Investigation of bentgrass (Agrostis L.) in M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine

Objective – to establish biological and biochemical properties of plants of the genus Agrostis L. species in conditions of M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Material and methods. The objects of these investigations were species and cultivars of the genus Agrostis species. It was conducted morphometric measurements and some parameters of the productivity in the flowering stage. The content of dry matter and fats were determined according to A.I. Yermakov, the total content of sugars and ascorbic acid concentration – according to V.P. Krishchenko, the content of carotene – according to B.P. Pleshkov, the content of ash – according to Z.M. Hrycajenko et al., the content of calcium and phosphorus – according to H.N. Pochinok. Results. The vegetation period of investigated plants varied from 245.0 to 252.5 days. The morphometric parameters in the flowering stage were: the height of plants from 33.3 to 54.91 cm, the diameter of the stem – from 0.90 to 1.47 mm, the number of internodes – from 1.80 to 3.20, number of leaves – from 2.00 to 3.80, the length of inflorescence – from 6.80 to 17.00 cm, the width of inflorescence – from 1.55 to 6.85. The content of dry matter during vegetation was from 28.62 to 48.58 %, the total content of sugars – from 6.66 to 19.96 %, ascorbic acid – from 19.47 to 181.43 mg%, carotene – from 0.42 to 6.05 mg%, ash – from 3.93 to 10.23 %, calcium – from 0.32 to 0.98 %, phosphorus – from 0.03 to 0.22 %, fats – from 0.40 to 4.45 %. Conclusions. These investigations have shown that in M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine conditions the plants of the genus Agrostis have a long-term vegetative period (more than 8 months). The raw material of investigated plants is a valuable source of nutrients. The most content of them was noticed in the tillering period. The maximal amount of total sugars accumulates during the flowering stage.