Water relations and canopy characteristics of tall fescue cultivars during and after drought stress

Abstract

Understanding factors associated with drought resistance and recovery from drought stress in tall fescue (Festuca arundinaces Schreb.) is important for developing resistant cultivars and effective management strategies. Our objective was to investigate water relations, photosynthetic efficiency, and canopy characteristics of tall fescue cultivars (forage-type 'Kentucky-31', turf-type 'Mustang', and dwarf-type 'MIC18') in responses to drought stress and subsequent recovery in the field and greenhouse. During drought stress under field conditions, 'MIC18' had lower turf quality, more severe leaf wilting, and higher canopy temperature than 'Mustang' and 'Kentucky-31', indicating that 'MIC18' was more drought-sensitive. The greenhouse study comparing 'K-31' and 'MIC18' showed that leaf water status, chlorophyll fluorescence, canopy green leaf biomass, and lead area index of both cultivars declined as soil dried. Reductions in relative water content, leaf water potential, chlorophyll fluorescence, canopy green leaf biomass, and leaf area index were more severe and occurred sooner during dry down for 'MIC18' than for 'Kentucky-31'. After rewatering following 14 days of stress, leaf water deficit and turf growth recovered, to a greater degree for 'Kentucky-31' than for 'MIC18'. However, soil drying for 21 days caused long-term negative effects on leaf photosynthetic efficiency and canopy characteristics for both cultivars.