scholarly journals Drought Resistance and Recovery of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) Cultivars under Different Nitrogen Fertilisation Rates

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1128
Author(s):  
Cristina Pornaro ◽  
Michele Dal Maso ◽  
Stefano Macolino
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilisation ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Green Cover

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is one of the most popular cool-season turfgrass species. However, little is known about the effects of N supply on its resistance to drought stress. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of acute drought followed by a recovery period on four Kentucky bluegrass cultivars (‘Barduke’, ‘Brooklawn’, ‘NuBlue Plus’ and ‘Marauder’) and one tall fescue (‘Rhambler SRP’) under two different nitrogen fertilisation rates (100 or 200 kg N ha−1 yr−1). The study was conducted over two years in a rain-out structure to control water input in spring and summer. The cultivars were subjected to a drought stress phase (absence of irrigation) followed by a recovery phase (weekly irrigation with an intake of 80% of ET). The green cover percentage, visual quality, NDVI, and soil moisture were measured weekly. We found that Kentucky bluegrass maintains sufficient turf quality for 2 weeks without irrigation. During the first year of the experiment, slight differences were observed among the Kentucky bluegrass cultivars, with ‘Marauder’ showing a 15% of green turf cover less than ‘Brooklawn’ after 6 weeks of acute drought, while in the second year, ‘NuBlue Plus’ displayed higher green turf cover and NDVI than the other cultivars. Nitrogen treatment had limited influence on the performances of the cultivars, ‘Marauder’ being the only one benefitting from the higher rate of applications.

scholarly journals Growth and Physiological Factors Involved in Interspecific Variations in Drought Tolerance and Postdrought Recovery in Warm- and Cool-season Turfgrass Species

2015 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 459-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjin Yu ◽  
Mengxian Liu ◽  
Zhimin Yang ◽  
Bingru Huang
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Zoysia Matrella ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Relative Water

Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses limiting plant growth, while high recuperative capacity of plants from drought damages is critical for plant survival in periods of drought stress and rewatering. The objective of our study was to determine physiological and growth factors in association with drought tolerance and recuperative capacity of cool-season kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis cv. Excursion II) and warm-season zoysigrass (Zoysia matrella cv. Diomand), which were grown in controlled environment chambers and maintained well watered (control) or subjected to drought stress and subsequently rewatering. Compared with kentucky bluegrass, zoysiagrass maintained higher leaf hydration level during drought stress, as shown by greater relative water content (RWC), improved osmotic adjustment (OA), increased leaf thickness, and more extensive root system at deeper soil layers. Turf quality (TQ) and photosynthesis recovered to a greater level and sooner in response to rewatering for zoysiagrass, compared with kentucky bluegrass, which could be due to more rapid reopening of stomata [higher stomatal conductance (gS)] and leaf rehydration (higher RWC). The aforementioned physiological factors associated with leaf dehydration tolerance during drought and rapid resumption in turf growth and photosynthesis in zoysiagrass could be useful traits for improving drought tolerance in turfgrasses.

scholarly journals Salt Stress-induced Injury is Associated with Hormonal Alteration in Kentucky Bluegrass

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xunzhong Zhang ◽  
Wenli Wu ◽  
Erik H. Ervin ◽  
Chao Shang ◽  
Kim Harich
Keyword(s):  
Salt Stress ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Membrane Damage ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Zeatin Riboside ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Cell Membrane Damage ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Isopentenyl Adenosine

Plant hormones play an important role in plant adaptation to abiotic stress, but hormonal responses of cool-season turfgrass species to salt stress are not well documented. This study was carried out to investigate the responses of hormones to salt stress and examine if salt stress-induced injury was associated with hormonal alteration in kentucky bluegrass (KBG, Poa pratensis L.). The grass was grown in a growth chamber for 6 weeks and then subjected to salt stress (170 mm NaCl) for 28 days. Salt stress caused cell membrane damage, resulting in photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll (Chl), and turf quality decline in KBG. Salt stress increased leaf abscisic acid (ABA) and ABA/cytokinin (CK) ratio; reduced trans-zeatin riboside (ZR), isopentenyl adenosine (iPA), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), but did not affect gibberellin A4 (GA4). On average, salt stress reduced ZR by 67.4% and IAA by 58.6%, whereas it increased ABA by 398.5%. At the end of the experiment (day 28), turf quality, Pn, and stomatal conductance (gs) were negatively correlated with ABA and ABA/CK ratio, but positively correlated with ZR, iPA, and IAA. Electrolyte leakage (EL) was positively correlated with ABA and ABA/CK and negatively correlated with ZR, iPA, IAA, and GA4. GA4 was also positively correlated with turf quality and gs. The results of this study suggest that salt stress-induced injury of the cell membrane and photosynthetic function may be associated with hormonal alteration and imbalance in KBG.

