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17 pages, 7783 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Stress Tolerance Mechanisms of Cadmium in Zoysia japonica

by Yi Xu, Yonglong Li, Yan Li, Chenyuan Zhai and Kun Zhang

Plants 2023, 12(22), 3833; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223833 - 12 Nov 2023

Viewed by 901

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a severe heavy metal pollutant globally. Zoysia japonica is an important perennial warm-season turf grass that potentially plays a role in phytoremediation in Cd-polluted soil areas; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its Cd stress response are unknown. To further investigate the [...] Read more.

Cadmium (Cd) is a severe heavy metal pollutant globally. Zoysia japonica is an important perennial warm-season turf grass that potentially plays a role in phytoremediation in Cd-polluted soil areas; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its Cd stress response are unknown. To further investigate the early gene response pattern in Z. japonica under Cd stress, plant leaves were harvested 0, 6, 12, and 24 h after Cd stress (400 μM CdCl₂) treatment and used for a time-course RNA-sequencing analysis. Twelve cDNA libraries were constructed and sequenced, and high-quality data were obtained, whose mapped rates were all higher than 94%, and more than 601 million bp of sequence were generated. A total of 5321, 6526, and 4016 differentially expressed genes were identified 6, 12, and 24 h after Cd stress treatment, respectively. A total of 1660 genes were differentially expressed at the three time points, and their gene expression profiles over time were elucidated. Based on the analysis of these genes, the important mechanisms for the Cd stress response in Z. japonica were identified. Specific genes participating in glutathione metabolism, plant hormone signal and transduction, members of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, transporter proteins, transcription factors, and carbohydrate metabolism pathways were further analyzed in detail. These genes may contribute to the improvement of Cd tolerance in Z. japonica. In addition, some candidate genes were highlighted for future studies on Cd stress resistance in Z. japonica and other plants. Our results illustrate the early gene expression response of Z. japonica leaves to Cd and provide some new understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Cd stress in Zosia and Gramineae species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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20 pages, 3077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photosynthesis, Water Status and K⁺/Na⁺ Homeostasis of Buchoe dactyloides Responding to Salinity

by Huan Guo, Yannong Cui, Zhen Li, Chunya Nie, Yuefei Xu and Tianming Hu

Plants 2023, 12(13), 2459; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132459 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 837

Abstract

Soil salinization is one of the most serious abiotic stresses restricting plant growth. Buffalograss is a C₄ perennial turfgrass and forage with an excellent resistance to harsh environments. To clarify the adaptative mechanisms of buffalograss in response to salinity, we investigated the [...] Read more.

Soil salinization is one of the most serious abiotic stresses restricting plant growth. Buffalograss is a C₄ perennial turfgrass and forage with an excellent resistance to harsh environments. To clarify the adaptative mechanisms of buffalograss in response to salinity, we investigated the effects of NaCl treatments on photosynthesis, water status and K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis of this species, then analyzed the expression of key genes involved in these processes using the qRT-PCR method. The results showed that NaCl treatments up to 200 mM had no obvious effects on plant growth, photosynthesis and leaf hydrate status, and even substantially stimulated root activity. Furthermore, buffalograss could retain a large amount of Na⁺ in roots to restrict Na⁺ overaccumulation in shoots, and increase leaf K⁺ concentration to maintain a high K⁺/Na⁺ ratio under NaCl stresses. After 50 and 200 mM NaCl treatments, the expressions of several genes related to chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthetic electron transport and CO₂ assimilation, as well as aquaporin genes (BdPIPs and BdTIPs) were upregulated. Notably, under NaCl treatments, the increased expression of BdSOS1, BdHKT1 and BdNHX1 in roots might have helped Na⁺ exclusion by root tips, retrieval from xylem sap and accumulation in root cells, respectively; the upregulation of BdHAK5 and BdSKOR in roots likely enhanced K⁺ uptake and long-distance transport from roots to shoots, respectively. This work finds that buffalograss possesses a strong ability to sustain high photosynthetic capacity, water balance and leaf K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis under salt stress, and lays a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying the salt tolerance of buffalograss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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22 pages, 9115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Heat Tolerance in Creeping Bentgrass Lines Based on Physiological Responses

by Qianqian Fan and David Jespersen

Plants 2023, 12(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010041 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1539

Abstract

Heat stress is a major concern for the growth of cool-season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). Nonetheless, there is a lack in a clear and systematic understanding of thermotolerance mechanisms for this species. This study aimed to assess heat tolerance in experimental [...] Read more.

