Competitive Turgor Maintenance in Tall Fescue

Abstract

Economical, rapid methods are needed to identify drought‐tolerant turfgrasses. Objectives of this study were to (i) examine water relations of three tall rescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) selections, (ii) determine the relationship between these characteristics and recovery from water deficit under greenhouse conditions, and (iii) assess the feasibility of using a competitive soil moisture extraction technique to select tall rescue germplasm with superior drought tolerance. Three tall rescue selections were vegetatively propagated and grown together in 38‐L weighing lysimeters to allow interplant competition for available soil moisture. Adequate irrigation and fertilizer were applied for 12 wk after planting; irrigation was then withheld for 8 wk. Tiller survival among selections ranged from 2 to 37% and plant survival ranged from 22 to 76% at 4 wk after irrigation was resumed. Survival was associated with low basal osmotic potential before stress and osmotic adjustment, prolonged positive turgor maintenance, and delayed leaf rolling during stress. Leaf rolling scores, and tiller and plant survival during competitive soil moisture extraction were easily assessed indicators of tall fescue germplasm drought tolerance.

A comparison of the effects of drought on proline accumulation and peroxidases activity in leaves of Festuca rubra L. and Lolium perenne L.

“…The ability of Festuca species to thrive with limited soil moisture and delayed appearance of stress symptoms have been reported earlier (Aronson et al 1987). Studies of White et al (1992) revealed that fescue survival during drought was associated with osmotic adjustment and turgor maintenance. This process involves the accumulation of compounds, which decrease cellular osmotic potential, thus helping the movement of water into the cell resulting in increase of leaf turgor.…”

Role of Osmotic Adjustment in Plant Productivity

“…Survival and recovery of stressed tall fescue (Festuca arundincaea Schreb.) was associated with low basal yli before stress (White et al 1992). During stress however, recovery was associated with delayed leaf rolling, OA, and prolonged turgor maintenance.…”

Growth Responses of Sacaton Grass (Sporobolus airoides Torr.) and Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) Under Prolonged Drought Stress Condition

“…A dry-down fritted clay system which mimics progressive drought that was designed by White et al [32] was used in this investigation. This procedure has been used successfully in our previous drought stress studies [5,10,19,22,23,29].…”