Poster: Temperature Responses
Abs #
180: Plant Growth Regulating Activity of Terra-Sorb Foliar and its Impact on Heat Tolerance of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne L.)
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Presenter: |
Kauffman III, Gordon L., glk104@psu.edu |
Authors | Kauffman III, Gordon L. (A) Watschke, Thomas L. (A) | | Affiliations: |
(A): The Pennsylvania State University
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Biostimulants are materials that promote plant growth when applied in minute quantities. In the last decade, biostimulants have emerged in the golf course industry because of their perceived ability to improve turfgrasses overall health, including stress tolerance. The objectives of this study were 1.) Determine whether one biostimulant Terra-Sorb Foliar (TS), sold as Macro-Sorb Foliar in the U.S., promotes auxin or cytokin activity in vitro, and 2.) Determine if perennial ryegrass treated with TS exhibits increased heat tolerance, indicated by improved photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm ratio) and carbon dioxide consumption. The bioassays performed during the course of this research were the Avena (oat) first internode segment straight growth, and Raphanus (radish) cotyledon expansion bioassays, respectively. TS treated oat hypocotyls exhibited significantly higher auxin response than control tissues in all trials. The lipid-soluble fraction exhibited significantly more auxin activity than the water control, while the water soluble fraction of TS did not differ significantly from the control. No response was evident in TS treated Radish cotyledons. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was grown at 20o, 28o, and 36o C and treated with or without TS. As temperature increased, perennial ryegrass treated with TS exhibited significantly higher Fv/Fm ratio’s than control plants. Overall turf quality was enhanced by treatment with TS. For carbon dioxide consumption, a significant treatment and temperature effect was evident but no interaction occurred. This study produced supporting evidence for a putative growth regulator-abiotic stress tolerance enhancer in Terra-Sorb Foliar, including the need for future research.