Heat stress is a major concern for the growth of cool-season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). Nonetheless, there is a lack in a clear and systematic understanding of thermotolerance mechanisms for this species. This study aimed to assess heat tolerance in experimental lines and cultivars to determine important physiological and biochemical traits responsible for improved tolerance, including the use of OJIP fluorescence. Ten creeping bentgrass lines were exposed to either control (20/15 °C day/night) or high temperature (38/33 °C day/night) conditions for 35 d via growth chambers at Griffin, GA. Principal component analysis and clustering analysis were performed to rank stress performance and divide lines into different groups according to their tolerance similarities, respectively. At the end of the trial, S11 729-10 and BTC032 were in the most thermotolerant group, followed by a group containing BTC011, AU Victory and Penncross. Crenshaw belonged to the most heat-sensitive group while S11 675-02 and Pure Eclipse were in the second most heat-sensitive group. The exceptional thermotolerance in S11 729-10 and BTC032 was associated with their abilities to maintain cell membrane stability and protein metabolism, plus minimize oxidative damages. Additionally, among various light-harvesting steps, energy trapping, dissipation and electron transport from Q_A to PQ were more heat-sensitive than electron transport from Q_A to final PSI acceptors. Along with the strong correlations between multiple OJIP parameters and other traits, it reveals that OJIP fluorescence could be a valuable tool for dissection of photosynthetic processes and identification of the critical steps responsible for photosynthetic declines, enabling a more targeted heat-stress screening. Our results indicated that variability in the level of heat tolerance and associated mechanisms in creeping bentgrass germplasm could be utilized to develop new cultivars with improved thermotolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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17 pages, 2646 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Stress Tolerance to and Accumulation Mechanisms of Cadmium in Paspalum vaginatum Swartz

by Lei Xu, Yuying Zheng, Qing Yu, Jun Liu, Zhimin Yang and Yu Chen

Plants 2022, 11(16), 2078; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162078 - 09 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1593

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal and high concentrations in plants causes toxicity of their edible parts and acts as a carcinogen to humans and animals. Paspalum vaginatum is widely cultivating as turfgrass due to its higher abiotic stress tolerance ability. However, [...] Read more.

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal and high concentrations in plants causes toxicity of their edible parts and acts as a carcinogen to humans and animals. Paspalum vaginatum is widely cultivating as turfgrass due to its higher abiotic stress tolerance ability. However, there is no clear evidence to elucidate the mechanism for heavy metal tolerance, including Cd. In this study, an RNA sequencing technique was employed to investigate the key genes associated with Cd stress tolerance and accumulation in P. vaginatum. The results revealed that antioxidant enzyme activities catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione S-transferase GST) were significantly higher at 24 h than in other treatments. A total of 6820 (4457/2363, up-/down-regulated), 14,038 (9894/4144, up-/down-regulated) and 17,327 (7956/9371, up-/down-regulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the Cd1 vs. Cd0, Cd4 vs. Cd0, and Cd24 vs. Cd0, respectively, were identified. The GO analysis and the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs participated in many significant pathways in response to Cd stress. The response to abiotic stimulus, the metal transport mechanism, glutathione metabolism, and the consistency of transcription factor activity were among the most enriched pathways. The validation of gene expression by qRT-PCR results showed that heavy metal transporters and signaling response genes were significantly enriched with increasing sampling intervals, presenting consistency to the transcriptome data. Furthermore, over-expression of PvSnRK2.7 can positively regulate Cd-tolerance in Arabidopsis. In conclusion, our results provided a novel molecular mechanism of the Cd stress tolerance of P. vaginatum and will lay the foundation for target breeding of Cd tolerance in turfgrass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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13 pages, 4317 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Seed Priming with Chitosan Improves Germination Characteristics Associated with Alterations in Antioxidant Defense and Dehydration-Responsive Pathway in White Clover under Water Stress

by Yao Ling, Yue Zhao, Bizhen Cheng, Meng Tan, Yan Zhang and Zhou Li

Plants 2022, 11(15), 2015; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11152015 - 02 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2082

Abstract

Water stress decreases seed-germination characteristics and also hinders subsequent seedling establishment. Seed priming with bioactive compounds has been proven as an effective way to improve seed germination under normal and stressful conditions. However, effect and mechanism of seed priming with chitosan (CTS) on [...] Read more.

