Water Use Characteristics of Dactylis glomerata L., Lolium perenne L. and L. multiflorum Lam. Plants

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Abstract
Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Italian ryegrass (L. multiflorum Lam.) plants were grown on deep (75–95 cm) columns of soil in glasshouses and growth rooms with and without irrigation. The species in which growth declined least rapidly after water had been withheld were those which transpired most slowly. During early establishment in the glasshouse cocksfoot transpired least because of slow root growth. In the growth room, when root systems were deeper and denser, perennial ryegrass transpired least because of low leaf water conductance. Results are discussed in relation to (a) drought resistance in the three species; (b) breeding for increased drought resistance through modifying root distribution and leaf water conductance; and (c) the use of isolated soil columns in water relations studies.

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