In the turfgrass industry, the need for salinity tolerant turfgrasses is increasing because of the increased use of saline and non-potable water. Greenhouse container experiments were conducted to determine the relative salinity tolerance and growth responses of eleven native populations of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schrub) (TF), including: Semirom, Mashhad, Sanandaj, Yasuj, Yazd Abad, Daran, Kamyaran, Gandoman, Borujen, Nasir Abad and Alborz to 8 weeks of salinity stress. Also, commercial TF was usedas control. Four salinity levels of irrigation water (0, 45, 90, 135 mM NaCl) were applied to turfgrasses. Results showed shoot and root dry weight, total leaf area, leaf length, leaf width and leaf firing percentage was significantly affected by salinity for all turfgrasses. The lowest leaf firing percentage at 90 and 135 mM, was related to Sanandaj population and commercial TF, and the highest leaf firing percentage was related to Alborz at 45 mM and Gandoman population at 90 and 135 mM. Shoot dry weight, total leaf area and leaf length of Sanandaj population was less affected by salinity compared to other populations. Based on data on growth parameters, the salinity tolerance ranking of selected populations was: Sanandaj >Daran >Yasuj>Kamyaran >Nasir Abad >Semirom >Mashhad >Alborz >Yazd Abad >Borujen >Gandoman . These results showed the potential and competetive role of TF native populations compared to commercial TF. تفاصيل المقالة

Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner.) is a potentialsource of low-maintenance turf species for use in areas with less water. Themain goal of this study was to evaluate turf quality characteristics of 24crested wheatgrass specimens collected from different locations of Iran aslow-maintenance turfgrass. The experimental design was a randomizedcomplete block design with 3 replications. The results showed significantvariation among specimens for turf quality and turf quality components andthere were 15 specimens with an average turf quality rating of 6.0 or higher,indicating adequate quality performance. Mowing quality were higher than 6for all specimens and ranging from 6.30 (210 M) to 7.28 (4049). Habitats ofsamples varied in performance for all traits and different geographical regionsmay offer germplasm with high turf quality performance. There were significantpositive correlation between turf quality and mowing quality (r = 71**) andalso turf quality and tillering (r = 57**). Based on the results of clusteranalysis, the specimens were assigned to 3 clusters and the single specimenfrom cluster 2 had the highest ratings for turf quality (7.95), mowing quality(7.28), color (7.27) and leaf texture (7.10). These results indicated that crestedwheatgrass specimens native to Iran could be an important resource for use aslow-maintenance turfgrass. تفاصيل المقالة