Effects of 24‐epibrassinolide application on cool‐season turfgrass growth and quality under salt stress

Abstract Brassinosteroids are steroidal phytohormones with a significant role in the amelioration of various stresses. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar application of 24‐epibrassinolide ( EBL ) on growth and quality of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue ( Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.) grown under salt stress. The plants were grown under non saline or saline conditions (6 dS m −1 ), and were sprayed with 0.00 and 0.15 mg L −1 EBL . Salt stress significantly reduced the shoot growth and turfgrass quality. However, EBL alleviated detrimental effects of the salt stress by enhancing turfgrass quality (7–26%), and increasing shoot growth and clipping yield. The EBL application under salt stress alleviated loss in clipping yield by 35 and 12%; and reduced leaf firing, through weeks 2–6 post‐application, by 75–40 and 50–20% for perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, respectively. The EBL may find additional use in stress management of turfgrass areas.