Research - Plant Physiology

Current Research Projects

• Competitive Growth Responses of Three Cool-Season Grasses to Salinity and Drought Stresses - M. Pessarakli, D. Kopec, and J. Gilbert
  
  This on-going study is conducted in a greenhouse, using hydroponics system, to compare growth responses of Creeping bent (Agrostisstolonifera), Rough bluegrass (Poatrivialis), and Perennial rye (Lolium sperenne) in terms of shoot and root lengths and dry matter, and visual canopy green cover under salinity (NaCl) and drought (PEG) stresses.
  
  
• Salinity Tolerance of Various Clones of Saltgrass under Salinity Stress (USGA on-going Project) - M. Pessarakli, D. Kopec, and J. Gilbert
  
  Twelve saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L.) clones, collected from different locations are used in this on-going study in a greenhouse to evaluate their growth responses in terms of shoot and root lengths, shoot and root dry weight, and general quality under control and salinity stress conditions. The grasses are grown under 4 salinity levels (EC = 6, 20, 34, and 48 dS m -1) in Hoagland solution, via hydroponics system.
  
  
• Growth Responses of Bermudagrass and Seashore Paspalum to Various Levels of Salinity Stress - H. Touchan and M. Pessarakli
  
  This on-going study is conducted in a greenhouse, using hydroponics system, to compare growth responses of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) and Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) in terms of shoot and root lengths and dry matter (DM), and visual canopy green cover (CGC) under various levels of NaCl salinity stress. Five treatments [control (no NaCl), 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 30,000 ppm NaCl] are used in this investigation.