Bahiagrass - UF-Riata

‘UF-Riata’ is a novel diploid bahiagrass developed for producing forage in the fall and early spring in the Southeastern United States. This cultivar shows improved growth under short-day conditions and performs well during the cool season. Compared to the standard bahiagrass cultivars ‘Argentine’ and ‘Pensacola,’ ‘UF-Riata’ has lower sensitivity to photoperiod, enhanced cold tolerance in its leaf tissue, and increased forage production during cooler months. Additionally, ‘UF-Riata’ is resilient to leaf tissue damage caused by light frosts and freezes.