Water stress decreases seed-germination characteristics and also hinders subsequent seedling establishment. Seed priming with bioactive compounds has been proven as an effective way to improve seed germination under normal and stressful conditions. However, effect and mechanism of seed priming with chitosan (CTS) on improving seed germination and seedling establishment were not well-understood under water-deficit conditions. White clover (Trifolium repens) seeds were pretreated with or without 5 mg/L CTS before being subjected to water stress induced by 18% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000 for 7 days of germination in a controlled growth chamber. Results showed that water stress significantly decreased germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, seed vigor index, and seedling dry weight and also increased mean germination time and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, leading to membrane lipid peroxidation during seed germination. These symptoms could be significantly alleviated by the CTS priming through activating superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activities. In addition, seeds pretreated with CTS exhibited significantly higher expression levels of genes encoding dehydration-responsive transcription factors (DREB2, DREB4, and DREB5) and dehydrins (Y2K, Y2SK, and SK2) than those seeds without the CTS priming. Current findings indicated that the CTS-induced tolerance to water stress could be associated with the enhancement in dehydration-responsive pathway during seed germination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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14 pages, 3290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reallocation of Soluble Sugars and IAA Regulation in Association with Enhanced Stolon Growth by Elevated CO₂ in Creeping Bentgrass

by Jingjin Yu, Meng Li, Qiuguo Li, Ruying Wang, Ruonan Li and Zhimin Yang

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1500; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111500 - 02 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1691

Abstract

Extensive stolon development and growth are superior traits for rapid establishment as well as post-stress regeneration in stoloniferous grass species. Despite the importance of those stoloniferous traits, the regulation mechanisms of stolon growth and development are largely unknown. The objectives of this research [...] Read more.

Extensive stolon development and growth are superior traits for rapid establishment as well as post-stress regeneration in stoloniferous grass species. Despite the importance of those stoloniferous traits, the regulation mechanisms of stolon growth and development are largely unknown. The objectives of this research were to elucidate the effects of the reallocation of soluble sugars for energy reserves and endogenous hormone levels for cell differentiation and regeneration in regulating stolon growth of a perennial turfgrass species, creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). Plants were grown in growth chambers with two CO₂ concentrations: ambient CO₂ concentration (400 ± 10 µmol mol⁻¹) and elevated CO₂ concentration (800 ± 10 µmol mol⁻¹). Elevated CO₂ enhanced stolon growth through increasing stolon internode number and internode length in creeping bentgrass, as manifested by the longer total stolon length and greater shoot biomass. The content of glucose, sucrose, and fructose as well as endogenous IAA were accumulated in stolon nodes and internodes but not in leaves or roots under elevated CO₂ concentration. These results illustrated that the production and reallocation of soluble sugars to stolons as well as the increased level of IAA in stolon nodes and internodes could contribute to the enhancement of stolon growth under elevated CO₂ in creeping bentgrass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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15 pages, 2860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Turf Quality and Physiological Responses to Summer Stress in Four Creeping Bentgrass Cultivars in a Subtropical Zone

by Zhou Li, Weihang Zeng, Bizhen Cheng, Jie Xu, Liebao Han and Yan Peng

Plants 2022, 11(5), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11050665 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1429

Abstract

Cool-season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) has the ability to form fine sports turf, but high temperatures result in summer bentgrass decline (SBD), especially in transitional and subtropical zones. Physiological responses in combination with the alteration in turf quality (TQ) will contribute [...] Read more.

Cool-season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) has the ability to form fine sports turf, but high temperatures result in summer bentgrass decline (SBD), especially in transitional and subtropical zones. Physiological responses in combination with the alteration in turf quality (TQ) will contribute to a better understanding of SBD in a subtropical zone. Field experiments were conducted from 2017 to 2019 to test the adaptability to summer stress among four cultivars (13M, Penncross, Seaside II, and PA-1). A constant ambient high temperature above 30 °C significantly decreased the TQ of the four cultivars during the summer months in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Significant declines in the chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm and PIABS), leaf relative water content (RWC), and osmotic potential (OP) were induced by summer stress, whereas gradual increases in water-soluble carbohydrates, proline, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), and electrolyte leakage (EL) were observed in the four cultivars during the summer months. The 13M and Penncross cultivars exhibited better performance than Seaside II and PA-1 in response to summer stress from 2017 to 2019, which is associated with better maintenance of photosynthesis, water status, WSC and proline accumulation, and cell membrane stability. The 13M and Penncross cultivars could be used as potential candidates for turf establishment in a subtropical zone. Physiological responses together with alterations in TQ also provided critical information for the breeding and development of germplasm with heat tolerance in creeping bentgrass species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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16 pages, 1980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed a Positive Role of Ethephon on Chlorophyll Metabolism of Zoysia japonica under Cold Stress

by Jiahang Zhang, Zhiwei Zhang, Wen Liu, Lijing Li, Liebao Han, Lixin Xu and Yuhong Zhao

