Survival and recovery of tall fescue genotypes: association with root characteristics and drought tolerance

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 632-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Pirnajmedin ◽  
M. M. Majidi ◽  
M. Gheysari
HortScience ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingru Huang

Drought is a major factor limiting the growth of turfgrasses in many areas. The functional relationship of drought stress and accumulation of various ions in turfgrasses is not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of drought on root growth and accumulation of several major nutrients in three tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars varying in drought tolerance (Falcon II = Houndog V > Rebel Jr). Grasses were grown in well-watered or drying (nonirrigated) soil for 35 days in a greenhouse. Drought conditions limited total root length to a greater extent for `Rebel Jr' than for `Falcon II' and `Houndog V', while specific root length (SRL) was greater in `Falcon II' and `Houndog V' than in `Rebel Jr'. Concentrations of N, P, and Mg decreased, whereas those of K, Ca, and Fe increased, in shoots of drought-stressed plants of all three cultivars. Root N was not affected, but root P decreased in `Rebel Jr', and root K decreased in all three cultivars under drought conditions. Drought reduced the proportions of N and P in shoots and increased those in roots, while increasing the proportion of K in shoots and decreasing that in roots. During drought stress, both `Falcon II' and `Houndog V' maintained higher K concentration in shoots, and `Falcon II' in roots, than did `Rebel Jr', but `Rebel Jr' and `Houndog V' had higher Fe concentration in shoots than did `Falcon II'. The higher K and lower Fe accumulations in shoots could contribute to better drought tolerance of tall fescue cultivars.


Crop Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 771-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas E. Karcher ◽  
Michael D. Richardson ◽  
Kenneth Hignight ◽  
Debra Rush

1997 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaling Qian ◽  
Jack D. Fry

Greenhouse studies were conducted on three warm-season turfgrasses, `Midlawn' bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy], `Prairie' buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.], and `Meyer' zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), and a cool-season turfgrass, `Mustang' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) to determine 1) water relations and drought tolerance characteristics by subjecting container-grown grasses to drought and 2) potential relationships between osmotic adjustment (OA) and turf recovery after severe drought. Tall fescue was clipped at 6.3 cm once weekly, whereas warm-season grasses were clipped at 4.5 cm twice weekly. The threshold volumetric soil water content (SWC) at which a sharp decline in leaf water potential (ψL) occurred was higher for tall fescue than for warm-season grasses. Buffalograss exhibited the lowest and tall fescue exhibited the highest reduction in leaf pressure potential (ψP) per unit decline in ψL during dry down. Ranking of grasses for magnitude of OA was buffalograss (0.84 MPa) = zoysiagrass (0.77 MPa) > bermudagrass (0.60 MPa) > tall fescue (0.34 MPa). Grass coverage 2 weeks after irrigation was resumed was correlated positively with magnitude of OA (r = 0.66, P < 0.05).


2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Sajna ◽  
Jelka Šuštar-Vozlič ◽  
Mitja Kaligarič

Abstract We studied the anatomy of a rare narrow endemic species belonging to the Slovenian flora - Hladnikia pastinacifolia Rchb. Hladnikia is a monotypic genus with distinct taxonomic position within the Apiaceae family. The anatomical characteristics revealed by light and fluorescence microscopy provided new insights regarding the pollen, leaf and root characteristics of H. pastinacifolia, improving the understanding of its biology and ecology. Pollination, drought tolerance, life cycle and unattractiveness to herbivores explain the species’ persistence in time. Autofluorescence localized bioactive substances within secretory ducts and oil ducts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. He ◽  
C. Matthew ◽  
C. S. Jones ◽  
J.-H. B. Hatier

Many ryegrass cultivars are available on the market, but little research information exists on their comparative drought tolerance or the role of their commercially associated Epichloë endophytes in drought tolerance. Cloned plants of seven perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars (Grasslands Commando, Ceres One50, Banquet II, Alto, Bealey, Trojan and Avalon) and an unreleased elite line (URL) and one Mediterranean tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivar (Grasslands Flecha), in all cases both endophyte-free (E–) and -infected (E+) plants, were subjected to a cycle of summer drought and rehydration from December 2012 to May 2013. Other clones of the same plants were irrigated. Insecticide was used to protect plants from insect attack. We report data for shoot dry matter (DM), tiller survival rate (TSR) and reproductive development assessed approximately monthly during the experiment. In the second month of drought, only Banquet II and Grasslands Flecha showed no significant shoot DM reduction under water deficit. After 3 months of drought, shoot DM was reduced by 43% (Flecha) to 85% (URL) compared with irrigated plants. For Banquet II, Avalon and Grasslands Flecha, TSR was not significantly reduced by water deficit. During rehydration, growth of previously non-irrigated plants typically exceeded growth of irrigated clones across all cultivars. Banquet II and Grasslands Flecha were drought-tolerant in the sense that they showed a lower percentage yield reduction under drought than other cultivars tested; this was in part because they were not among the highest yielding under irrigation. Irrespective of irrigation treatment, the shoot DM of E+ plants of ryegrasses URL (with AR37 endophyte) and One50 (with AR1 endophyte) was reduced by almost 50% relative to their E– counterparts in each harvest from December to May, whereas the other six ryegrass varieties generally showed a small trend towards reduced shoot DM as E+ plants. This indicates that some novel cultivar–endophyte associations can incur a yield disadvantage compared with E– plants when protected from insect pressure.


Crop Science ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1392-1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. White ◽  
Milton C. Engelke ◽  
Sharon J. Morton ◽  
Jennifer M. Johnson‐Cicalese ◽  
Bridget A. Ruemmele

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
S. Miller ◽  
B. F. Hackney ◽  
S. P. Boschma ◽  
...  

To review pasture species for regions with 465–680 mm average annual rainfall, 22 perennial grasses and herbs were evaluated for pasture establishment and productivity in four states at seven locations where the arrest of groundwater recharge is considered necessary to ameliorate dryland salinity. Species represented introduced and native, temperate and subtropical grasses, chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.). This report describes establishment and yield; the following paper describes persistence and root characteristics. Yields were measured over 2–3 years except at one site, which suffered severe drought. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L., cv. Avalon) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. = syn. Lolium arundinaceum. (Schreb.) Darbysh., cvv. AU Triumph and Resolute MaxP), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L., cv. Porto) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L., cv. Holdfast and Australian) were the most productive species, with dry matter (DM) yields of 13.6–15.1 t/ha. For summer growth, Porto and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth, cv. Katambora) were the most productive species; relative to Australian in summer, Porto and Katambora produced 41% and 26% more DM, respectively (95% confidence). Perennial ryegrass (cv. Avalon), tall fescue (cv. Resolute MaxP) and chicory (cv. Grouse) were particularly valuable for autumn growth; Avalon was 30% more productive than Australian. Tall fescue (cv. Resolute MaxP) was 32% more productive than Australian in winter. Avalon and AU Triumph were the most productive grasses and herbs in spring. Based on natural rainfall over the 2–3 years of measurement, the mean water use productivity, ignoring any runoff, was 10.5 kg DM/ha.mm for the three most productive species. Apart from kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra Forssk), native grasses gradually established, but over a prolonged period weeping grass (Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br., cv. Wakefield) was the most rapid. Perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, cocksfoot and phalaris maintained productive yields across a diverse range of soils and climates. Exploration of the diversity within these species in a nationally coordinated program of genetic improvement appears warranted for improving reliability and expanding the zone of adaptation.


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