Premium
Photosynthetic characteristics of perennial ryegrass and red fescue turf‐grass cultivars
Author(s) -
Van Huylenbroeck,
Lootens,
Van Bockstaele
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2494.1999.00179.x
Subject(s) - perennial plant , lolium perenne , cultivar , festuca rubra , biology , agronomy , photosynthesis , festuca , poaceae , botany
The photosynthetic characteristics of eleven commercial perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) and nine red fescue ( Festuca rubra L.) turf‐grass cultivars were evaluated. In general, perennial ryegrass had a faster growth, with higher net photosynthesis and quantum efficiency and lower dark respiration ( R d ) than red fescue. Among the perennial ryegrass cultivars two major groups were observed: the first one with slow growth, high light compensation point ( I c ) and low R d and the second one with fast growth, low I c and high R d . A similar ranking was evident for the red fescue cultivars tested. The chewings fescue ( F. rubra ssp. commutata ) cultivars belonged to the first group, whereas the strong creeping red fescue ( F. rubra ssp. rubra ) cultivars were classified into the second group. Slender creeping red fescues ( F. rubra ssp. trichophylla ) had intermediate features. These variations make it possible to use some of these characteristics in breeding programmes for turf‐grasses.