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A turf specialist examines zoysia selections at Beltsville, Md. 
pattern, and color retention. 
have not been developed either for maintaining new 
turfgrass varieties or for restoring damaged turf. We 
urgently need varieties that are adapted to problem 
soils, and these varieties should have growth character- 
istics that will help in reducing soil and water losses. 
Current research and pressing needs include atten- 
tion to— 
© Development of effective techniques for isolating 
pest-resistant plants. 
® Development of lines and varieties that possess 
multiple pest resistance. 
® Vegetative propagation of sterile hybrids. 
® Nature and improvement of root and rhizome 
development. 
® Location and mobilization of reserve carbohy- 
drates. 
® Mineral requirements of species and varieties, 
® Ecology of turfgrasses and associated weeds. 
® Management systems needed to maintain specific 
varieties. 
‘ 
& 
BN—29515 
Selections differ in rate of spread, texture, growth 
® Growth characteristics of native and introduced 
species. 
@ Adaptation of species and varieties to problem 
turf areas. 
@ Response of turfgrasses to herbicides and pesti- 
cides. 
Forage and Range Research Involves 
Many Organizations .. . 
The Forage and Range Research Branch of the 
Crops Research Division conducts cooperative research 
with many organizations, as follows: 
® With 38 State agricultural experiment stations. 
@ With other branches of the division: Crops Pro- 
tection (weed and nematode control) and New 
Crops (plant introduction). 
@ With other research divisions of the Agricultural 
Research Service: Animal Husbandry, Engineer- 
ing, Entomology, Soil and Water, and Utilization. 
@ With other agencies of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture: Forest Service and Soil Conservation 
Service. 
31 
