Morphological and metabolic differences between turfgrass and row‐crop biotypes of goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

Abstract The research was conducted to evaluate Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. (goosegrass) phenotypic diversity in biotypes collected from managed turfgrass, noncrop, and row crop environments. A common‐garden experiment was conducted to quantify morphological characteristics. Biotypes were primarily distinguished along a single principal component that separated taller growing crop types with lower tiller numbers, larger leaves, and more spikelets per seedhead, contrasted with managed turfgrass and noncrop types with shorter height, greater tillering, fewer spikelets per seedhead but more total seedheads. A dwarf phenotype of E. indica (Texas‐GCPG) collected from a golf course putting green having shorter internodes, shorter leaves, and fewer spikelets per seedhead was distinct phenotypically compared with all other biotypes. Plant growth regulators were tested on biotypes collected from a cropping environment (PBU‐crop) and managed turfgrass (RB‐GC and Texas‐GCPG). Gibberellin inhibitors (paclobutrazol, flurprimidol, and trinexapac‐ethyl) had a negative impact on the growth of all three biotypes. Furthermore, the application of GA3 (gibberellin A3) increased Texas‐GCPG height compared with nontreated plants, suggesting it is a GA‐sensitive mutant. Molecular and biochemical research on such biotypes could shed light on pathways and mutations in any causal gene/s that prohibit or reduce active gibberellic acid production.