It is RPR’s
regenerating ability
that separates it
from traditional
perennial ryegrass.
A product of
advanced
conventional
breeding techniques,
RPR plants develop
pseudo-stolons,
which allow them to
regenerate in all
compass directions.
Pseudo-stolons arise
from an auxiliary
bud near the base of
the mother plant and
then grow
horizontally at, or
just below, the
surface of the
ground, creating
identical new plants
as they grow. RPR
got the attention of
plant breeders at
the Barenbrug
research site in
Virginia where new
grasses are
developed for wear,
drought and cold
tolerance.
Researchers noticed
that RPR was
thriving under tough
conditions,
expanding even in
high stress areas,
for example, where
the tractor made
turns at the ends of
rows towing the wear
simulator equipment.
Next, RPR was tested
at Barenbrug’s
research fields in
Oregon. Plant
breeders studied the
lateral growth of
RPR under frequent
mowing when the
plants were
space-planted.
Below, the graph
shows how RPR
spreads compared to
an average perennial
ryegrass plant.
At left regular
perennial ryegrass.
At right RPR after
one year.
Notice in the graph
below how, on two
recording dates, RPR
was much larger than
a typical perennial
ryegrass. At the
later date, the
circumference of the
RPR plant was 33
inches compared to
perennial ryegrass,
measuring 24 inches.
The difference gives
a 25 percent edge to
RPR. Within a year,
the RPR plants were
well rooted and had
spread to three feet
wide. Barenbrug
extensively tests
all its varieties
and RPR is no
exception. It has
exceeded the
company’s most
stringent quality
requirements for
wear tolerance,
drought tolerance
and turf quality.
Pseudo-stolons,
sometimes called
“runners,” are
growth shoots
emerging from
auxiliary buds at
the base of each
plant. When an RPR
plant gets room,
say, when a divot is
removed or the turf
is otherwise
damaged, pseudo-stolons
will grow
horizontally into
the empty area and
develop roots at its
internodes. See the
photos to the right,
showing RPR plants,
pseudo-stolons and
the developed roots.
The Ohio State
University
researchers did a
pseudostolon count
comparing RPR and a
perennial ryegrass
blend. The study was
done on turf plots
with 50% ground
cover and 100%
ground cover. The
graph to the right
shows that even high
quality perennial
ryegrasses do not
have pseudo-stolons,
whereas about 11% of
the RPR plants do
grow pseudostolons,
which generate new
plants.
The pictures above
show pseudo-stolons
rooting down in RPR.
RPR performance has
been tested
intensively at
different research
universities where
it was analyzed for
fundamental
characteristics
including wear
tolerance. The
results: RPR is
vastly superior on
wear tolerance
compared to any
other perennial
ryegrass. The turf
quality also remains
high, even under the
heavy wear. At The
Ohio State
University, research
plots were
rigorously subjected
to artificial
traffic. In the
graph to the right,
you can see the
dramatic increase in
tolerance from RPR.
Likewise, RPR was
tested for wear
tolerance at the
Southeastern
Turfgrass Research
Center, Lexington,
Kentucky. As in The
Ohio State
University study,
the results show RPR
a clear winner
against other
perennial ryegrass.
Barenbrug
agronomists also
tested RPR for turf
quality at several
sites in the US. The
graph to the right
shows the turf
quality of RPR
compared with
regular perennial
ryegrass. The data
was gathered at the
Southeastern
Turfgrass Research
site in the fall,
when grasses are
under more stress.
Look at how RPR
sustains its high
quality turf rating.
RPR blends and
mixtures Perennial
ryegrass is often
used by itself but
also in blends with
other species.
Likewise, RPR can be
purchased and used
by itself (100% RPR)
or in various
mixtures and blends,
for example, with
Kentucky bluegrass,
tall fescue or turf
type annual
ryegrass. RPR
varieties will all
feature the
traditional BAR
prefix, as do most
Barenbrug grasses.
The name endings
will be associated
with the Greek
alphabet. So, for
example, the first
two varieties are
Baralpha and Barbeta.
More varieties are
being bred and will
be released in the
coming years.
Perennial ryegrass
is often used by
itself but also in
blends with other
species. Likewise,
RPR can be purchased
and used by itself
(100% RPR) or in
various mixtures and
blends, for example,
with Kentucky
bluegrass, tall
fescue or turf type
annual ryegrass. For
more information,
contact Barenbrug or
a distributor.
The recommended
seeding rate of RPR
is 300 lbs. per
acre, or about 7
lbs. per 1,000 sq.
ft. While RPR has
been tested at
several mowing
heights, Barenbrug
recommends a cutting
height of 1.5 inches
for best performance
but can tolerate
mowing heights as
low as 0.5 inch. RPR
needs about the same
amount of fertilizer
annually as regular
perennial ryegrass.
The variety is very
drought tolerant and
disease resistant.
RPR is also
endophyte enhanced,
which makes this
grass more
resilient.
RPR stands up to
heavy traffic and
wear while keeping
its good looks.
-
Perennial
ryegrass
with pseudo-stolons
-
Number one
in wear
tolerance
-
Deep green
color
-
Number one
in intense
wear
tolerance
such as
tournaments
-
Contains a
high amount
of
endophytes
that:
-
Increase
disease
resistance
-
Increase
insect
resistance
-
Makes your
field look
and perform
better
-
Makes you
look good
View PDF
Flyer
