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Response of ‘TifEagle’ Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis) to Ethephon and Trinexapac-ethyl

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Patrick E. McCullough ,
Lambert B. McCarty ,
Haibo Liu  and
Ted Whitwell
Patrick E. McCullough
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, D-136 Poole Agriculture Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0319
Lambert B. McCarty*
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, D-136 Poole Agriculture Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0319
Haibo Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, D-136 Poole Agriculture Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0319
Ted Whitwell
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, D-136 Poole Agriculture Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0319
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: bmccrty@clemson.edu
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Abstract

Turf managers combine ethephon with trinexapac-ethyl (TE) on bentgrass greens to suppress annual bluegrass, inhibit turf growth, and enhance turf quality; however, effects of this growth regulator combination have not been reported on bermudagrass greens. Two experiments were conducted at the Clemson University Greenhouse Complex to investigate the response of ‘TifEagle’ bermudagrass to ethephon and TE. TifEagle bermudagrass plugs were placed in pots with 23-cm depths, 324-cm2 total surface areas, and a soil medium of an 85:15 (v/v) sand and peat moss mix. Ethephon was applied at 0, 3.8 (EP1), and 7.6 (EP2) kg ai/ha/3 wk with TE at 0 and 0.04 kg ai/ha/ 3 wk over a 9-wk period. Initial responses of bermudagrass to ethephon included chlorotic leaves and severe thinning. Bermudagrass treated with ethephon had quality reduced as much as 33% from nontreated turf. TE enhanced turf quality 4 to 22% from 4 to 9 wk after initial treatment. TE helped mask ethephon-induced quality decline after the third application. In the presence of TE, bermudagrass clipping yield was reduced from nontreated turf by 57, 70, and 72% when ethephon was applied at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk. Ethephon linearly reduced root mass after 9 wk from nontreated turf by 20 and 33% at 3.8 and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk, respectively. Compared with respective ethephon rates alone, bermudagrass treated with TE and ethephon at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk, averaged 28, 8, and 15% more root mass. Ethephon at 3.8 and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk without TE reduced TifEagle bermudagrass root length 14 and 16%, respectively, compared with untreated turf. Bermudagrass treated with ethephon at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk with TE averaged 3, 11, and 17% higher root length compared with respective ethephon rates after 9 wk. Overall, ethephon may have negative effects on TifEagle root mass, root length, and turf quality. However, combining ethephon with TE may help reduce these deleterious effects.

Keywords

Ethephon, (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acidtrinexapac-ethyl, 4-(cyclopropyl-[α]-hydroxymethylene)-3,5-dioxo-cyclohexane carboxylic acid ethyl esterannual bluegrass, Poa annua L.TifEagle bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensisDwarf bermudagrassplant growth regulatorturf injuryGA, gibberellic acidPGR, plant growth regulatorTE, trinexapac-ethylWAIT, weeks after initial treatment
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , June 2005 , pp. 251 - 254
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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Footnotes

1 Publication 5052 Clemson University Experimental Research Station.

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