The effect of low temperature stress on tall fescue growth

Tall fescue was treated at low temperature (-6 ℃, 5 ℃ and 0 ℃) for eight hours. The room temperature was used as control, physiological indexes such as catalase activity, leakage rate of electrolyte, the content of soluble sugar, proline and chlorophyll were measured. The results showed that the activity of CAT reached the peak after 4 hours stress at 5 ℃, the enzyme activity and the content of chlorophyll decreased sharply with increasing stress time under 0 ℃ and -6 ℃. Enzyme activity under -6 ℃ decreased faster than that under 0 ℃. The content of proline increased significantly with the increasing stress time under 5 ℃ and 0 ℃. leakage rate of electrolyte increased significantly at -6 ℃. Soluble sugar content increased with the increasing stress time, it increased markedly at -6 ℃. Low temperature can effectively enhance the cold resistance of tall fescue.