Research Publications

Xu, Y., S. Rossi, and B. Huang. 2021. Comparative transcriptomics and gene network analysis revealed secondary metabolism as preeminent metabolic pathways for heat tolerance in hard fescue. Grass Research 1:1-12. https://doi.org/10.48130/GR-2021-00 [Open Access]

Braun, R.C., E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, N.T. Mihelich, and A.J. Patton. 2021. Investigation of cool-season species, seeding rate, and nitrogen fertilization in sod production: II. Management and shelf-life. Agronomy Journal 113(4):3460-3474. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20777  [Open Access]

Braun, R.C., E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, N.T. Mihelich, and A.J. Patton. 2021. Investigation of cool-season species, seeding rate, and nitrogen fertilization in sod production: I. Establishment and sod tensile strength. Agronomy Journal 113(5):4176-4189. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20810  [Open Access]

Braun, R.C., A.J. Patton, E. Watkins, A.B. Hollman, J.A. Murphy, B.S. Park, A.R. Kowalewski, and E.T. Braithwaite. 2021. Optimal fine fescue mixture seeding dates in the northern United States. Agronomy Journal 113(5):4413-4428. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20859  [Open Access]

D.P. Petrella, S. Bauer, B.P. Horgan, and E. Watkins. 2021. Exploring fine fescues as an option for low-input golf greens in the north-central USA. Crop Science 61(5):2949-2962. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20390  [Open Access]

Qiu, Y., Y. Yang, C.D. Hirsch, and E. Watkins. 2021. Building a reference transcriptome for the hexaploid hard fescue turfgrass (Festuca brevipila) using a combination of PacBio Isoseq and Illumina sequencing. Crop Science 61(4):2798-2811. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20489  [Open Access]

Breuillin‐Sessoms, F., D.P. Petrella, J.M. Trappe, N.T. Mihelich, A.J. Patton, and E. Watkins. 2021. Field evaluation of weed suppression in fine fescue (Festuca spp.). Crop Science 61(4):2812-2826. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20506  [Open Access]

Petrella, D.P. and E. Watkins. 2020. Variation in fine fescue taxa response to simulated foliar shade. Crop Science 60:3377-3394. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20279

Braun, R.C., A.J. Patton, E.T. Braithwaite, and A.R. Kowalewski. 2020. Establishment of low-input turfgrass from seed using patch and repair mixtures: Mulch and starter fertilizer effects. Crop Science 60:3362-3376. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20266

Qiu, Y., S. Hamernick, J.B. Ortiz, and E. Watkins. 2020. DNA content and ploidy estimation of Festuca ovina accessions by flow cytometry. Crop Science 60: 2757– 2767. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20229

Barnes, M, K.C. Nelson, A. Kowalewski, A. Patton, and E. Watkins. 2020. Public land manager discourses on barriers and opportunities for a transition to low input turfgrass in urban areas. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 53:126745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126745

Braun, R.C., A.J. Patton, E. Watkins, P. Koch, N.P. Anderson, S.A. Bonos, and L.A. Brilman. 2020. Fine fescues: A review of the species, their improvement, production, establishment, and management. Crop Science 60:1142-1187.  https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20122

Qiu, Y., C.D. Hirsch, Y. Yang and E. Watkins. 2019. Towards Improved Molecular Identification Tools in Fine Fescue (Festuca L., Poaceae) Turfgrasses: Nuclear Genome Size, Ploidy, and Chloroplast Genome Sequencing. Frontiers in Genetics 10:1223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.01223

Yue, C., J. Wang, E. Watkins, Y. Xie, S. Shekhar, S.A. Bonos, A. Patton, K. Morris, and K. Moncada. 2019. User preferences for accessing publically available turfgrass cultivar performance data. HortTechnology 29:599–610.