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RUcore Resource Object
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Uniform TitleWater use and summer stress tolerance mechanisms for creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass
NameMcCann, Stephen E. (author), Huang, Bingru (chair), Gianfagna, Tom (internal member), Bonos, Stacy (internal member), Baird, James (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2008-01
Date Created2008
SubjectPlant Biology,
Creeping bentgrass--Effects of stress on,
Creeping bentgrass--Drought tolerance,
Kentucky bluegrass--Effects of stress on,
Kentucky bluegrass--Drought tolerance,
Turfgrass--Effects of stress on
DescriptionCreeping bentgrass (Agrostis stoloniferia) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa Pratensis L.) are two widely-used cool-season grasses grown extensively in northern regions of the United States. Creeping bentgrass is primarily used on golf courses, while Kentucky bluegrass has extensive uses in both home lawns and sports fields. Each of these areas of use are coming under increased scrutiny in regards to water management and conservation. Communities are increasingly putting greater restrictions on both the amount and type of water that can be used for irrigating golf courses, sports fields, and home lawns. The focus of our project was to develop a greater understanding of these grasses' water use, as a way to establish ideal water management practices. The field portion of the project focused on irrigation frequency as applied to three bentgrass species maintained as golf course fairways. Results suggested that reducing frequency and watering one or two times per week, while still replacing 100% of evapotranspiration (ET), produced equivalent, if not improved turf quality, and actually held water deeper in the soil profile, reducing evaporation losses to the atmosphere. In addition to the field portion of the project, experiments were conducted in growth chambers evaluating both creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass physiological responses to drought and summer stress. Specific findings suggested that exfoliar application of abscisic acid (ABA) or trinexapac-ethyl, a giberrelin inhibitor, significantly improved plant drought tolerance. Further research evaluated genotypic variation between varieties of these species, suggesting that both tolerance and avoidance traits are employed to protect plant physiological function under water deficit.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references.
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.17162
LanguageEnglish
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization Name
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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