Characterization of the potential of native grasses for use as lawns

Francisco Humberto Dübbern De Souza,Marcelo Mattos Cavallari,Marcos Rafael Gusmão,Waldomiro Barioni Jr

doi:10.1590/2447-536x.v26i1.2067

Francisco Humberto Dübbern De Souza, Marcelo Mattos Cavallari + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2447-536x.v26i1.2067

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Abstract

Abstract Since long lawns have been cultivated worldwide to perform a large variety of functions. Brazilian lawns have been constituted by a reduced number of species and cultivars. This work was developed with the purpose of estimating the potential of use as lawns presented by the members of a collection of accesses of native species of Paspalum and Axonopus (Poaceae). The following characteristics were evaluated: maximum vertical growth height, speed of soil cover, speed of regrowth, dry mass production, ornamental quality, weed encroachment and demand for mowing. Several accessions presented desirable characteristics and can therefore be included in programs aiming the development of cultivars for lawns intended for use in a variety of situations. The results here reported and discussed represent an experimental verification of the potential of the Brazilian flora to offer plants for use as lawns, reinforce the importance of native genetic resources and contribute to the continuity of research aimed at the development of this type of cultivars in Brazil.

Highlights

Lawns are fundamental components of anthropic landscapes almost everywhere in the world
Based on several agronomic attributes of particular interest for genotypes intended for use as turfgrasses, a broad genetic variability was characterized among the components of a collection of Brazilian native accesses of grass species
The results here reported are valuable to the development of new cultivars of Paspalum and Axonopus for use as lawns

Summary

Introduction

Lawns are fundamental components of anthropic landscapes almost everywhere in the world. In Brazil the plants most used for this purpose are perennial species of the Poaceae Family, popularly known as “gramas”. These plants are characterized by the low growth habit and the ability to promote ample and permanent coverage of soil surfaces, resulted from its stoloniferous and/or rhizomatous growth habit. Besides these characteristics, for each situation of use the satisfactory performance of the lawn depends on specific sets of other morphological, physiological and agronomic characteristics. The degree of importance each set depends on the functions to be performed by the lawn (Souza et al, 2016)

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