Morphological, biochemical and physiological study of Bermuda grass as affected by sodium nitroprosside under water deficit stress

This experiment was conducted in order to investigate morphophysiologycal responses of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) to water deficit stress and sodium nitroprosside application in horticultural science department at the University of Zanjan in 2015. Three soil available water levels (40, 70 and 100%) and sodium nitroprosside (0, 250 and 500 micromolar) were applied in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications. Water deficit reduced leaves relative water content and shoot growth whereas, root growth, root to shoot ratio, leaves antioxidant capacity, electrolyte leakage, proline, total phenol and chlorophyll content increased with decreasing soil available water. Sodium nitroprosside application ameliorate adverse effects of water deficit in bermuda grass by increasing leaves antioxidant capacity, proline, and chlorophyll content as well as reducing electrolyte leakage and this effect was more pronounced in 500 micromolar, suggesting that higher concentrations of sodium nitroprosside must be evaluated.