Plants 2022, 11(3), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030442 - 05 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1932

Abstract

Zoysia japonica is a warm-season turfgrass with a good tolerance and minimal maintenance requirements. However, its use in Northern China is limited due to massive chlorophyll loss in early fall, which is the main factor affecting its distribution and utilization. Although ethephon treatment [...] Read more.

Zoysia japonica is a warm-season turfgrass with a good tolerance and minimal maintenance requirements. However, its use in Northern China is limited due to massive chlorophyll loss in early fall, which is the main factor affecting its distribution and utilization. Although ethephon treatment at specific concentrations has reportedly improved stress tolerance and extended the green period in turfgrass, the potential mechanisms underlying this effect are not clear. In this study, we evaluated and analyzed chlorophyll changes in the physiology and transcriptome of Z. japonica plants in response to cold stress (4 °C) with and without ethephon pretreatment. Based on the transcriptome and chlorophyll content analysis, ethephon pretreatment increased the leaf chlorophyll content under cold stress by affecting two processes: the stimulation of chlorophyll synthesis by upregulating ZjMgCH2 and ZjMgCH3 expression; and the suppression of chlorophyll degradation by downregulating ZjPAO, ZjRCCR, and ZjSGR expression. Furthermore, ethephon pretreatment increased the ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b in the leaves under cold stress, most likely by suppressing the conversion of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b due to decreased chlorophyll b synthesis via downregulation of ZjCAO. Additionally, the inhibition of chlorophyll b synthesis may result in energy redistribution between photosystem II and photosystem I. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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20 pages, 9271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Expression of ZjPSY, a Phytoene Synthase Gene from Zoysia japonica Affects Plant Height and Photosynthetic Pigment Contents

by Di Dong, Yuhong Zhao, Ke Teng, Penghui Tan, Zhuocheng Liu, Zhuoxiong Yang, Liebao Han and Yuehui Chao

Plants 2022, 11(3), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030395 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2515

Abstract

Phytoene synthase (PSY) is a key limiting enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway for regulating phytoene synthesis. In this study, ZjPSY was isolated and identified from Zoysia japonica, an important lawn grass species. ZjPSY cDNA was 1230 bp in length, corresponding to [...] Read more.

Phytoene synthase (PSY) is a key limiting enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway for regulating phytoene synthesis. In this study, ZjPSY was isolated and identified from Zoysia japonica, an important lawn grass species. ZjPSY cDNA was 1230 bp in length, corresponding to 409 amino acids. ZjPSY showed higher expression in young leaves and was downregulated after GA₃, ABA, SA, and MeJA treatments, exhibiting a sensitivity to plant hormones. Regulatory elements of light and plant hormone were found in the upstream of ZjPSY CDS. Expression of ZjPSY in Arabidopsis thaliana protein led to carotenoid accumulation and altered expression of genes involved in the carotenoid pathway. Under no-treatment condition, salt treatment, and drought treatment, transgenic plants exhibited yellowing, dwarfing phenotypes. The carotenoid content of transgenic plants was significantly higher than that of wild-type under salt stress and no-treatment condition. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified a novel interacting partner ZjJ2 (DNAJ homologue 2), which encodes heat-shock protein 40 (HSP40). Taken together, this study suggested that ZjPSY may affect plant height and play an important role in carotenoid synthesis. These results broadened the understanding of carotenoid synthesis pathways and laid a foundation for the exploration and utilization of the PSY gene. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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15 pages, 4074 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lanthanum Promotes Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) Roots Growth by Improving Root Activity, Photosynthesis and Respiration

by Ying Liu and Juming Zhang

Plants 2022, 11(3), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030382 - 30 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2418

Abstract

Lanthanum (La), one of the most active rare earth elements, promotes the growth of turfgrass roots. In this study, the mechanisms by which La influences bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) growth were evaluated by the analyses of root growth, root activity, cell wall [...] Read more.

