Use of plant growth regulators in turfgrasses : A review

Plant growth regularors (PGRs), are specialized chemicals produced by plants in small amounts, applied to promote or interfere with the growth of the plant development process. Natural PGRs are auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene and abscisic acid. The present review deals with the use of plant growth regulators in turfgrasses. Plant growth inhibitors Maleic Hydrazide (MH) have been used to suppress the growth of bahia grass or tall fescue. Coomonly applied growth retardants in the turfgrasses are BE-995, Phosphon, ethrel, MH, chlorflurenol, gibberellins and kinins. Thus, the present review is written with the objective to demonstrate use of plant growth regulators to suppress the vegetative growth of turfgrass as well as to enhance turf quality and performance.