Abstract
The productivity of temperate grassland is limited by the response of plants to low temperature, affecting winter persistence and seasonal growth rates. During the winter, the growth of perennial grasses is restricted by a combination of low temperature and the lack of available light, but during early spring low ground temperature is the main limiting factor. Once temperature increases, growth is stimulated, resulting in a peak in growth in spring before growth rates decline later in the season. Growth is not primarily limited by the ability to photosynthesize, but controlled by active regulatory processes that, e.g., enable plants to restrict growth and conserve resources for cold acclimation and winter survival. An insufficient ability to cold acclimate can affect winter persistence, thereby also reducing grassland productivity. While some mechanistic knowledge is available that explains how low temperature limits plant growth, the seasonal mechanisms that promote growth in response to increasing spring temperatures but restrict growth later in the season are only partially understood. Here, we assess the available knowledge of the physiological and signaling processes that determine growth, including hormonal effects, on cellular growth and on carbohydrate metabolism. Using data for grass growth in Ireland, we identify environmental factors that limit growth at different times of the year. Ideas are proposed how developmental factors, e.g., epigenetic changes, can lead to seasonality of the growth response to temperature. We also discuss perspectives for modeling grass growth and breeding to improve grassland productivity in a changing climate.
Highlights
The growth response of forage grass species to temperature has been studied extensively since the 1970s
Knowledge gained will be important for grassland management, e.g., for deciding how long and extensively pastures should be grazed for maximum productivity
Even in mild climates loss of biomass can occur during the winter (e.g., Hennessy et al, 2006), and lack of persistence can affect the relative abundance of species and cultivars after the winter, e.g., resulting in a loss of the biomass of clover, which is often grown with grass in mixed swards (Wachendorf et al, 2001) and loss of perennial ryegrass tillers (Hennessy et al, 2008)
Summary
The growth response of forage grass species to temperature has been studied extensively since the 1970s. Improved understanding of the growth physiology of grass has been gained, but knowledge is still lacking how the temperature response of grassland species can be improved to allow sustained growth throughout the year. Work with model species and recent progress in grass genetics can improve our understanding of the processes that determine growth and identify targets for breeding. Knowledge gained will be important for grassland management, e.g., for deciding how long and extensively pastures should be grazed for maximum productivity. Developing models for grass growth in response to temperature may enable forecasting of growth. Limitation of Grassland Productivity dependent on season and temperature, and how grassland productivity may be affected by climate change
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