TWCA Trial Showcases Research Innovations

TWCA trialing of Kentucky bluegrass concluded this week with Qualification of ten cultivars including the re-qualification of two standards, Mallard and Bedazzled. Not only does this latest round of qualifications reinforce the value of the TWCA Trialing program it also demonstrates the value of the latest round of innovations for turf trialing. This qualification is the culmination of several program process improvements including extending the trialing period, implementing the Date Evaluation and Statistical Analyst (DESA) role, and utilizing the Cultivar Plant Factor (CPF) methodology. The list of first includes:

• First TWCA trial to run three years of data
• First TWCA trial to release public reports
• First trial to utilize the Cultivar Plant Factor as the primary evaluation methodology
• First employment of the Data Evaluation and Statistical Analyst role
• First Review Committee with a minority original participants
• First TWCA trial to release Quality data to members

The list of first includes:

• First TWCA trial to run three years of data
• First TWCA trial to release public reports
• First trial to utilize the Cultivar Plant Factor as the primary evaluation methodology
• First employment of the Data Evaluation and Statistical Analyst role
• First Review Committee with minority original participants
• First TWCA trial to release Quality data to members

Trial Data
18WCPP is the first trial to fully embrace the utilization of the CPF methodology. This new and novel approach to turf evaluation allows TWCA to report both the minimum threshold for qualification and the performance of all cultivars that did not meet or exceed that threshold consistently.
Reported in the public data tables available on tgwca.org is the CPF threshold for qualification (reported as a consistent default 1.10 score for all qualified cultivars) and the actual Cultivar Plant Factors for cultivars that did not qualify.
Some cultivars are reported as redacted for their values due to a lapse in membership. If the trialing fees or membership dues are renewed the trial data for those cultivars is available for review and release.

Cultivars
Ineligible Cultivars

• Of the fifty-nine entered cultivars (including standards) fifteen entries are ineligible for qualification by TWCA by lapse of membership. Ineligible cultivars are evaluated during the data evaluation, their overall performance noted in a separate, in-house, confidential document. Performance of these cultivars is subject to TWCA Qualification when either Membership is renewed or if Producer companies pay the outstanding trialing fees.

Eligible Cultivars

• Of the 44 eligible entries ten qualified for the TWCA Seal.
  • __10—Entries Qualified unanimously having clearly demonstrated drought tolerance meeting or exceeding the standard at all locations

 
Production Opportunities
With a growing list of qualified cultivars available for non-exclusive production; seed producers can ramp production immediately and possibly even share production with other TWCA members through a new non-exclusive licensing program withing the TWCA. This program, available to non-members through a licensing agreement utilizing a flat fee and 1%/grower price royalty makes puts these and similar qualified products within reach of every seed producing company regardless the capacity to carry membership or sponsor cultivars into trialing.
Other Trialing
While 18WCPP concludes the largest trial TWCA trial yet other trials continue at full pace. Current TWCA trial activity includes 20WCFA currently running in ten locations across North America.  Upcoming trialing includes 24WCLP.
For more information about the TWCA please email [email protected].

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