Impact of seed priming on early growth of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) under saline, waterlogging, and combined saline-waterlogging stresses
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG), a popular turfgrass species used in golf fairways, is known to be sensitive to salinity and waterlogging. This research was to determine if seed priming can enhance the stress tolerance of two KBG varieties 'Award' (stress tolerant) and 'Moonlight' (stress susceptible). The seeds were either non-primed (NP) or primed with water, 50 ppm abscisic acid (ABA), 100 mM glycinebetaine (GB), 100 ppm gibberellic acid (GA), 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG), 500 ppm KNO3, or a salt mixture of Na2SO4 and MgSO4 (1:1, w:w) at 3 dS·m−1 before being sown in a topsoil : sand mixture. The seedlings were grown under the stress of salinity, waterlogging, saline-waterlogging, or non-stressed control for six weeks in a greenhouse. Results showed that the growth of 'Award' was 10% to 30% higher than that of 'Moonlight' under all three stress conditions. ABA priming alleviated the stress caused by salinity and saline-waterlogging. However, seed priming showed no significant growth improvement under waterlogging. This study indicates that seed priming is a good and applicable management practice when establishing a turfgrass stand, particularly in saline soil.
Source: Grass Research
Authors: Kevin Rue, Qi Zhang
Institution: North Dakota State University
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411854429