BACKGROUND: Drought stress is the main challenge in grassland cultivation and management. Introduction of drought-resistant species in hot climates such as Khuzestan (Iran) is a priority. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to assess responses of Seven amenity grass species for morphological and physiological traits in two pot and laboratory conditions. Seven amenity grass species as Cynodon dactylon, Dichondra repens, Festuca arundinaceae (cv. Finelawn, Starlette and Talladega), Festuca rubra (cv.Napoli and Simone), Lolium perenne (cv. Capri, Danilo and Delaware), Poa pratensis (cv. Mardona) and two cv. Sport seed provided from Italy and Netherlands were subjected to four levels of drought stress. METHODS: A factorial experiment was conducted using four levels of water stresses namely well-watered (100% of field capacity) as control, (80%FC, 60%FC and 40% FC) in pot condition and well-watered (0MPa) as control, (-0.3 MPa and -0.6 MPa and -0.9 MPa) in laboratory condition as the first factor and turfgrass species as the second factor on a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications in 2018, Ahvaz, Iran. Data collected for 14 physiological traits of the seedlings. RESULT: The result of ANOVA showed significant effects of species and water stress levels for all traits (p<0.01). Interaction effects of species and water stress were significant for all traits except catalase in glasshouse condition indicating that the grass species had different responses to water stress. Results of means comparison between water stress levels showed in pots condition values of RWC, recovery after drought and regrowth after cutting were decreased by drought stress and lower values were observed in 40%FC. The higher values of RWC, carbohydrates, Proline and Catalase, SOD and APX content were obtained in C. dactylon, indicating this species was more tolerated to drought stress than other species and recommended for cultivation in green space of Iran. Turf quality and chlorophyll content was decreased due to drought stress. Proline was increased in three species with prolonged withholding irrigation. CONCLUSION: The highest prolin was observed in C. dactylon in 80% FC. There was significant difference in activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase between stressed plants and control plants. The highest activities of enzymes were showed in C. dactylon. تفاصيل المقالة