VIEW ARTICLE

Response of Turfgrass Cultivars to Ozone and Sulfur Dioxide in the Atmosphere. Eileen Brennan, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08903; Philip M. Halisky, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08903. Phytopathology 60:1544-1546. Accepted for publication 18 May 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-1544.

Turfgrasses representing several genera and species were exposed for 6 hr to an atmosphere containing ozone (0.23-0.30 ppm) or sulfur dioxide (0.75-1.80 ppm). Response to either pollutant varied with the grass fumigated. Generally, bentgrass and annual bluegrass were most sensitive to O₃; Bermudagrass and zoysia were most resistant; and perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and red fescue were intermediate in their response. Symptoms of ozone toxicity were, typically, bleaching and necrosis of the leaf blade, except for pigmented stipples in red fescue. Red fescue and bentgrass were most sensitive to SO₂; bluegrass and ryegrass were intermediate; and Bermudagrass and zoysia were resistant. Sulfur dioxide toxicity consistently resulted in necrosis of the terminal portion of the leaf blade.