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Salinity tolerance of twelve hybrid Bermudagrass (Cynodon Dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. Transvaalensis Burtt Davy) genotypes

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Bauer, B.K., Poulter, R.E., Troughton, A.D. and Loch, D.S. (2009) Salinity tolerance of twelve hybrid Bermudagrass (Cynodon Dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. Transvaalensis Burtt Davy) genotypes. In: 11th International Turfgrass Society Research Journal: 2009 International Turfgrass Research Conference. Santiago, Chile. International Turfgrass Society, 1245 pages.

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Publisher URL: http://www.turfsociety.com/
Organisation URL: http://www.horticulture.com.au/
Organisation URL: http://www.deedi.qld.gov.au/

Abstract

Salinity is an increasingly important issue in both rural and urban areas throughout much of Australia. The use of recycled/reclaimed water and other sources of poorer quality water to irrigate turf is also increasing. Hybrid Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt Davey), together with the parent species C. dactylon, are amongst the most widely used warm-season turf grass groups. Twelve hybrid Bermudagrass genotypes and one accession each of Bermudagrass (C. dactylon), African Bermudagrass (C. transvaalensis) and seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Sw.) were grown in a glasshouse experiment with six different salinity treatments applied hydroponically through the irrigation water (ECW = <0.1, 6, 12, 18, 24 or 30 dSm-1) in a flood-and-drain system. Each pot was clipped progressively at 2-weekly intervals over the 12-week experimental period to determine dry matter production; leaf firing was rated visually on 3 occasions during the last 6 weeks of salinity treatment. At the end of the experiment, dry weights of roots and crowns below clipping height were also determined. Clipping yields declined sharply after about the first 6 weeks of salinity treatment, but then remained stable at substantially lower levels of dry matter production from weeks 8 to 12. Growth data over this final 4-week experimental period is therefore a more accurate guide to the relative salinity tolerance of the 15 entries than data from the preceding 8 weeks. Based on these data, the 12 hybrid Bermudagrass genotypes showed moderate salinity tolerance, with FloraDwarfM, 'Champion Dwarf', NovotekM and 'TifEagle' ranking as the most salt tolerant and 'Patriot', 'Santa Ana', 'Tifgreen' and TifSport M the least tolerant within the hybrid group. Nevertheless, Santa Ana, for example, maintained relatively strong root growth as salinity increased, and so may show better salt tolerance in practice than predicted from the growth data alone. The 12 hybrid Bermudagrasses and the single African Bermudagrass genotype were all ranked above FloraTeXM Bermudagrass in terms of salt tolerance. However, seashore paspalum, which is widely acknowledged as a halophytic species showing high salt tolerance, ranked well above all 14 Cynodon genotypes in terms of salinity tolerance.

Item Type:Book Section
Funders:Horticulture Australia Limited.
Corporate Creators:QPIF, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), International Turfgrass Society, Horticulture Australia Limited, Agri-Science, Horticulture and Forestry Science
Projects:HAL Project Report TU06006. Establishment and management of salt-tolerant amenity grasses to reduce urban salinity effect.
Business groups:Horticulture and Forestry Science
Additional Information:© International Turfgrass Society. Reproduced with permission.
Keywords:Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis; Cynodon dactylon; Paspalum vaginatum; hybrid Bermudagrass; salinity; tolerance; leaf firing; dry matter production; turf; turfgrass; hybrid couch; Cynodon transvaalensis; African couch; seashore paspalum.
Subjects:Plant culture > Lawns and turfgrasses > Salinity studies
Plant culture > Lawns and turfgrasses
Plant culture > Lawns and turfgrasses > Varieties
Plant culture
Live Archive:06 Sep 2011 02:26
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:43

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