Two groups of plant growth regulators (PGRs), seaweed extract and triazole chemical, have been used in turfgrass management for improving turf quality and strengthening turfgrass tolerance to environmental stress. In order to understand the physiological functions and stress-tolerance mechanisms of the PGRs on turfgrass, a series of studies were conducted with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Ryegrass was treated with or without propiconazole (PPC) (1-( (2-(2,4- dichlorophenyl)-4-propyl-l,3-dioxolan-2yl)methyl) IH-l,2,4-triazole) and a proprietary fortified seaweed extract (FSE), which were combined with or without drought and salinity stress treatment. Total lipids, fatty acid composition of polar lipids, and total free and conjugated sterols were determined by the thin layer chromatograph, gas chromatograph, and scanner densitometer. This study indicates that ppe and FSE affected the unsaturation of polar lipid fatty acids and concentration of free sterols, which are major factors in changing cell membrane fluidity and permeability. The PGR-induced alteration of cell membrane lipid composition could be an adaptive process to protect plant membrane function under drought and salinity stresses. However, the metabolic effects of PPC and FSE may be different. It was found that PPC had a strong inl1uence on unsaturation of polar lipid fatty acids, whereas FSE had a strong effect on free sterol concentration. Furthermore, a radish cotyledon expansion bioassay analysis showed that the FSE had cytokinin or cytokinin-like activity and could stimulate endogenous cytokinins in ryegrass, whereas an inhibition of cell expansion was seen in PPC-treated plants. The possibility of using the PGRs to reduce fertilizer requirements was also studied. A higher uptake efficiency of most essential elements was found in PPC and FSE-treated Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) than in the control (without PGR treatments). This effect was greater at lower than at higher fertilization levels. The utilization efficiency of some major nutrient elements also was higher in PPC and FSE-treated bluegrass than in the control. The possibility of reducing fertilization by PGR application is positive. / Ph. D.

This study was conducted in a greenhouse, using hydroponics system, to compare growth responses of three cool-season turfgrass species, Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), Rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis), and Perennial ryegrass (Lolium sperenne) in terms of shoot and root lengths and dry matter (DM), and percent canopy green cover (%CGC) under salinity and drought stresses. Grasses were grown in Hoagland solution for 90 days prior to initiation of salinity or drought stresses. Then, 24 meq NaCl/L culture solution/day were added for each -0.1 MPa OP of salinity stress, or 75 and 119 g of PEG/L were added for -0.2 and -0.4 MPa OP of drought stress treatments, respectively. The treatments included control, -0.2 and -0.4 MPa OP salinity, -0.2 and -0.4 MPa OP drought stress. Four replications of each treatment were used in a RCB design experiment. During the stress period, grass shoots were clipped weekly for DM production, shoot and root lengths were measured, and %CGC was evaluated. The weekly clippings and the roots at the last harvest were oven dried at 60° C and DM weights were recorded. All 3 grass species were more severely affected by drought than salinity. Bluegrass was the most and bentgrass the least severely affected by either drought or salinity stress.

Various saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) clones were studied in a greenhouse to evaluate their growth responses in terms of shoot and root lengths and shoot and root dry matter (DM) weights under salt stress. Plants were grown hydroponically using Hoagland solution No. 1. Treatments included control plants and plants grown with salt (NaCl) at EC of 20 dSm⁻¹. Twelve different clones were grown with four replications of each variety. Plants were grown in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Plant shoots (clippings) were harvested weekly, oven-dried at 60° C and DM weights were recorded. At the last harvest, plant roots were also harvested, oven-dried at 60°C and DM weights were determined and recorded. The results show increased shoot length in control plants, increased root length in most of the plants grown in saline conditions, greater shoot dry weight in control plants and greater root dry weight in saline plants. All results for shoots are based on a weekly average for six weeks and for roots are based on an average of the four replicated clones at the end of the study.

Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is a warm-season halophyte with excellent salt tolerance after establishment. In areas which require overseeding, there is a need for a cool-season counterpart suitable for over-seeding. The goal of this field research is to evaluate a year-round turfgrass system for saline conditions using perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans), and a combination of perennial ryegrass and Puccinellia as the cool-season grasses. In the summer months, paspalum quality and density were reduced when overseeded with ryegrass or with a combination of puccinellia and ryegrass. Ryegrass quality and density decreased slightly as irrigation water salinity was increased from 0 to 3000 to 6000 mg/L. In addition, the percentage of cover by overseeded ryegrass decreased significantly when 6000 mg/L irrigation water was applied. Puccinellia was much more sensitive to salinity than ryegrass and overall quality, turf density, and percent cover by puccinellia were greatly reduced by addition of salt. However, in the absence of added salt, puccinellia quality, percent cover, density, and color were generally greater than that of ryegrass. The puccinellia/ryegrass overseed mixture generally performed intermediate relative to either grass alone.

Use of low quality/saline water for turf irrigation, especially in regions experiencing water shortage is increasing. This imposes more salt stress on turfgrasses which are already under stress in these regions. Therefore, there is a great need for salt tolerant turfgrasses to survive under such stressful conditions. This study was conducted in a greenhouse, using hydroponics system, to compare growth responses of three warmseason turfgrasses, bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.), cv. Tifway 419, seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz), cv. Sea Isle 2000, and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L), accession A55 in terms of shoot and root lengths and DM, and canopy green color (CGC) under salt stress condition. Whole plants, stolons, and rhizomes were grown in Hoagland solution for 4 months prior to initiation of salt stress. Then, plants were grown for 12 weeks under 4 treatments (control, 7000, 14000, and 21000 mg/L NaCl) with 4 replications in a RCB design trial. During the stress period, shoots were clipped bi-weekly for DM production, shoot and root lengths were measured, and CGC was evaluated weekly. The bi-weekly clippings and the roots at the last harvest were oven dried at 60o C and DM weights were recorded. Shoot and root lengths and shoot DM weights decreased linearly with increased salinity for bermudagrass and paspalum. However, for saltgrass these values increased at all NaCl levels compared with the control. For bermudagrass and paspalum, the highest values were obtained when the whole plants were used, and the lowest ones resulted when the rhizomes were used. The reverse was found for saltgrass. For the control plants, the measured factors were higher and the canopy colors were greener for bermudagrass and paspalum compared with saltgrass. The canopy color changed to lighter green for bermudagrass and paspalum as NaCl salinity increased, but saltgrass maintained the same color regardless of the level of salinity.