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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #422288
Research Project: Improving Sustainability of Turfgrass Systems through Germplasm Development

Location: Floral and Nursery Plants Research

Title: Phenological and metabolic differences between two contrasting drought tolerance groups in an interspecific bentgrass breeding population

Author
item Barnaby, Jinyoung
item FERM, DENNIS - Orise Fellow
item KIM, YONGHYUN - Orise Fellow
item Warnke, Scott

Submitted to: International Turfgrass Society Research Journal
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2025
Publication Date: 6/30/2025
Citation: Barnaby, J.Y., Ferm, D., Kim, Y., Warnke, S.E. 2025. Phenological and metabolic differences between two contrasting drought tolerance groups in an interspecific bentgrass breeding population. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70096.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70096

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) and colonial bentgrass (A. capillaris) naturally occupy wetter and drier environments, respectively. Hybridization between these species offers valuable insights into drought tolerance and could enhance breeding strategies for developing water-deficit–tolerant bentgrasses. A greenhouse dry-down study was conducted using 52 interspecific bentgrass lines, including two parent cultivars, ‘BCD’ (colonial bentgrass; drought-tolerant) and ‘Providence’ (creeping bentgrass; drought-susceptible). The study revealed that drought-tolerant plants exhibit more efficient mechanisms for drought stress management, including optimized carbon allocation, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced water conservation. These plants were able to thrive under stress with lower levels of certain metabolites such as Citric acid, Malic acid, Pyruvic acid, a-Ketoglutaric acid, indicating a more efficient drought response compared to the susceptible group.