The increase of salinity tolerance in three turf grass species using trinexapac-ethyl

Abstract

In most parts of Iran, the presence of water and soil salinity in urban area results in problems for grass growth. One way to solve this problem is the use of plant growth retardant, such as trinexapac-ethyl (TE), which is common and routine in turf management. This study was performed to investigate the response of Agrostis stolonifera L., Agropyron desertorum L. and Festuca ovina L., grown in sandy loam soil, to TE and irrigation water salinity. Resu-lts showed that spraying turf grass with TE increased most of the vegetative growth characteristics and content of chlo-rophylls, carotenoids and proline in clipping leaves, whereas increasing the NaCl concentration in irrigation water resu-lted in steady reduction in the values of these parameters, except carotenoids and proline content, compared with the co-ntrol group. Both TE and salinity treatments decreased the plant heights, as well as the fresh and dry weight of clip-pings. In the species which were studied, Agrostis stolonifera turned out to be the most tolerant turfgrass. Results also indicated that the application of TE enhances salinity resistance by improving the percentage of green leaf, chlorophyll concentration and proline content and reduce clipping in the species studied

Keywords

• proline
• NaCl
• growth
• chlorophyll