Registration of 'Coastcross II' forage bermudagrass

'Coastcross II' (CC II; Reg. no. CV-49, PI 673409) forage bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) was released as an associate cultivar in Georgia in July 2014. Coastcross II originated from gamma-ray irradiation of sprigs of Coastcross I (CC I) in 1971. After irradiation, greater than a half million sprigs were planted in north Georgia (Blairsville), where CC II was one of four surviving plants after winter freezes. Subsequent testing has shown that CC II has superior yields to CC I and is comparable to 'Tifton 85'. Coastcross II also has significantly higher tolerance to bermudagrass stem maggot than fine-stemmed cultivars. Coastcross II has significantly finer stems than Tifton 85, which makes it more conducive to hay production. CC II has higher in vitro dry matter digestibility than Coastal and is similar to Tifton 85.CC II has better spring vigor than CC I.CC II has similar yields to Tifton 85.CC II has thinner stems than Tifton 85 for easier hay dry-down times.CC II has a higher tolerance to the bermudagrass stem maggot than four released forage bermudagrass cultivars.