Response of Six Turf Species to Cadmium Stress: Displaying the Most Tolerant Cultivar

This study was accomplished to monitorthe interspecific differences in response to cadmium (Cd) stress among six turfgrass species through investigating the seed germination, seedling growth and some biochemical characteristics. After an environmentally controlled experiment under different Cd treatments (0, 100, 200 and 300 |jM), Agropyron elongatum showed the highest germination percentage (80.33%) under 300 |jM Cd, followed by Lollium perenne with 72.59%. The lowest germination parameters including germination vigor, index and percentage were found in Festuca ovina, which referred as the more sensitive species to Cd than other studied turfgrasses. The highest shoot growth followed by the lowest chlorophyll degradation was observed in Agropyron elongatum, Festuca rubra and Lolium perenne respectively. Furthermore, the low chlorophyll degradation and the high seedling growth in turf species were correlated with increasing in some antioxidant enzymes activities. It might display the crucial indirect effect of Cd, that is, oxidative stress. Overall, Agropyron elongatum is introduced as the most tolerant cool-season turfgrass among studied species, which could be considered for engaging in advanced studies of heavy metal stresses.