Growth Response and Durability of Landscape of Ornamental Miscanthus sinensis Cultivars to Drought, Rain Fall and Low Temperature Condition

Abstract

Miscanthus sinensis Andersson (Poaceae) cultivars exhibit excellent visual appeal as ornamental grasses and adapt well to diverse environmental conditions. This study focused on assessing the growth response and landscape durability of seven popular Miscanthus cultivars ('Gold Breeze', 'Strictus', 'Morning Light', 'Variegatus', 'Gracillimus', 'Kleine Fontäne', 'Common') under drought, rainfall and low temperature condition. The test cultivars were transplanted and cultivated on research plots in 2013, with data collected from June 2017 to February 2018. Plant materials were categorized into three types based on the amount of the water lost; group I ('Kleine Fontäne', 'Variegatus', 'Strictus'), experiencing the most significant water loss; group II ('Common', 'Gracillimus'); and group III ('Gold Breeze', 'Morning Light') where the least water loss occurred. The drought resistance index (DRI) remained low as water shortage conditions persisted. The lodged angle underwent more pronounced changes in reproductive growth stage than in vegetative growth stage, notably decreasing after heading. Discoloration patterns were classified into two types: group I ('Common', 'Gold Breeze', 'Kleine Fontäne', 'Strictus') and group II ('Gracillimus', 'Morning Light', 'Variegatus') based on the periods of peak duration.