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Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) is one of the primary perennial forages in the southeastern USA. Newer hybrid cultivars have superior production and nutritive value compared to common ecotypes. However, there are many challenges facing bermudagrass production in the region. First, the bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM; Atherigona reversura Villeneuve) has severely damaged bermudagrass throughout the region. Strategically timed pyrethroid applications significantly reduce adult BSM populations, but efforts are needed to develop integrated pest management plans. Second, an increasing number of producers are noting challenges with green‐up following winter dormancy. This may be attributed to disease, unbalanced soil fertility, and weed pressure. Perhaps one of the most limiting factors for continued production is the deficit of sprigs and trained personnel to sprig hybrid bermudagrasses. This research is critically important as the need for cold‐tolerant bermudagrass is increasing as tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S. J. Darbyshire) is declining due to changes in temperature and precipitation throughout the northern parts of the region. Plant breeders are investigating hybrid bermudagrass at latitudes >35° with respect to freeze or cold tolerance. Despite the many challenges facing hybrid bermudagrass in the southeastern USA, researchers are working to ensure its persistence, productivity, and availability for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'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. Core Ideas: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundWe investigated risk factors for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a rare, aggressive, and poorly understood breast cancer that is characterized by diffuse breast skin erythema and edema.MethodsWe included 617 IBC case subjects in a nested case-control study from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium database (1994-2009). We also included 1151 noninflammatory, locally advanced, invasive breast cancers with chest wall/breast skin involvement (LABC), 7600 noninflammatory invasive case subjects without chest wall/breast skin involvement (BC), and 93 654 control subjects matched to case subjects on age and year at diagnosis and mammography registry. We present estimates of rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from conditional logistic regression analyses for each case group vs control subjects based on multiply imputed datasets.ResultsFirst-degree family history of breast cancer and high mammographic breast density increased risk of IBC, LABC, and BC. High body mass index (BMI) increased IBC risk irrespective of menopausal status and estrogen receptor (ER) expression; rate ratios for BMI 30 and greater vs BMI less than 25 were 3.90 (95% CI = 1.50 to 10.14) in premenopausal women and 3.70 (95% CI = 1.98 to 6.94) in peri/postmenopausal women not currently using hormones. BMI 30 and greater slightly increased risk of ER-positive BC (RR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.76). Statistically significant reductions in risk of ER-negative IBC with older age at first birth and of ER-positive IBC with higher education were not seen for LABC and BC of the same ER status.ConclusionsDifferent associations with BMI, age at first birth, and education between IBC and/or LABC and BC suggest a distinct etiology for IBC.