Growth responses of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) to trinexapac-ethyl applied in spring and autumn

Abstract

The practices with low clippings production to save time, money, or landfill space, were favored by turf managers. Understanding the responses of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) to Trinexapac-ethyl (TE) would facilitate recommendations regarding its safe and effective use in Northern China. The objectives of this study are (1) to investigate the effects of TE on vertical growth, clipping yield, leaf width, and chlorophyll content of Kentucky bluegrass, and (2) to compare the seasonal application impacts of TE. Both spring and autumn experiment results demonstrated that Trinexapac-ethyl applied to Kentucky bluegrass suppressed the vertical grass growth and significantly reduced the Kentucky bluegrass clippings production within a few weeks after initial treatment. Applied trinexapac-ethyl enhanced Kentucky bluegrass leaf width in both spring and autumn experimental periods. Discoloration on leaf tips was observed and lasted for four weeks when the same TE rate of 0.191 mL•m^-2 was applied in early autumn. Darker leaves with higher chlorophyll content compared with non-TE-treatments appeared after the initial four weeks of the treatment in autumn and the treatment for the entire spring.

Keywords

Kentucky bluegrass / trinexapac-ethyl / clipping yield / leaf width / chlorophyll content

References

[1] Adams R, Kerber E, Pfister K, Weiler E W (1992). Studies on the action of the new growth retardant CGA 163’935 (Primo). In: Karssen C M, Van Loon L C, Vreugdenhil D, eds. Progress in Plant Growth Regulation. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 818-827

[2] Burpee L L, Green D E, Stephens S L (1996). Interactive effects of plant growth regulators and fungicides on epidemics of dollar spot in creeping bentgrass. Plant Dis, 80(11): 1245-1250

[3] Daniels R W, Sugden S K (1996). Opportunities for growth regulation of amenity grass. Pestic Sci, 47: 363-369

[4] Ervin E H, Koski A J (1998). Growth responses of Lolium perenne L. to trinexapac-ethyl. Hort Sci, 33: 1200-1202

[5] Fagerness M J, Yelverton F H (2000). Tissue production and quality of Tifway bermudagrass as affected by seasonal application patterns of trinexapac-ethyl. Crop Sci, 40: 493-497

[6] Goatley J M Jr, Maddox V L, Watkins R M (1996). Growth regulation of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatumFluegge) with imazaquin and AC 263, 222. Hort Sci, 31: 396-399

[7] Johnson,B J (1993). Response of tall fescue to plant growth regulators and mowing frequencies. J Environ Hortic, 11(4): 163-167

[8] Li G Y (2006). Study on influence of applying plant growth retardants on growth of turfgrass. Dissertation for the Master Degree. Baoding: Agricultural University of Hebei, 50-51 (in Chinese)

[9] Li S Q, Lei T W, Yan W H, Qu L Q, Xiao J (2006). Effects of mowed heights on the water consumption of turf grasses in Beijing. Agricultural Engineering, 22(11): 74-78 (in Chinese)

[10] Qian Y L, Engelke M C, Foster M J V, Reynolds S (1998). Trinexapac-ethyl restricts shoot growth and improves quality of ‘Diamond’ zoysiagrass under shade. Hort Sci, 33: 1019-1022

[11] Watschke T L, Di Paola J M (1995). Plant growth regulators. Golf Course Manage, 63: 59-62

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg