Zoysiagrass Water Relations

Abstract

Development of drought resistant, water‐conserving cultivars continues to be an objective of turfgrass breeding programs. This study was conducted to determine for 15 zoysiagrasses [Zoysia japonica Steud., Z. matrella (L.) Merr., and Z. japonica Steud. × Z. tenuifolia Willd.] under greenhouse conditions (i) water relations characteristics, (ii) survival and recovery from extreme water stress, and (iii) the relationship of water relations characteristics to supplemental irrigation requirement determined in field studies. Leaf water potential at zero turgor (ΨL0) ranged from −1.76 MPa to −2.52 MPa before, and from −2.18 MPa to −2.59 MPa after water stress. Though ΨL0 of genotypes such as Cavalier, El Toro, and Emerald decreased after stress, ΨL0 of genotypes such as Korean Common and DALZ8515 did not change. Osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψπ100) of genotypes such as DALZ8501 and DALZ8506 was similar or increased after water stress but decreased for genotypes such as Crowne and Korean Common. The ΨL0 and Ψπ100 after stress were negatively correlated with recovery from stress and positively correlated with irrigation requirement. Zoysia genotypes with low relative water content at zero turgor (RWC0), bulk modulus of tissue elasticity (ε), and apoplastic water fraction (β) demonstrated poor recovery from stress and required more supplemental irrigation. Cultivars such as Crowne, El Toro, and Palisades had the greatest recovery from stress, the least irrigation requirement, more negative ΨL0 and Ψπ100, and positive RWC0, ε, and β. This study demonstrates that improvements in biophysical as well as morphological traits should contribute to development of water‐conserving Zoysiagrass germplasm.