Drought Avoidance Mechanisms of Selected Bermudagrass Genotypes

This study was conducted to determine rooting characteristics, root car- bohydrate content, and performance of 10 bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) genotypes exposed to drought. A greenhouse study was conducted twice to determine root distribution and carbohydrate content throughout the soil profile during simulated drought stress. Root distribution among genotypes and accumulation of total nonstruc- tural carbohydrate within roots differed with depths. Root mass at 30, 60, 90, and 150 cm was significantly correlated with turf quality during drought stress (r = 0.72, 0.86, 0.80, and 0.81, respectively) only for one of the two tests. Root carbohydrate distri- bution was not significantly correlated with turf quality for the selected bermudagrass genotypes.