Virginia Tech
The Use of Plant Growth Regulators to Improve the Traffic Tolerance and Repair of Overseeded Bermudagrass
Abstract
dc:description.abstractAn active football season during the fall acclimation period tests the traffic tolerance of bermudagrass. Exogenous applications of synthetic cytokinins or cytokinin-enhancing plant growth regulators (PGRs), such as trinexapac-ethyl, may improve the traffic tolerance of "Patriot" and "Tifsport" hybrid berudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis). This study was designed to mimic the agronomic practices and traffic stresses experienced at Virginia Tech's Worsham Field. Starting in September 2005, treatments were applied with a differential-slip traffic simulator. Following a traffic treatment, plots received an application of one of three PGRs: 6-Benzyladenine (6-BA), 2-Chloro-4-pyridyl-phenylurea (CPPU) or trinexapac-ethyl (TE). Physiological and morphological responses such as total non-structural carbohydrates and turf density were measured. Previous researchers have shown that increased tissue cytokinins are related to increased tiller density, delay of senescence and enhanced photochemical efficiency. For these reasons, the application of cytokinin enhancing PGRs may have potential to increase bermudagrass traffic tolerance. Patriot's aggressive growth and excellent cold hardiness are predicted to result in better overall traffic tolerance and repair as compared to Tifsport.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2007
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Marshall, Christopher Scott
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Ervin, Erik H.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Goatley, J. Michael Jr.
- Askew, Shawn D.
Subjects
dc:subject × 5Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-07312007-202603
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/34282