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Abstract
Visual evaluations of a 5-year-old replicated planting of 63 zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) genotypes in southern Florida showed highly significant (P < 1%) differences in overall vigor and survival, flight selections and 2 commercial cultivars (‘Emerald’ and ‘Meyer’) were sodded at 2 distant sites. Selected genotypes (FZ-28, FZ-80, FZ-26, and FL-1753) were significantly better adapted, had significantly less weed encroachment and greater vigor and ground coverage, than Emerald or Meyer. The latter commercial cultivars were unacceptable in most evaluations. Furthermore, FZ-28 and FZ-80 had low sting nematode (Belonolaimus longicaudatus Rau) counts and FZ-28 had few eggs of Banks grass mite (Oligonychus pratensis [Banks]). Sod webworm (Crambus spp.) infestation appeared to be another variable closely associated with adaptive differences among genotypes and explained serious establishment problems at some sites. Zoysiagrass was successfully established as a turf only on one site involving fumigated soil and generally proved poorly suited for this subtropical region.