Growth inhibitors in turfgrass

Abstract

-Well-maintained lawns are comfortable and safe places for leisure activities and sports practice, and they also bring environmental benefits; for example, they reduce soil exposure to erosion and releases atmospheric CO 2 , thus reducing the greenhouse effect. However, regardless of the purpose of use or the choice of the plant species to form the lawn, the highest costs involve cutting that is needed to keep the turfgrass at its appropriate height. Successive lawn cutting operations are necessary basically because of the vegetative and reproductive growth of turfgrass which, in Brazil, occurs mainly from October to March. Expenditures with successive mechanical cuttings have fostered the search of alternative procedures to keep lawn plants at appropriate height, such as the use of plant growth inhibitors, an increasingly interesting procedure. Since the use of this technology in Brazil is still at its early stage, the aim of this literature review is to examine aspects associated with lawn management by using growth inhibitors. Another alternative is to increase the knowledge of the classification and rational application of the different compounds currently available in the market.Keywords: growth regulator, lawn, bio-stimulant, injury, selectivity, herbicide.RESUMO -Um gramado bem mantido proporciona local confortável e seguro para diversão e prática de esportes, reduz a exposição do solo à erosão, libera oxigênio e captura CO 2 atmosférico, atenuando o efeito estufa. Contudo, independentemente da modalidade de uso ou da escolha da espécie, o principal fator do custo de manutenção dos gramados é o corte para manter a altura adequada. As sucessivas operações de corte estão basicamente relacionadas ao crescimento vegetativo e florescimento da grama, sobretudo nos meses de outubro a março. O dispêndio com os cortes sucessivos leva à procura de alternativas para o manejo mecânico, tendo como possibilidade o uso de inibidores de crescimento vegetal. Como o uso dessa tecnologia em gramados no Brasil ainda é muito incipiente, pretende-se neste texto de revisão abordar os aspectos relativos ao manejo de gramados pelo uso de substâncias inibidoras do desenvolvimento vegetal, bem como atualizar os conhecimentos quanto à classificação e aplicação racional dos diferentes compostos atualmente disponíveis.

Effects of plant regulators on the growth and flowering of Saint Augustine grass plants

“…These rachises display different color patterns that don't go with the color of leaves. In addition, both leaves and rachises may reach excessive heights causing discomfort for the lawn users McELROY, 2013).…”

Development of Different Grass Species with the Use of the Growth Regulator Trinexapac-Ethyl

“…Some studies have shown that, with the application of trinexapac-ethyl, there may be a decrease or delay in the emission of inflorescences, maintaining the aesthetics of the lawn for a longer time (Johnson, 1990;Fry, 1991;Costa et al, 2009;Mittlesteadt et al, 2009;Marchi et al, 2013b). Type II growth regulators, which is the case of trinexapac-ethyl, are not efficient in suppressing the emission of floral stems because they interfere with the biosynthesis of gibberellins, thereby reducing cell elongation (Marchi et al, 2013a;Marchi et al, 2014); however, in this study, with Japanese lawn grass, significant effects resulting from its application were observed at high doses.…”

“…The growth regulator has the task of driving photoassimilates to the root system, promoting root development (Steffens et al, 1985;Richie et al, 2001;Beasley et al, 2005). This increase in the root system probably can be obtained through the use of growth regulators that inhibit the formation of gibberellins, such as trinexapac-ethyl, which only inhibits cell elongation without interfering with the mitotic multiplication process (Marchi et al, 2013a). …”

Effects of Trinexapac-Ethyl on Turfg

“…During the annual cycle, which included 51 days ( March et al (2013), trinexapac-ethyl is a growth regulator absorbed by leaves, and it can cause growth reduction with maximum efficiency in many species of lawn grass within 14 to 21 days after the spray is applied. In turn, Beam (2004) found that biomass reduction of Lolium perenne L. growing in greenhouse conditions was higher in the first and fourth week after the application.…”