Exogenous Ethylene Applied to Creeping Bentgrass.

A necessary investigation is to determine the effects of direct ethylene exposure to turfgrass.  In the previous research conducted by Xu and Huang (2007; 2009), ethylene production was measured and then regressed to other measurements such as turfgrass quality.  There is a possibility that even though ethylene levels were elevated, other factors may have caused the decline in turfgrass quality.  The effects of direct ethylene exposure to creeping bentgrass have not been demonstrated.  Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) plugs from an established creeping bentgrass green were harvested and acclimated in a greenhouse for two weeks.  Afterwards, the plugs were sealed in 0.985 L jars and subjected to ethylene levels of 0, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 2500, 5000, 7500, 10000, and 15000 ppm for a period of three hours.  Gas chromatography was used to determine actual ethylene concentration at the conclusion of the three hours or exposure.  Digital image analysis was used to evaluate turfgrass color.  Regression analysis was conducted plotting turfgrass color against ethylene concentration to determine if a significant relationship existed.  No significance was found in the regression.