scholarly journals Silicon Application Increases Drought Tolerance of Kentucky Bluegrass by Improving Plant Water Relations and Morphophysiological Functions

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shah Saud ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Shah Fahad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Water Relations ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Leaf Water Content ◽  
Plant Water Relations ◽  
Plant Water ◽  
Turf Quality

Drought stress encumbers the growth of turfgrass principally by disrupting the plant-water relations and physiological functions. The present study was carried out to appraise the role of silicon (Si) in improving the drought tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL.). Drought stress and four levels (0, 200, 400, and 800 mg L−1) of Si (Na2SiO3·9H2O) were imposed after 2 months old plants cultured under glasshouse conditions. Drought stress was found to decrease the photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf water content, relative growth rate, water use efficiency, and turf quality, but to increase in the root/shoot and leaf carbon/nitrogen ratio. Such physiological interferences, disturbances in plant water relations, and visually noticeable growth reductions in Kentucky bluegrass were significantly alleviated by the addition of Si after drought stress. For example, Si application at 400 mg L−1significantly increased the net photosynthesis by 44%, leaf water contents by 33%, leaf green color by 42%, and turf quality by 44% after 20 days of drought stress. Si application proved beneficial in improving the performance of Kentucky bluegrass in the present study suggesting that manipulation of endogenous Si through genetic or biotechnological means may result in the development of drought resistance in grasses.

scholarly journals Effects of Abscisic Acid on Drought Responses of Kentucky Bluegrass

2003 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaolong Wang ◽  
Bingru Huang ◽  
Qingzhang Xu
Keyword(s):  
Abscisic Acid ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Osmotic Adjustment ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Turgor Pressure ◽  
Photochemical Efficiency ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Exogenous Aba ◽  
Turf Quality

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important hormone regulating plant response to drought stress. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of exogenous ABA application on turf performance and physiological activities of kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) in response to drought stress. Plants of two kentucky bluegrass cultivars, `Brilliant' (drought susceptible) and `Midnight' (drought tolerant), were treated with ABA (100 μm) or water by foliar application and then grown under drought stress (no irrigation) or well-watered (irrigation on alternate days) conditions in a growth chamber. The two cultivars responded similarly to ABA application under both watering regimes. Foliar application of ABA had no effects on turf quality or physiological parameters under well-watered conditions. ABA application, however, helped maintain higher turf quality and delayed the quality decline during drought stress, compared to the untreated control. ABA-treated plants exposed to drought stress had higher cell membrane stability, as indicated by less electrolyte leakage of leaves, and higher photochemical efficiency, expressed as Fv/Fm, compared to untreated plants. Leaf water potential was not significantly affected, whereas leaf turgor pressure increased with ABA application after 9 and 12 d of drought. Osmotic adjustment increased with ABA application, and was sustained for a longer period of drought in `Midnight' than in `Brilliant'. The results suggested that exogenous ABA application improved turf performance during drought in both drought-sensitive and tolerant cultivars of kentucky bluegrass. This positive effect of ABA could be related to increased osmotic adjustment, cell turgor maintenance, and reduced damage to cell membranes and the photosynthetic system.

scholarly journals Response of Retail Lawn Seed Products during Acute Drought and Recovery

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Florence Breuillin-Sessoms ◽  
Dominic P. Petrella ◽  
Daniel Sandor ◽  
Samuel J. Bauer ◽  
Brian P. Horgan
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
University Of Minnesota ◽  
Early Recovery ◽  
Green Cover ◽  
Rainout Shelter ◽  
Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽  
Fine Fescue

