Morpho-physiological alteration in common bermudagrass [<em>Cynodon dactylon</em> (L.) Pers.] subjected to limited irrigation and light condition

Abstract

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is the most popular warm-season turfgrass used in warm climatic regions of the world due to its recuperative ability, high traffic tolerance, heat tolerance, and relative drought and salt tolerance. However, shade is a microenvironment in which bermudagrass performs poorly. In order to evaluate the interaction of photoperiod and irrigation on [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. California Origin], a greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Research Greenhouse of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. The experiment was conducted with four field capacity regimes (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) and three light durations (8, 12 and 16 h) in a completely randomized design factorial arrangements with four replications. Results showed that decreasing field capacity and photoperiod decreased fresh and dry weights shoot and root, chlorophyll and starch contents and superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities. Decreasing the field capacity and light duration increased proline content. Reducing sugars and peroxidase enzyme in leaves increased with decreasing field capacity. Shoot height and leaf area increased by shortening the photoperiod. In overall, results showed that, the increase in irrigation alleviates the destructive effects of reduced day lengths and vice versa. Further studies are needed to clarify more the interaction between irrigation and light treatments at structural and ultrastructural levels, in common bermudagrass.