Heat-stress physiology and management

Plant responses to heat stress begin at the cellular level with changes in membrane fluidity and protein function and are followed by disruptions in carbon metabolism and protein and hormone synthesis. Heat-induced disturbances in plant metabolism are then manifested at the whole-plant level as reductions in shoot and root biomass and as increased leaf senescence. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of heat tolerance and using management practices that can effectively prevent, alleviate, or improve heat tolerance of turfgrasses are critical for producing and maintaining high-quality turf in warm climates. This chapter reviews changes in major physiological processes and resistance mechanisms in response to heat stress and discusses how management practices may affect turfgrass tolerance to heat stress. Reducing soil temperatures has been shown to improve turfgrass quality during heat stress by enhancing the carbohydrate balance, the synthesis and supply of root cytokinins to shoots, and nutrient uptake.