Response of 32 Bermudagrass Clones to Reduced Light Intensity

Abstract

Abstract The response of bermudagrass clones (Cynodon spp.) to reduced light intensity was determined in a greenhouse experiment. Thirty-two phenotypically diverse bermudagrass clones from broad geographic origins were subjected to two light treatments. The high-light treatment consisted of sunlight supplemented with fluorescent and incandescent light banks (160 µmol·s–1·m–2). The low-light treatment was a 90% reduction of the high-light treatment (16 µmol·s–1·m–2). Visual color, leaf length, stem internode length, stem elongation, chlorophyll concentration, and dry weight were measured. Bermudagrass clones responded to reduced light by exhibiting shorter leaves, shorter stem internodes, reduced green color, lower chlorophyll concentration and decreased dry weights. ‘Boise’, ‘No Mow’, ‘R9-P1’, ‘NM2-13’, and ‘NM3’ have been identified as being moderately insensitive to reduced light intensity, and data suggest enough variability exists to select for shade tolerance in bermudagrass.