Sun Queen is a unique Bermuda grass variety, developed at Mississippi State University, that’s winning over professional landscapes.
A turfgrass innovation, detailed in a Mississippi State University news release. is now capturing global attention as it takes root on lawns, golf courses and sports fields worldwide. Sun Queen, a unique Bermuda grass variety, was developed by Melodee Fraser, the first female graduate of MSU’s turfgrass management program. Fraser, now the director of research at Pure-Seed Testing, Inc. (PST) in North Carolina, began work on Sun Queen in 2011, combining her expertise and a passion for plant breeding that took hold during her MSU days in the 1980s.
“I grew up on the golf course, where my dad worked as a superintendent, and I pursued turfgrass management intending to follow in his footsteps,” said Fraser. “But in my studies at MSU, I discovered a profound interest in plant research and breeding.”
Following her Ph.D. at Rutgers University, Fraser joined PST, where she rekindled her connection to MSU’s Bermuda grass breeding program, led by the now-retired Wayne Philley of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES). After securing a legal agreement in 2010, PST and MSU began crossbreeding Philley’s plant collection with PST’s Bermuda grass material.
In 2013, testing for Sun Queen began at MSU and PST-East in North Carolina. Sun Queen performed exceptionally well during USDA National Turf Evaluation Program trials at 18 locations across the U.S. It is now commercially available, co-owned by MAFES and PST, and marketed by Pure Seed in Oregon and Atlas Turf International in Georgia, with Plant Variety Protection from the USDA.
“Sun Queen is unique because, unlike most Bermuda grasses, it is planted from a seed,” said Jim Mitchell, a licensing associate with MSU’s Office of Technology Management. “It’s less expensive, quick to germinate, and shares the aesthetic appeal of vegetatively propagated sod varieties. It’s also more resilient, making it ideal for drought-prone areas.”
John Holmes, president of Atlas Turf International, believes Sun Queen is set to disrupt the turfgrass industry. “Seeded Bermuda grasses have not been widely accepted in professional markets, but Sun Queen’s attributes rival those of vegetatively grown sod. It’s a game-changer, especially in areas challenged by heat and drought.”
Fraser’s journey from MSU student to turfgrass innovator underscores the university’s commitment to addressing global challenges with innovative solutions, making Sun Queen a testament to the persistence and expertise behind MSU’s turfgrass research.
