Turfgrass Wear Tolerance Mechanisms: III. Physiological, Morphological, and Anatomical Characteristics Associated with Turfgrass Wear Tolerance1

Abstract

AbstractThis investigation was conducted to assess the relationship of various turfgrass physiological, morphological, and anatomical characteristics to wear tolerance. No data of this nature is available in turfgrass literature. Species differences were noted for verdure, shoot density, leaf width, load bearing capacity, leaf tensile strength, percent moisture, and percent relative turgidity. However, no significant correlations were found between species wear tolerance and the afore mentioned characteristics. Analysis of the combined relationship of these factors to wear tolerance indicated that only leaf tensile strength and leaf width contributed significantly to the variation in turfgrass wear tolerance among seven turfgrass species.Sclerenchyma tissue and lignified cell comparisons were made between Kentucky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis L.). Results were presented as percent of the total cross‐sectional area of leaf blades and stems. Sclerenchyma tissues of Kentucky 31 composed 18.6% of leaves and 23.4% of stems, while the contents of rough bluegrass were 8.9 and 10.3%, respectively. The percent lignified cells of Kentucky 31 tall fescue and rough bluegrass were 49.8 and 21.4%, respectively, based on total leaf cross‐sectional area. The percent Sclerenchyma fibers and lignified cells were closely associated with the wear tolerance observed for the two species.