Tolerance to saline and alkaline stress in perennial turfgrass

Abstract

The understanding of salt-alkali tolerance of each plant variety is required for their utilization and popularization. Perennial ryegrass is an important turfgrass and forage species worldwide. To understand the stress tolerance and physiological mechanisms of the variety Weinasi, we examined the effects on germination, plant growth, and antioxidant enzyme activity of this variety under different salt-alkali stresses. The results suggested that Weinasi had certain adaptability to saline stress equivalent to less than 100 mM NaCl, but high sensitivity to alkaline stress equivalent to 20 mM NaHCO3, expressed on repressed germination rate and inhibited plant growth. The negative effects of alkaline stress on the underground parts were more obvious than those on the aerial parts. This variety could resist salt-alkali stress by increasing SOD activity when growing well, but POD and CAT activities decreased gradually after different salt-alkali treatments. This result could help the guidance of precise utilization in special areas, artificial breeding and variety promotion of perennial ryegrass.