Growth regulation and Nitrogen Uptake Inhibition of Zoysia matrella Applying Prohexadione Calcium

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prohexadione-calcium (PC) is a plant growth regulator of cyclohexanedione family acting on inhibiting gibberellin biosynthesis and has been used to regulate shoot elongation of turfgrass in the golf course during the summer season. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of PC on the inhibition of shoot elongation, growth, and nitrogen uptake in Zoysia matrella. METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatments were as follows; non-treatment, control (TE 0.01 a.i. g/m 2 /100 mL), 0.0025PC (PC 0.0025 a.i. g/m 2 /100 mL), 0.005PC (PC 0.005 a.i. g/m 2 /100 mL), 0.01PC (PC 0.01 a.i. g/m 2 /100 mL) and 0.02PC (PC 0.02 a.i. g/m 2 /100 mL). Visual quality and chlorophyll content were not significantly different. As compared to non-treatment, shoot length and clipping yield in 0.005PC, 0.01PC and 0.02PC treatments were decreased by 29-36% and 65-82%, respectively, and those of 0.0025PC were not significantly different. N uptake of Z. matrella after applying PC was decreased by 28.9-77.8% than that of non-treatment. Inhibition effects of PC treatment in Z. matrella were not significantly different from those of control. CONCLUSION(S): These results indicated that the application of prohexadione calcium inhibited shoot elongation, clipping yield and N uptake amount in Z. matrella, and trinexapac-ethyl could be replaced with prohexadione-calcium in turfgrass management.