Physiological responses of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) to submergence

A split-plot design was used to study the physiological responses of anti-oxidative enzymes and carbohydrate contents of bermudagrass to different durations (0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days) and depths of submergence (0, 1, 5 and 15 m). The results suggest that submergence caused a higher production of malondialdehyde and more significant changes in the different submerged treatments. The activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) in roots increased with the increase of the durations and depths of submergence, implying an integrated pathway involving CAT, SOD, POD, GR and APX for protection against the detrimental effects of activated oxygen species under submergence. Total soluble carbohydrate and starch contents of shoots and roots decreased with the increase of the depth and duration of submergence, but remained at relatively high level at the end of the study, showing quiescence is one of the major strategies of bermudagrass under the stress of submergence. The results suggest that bermudagrass can endure long-term and deep submergence by balancing between the formation and detoxification of activated oxygen species, lowering metabolism and reserving high amounts of carbohydrate.