Tall Fescue Photomorphogenesis as Influenced by Changes in the Spectral Composition and Light Intensity

Abstract

The influence of deciduous foliage shade on turfgrass development has not been fully investigated. Previous research neglects changes in spectral distribution, e.g., red:far‐red light (R:FR) ratios common of foliage shade. Turfgrass plants may respond simultaneously but in different ways to changes in light intensity and spectral composition. A field study was conducted in 2001–2002 at the Ohio Turfgrass Research and Educational Facility, Columbus, OH. Two tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars of differing shade tolerance were established under low photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) in approximately 8% of full sunlight with high (>1) and low (<1) R:FR ratios to distinguish between developmental effects of R:FR ratio (spectral composition) and PPF (light intensity) on turfgrass photomorphogenesis. Few morphological differences in shade tolerance between the two cultivars were observed during the 2‐yr study. However, under low PPF, high R:FR ratios led to increased tillering, leaf blade width and thickness, and chlorophyll contents. Root mass declined under reduced PPF regardless of R:FR ratio. Results suggest that while turfgrass photomorphogenesis in shade is influenced by changes in PPF, many characters are further influenced by changes in the R:FR ratio.

Relative effects of irrigation and intense shade on productivity of alley-cropped tall fescue herbage

“…The site effect was quite large for mass plant -1 , SLW, and tillers plant -1 . Shade-affected growth responses were reported previously for tall fescue in pot (Allard et al 1991a) and field studies (Burner and MacKown 2006;Kephart and Buxton 1993;Wherley et al 2005). The LER was about one-tenth that reported for pot-grown tall fescue (Allard et al 1991a) regardless of treatment.…”

“…The PAR received in pine alleys suggested that while shading was intense, it was not at the light compensation point (Beard 1973). In addition to a reduction in PAR, the red: far red light ratio in the pine alley might have been about one-half that in the meadow, which could reduce tillering, root mass, and chlorophyll concentration of tall fescue (Wherley et al 2005).…”

Comparative Performance of Three Tropical Turfgrasses Digitaria longiflora, Axonopus compressus and St. Augustinegrass under Simulated Shade Conditions

“…This mechanism has been reported in many turfgrass species e.g. St. Augustinegrass (Wherley et al, 2013), tall fescue (Wherley et al, 2005) and, seashore paspalum (Jiang et al, 2004). The peak chlorophyll content at 75% shade level for all species in this study suggested the employment of similar mechanism in adapting to the low light conditions.…”

Transmissivity of solar radiation within a &lt;i&gt;Picea sitchensis&lt;/i&gt; stand under various sky conditions

“…Smith (1982) indicated that the blue-absorbing photoreceptor present in plants acts to measure light quantity and that the pigment phytochrome can act to detect the red : far-red ratio as an indicator of light quality. Blue light may have important implications for stomatal control, causing stomatal opening (Morison and Jarvis, 1983), while the red : far-red ratio is known to influence photomorphogenesis, heating regulation, as well as stem elongation and chlorophyll synthesis (Gates, 1965;Smith, 1982;Wherley et al, 2005;Casal, 2013). Ritchie (1997) reported the ability of Pseudotsuga menziesii seedlings to detect the presence of nearby trees via changes in light quality and the ability to adjust their growth by altering their allometry.…”