• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.163-176
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• 2009

Investigating endophyte distribution, naturally occurring in native grasses, is important for understanding endophyte-grass associations and using the beneficial effects of endophytes in cultivated plants. The goal of this study was to investigate endophytes from natural Festuca spp. in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Provinces of China, and to study the compatibility between the endophytes and turf type tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) which is widely used for lawn and athletic fields in that region. Of 628 accessions in F. ovina, 421 had endophytes identified in leaf sheath from on-site microscopic examination. From Festuca spp, three isolates were obtained from the seeds and ninety isolates were obtained from seedlings established from the collected seeds. The isolates from F. ovina and F. stapfii were tentatively identified as Neotyphodium typhinum and Neotyphodiumstarii, respectively. We tested compatibility of the two fungal species with seven tall fescue cultivars, Little Hero, Sub Boy, Eldorado, Arid III, Millennium, Crossfire, and Fawn. N. typhinum or N. starii did not infect 'Fawn' with either seed injection or seed soaking method. The highest infection rate byboth N. typhinum and N. starii was in 'Sun Boy' and 'Eldorado'. There were significant interaction effects between tall fescue cultivar and type of endophyte on infection.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2012

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of polymer, calcium, perlite and chitosan on the growth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L., PR) and to provide a basic information needed for their practical application when establishing garden, parks, athletic field and golf courses with these materials. A total of 24 treatment combinations were applied in the study. Treatments were made of water-swelling polymer (WSP), calcium, perlite and chitosan mixed in soil organic amendment (SOA). Germination rate, turfgrass coverage, turfgrass density and top growth were evaluated in PR under greenhouse conditions. Significant differences were observed for these growth characteristics among the treatments. Turfgrass density and plant height, evaluated on a weekly basis, varied with time after seeding. A proper mixing rate of WSP was considered to be lower 3% for the growth of PR with an exception of being below 6% for turfgrass density. Germination rate and early survival capacity were greatly influenced by calcium and chitosan among the elements of calcium, perlite, and chitosan. But there was little effect by perlite. Calcium and chitosan were most effective one for turfgrass density and coverage, respectively. Top leaf-growth was influenced by all three elements, but the greatest effect was highly linked with calcium. Chitosan was very effective in early germination and vertical leaf growth, as compared with the others. Future studies are required for measuring the effect of WSP, calcium, perlite and chitosan on the turf growth characteristics in root zone mixtures of sand+SOA before a practical field use.