How do cool-season turfgrasses respond to high temperature: progress and challenges
Tianxiao Sun, Weiliang Wang, Zhulong Chan
Abstract
The utilization of cool-season turfgrasses is widespread in urban greening, ecological restoration, and sports fields. The primary limiting factor affecting its growth and application is considered to be high temperature stress. Under heat stress condition, a range of physiological and morphological traits will be modulated in cool-season turfgrasses, resulting in a deterioration of lawn quality and subsequently impacting the ornamental and functional value of lawns. In this review, we summarize physiological and morphological changes in cool-season turfgrasses caused by high temperature stress. The research progress in molecular characterization of high temperature regulatory networks was further summarized. Approaches for improving cool-season turfgrasses thermotolerance were proposed. We further put forward challenges and perspectives of research on heat tolerance of cool-season turfgrasses, aiming to provide references for the research on characterization of heat tolerance mechanism and breeding heat tolerant cold-season turfgrass.