Metabolic Changes During Cold Acclimation and Deacclimation in Five Bermudagrass Varieties. I. Proline, Total Amino Acid, Protein, and Dehydrin Expression
2011
Zhang, Xunzhong | Wang, Kehua | Ervin, E.H. | Waltz, C. | Murphy, T.
Bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) grown in the U.S. transition zone and other regions with a similar climate undergo cold acclimation in fall and deacclimation in spring. Physiological mechanisms of cold acclimation and deacclimation are not well documented or understood. This study investigated changes in quality, photochemical efficiency, N metabolite (proline, total amino acid [AA], and protein) content, and dehydrin expression during cold acclimation and deacclimation in five bermudagrass entries. One ecotype (GA-851) and four cultivars (Patriot, Riviera, Tifway, and Princess-77) were subjected to cold acclimation at 8/4°C (day/night; 10-h photoperiod) for 28 d and then deacclimation at 10/5, 21/7, 23/8, and 26/14°C sequentially (11-h photoperiod) for either 3 wk (standard deacclimation) or 1 wk (fast deacclimation treatment) at each temperature. In response to cold acclimation, turfgrass quality and photochemical efficiency declined, while proline, AA, protein, and abundance of 25 kDa dehydrin increased. Patriot and Riviera had higher levels of stolon proline, AA, protein, and abundance of 25 kDa dehydrin relative to Princess-77 at the end of cold acclimation. Significant deacclimation occurred as temperature changed from 21/7 to 23/8°C. Patriot, GA-851, and Tifway had greater turfgrass quality ratings and photochemical efficiency and also higher levels of N metabolites relative to Princess-77 and Riviera during deacclimation. A similar response was observed with fast deacclimation treatment. The results suggest that selection and use of entries with higher levels of N metabolites during cold acclimation and deacclimation could improve bermudagrass persistence and spring green-up in transition zone climates.
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