Address
338 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Links
www.turf.umn.edu

Dr. Watkins' research focuses on the development of new low-input turfgrass cultivars for use in Minnesota.  Currently, the majority of turfgrass breeding occurs in either New Jersey or Oregon; turfgrass cultivars developed in Minnesota should be better able to survive and thrive in this climate.   Research activities involve germplasm improvement of several cool-season turfgrass species including Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass.  A major focus of his research is breeding native grasses such as prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) for use as low-input turf.  He is also involved with turfgrass cultivar evaluation and other turfgrass science research.  Dr. Watkins teaches four undergraduate turfgrass science courses.

References

• Hulke, B.S., E. Watkins, D.L. Wyse  and N.J. Ehlke. 2008. Freezing tolerance of selected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) accessions and its association with field winterhardiness and turf traits. Euphytica: doi: 10.1007/s10681-007-9631-z.

• Hulke, B.S, E. Watkins, N. Ehlke, and D.Wyse.  2007.  Winterhardiness and turf quality of accessions of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) from public collections.  Crop Sci. 47:1596-1602. 

• Watkins, E., B. Huang, W.A. Meyer. 2007.  Tufted hairgrass responses to heat and drought stress. J. of the Amer. Soc. of Hort. Sci. 132: 289 - 293.

• Watkins, E., T.J. Gianfagna, R. Sun, and W.A. Meyer. 2006. Volatile compounds of tufted hairgrass. Crop Sci. 46:2575-2580.

• Watkins, E., and W. A. Meyer. 2005. Evaluation of tufted hairgrass germplasm as low-maintenance turf. Intl. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 10:666-673. 

• Watkins, E., and W.A. Meyer. 2004. Morphological characterization of turf-type tall fescue genotypes. HortScience 39(3):615-619.

• Bonos, S.A., E. Watkins, J.A. Honig, M. Sosa, T. Molnar, J.A. Murphy and W.A. Meyer. 2001. Breeding cool-season turfgrasses for wear tolerance using a wear simulator. Intl. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 9:137-145. 

Book Chapters

• Brilman, L.A., and E. Watkins. 2003. Hairgrasses (Deschampsia spp.). pp. 225-231. In M.D. Casler and R.R. Duncan (eds). Turfgrass biology, genetics, and breeding. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey. 

• Meyer, W.A., and E. Watkins. 2003. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). pp. 107-127. In M.D. Casler and R.R. Duncan (eds). Turfgrass biology, genetics, and breeding. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey.