Sea Spray Research & Development

During the 1980s, the University of Georgia-Griffin began to conduct research on the salt tolerance of seashore paspalum. They examined how the species was able to thrive under saline conditions that no other species could even survive in. Previous work helped establish seashore paspalum as a viable option for turfgrass areas that were constantly under stress from high salt levels.

The first breeding program was initiated in 1993 and was funded by the United States Golf Association. Before long, the golf industry became the foremost advocate of the species and continues to be so to this day. This early breeding work directly led to the development of the first successful sprigged turfgrass varieties.

In 1998, Pure-Seed Testing Inc., in cooperation with the University of Georgia, started work on developing an improved, seeded variety of seashore paspalum. For many years, Pure-Seed Testing Inc. evaluated seashore paspalum clones to determine which parents would produce viable Sea Spray seed. Turf-Seed, Inc. licensed Sea Spray in 2003 and continued research in seed production techniques while increasing production of the variety. Sea Spray was introduced to the golf course industry in 2005.

Currently, there are several completed golf course projects that have made Sea Spray their seashore paspalum selection, and the success with this new revolutionary advancement will change the course of development in the turf industry.