Consumers often have multiple choices when purchasing retail lawn products in stores. In this study, we evaluated the acute drought performance of locally available retail lawn seed products (mixtures or blends) at two mowing heights of 2.5 and 3 inches. We hypothesized that the species present in the products and the height-of-cut differentially influence the drought resistance and recovery of the mixtures and blends. In Fall 2016 and 2017, 28 different products consisting of 25 mixtures and 3 blends of turfgrass seeds were established under a fully automated rainout shelter at the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. The drought treatments lasted for 67 days in 2017, and 52 days in 2018; both the 2017 and 2018 treatments were followed by a recovery period. Data were obtained during acute drought treatments and recovery periods for visual turfgrass quality and green turfgrass cover using digital images of the plots. During the first year, several products displayed higher green stability (or the ability to remain green) at the 3-inch height-of-cut compared with the 2.5-inch height-of-cut. Products with tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and fine fescue (Festuca sp.) as dominant species generally performed better during the drought treatments, whereas an increasing presence of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) decreased the visual drought performance of the products. During the recovery period, an effect of the interaction between mowing height and the date of data collection on the percentage of green cover was observed: the lower mowing height improved the early recovery of green cover after acute drought. These findings suggest that consumers in the upper midwestern United States and areas with a climate similar climate to that of St. Paul, MN, who are challenged with multiple choices of lawn seed products should choose products containing a higher tall fescue content and adjust their mowing heights to optimize recovery.

scholarly journals Biosynthesis and Signal Transduction of ABA, JA, and BRs in Response to Drought Stress of Kentucky Bluegrass

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yajun Chen ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Zhenjie Shi ◽  
Yifeng Jin ◽  
Huashan Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Genome Structure ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Complex Genome

Kentucky bluegrass (KB, Poa pratensis) is one of the most widely used cool-season turfgrass species, but it is sensitive to drought stress. Molecular studies in KB are hindered by its large and complex genome structure. In this study, a comparative transcriptomic study was conducted between a short and long period of water deficiency. Three transcriptome libraries were constructed and then sequenced by using leaf RNA samples of plants at 0, 2, and 16 h after PEG6000 treatment. A total of 199,083 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation revealed that DEGs were enriched in “Plant hormone signal transduction” and “MAPK signaling pathway-Plant”. Some key up-regulated genes, including PYL, JAZ, and BSK, were involved in hormone signaling transduction of abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and brassinosteroid and possibly these genes play important roles in coping with drought stress in KB. Furthermore, our results showed that the concentrations of ABA, JA and BR increased significantly with the extension of the drought period. The specific DEGs encoding functional proteins, kinase and transcription factors, could be valuable information for genetic manipulation to promote drought tolerance of KB in the future.

scholarly journals Abscisic Acid Accumulation in Relation to Drought Tolerance in Kentucky Bluegrass

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1133-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaolong Wang ◽  
Bingru Huang ◽  
Stacy A. Bonos ◽  
William A. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Electrolyte Leakage ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Drought Duration ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Aba Content

Drought is a major factor limiting plant growth, which has been associated with the accumulation of absicsic acid (ABA) in various species. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between ABA accumulation and drought tolerance for kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) during short-term drought stress. Eight kentucky bluegrass cultivars (`Midnight', `A82-204', `RSP', `Alpine', `Moonlight', `Brilliant', `Washington', and `Baruzo') were subjected to drought stress in a growth chamber. Water relations, gas exchange rate, and ABA content of leaves were determined at various times during drought stress. Turf quality decreased with drought duration for all eight cultivars. Leaf ABA content increased linearly with drought stress within 11 days of treatment; the rate of the increase was negatively related to the rate of turf quality decline. The rate of ABA accumulation during drought stress was positively correlated with the rates of decrease in turf quality (r2 = 0.6346), increase in electrolyte leakage (r2 = 0.7128), and decrease in relative water content (r2 = 0.5913). There were highly significant negative correlations between ABA content and leaf water potential (r2 = 0.9074), stomatal conductance (r2 = 0.6088), transpiration rate (r2 = 0.6581), net photosynthesis rate (r2 = 0.6956), and a positive correlation between ABA content and electrolyte leakage (r2 = 0.7287). The results indicate that drought tolerance is negatively related to ABA accumulation during shortterm drought stress. ABA accumulation in response to drought stress could be used as a metabolic factor to select for drought tolerance in kentucky bluegrass.

