BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE OF SOME NATIVE IRANIAN LOW MAINTENANCE TURFGRASSES UNDER DROUGHT STRESS

摘要

Usual turfgrass genus often receives significant inputs of water and fertilizer,as a result grasses that do not require significant inputs and also maintain acceptable levels of quality is desirable in low maintenance/limited irrigation situations.Agropyron cristatum [L.],Festuca ovina,Festuca arundinacea Schreb and Cynodon dactylon are a potential source of Iranian low maintenance turfgrasses for semi-arid regions.This greenhouse study examined the interaction of three different levels of soil water contents (25,50 and 75 % of field capacity) and no irrigation on genotype selection and the biochemical response of each genus.Osmotic potential,total carbohydrate and protein content of F.arundinacea were increased significantly under drought stress,but decreased in the other genotypes.Based on responses to drought,and the magnitude of total leaf water potential,F.arundinacea was superior to the other genotypes in drought tolerance.