99448 Growth and Physiological Response of Several Warm Season Turfgrasses to Shade.

Poster Number 338-1317

See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Turfgrass Science Poster

Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Phoenix Convention Center North, Exhibit Hall CDE

Chase M Straw, University of Georgia-Athens, Athens, GA, Shan Jing, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, Christopher R. Johnston, 682-Plant Pathology, Room 233, 04475, University of Georgia - Griffin, Griffin, GA, Anish Malladi, Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, Marc van Iersel, Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA and Gerald M. Henry, 3111 Miller Plant Sciences Bldg, University of Georgia-Athens, Athens, GA
Abstract:
Research was conducted in a greenhouse in 2015 to evaluate the growth and physiological response of several warm-season turfgrasses to moderate levels shade during establishment. The five turfgrasses evaluated were ‘TifTuf’ and ‘TifGrand’ hybrid bermudagrasses [Cynodon dactylon (L.) × C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy], ‘Zenith’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), ‘TifBlair’ centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack], and ‘Palmetto’ St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze]. Sprigs were transplanted into pots (81.9% sand, 10.0% silt, and 8.1% clay) and given two weeks to establish prior to shade treatments [0% (control), 30%, and 47% shade]. Turfgrasses were mowed once a week with handheld shears (maintained at a height of 6.4 cm) and watered as needed. Several growth [percent cover, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf length, leaf width, internode length, weight of dry clipping, and dry root/shoot biomass] and physiological (chlorophyll a and b, total nonstructural carbohydrates, electron transport rate, and quantum yield of photosystem II) responses were measured bi-weekly, or every 4 weeks, during the 8 week duration of the study. At 8 weeks after shade treatment (WAST) TifGrand and Zenith were the only turfgrasses to exhibit differences in cover between 0 and 30% shade (P < 0.05). No differences in cover were observed for any turfgrass between 30 and 47% shade (P < 0.05). Differences in SLA between shade treatments were only observed for TifBlair (30% shade) at 4 and 8 WAST and Palmetto (0% shade) at 8 WAST (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in leaf length between shade treatments with TifGrand, Zenith, and Palmetto; however, difference did occur with TifTuf (47% shade) and TifBlair (0% shade) (P < 0.05). The only difference observed in leaf width between shade treatments was Palmetto (30% shade) at 8 WAST (P < 0.05). Zenith under 0% shade exhibited differences in internode length at 8 WAST (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in dry clipping weight between treatments at 6 or 8 WAST for any turfgrass except TifBlair (47% shade) at 6 WAST (P < 0.05). Root and shoot biomass for each turfgrass at the end of the 8 weeks was highest under 0% shade. No differences in root and shoot biomass were observed between the 30 and 47% treatments for each turfgrass (P < 0.05). Physiological response data are in the process of analysis.

See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Turfgrass Science Poster