Comparative Responses of Bermudagrass, Seashore Paspalum, and Saltgrass to Salinity Stress. (3369)
Authors:
M. Pessarakli* - Univ. of Arizona D.M. Kopec - Univ. of Arizona A.J. Koski - Colorado State Univ.
Abstract:
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), cv. Tifway 419, Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum), cv. Sea Isle 1, & Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), acc. A55 were studied hydroponically in a greenhouse to evaluate their growth in terms of shoot & root lengths, DM wt., & canopy color. Four treatments [control (no salt), 10,000, 20,000, & 30,000 mg/L NaCl] & 4 replications were used in a RCB design in this study. Plants were grown under the above treatments for 12 weeks. Shoots were harvested bi-weekly (roots at the last harvest), oven dried at 60o C & DM recorded.
At each harvest, shoot & root lengths were measured & recorded, & the visual canopy color was evaluated. The results show that shoot & root lengths & shoot DM numerically decreased with increasing NaCl salinity for Bermuda & paspalum.
Low level of salinity (10,000 g/L NaCl) slightly enhanced root DM for both
species. For saltgrass, shoot & root lengths & DM increased at any level of salinity compared with the control, the highest values were obtained under 10,000 mg/L NaCl. For the control plants, shoot & root lengths & DM were higher for Bermuda
& paspalum compared with saltgrass. The canopy color turned to lighter green for both of these species as NaCl salinity increased, but, saltgrass maintained the same color regardless of the level of NaCl. For the control & lower level of salinity, the canopy color was greener for Bermuda & paspalum compared with saltgrass.
Speaker Information: Mohammad Pessarakli, Univ. of Arizona, Department of Plant Sciences, Forbes Bldg., Room 303, Tucson, AZ 85721; Phone: (520)321-7786; E-mail:
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Presentation Start: 4:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 1316)
Keywords: Bermudagrass; Seashore Paspalum; Saltgrass; Salinity