Lanthanum (La), one of the most active rare earth elements, promotes the growth of turfgrass roots. In this study, the mechanisms by which La influences bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) growth were evaluated by the analyses of root growth, root activity, cell wall polysaccharide content, respiration intensity, ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, the subcellular distribution of mitochondria, transcription in roots, photosynthetic properties, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and chlorophyll content. The application of 0.3 mM La³⁺ increased root activity, respiration intensity, AAO activity, and the number of mitochondria in the mature cells of bahiagrass roots. La could significantly improve the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence of bahiagrass. Differentially expressed genes identified by high-throughput transcriptome sequencing were enriched for GO (Gene Ontology) terms related to energy metabolism and were involved in various KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation, TCA (Tricarboxylic Acid) cycle, and sucrose metabolism. These findings indicate that La promotes bahiagrass root growth by improving root activity, photosynthesis, and respiration, which clarifies the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of La and provides a theoretical basis for its use in artificial grassland construction and ecological management projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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14 pages, 1769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of Hsp90 Gene Family in Perennial Ryegrass and Expression Analysis under Various Abiotic Stresses

by Charlotte Appiah, Zhong-Fu Yang, Jie He, Yang Wang, Jie Zhou, Wen-Zhi Xu, Gang Nie and Yong-Qun Zhu

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2509; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112509 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2208

Abstract

The heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a protein produced in plants in response to stress. This study identified and analyzed Hsp90 gene family members in the perennial ryegrass genome. From the results, eight Hsp90 proteins were obtained and their MW, [...] Read more.

The heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a protein produced in plants in response to stress. This study identified and analyzed Hsp90 gene family members in the perennial ryegrass genome. From the results, eight Hsp90 proteins were obtained and their MW, pI and number of amino acid bases varied. The amino acid bases ranged from 526 to 862. The CDS also ranged from 20 (LpHsp0-4) to 1 (LpHsp90-5). The least number of CDS regions was 1 (LpHsp90-5) with 528 kb amino acids, while the highest was 20 (LpHsp90-4) with 862 kb amino acids, which showed diversity among the protein sequences. The phylogenetic tree revealed that Hsp90 genes in Lolium perenne, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa and Brachypodium distachyon could be divided into two groups with five paralogous gene pairs and three orthologous gene pairs. The expression analysis after perennial ryegrass was subjected to heat, salt, chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and abscisic acid (ABA) revealed that LpHsp90 genes were generally highly expressed under heat stress, but only two LpHsp90 proteins were expressed under Cr stresses. Additionally, the expression of the LpHsp90 proteins differed at each time point in all treatments. This study provides the basis for an understanding of the functions of LpHsp90 proteins in abiotic stress studies and in plant breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 2497 KiB

Open AccessReview

Turfgrass Salinity Stress and Tolerance—A Review

by Haibo Liu, Jason L. Todd and Hong Luo

Plants 2023, 12(4), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040925 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3217

Abstract

Turfgrasses are ground cover plants with intensive fibrous roots to encounter different edaphic stresses. The major edaphic stressors of turfgrasses often include soil salinity, drought, flooding, acidity, soil compaction by heavy traffic, unbalanced soil nutrients, heavy metals, and soil pollutants, as well as [...] Read more.

Turfgrasses are ground cover plants with intensive fibrous roots to encounter different edaphic stresses. The major edaphic stressors of turfgrasses often include soil salinity, drought, flooding, acidity, soil compaction by heavy traffic, unbalanced soil nutrients, heavy metals, and soil pollutants, as well as many other unfavorable soil conditions. The stressors are the results of either naturally occurring soil limitations or anthropogenic activities. Under any of these stressful conditions, turfgrass quality will be reduced along with the loss of economic values and ability to perform its recreational and functional purposes. Amongst edaphic stresses, soil salinity is one of the major stressors as it is highly connected with drought and heat stresses of turfgrasses. Four major salinity sources are naturally occurring in soils: recycled water as the irrigation, regular fertilization, and air-borne saline particle depositions. Although there are only a few dozen grass species from the Poaceae family used as turfgrasses, these turfgrasses vary from salinity-intolerant to halophytes interspecifically and intraspecifically. Enhancement of turfgrass salinity tolerance has been a very active research and practical area as well in the past several decades. This review attempts to target new developments of turfgrasses in those soil salinity stresses mentioned above and provides insight for more promising turfgrasses in the future with improved salinity tolerances to meet future turfgrass requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress Biology of Turfgrass)

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