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Screening of turfgrass species and cultivars for NaCl tolerance

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Summary

Information regarding the relative levels of salt tolerance between cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is lacking. The objectives of this study were to 1) develop a simple, quick and sensitive method of screening turfgrass species for NaCl tolerance and 2) to compare the relative salt tolerance of five cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (‘Ram I’, ‘Adelphi’, ‘Baron’, ‘Bensun’, and ‘Nassau’) to other known salt tolerant turfgrass species such as alkalaigrass (Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. cv. Fults) and two cultivars of red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ‘Dawson’, and ‘Checker’).

Alkalaigrass and both cultivars of red fescue retained a high level of salt tolerance compared to the Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Significant variability in salt tolerance was apparent among the Kentucky bluegrass cultivars with ‘Adelphi’ and ‘Ram I’ exhibiting the best overall tolerance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 01003, Amherst, MA, USA

    W. A. Torello & A. G. Symington

Authors
  1. W. A. Torello
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  2. A. G. Symington
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Torello, W.A., Symington, A.G. Screening of turfgrass species and cultivars for NaCl tolerance. Plant Soil 82, 155–161 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220243

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220243

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