Growth and Physiological Responses of Diverse Perennial Ryegrass Accessions to Increasing Salinity

Jiang, Y., J. Tang, X. Yu and J. Camberato. 2013. Growth and Physiological Responses of Diverse Perennial Ryegrass Accessions to Increasing Salinity. 2012 Annu. Rep. Purdue Univ. Turfgrass Sci. Progr. p. 7-11. Summary: Ten diverse accessions of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were grown in sand culture and exposed to a half-Hoagland solution amended with 0 (control), 50-, 100-, 150-, 200-, and 300 mM NaCl. Across all accessions, decreased plant height, K+ concentration and K+/Na+ and increased concentrations of fructan and Na+ were observed at ≥ 50 mM NaCl, while decreased leaf fresh and dry weight (DW), leaf water content (LWC), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and increased water-soluble carbohydrate concentration (WSC) occurred at ≥ 150 mM NaCl. The maximum separations of salinity tolerance of accessions occurred at 200 to 300 mM NaCl. The results indicated that DW, LWC, Fv/Fm and Na+ could be associated with variability in tolerance of diverse perennial ryegrasses to high salinity stress.