Leaf Blade Stomatal Characterizations and Evapotranspiration Rates of 12 Cool-season Perennial Grasses

Abstract

<jats:p>The objectives of this investigation were to determine the stomatal frequencies of 12 perennial cool-season turfgrasses, encompassing nine species, and their associated evapotranspiration (ET) rates under nonlimiting soil moisture and controlled environmental conditions. Significant differences in stomatal density were found among the 12 cool-season turfgrasses on both the abaxial <jats:italic>(P</jats:italic> &gt; F = 0.0008) and adaxial <jats:italic>(P &gt;</jats:italic> F = 0.0009) leaf surfaces. Significant differences <jats:italic>(P &gt;</jats:italic> F = 0.0007) in ET rates also were found among the 12 cool-season turfgrasses. The Kentucky bluegrass <jats:italic>(Pea pratensis</jats:italic> L.) cultivars exhibited the highest ET rates, while the fine-leafed fescues <jats:italic>(Festuca rubra</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>longifolia</jats:italic> L.) exhibited the lowest rates, except for `Big Horn' sheep fescue <jats:italic>(Festuca ovina</jats:italic> L.), which exhibited an intermediate ET rate. No significant correlation was found between ET rate and either adaxial or abaxial stomatal density. It was concluded that, under nonlimiting soil moisture conditions, stomatal density was not reliably associated with ET rate.</jats:p>

Effects of Sub-Optimal Temperatures on Seed Germination of Three Warm-Season Turfgrasses with Perspectives of Cultivation in Transition Zone

“…In arid regions, warm-season species are preferred over cool-season ones for lawns and other recreational landscapes due to their low water requirements [1,2]. Recently, because of global warming and the resulting climate change, the use of warm-season species for ornamental and sports turfs has also been encouraged in the Mediterranean countries of Europe.…”

“…Supplementary Materials: The following are available online at http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/9/8/421/s1, Table S1. Estimated parameters for Equation (1).…”

Effects of experimental warming on stomatal traits in leaves of maize (Zea may L.)

“…The spatial variation of stomata can be characterized at multiple scales, such as the adaxial versus abaxial surface, variations among different leaf sections, and the association/aggregation of individual stomata on a single leaf surface. Earlier studies have reported that stomatal density significantly differed between the adaxial and abaxial surfaces (Ciha and Brun 1975;Green et al 1990;Ferris et al 1996Ferris et al , 2002Croxdale 1998Croxdale , 2000Reddy et al 1998). Meanwhile, the distribution of stomata between leaf surfaces is associated with acclimation and adaptation to environmental factors such as temperature, water stress, light exposure, and CO 2 concentration (Parkhurst 1978;Mott et al 1982;Ceulemans et al 1995;Smith et al 1998;Ferris et al 2002;Driscoll et al 2006;Soares et al 2008).…”

Evapotranspiration Rates of Eleven Zoysia Genotypes

“…ET rate may vary as much among cultivars within species as among species (Beard, 1985(Beard, , 1989. Differences in ET rates have been reported among cool-season grasses (Aronson et al, 1987;Green et al, 1990) and among cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (Pea pratensis L.) (Shearman, 1986), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (Kopec et al, 1988), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) (Shearman, 1989).…”

“…Shearman (1986) reported a significant correlation (r = 0.60) between ET rate and verdue dry weight among 20 well-watered Kentucky bluegrass cultivars evaluated in a controlledenvironment chamber maintained at 35C. AD and AB have not been reliably associated with ET rate among well-watered turfgrasses (Casnoff et al, 1989;Green et al, 1990).…”