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TURFGRASS SCIENCE

Exogenous Salicylic Acid Enhances Post-Transplant Success of Heated Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue Sod

Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0404

^* Corresponding author (Ervin{at}vt.edu).

A primary economic concern of sod producers is loss of sod quality during the transportation and storage phases of a sale. Previous research and field experience indicate that soil and plant respiration rates, and thus the rate of pallet heating, may be reduced by harvesting in the morning, lowering mowing heights and removing clippings, and minimizing tissue nitrogen and soil moisture before harvest. However, even when proper cultural guidelines are followed, excessive sod heating and tissue damage often occurs. Various pre- and post-harvest chemical treatments aimed at protecting leaf tissue integrity during and after supraoptimal heating have shown promise for increasing transplant success. One of these compounds is the natural plant growth regulator salicylic acid (SA). This study was conducted to investigate the influence of pre-harvest foliar application of SA on transplant injury and root strength of tall fescue (TF; Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and Kentucky bluegrass (KBG; Poa pratensis L.) sod following supraoptimal heating. Salicylic acid was applied at 0.5 kg ha^–1 to the turfgrass 10 d before harvest and canopy photochemical efficiency was measured 1 d before harvest. Harvested and rolled sod was subjected to high temperature stress (38–40°C for 72 or 96 h), transplanted into the field, and injury and root strength were determined. Application of SA enhanced the pre-harvest canopy photochemical efficiency of KBG and TF sod in both years. Averaged over years and heat duration, SA increased canopy photochemical efficiency by 12% for KBG and 14% for TF. Salicylic acid reduced visual injury and enhanced post-harvest root strength in both years. Averaged over years and heat duration, SA increased transplant root strength by 26% for KBG and 9% for TF. These data suggest that pre-harvest foliar SA application may improve shelf life and transplant success of supraoptimally heated cool-season sod.

Abbreviations: Fv/Fm, photochemical efficiency • HD, heat duration • KBG, Kentucky bluegrass • LSD, least significance difference • SA, salicylic acid, TF, tall fescue