Fine fescues (Festuca L. spp.) comprise a group of five cool-season grasses used in turfgrass systems under many conditions: strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin), slender creeping red fescue [F. rubra L. ssp. littoralis (G. Mey.) Auquier], Chewings fescue [F. rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaudin; syn. F. rubra L. ssp. fallax (Thuill.) Nyman], hard fescue (F. brevipila Tracey), and sheep fescue [F. ovina L.; syn. F. ovina L. ssp. hirtula (Hack. ex Travis) M.J. Wilk.]. Their extensive geographic distribution is a result of adaptation to many different environmental and management conditions especially low-input sites. This review summarizes the history, production, establishment, management, use, and availability of fine fescues; discusses strengths and shortcomings of fine fescue; identifies knowledge gaps; and provides an outlook toward further research on this group of grasses. Improved cultivars have been developed in recent years that expand the geographic distribution and uses of species but additional efforts to increase seed yield and improve abiotic and biotic stress tolerances are still needed. Expanded use of fine fescue could be achieved through increased sod production of fine fescue, though current research-based information is limited. Research on fine fescue allelopathy and the contributions of fungal endophytes, both of which could lead to reduced pesticide requirements is important for improved pest management. Future research on fine fescues should focus on implementation and management of new cultivars that possess enhanced abiotic and biotic stress tolerance that will result in fewer inputs and improve the appeal and adoption of these low-input grasses.

Annual (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and perennial ( L. perenne L.) ryegrass are two common forage and turfgrass species grown throughout the world. Perennial ryegrass is most commonly used for turfgrass purposes, and contamination by annual ryegrass, through physical seed mixing or gene flow, can result in a significant reduction in turfgrass quality. Seed certifying agencies in the United States currently use a test called seedling root fluorescence (SRF) to detect contamination between these species. The SRF test, however, can be inaccurate and therefore, the development of additional markers for species separation is needed. Male and female molecular-marker linkage maps of an interspecific annual x perennial ryegrass mapping population were developed to determine the map location of the SRF character and to identify additional genomic regions useful for species separation. A total of 235 AFLP markers, 81 RAPD markers, 16 comparative grass RFLPs, 106 SSR markers, 2 isozyme loci and 2 morphological characteristics, 8-h flowering, and SRF were used to construct the maps. RFLP markers from oat and barley and SSR markers from tall fescue and other grasses allowed the linkage groups to be numbered, relative to the Triticeae and the International Lolium Genome Initative reference population P150/112. The three-generation population structure allowed both male and female maps to be constructed. The male and female maps each have seven linkage groups, but differ in map length with the male map being 537 cm long and the female map 712 cm long. Regions of skewed segregation were identified in both maps with linkage groups 1, 3, and 6 of the male map showing the highest percentage of skewed markers. The (SRF) character mapped to linkage group 1 in both the male and female maps, and the 8-h flowering character was also localized to this linkage group on the female map. In addition, the Sod-1 isozyme marker, which can separate annual and perennial ryegrasses, mapped to linkage group 7. These results indicate that Lolium linkage groups 1 and 7 may provide additional markers and candidate genes for use in ryegrass species separation.

Festuca spp., fine fescue turfgrasses, include several species: Festuca rubra L. rubra, strong creeping red fescue; F. rubra L. litoralis (G.F.W. Meyer) Auquier, slender creeping red fescue; F. rubra L. commutata Gaud., Chewings fescue; F. longifolia Thuill. (F. ovina var. duriuscula L. Koch), hard fescue; F. ovina L., sheep fescue; F. ovina L. glauca Lam. (F. glauca Lam.), blue fescue; and F. tenuifolia Sibth., hair fescue or fine‐leaved sheep fescue. Extensive variability exists within these species. Fine fescues are shade tolerant and drought resistant. Improvements sought for these species include better wear tolerance, insect and disease resistance, and sod‐forming ability. Additional germplasm for breeding may be acquired from areas of European origin and naturalized stands in the USA, such as the eastern seacoast, where initial colonization occurred. A major limitation to germplasm enhancement among species results from differences in anthesis date and time of flowering each day, as well as chromosome number. Taxonomic classification of species is disputed. Certain species, such as Sheep fescue are indigenous to the USA or may have native components, but further collection and study is needed for genomic clarification. Chromosome similarities determined by chromosome counts and flow cytometry of nuclear DNA content may determine feasible crosses leading to taxonomic clarification.

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