Control of Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) in Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) Turf with Linuron

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 852-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Christopher Hall ◽  
C. Ken Carey
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Controlled Environment ◽  
Annual Bluegrass ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Severe Reduction

Effects of linuron on annual bluegrass control and Kentucky bluegrass cultivar tolerance were studied in field and growth chamber experiments. In controlled environment experiments, linuron at 0.06, 0.12, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 kg ai ha-1 was applied to pure stands of annual bluegrass and eight Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Linuron at the two highest rates controlled annual bluegrass, reducing the clipping dry weight by more than 85% 4 wk after treatment, and by 65 to 92% 6 wk after treatment. Growth of Kentucky bluegrass was reduced with the most severe reduction occurring 2 wk after linuron application. All cultivars exhibited normal growth 8 wk after treatment. In field experiments, linuron at rates from 1.5 to 2.0 kg ai ha-1 controlled annual bluegrass in old (> 5 yr) Kentucky bluegrass stands, and in 16 cultivars of 1-yr and 2-yr-old Kentucky bluegrass stands, with little or no damage. At rates of 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 kg ai ha-1 linuron, damage to newly seeded cultivars was moderate to severe. However, 6 to 7 wk after linuron application to newly seeded cultivars, stand density and turf quality were equivalent to untreated checks.

scholarly journals Responses of Tolerant and Susceptible Kentucky Bluegrass Germplasm to Salt Stress

2016 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Shaun Bushman ◽  
Lijun Wang ◽  
Xin Dai ◽  
Alpana Joshi ◽  
Joseph G. Robins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Stress ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Inorganic Ions ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Turf Quality ◽  
Ionic Stress ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Eventual Death

Much of semiarid western North America is salt affected, and using turfgrasses in salty areas can be challenging. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is relatively susceptible to salt stress, showing reduced growth, osmotic and ionic stress, and eventual death at moderate or high salt concentrations. Considerable variation exists for salt tolerance among kentucky bluegrass germplasm, but gaining consistency among studies and entries has been a challenge. In this study, two novel kentucky bluegrass accessions recently reported as salt tolerant (PI 371768 and PI 440603) and two cultivars commonly used as references (Baron and Midnight) were compared for their turf quality (TQ), stomatal conductance (gS), leaf water potential (ψLEAF), electrolyte leakage (EL), and accumulation of inorganic ions under salt stress. TQ, ψLEAF, and EL were highly correlated with each other while only moderately correlated with gS. The tolerant accessions showed higher ψLEAF and lower EL than the cultivars Midnight and Baron at increasing salt concentrations and over 28 days of treatment. The accumulation of sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) in the leaves was highly correlated and did not vary significantly among the four entries. Genes involved in ion transport across membranes, and in antioxidant activities, were significantly induced on salt stress in the tolerant accessions relative to the susceptible. These data indicate the ability of tolerant accessions to ameliorate oxidative stress and prevent EL, and confirmed the tolerance of germplasm previously reported on while indicating mechanisms by which they tolerate the salt stress.

scholarly journals Month of Seeding Effect on Low-Input Establishment of Cool- and Warm-Season Turfgrasses in Continental Transition Zone

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-170
Author(s):  
Kenneth Lynn Diesburg ◽  
Ronald F. Krausz
Keyword(s):  
Transition Zone ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Low Input

This research was conducted to determine the degree of success, by month, in seeding establishment of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. var. dactylon), and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) at two locations in the moist, Midwest, continental transition zone on a prepared seed bed without irrigation or cover. The four species were planted every month of the year starting in September 2005. Starter fertilizer and siduron were applied the same day as seeding with no subsequent management except mowing. Percent cover of living turfgrass was recorded in each of 24 months after seeding. Tall fescue (80%) and Bermudagrass (73%) provided the best percent cover over all planting dates. Kentucky bluegrass provided 65% and zoysiagrass 24% cover. The cool-season grasses performed best in the July-to-March plantings; tall fescue 88% and Kentucky bluegrass 72%. Bermudagrass (94%) established best in the January-to-April plantings, while Zoysiagrass (32%) established best in the November-to-March plantings. Germination and seedling survival after germination of all species were inhibited by limited moisture during summer. The warm-season grasses were further limited by winter kill in the August, September, and October seedings. These results emphasize the risk in spring-seeding as well as the value in dormant-seeding of both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses for low-input, nonirrigated establishment.

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