.guerrero@ag.tamu.edu
972.952.9218

Jennifer Haught

Dallas Profile Pics (25).png

Graduate Assistant 
Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program
Texas A&M AgriLife Research


 

 

Chase Martin

Chase Martin sq.jpg

Urban Entomology Technician
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
chase.martin@ag.tamu.edu

Select Publications

Find a comprehensive listing of Dr. Ambika Chandra's publications at Google Scholar

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