Wear Tolerance Mechanisms in Agrostis Species and Cultivars

Abstract

Creeping bentgrass {Agrostis stolonifera L.) and velvet bentgrass {Agrostis canina L.) are important turfgrass for golf putting greens. Investigations into wear tolerance mechanisms are limited in Agrostis. The objective of this study was to evaluate anatomical, morphological, and physiological characteristics in Agrostis species and cultivars and relate these to wear tolerance. Seven A. sfo/on/'fera and seven A. canina cultivars were evaluated for response to wear. Wear was applied using a grooming brush over two spring and fall periods. Interspecific differences accounted for 98% of the variation in wear tolerance, with velvet bentgrass exhibiting better tolerance. Ten characteristics were measured on greenhouse-grown spaced-plants established from field plots. Characteristics included tiller density, tiller dry weight, tiller water content, leaf width, leaf strength, leaf angle, tiller angle, and cell wäll constituents (total cell wall [TCW], hemicellulose, and lignocellulose). Depending on the year and season, multiple regression analysis showed TCW accounted for 62.8 to 79;9% of the total variation in wear tolerance followed by tiller density accounting for 53.6 to 66.9% and tiller angle accounting for 75.9% of the variation. SR-7200 was lowest in wear tolerance among velvet bentgrass and exhibited lower cell wall components, lower tiller density, and a more decumbent tiller (and leaf) angle, which was consistent with the lower responses observed in A. stolonifera.

Anatomical and morphological factors affecting wear tolerance of turfgrass

“…These investigations suggested that wear tolerance corresponds with anatomical and morphological plant characteristics, namely total cell wall content, quantity of sclerenchyma fibres, tiller density, tiller dry weight, leaf width, leaf tensile strength and shoot density (Hoffman et al, 2010;Shearman and Beard, 1975a,b;Trenholm et al, 2000). This relationship was also confirmed by Dowgiewicz et al (2011) for Agrostis sp. Similar results were also obtained by Zhang et al (2004) who detected significant correlations between tensile strength and a cross-sectional area and a number of major vascular bundles in leaves of forage grasses.…”

Lateral Spread and Dry Matter Partitioning of Creeping Bentgrass Cultivars

“…Various cell wall components, including lignin and cellulose, have proven to be good indicators of turfgrass wear tolerance (Shearman and Beard 1975). Dowgiewicz et al (2011) also demonstrated that various cell wall components and plant morphology infl uences wear tolerance in Agrostis canina L. and Agrostis stolonifera L. Similarly, tiller density is an important shoot morphological characteristic that has been positively related to wear stress recovery (Hawes and Decker, 1977) and potential wear stress resistance in turf (Lush, 1990).…”

“…Stolon development and internode elongation also increases plant dry weight through the addition of cellulose and lignin (Esau, 1977). Dowgiewicz et al (2011) also demonstrated that various cell wall components and plant morphology infl uences wear tolerance in Agrostis canina L. and Agrostis stolonifera L. Similarly, tiller density is an important shoot morphological characteristic that has been positively related to wear stress recovery (Hawes and Decker, 1977) and potential wear stress resistance in turf (Lush, 1990). Dowgiewicz et al (2011) also demonstrated that various cell wall components and plant morphology infl uences wear tolerance in Agrostis canina L. and Agrostis stolonifera L. Similarly, tiller density is an important shoot morphological characteristic that has been positively related to wear stress recovery (Hawes and Decker, 1977) and potential wear stress resistance in turf (Lush, 1990).…”

Interspecific comparisons of C3 turfgrass for tennis use: I. Wear tolerance and carrying capacity under actual match play

“…They were the first to report a thorough examination of plant factors related to wear tolerance, including the effect of total cell wall (TCW) content measured using neutral detergent fiber (NDF), cellulose and lignin measured using acid detergent fiber (ADF), and hemicellulose (hemi, NDF – ADF), which were associated with improved interspecies tolerance to wear. Other research in wear tolerance has also been conducted to investigate wear mechanisms at the interspecific level, but these studies have been limited to only two species in C 4 turfgrass (Trenholm, Carrow, & Duncan, 2000) and two C 3 Agrostis species (Dowgiewicz, Ebdon, DaCosta, & Dest, 2011). Greater levels of TCW, lignocellulose (ligno), and hemi measured on a dry mass basis were associated with the greater wear tolerance of velvet bentgrass (VBG, Agrostis canina L.) compared with creeping bentgrass (CB, A. stolonifera L.) (Dowgiewicz et al., 2011).…”