A study on low temperature tolerance of warmseason ornamental grasses

In order to understand low temperature tolerance of warmseason ornamental grasses, eight germplasm materials were used to investigate their phenological period in Nanjing, and LT50. The LT50 was determined by the inflectional point temperature through conductance ratio measurement combining with Logistic equation. The results showed that low temperature tolerance of the materials was ranked as follows: Saccharum arundinaceum＞S.ravennae＞Miscanthus sinensis Strictus＞Cortaderia selloana Pumila＞Miscanthus sinensis Cabaret＞M.sinensis Cosmopolitan＞Pennisetum＞Panicum virgatum Rehbraun. There was no significant correlation between LT50 and green period. Both the low temperature tolerance and the green period extension can be enhanced simultaneously.